|
|
|
What to do while waiting for storms June 6: Dave Lewison, Charles Edwards of Cloud 9 Tours, and Scott McPartland throw rocks at puddles. |
Dave Lewison ducks outside the Prairie Kitchen in Cedar Vale, Kansas, as Charles Edwards flings gunk at him. |
I was starting to think this was the only tornado I'd see on this trip. |
|
|
|
In Skiatook, Oklahoma, where gas prices went up 22 cents in the minute before we arrived, the Cloud 9 Tours group watches clouds self-destruct. |
Scott McPartland digs his Big League Chew. |
This was typical of the storms forming in the slight risk area near Claremore, Oklahoma - a heavily sheared microcell. |
|
|
|
Storms showed little promise near Claremore, for the moment. |
The Petro's prehistoric beast watches mushy storms go by. |
Dave, celebrating his birthday, pats the beast. |
|
|
|
Yes, despite the sad storms, Dave was having a happy birthday. |
What people will remember most about this photo is the gas prices. |
Finally, a little hope - interesting storms zip by Claremore, Oklahoma, attempting a stacked-plate shape. |
|
|
|
This small storm looked like stacked plates that were falling over, thanks to the shear. |
This storm showed healthy convection ... and a rainbow. |
Here's a closer look at the storm, with its severely tilted updraft disappearing in shadow at the top of the frame. |
|
|
|
And now, a brief wildflower break ... |
Scott, Dave and I decided to pursue the more promising storm north, where it made a great foreground for the sunset. |
The storm showed signs of rotation and began to gain organization. |
|
|
|
The LP (low precipitation) storm really started to spin. |
The spinning storm in the northeast corner of Oklahoma developed what appeared to be a funnel. |
The base got more interesting. We've had some discussion about whether there were "kissing funnels," an updraft-downdraft effect, or two bases colliding. |
|
|
|
When the setting sun lit the back of the storm, the color was fantastic. |
Another view of the sunlit updraft. |
And one more fantastic angle! |
|
|
|
The by-now-tornado-warned storm developed a more serious-looking wall cloud. As darkness fell, a tornado was reported. We didn't see it, and it's worth noting that tornado reports after dark aren't always reliable. Darkness forced us to abandon the chase in Pittsburg, Kansas. |