Intercepting a supercell in mid-August in New Mexico—why not? While wrapping up a southwestern storm, photo and hiking trip, I noticed that a narrow, mesoscale belt of enhanced mid/upper-level northwesterly winds, southwest of a shortwave trough over the central Plains, would pass across this part of the state during the afternoon. My first August supercell on the Great Plains did not disappoint, firing off the southern Rockies foothills near Springer, fighting its own outflow at times, rolling southeastward across the geologic breaks between the High Plains surface (mesa tops) and the Canadian River drainage below. For brief bursts, the structure was as amazing as anything in springtime, including this wide-angle view from a remote highway. The sculpted, twisted-taffy updraft appearance, sharply defined forward-flank core, and a wavy, wormy tail cloud extending under the midlevel vault, all captivated and fascinated me to the point of jumpy giddiness. Regardless, I couldn’t linger longer…had to get back on the road and cut in front of the storm before it eliminated the only option for staying ahead.
11 E Sabinoso NM (13 Aug 17) Looking W
35.7092, -104.1923Sabinoso Supercell
Intercepting a supercell in mid-August in New Mexico—why not? While wrapping up a southwestern storm, photo and hiking trip, I noticed that a narrow, mesoscale belt of enhanced mid/upper-level northwesterly winds, southwest of a shortwave trough over the central Plains, would pass across this part of the state during the afternoon. My first August supercell on the Great Plains did not disappoint, firing off the southern Rockies foothills near Springer, fighting its own outflow at times, rolling southeastward across the geologic breaks between the High Plains surface (mesa tops) and the Canadian River drainage below. For brief bursts, the structure was as amazing as anything in springtime, including this wide-angle view from a remote highway. The sculpted, twisted-taffy updraft appearance, sharply defined forward-flank core, and a wavy, wormy tail cloud extending under the midlevel vault, all captivated and fascinated me to the point of jumpy giddiness. Regardless, I couldn’t linger longer…had to get back on the road and cut in front of the storm before it eliminated the only option for staying ahead.
11 E Sabinoso NM (13 Aug 17) Looking W
35.7092, -104.1923