One of the late, great NWS meteorologist Al Moller’s favorite admonitions to storm spotters, chasers, students, and others in rapt audiences was: “Beware storms with mustaches!” That folksy wisdom, from a keen scientist and father of storm-spotter training, had strong foundations. Although this storm was not tornadic, some supercells with persistent, mustache-shaped wall clouds are, and many produce damaging hail in the Great Plains in the springtime. At the time of the photo, this storm was pounding the scrubland with 1.5-inch hail, and would produce hard, destructive hail at least 2 inches across near the photo location…after we left, of course. There was no point in sticking around long enough to lose our windshields!
6 ESE Clairemont TX (22 May 17) Looking WNW
33.139, -100.6418Beware Storms with Mustaches
One of the late, great NWS meteorologist Al Moller’s favorite admonitions to storm spotters, chasers, students, and others in rapt audiences was: “Beware storms with mustaches!” That folksy wisdom, from a keen scientist and father of storm-spotter training, had strong foundations. Although this storm was not tornadic, some supercells with persistent, mustache-shaped wall clouds are, and many produce damaging hail in the Great Plains in the springtime. At the time of the photo, this storm was pounding the scrubland with 1.5-inch hail, and would produce hard, destructive hail at least 2 inches across near the photo location…after we left, of course. There was no point in sticking around long enough to lose our windshields!
6 ESE Clairemont TX (22 May 17) Looking WNW
33.139, -100.6418