Johnson Mesa is a remnant of the highest of the High Plains in New Mexico, occupying a tableland 8,600 ft above sea level where lava flowed into and solidified in a former valley of the "Dry" Cimarron River about 8 million years ago. Surrounding softer deposits wore away, leaving the basalt platform as a topographic high, though not as tall as Horseshoe Mesa in the background, along the Colorado … [Read more...]
Sizzling Twilight Supercell
Power-pumping product of mergers with earlier forms of the storm, this twilight supercell churned deviantly down westernmost Oklahoma, blasting deadly electricity in any given direction. Even amid its fierce lightning barrages that sent observers scrambling back into their vehicles, the storm awed all who bore witness to its wondrously swirled form. Another storm with another wall cloud lurked … [Read more...]
Serrations over Striations
Sometimes, especially with heavy-precipitation and/or outflow-dominant storms, the most intricate and beautiful structures happen after the supercell stage. Such was true here, when a line-absorbed former supercell surged the entire complex forward, lifting layer upon layer over its cold pool in a deeply laminar, sometimes wavy pattern that still was convective down low. But for this storm’s … [Read more...]
Lightning Damage to Plastic-Lumber Bench
High upon the hiking trail overlooking Capulin's volcanic crater, a plastic-lumber bench sits partly busted and melted by a lightning flash. Fortunately, no one was sitting there at the time. The damage has been left alone by park personnel, with nearby interpretive sign using this event to advise of lightning safety on the mountain. Aside from the obvious scar on one of the boards, the … [Read more...]
We Had Cows
A High Plains supercell's main updraft area and wall cloud rose in elevation, turning leftward and losing its surface-based character atop a deepening pool of outflow from both itself and other storms in the background. Nevertheless, what remained of the storm made a beautiful backdrop aloft to a herd of curious Hereford and Angus cattle, who lines up neatly in cautious, distant inspection of … [Read more...]
Sunset Light on the 412 Barn
Fifteen years after first spotting and photographing this abandoned barn in the Oklahoma Panhandle, I’ve yearned to be there for a back-side, late-day storm scene. Consider that wish fulfilled, marvelously! We parked and waited out a line of thunderstorms, rightly figuring it would clear the scene just in time for a glorious “golden hour” and sunset, with the previous year's grass growth lit … [Read more...]
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