The severe risk of the 29th wasn't nearly as bad as it could have been over the state of Iowa. Although several tornado reports were received during the early nighttime hours, thankfully the storms did not have a lot of energy to work with. No injuries or fatalities were reported with these tornadoes...
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
May 29: HIGH RISK in Iowa/Nebraska
6:25 PM Update: Several clusters of thunderstorms are currently affecting portions of southeast South Dakota, eastern Nebraska, and central Kansas. A line from approximately Kearney, NE to Grand Island, NE is currently being affected by a line of storms that are capable of producing tornadoes. These...
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
May 21-27 Chase & Travel
Today finds the severe weather threat for the plains diminishing, with only minimal chances for severe weather and nearly no chance of significant severe weather. For this reason I am back on the road to Iowa (490 miles), currently traveling I70 near Salina, KS with under 6 hours of driving remaining....
Monday, May 26, 2008
May 26 Chase
9:00 PM Update: Now filling up with gas in Stafford, KS and on our way back to Great Bend, KS where we began the day. Intercepted the storm to the east of Pratt, KS as it was tornado warned, however, not too much was observed with the storm going outflow dominant within a half hour of our arrival....
Sunday, May 25, 2008
May 25 Chase
8:10 PM Update: Heading back to Great Bend after today's chase, intercepted several tornadic cells although only one or two showed promise. Came away with several nice images of a rotating meso that was very low to the ground, and also of a nice shelf as the storms continued to gust out. As we sat...
Saturday, May 24, 2008
May 24 Chase
8:15 PM Update: We moved slightly east mid-afternoon to the south of Aurora, NE to await the dryline that never came. The dryline ended up actually retreating to the west to the south of Grand Island or the I80 corridor and even north where the dryline was still moving east the storms struggled. ...
Friday, May 23, 2008
May 23 Chase
Several Updates will be posted within this post, the posts will be in chronological order with the most recent update being first. The time of the posts will be shown in bold for ease of use (All times are CDT).12:45 AM Update: Another late update after another amazing day, at least 3 tornadoes (likely...
Thursday, May 22, 2008
May 22 Chase
Several Updates will be posted within this post, the posts will be in chronological order with the most recent update being first. The time of the posts will be shown in bold for ease of use (All times are CDT).12:45 AM Update: Spending the night in Hays, KS after a tremendous day of chasing throughout...
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
May 21 Travel Day
Several Updates will be posted within this post, the posts will be in chronological order with the most recent update being first. The time of the posts will be shown in bold for ease of use (All times are CDT).8:15 PM Update: We have arrived in Goodland, KS at the Super 8 which features only 2 more...
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Chase Forecast: May 21/22
TWISTEX will become active tomorrow as all involved prepare for several days of active severe weather in the western plains. Chris Karstens and I will depart Ames early tomorrow morning and hit I80 to...
Monday, May 19, 2008
TWISTEX Deployment
Latest update from Tim Samaras indicates that TWISTEX will be active beginning Wednesday, and continuing until the trough pattern breaks down. This means an extended period of chasing along the high plains from Wednesday through at least Friday, with the potential to continue chasing into early next...
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Upcoming Week Excitement
We'll start out the week with much less wind than what we saw yesterday over the state, in response we won't warm-up quite as much as when that wind was in place. Highs today over the state of Iowa should range from the mid 60s in the east to the mid 70s along the Missouri. Lows tonight should fall...
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Summer!
An amazing spring day yesterday with temperatures rising into the 70s and a few 80s over the state. Strong winds throughout the lower levels, combined with little moisture, allowed for good mixing and heating to allow those temperatures. The same thing should happen today, allowing highs in the mid...
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
A Cooler Week
After plenty of rain on Sunday, we've been left with some below normal temperatures for the remainder of the week. Highs from the upper 50s to lower 70s from northwest to southeast today, with gusty winds once again under cloudy skies. Some showers possible throughout the state, with some thunderstorms...
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Summer Plans 2008
Finished my last final ~11:15 AM on Thursday, got back to my apartment to finish packing things and was on my way home in the early afternoon. It is finally summer, but that doesn't mean I'll be taking it too easy for the next 3 months. I'll be running my own business (Jayson Prentice Photography),...
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
May 6 Storm Chase Account
While severe thunderstorms moved across the central portion of the state, I decided to take a venture north of Ames mainly in hopes of a good light show to capture. Arrived just to the west of Gilbert,...
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
May 6 Severe Weather Update #2
Midnight Update: The final update for May 6th and its' severe weather. Another line of thunderstorms is working across central Iowa and is no longer severe, although heavy rain and frequent lightning is still likely. Another line is moving to the northeast, just entered into southwest Iowa where...
May 6 Severe Weather Update
3 PM Update: Severe Thunderstorm Watch #266 has been issued to include portions of extreme western Iowa until 10 PM.2:30 PM Update: Severe Thunderstorm Watch #265 remains in effect for portions of northwestern Iowa until 7 PM. Currently a small line of thunderstorms has continued to evolve as it...
May 6 Severe Weather
Severe weather across the state is becoming increasingly likely, with the threats of very large hail and damaging winds now apparent. The SPC has issued a severe thunderstorm watch that covers portions of northwest Iowa until 7 PM this evening. Several cells of thunderstorms are likely this afternoon...
Monday, May 5, 2008
May 6 Severe Weather Threat
It has been a long night of continuous work on school final projects, so not to much time to type things out. Not to mentioned I've typed of 10 pages of work already so the fingers are just kind of gliding across keys in hopes of hitting the right ones...Severe weather threat for tomorrow looks to...
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Finals Week Weather
That's right, here at Iowa State we've reached the end of the semester. This week of May is finals week, which of course means that there will be exciting weather to take away from my concentration on what has to be done. This does look to be true, as warm weather and thunderstorms are all likely...
Friday, May 2, 2008
May 2 Severe Weather Update
Several showers and embedded thunderstorms have rolled through the state this morning and early afternoon. Currently these thunderstorms are occurring over Northern Iowa, with one thunderstorm warning issued earlier for Cerro Gordo and Worth counties for damaging winds up to 60 mph. Two reports have...
May 2 Severe Weather
Thunderstorms will be widespread across the state today and are already ongoing this morning over eastern Iowa. Another line of thunderstorms/showers is in eastern Nebraska and should move into western Iowa before 10 AM. These thunderstorms should continue into the afternoon hours, where redevelopment...
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Northwest Iowa Tornadoes (May 1)
Multiple tornado reports occurred on May 1 in northwest Iowa between 6:50 and 7:45 PM. The tornadoes occurred through Lyon and Sioux counties, near the towns of Rock Rapids, Sioux Center and other nearby towns such as Doon, Inwood, and George. The NWS in Sioux Falls has conducted a survey of the tornadoes,...
May 1 Severe Weather Update #2
I took a small trip outside of Ames late this afternoon/evening in hopes of some thunderstorms along a surging dryline in central Iowa. A nice CU field was present, and several towers tried to get going, but to no avail as they were all crushed by warm temperatures aloft. This wasn't the case in extreme...
May 1 Severe Weather Update
Currently going through a complicated forecast scenario for the central plains, with the potential for large hail, damaging winds and isolated tornadoes. Latest forecasts indicate that western Iowa is now becoming a more favorable target than previously thought, this will not only include southwestern...
May 1 Severe Weather Threat
Severe weather is likely over portions of the central plains, with all modes of severe weather (tornadoes, hail, and wind) possible. A strong low pressure system associated will begin to be cut-off during the late hours of the day. This low will be responsible for the setup of a triple point over...
