After forming over Raton Mesa in southern Colorado, and over 3 hours churning north-northeastward, a supercell with intense midlevel mesocyclone still was alive and forging over an increasingly deep pool of outflow air, with a deck of stratified low clouds overhead and surface temperatures in the upper 50s. The near-side cloud feature was an arcus cloud riding outflow from the rain-filled rear-flank downdraft at rear. Meanwhile, the right half of the scene, with clear slot, had begun rotating surprisingly strongly in low levels. Briefly, I was somewhat concerned this could spin up a quick tornado, if it could exert enough dynamic influence on the surface air, despite the apparent coldness and stability. Within another ten minutes, however, the visible rotation weakened, and the cloud form became fuzzier and higher-based.
1 ENE Cheyenne Wells CO (26 May 19) Looking NW
38.825, -102.3229Elevated Supercell Trying Hard
After forming over Raton Mesa in southern Colorado, and over 3 hours churning north-northeastward, a supercell with intense midlevel mesocyclone still was alive and forging over an increasingly deep pool of outflow air, with a deck of stratified low clouds overhead and surface temperatures in the upper 50s. The near-side cloud feature was an arcus cloud riding outflow from the rain-filled rear-flank downdraft at rear. Meanwhile, the right half of the scene, with clear slot, had begun rotating surprisingly strongly in low levels. Briefly, I was somewhat concerned this could spin up a quick tornado, if it could exert enough dynamic influence on the surface air, despite the apparent coldness and stability. Within another ten minutes, however, the visible rotation weakened, and the cloud form became fuzzier and higher-based.
1 ENE Cheyenne Wells CO (26 May 19) Looking NW
38.825, -102.3229