SkyPix

A digital photographic storybook of clouds, weather and water by Roger Edwards.

The Tapestry of the American Prairie

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The Great Plains is a mighty treasure, offering fluidly interwoven landscapes and skyscapes to all the senses, in as much of an immersive and fully experiential way as one can handle.  These vast lands are appreciated best while completely present, outdoors and stationary.  Step away from the textbooks, turn off the websites (except for this one!), leave behind any "flyover country" thoughts, and … [Read more...]

Sargent Tornado Underway

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Storm observers typically name tornadoes after the nearest town—in this case Sargent, Nebraska.  Fortunately, the tornado was well-removed from town, and never threatened it.  The visible vortex remained narrow but photogenic throughout its lifetime, gradually developing, maturing then weakening over open country, with minimal damage and no human casualties.  If all tornadoes followed this ideal … [Read more...]

Tornadic Supercell Intermission

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Following an earlier, high-based stage with long-lived funnel cloud (and possible weak tornado), the Canadian (TX) supercell underwent a nearly suicidal phase where its  gust front surged east and almost completely undercut the entire updraft area.  Even at this stage, a short-lived, tight mesocyclonic wrap-up on the north rim of that rear-flank downdraft spawned the very short-lived funnel cloud … [Read more...]

Simple Seaside Solitude

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Quiet beach, lawn chair, calm surf, warm sunshine reflected off the sea, cold beverage aside, camera in the other hand...an ideal idyll this was in reality, and still can be for all who choose to travel in spirit to a far-away place of peace and tranquility.  In that spirit I offer a salve from stresses of the day.  From this very spot, sometimes without even leaving the chair, an … [Read more...]

Scorpion Tail Tornado

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Cold outflow was undercutting the Lake McClellan mesocyclone and moving the bottom of the barely tornadic vortex toward the SSW (from left to right) with respect to the top.   As it elongated horizontally, this remained a very weak tornado, with only a few brief wisps of condensation on the ground beneath the "stinger" tail.  Visibly, the rotation was obvious but very sluggish.  The cool air … [Read more...]