For over two hours, heavy-precipitation cores trained along the southern hills overlooking Chadron, and the water had to go somewhere. Much of it ended up flowing right down across town, ponding up in level areas like this. Somehow I suspect that utility box at left was non-functional at this moment. Chadron, NE (21 Jun 13) Looking SSE 42.8284, -103.0136 … [Read more...]
Flying under the Base
Flying directly beneath a big base of an growing cumulonimbus is not something I recommend, because of the potential for both updraft turbulence and an unforeseen downburst. However, this attempt was remarkably smooth on approach to the airport, and offered a seldom-experienced perspective of a building thunderstorm. over Fort Lauderdale, FL (18 Jul 14) Looking N … [Read more...]
When Thunderstorms Collide
What can happen when 2 thunderstorms join? A laminar, striated arcus cloud and some powerful fireworks! There is a lot of great storm-scale meteorology in this picture. Note how the cloud base of the storm at left is forced upward, parallel to and above the arcus cloud. The arcus condenses in moist air being smoothly lifted above outflow expelled by an unseen storm off to the right. The beauty of … [Read more...]
Severy Severe
On a rollicking fun day for supercell structure, this was a mighty fine moment. Turquoise hues peek through the interface between a very dense forward-flank precipitation core (right) and the north wall of the updraft, above a tail cloud that extends back into the core. This rumbling specimen of rotating beauty was dropping severe hail over Severy, KS, hence the alliterative title atop. 4 E … [Read more...]
Texas Thunderhead
This explosion of Lone Star convective power dominated the southern sky, partly making me dream I were beneath, but ultimately keeping me glad to see such an impressive thunderhead unfold from this vantage. This storm thrust skyward a gigantic convective mass spreading far above the level of the cumulonimbus anvil that was backshearing toward the near right (WNW). The sheer volume of overshooting … [Read more...]