For many years, I’ve presented a recurring slideshow with this name at the Severe Local Storms Conference, offering beautiful images from often violent weather. This scene truly epitomized the title. A strongly tilted supercell with sunset-illuminated wall cloud and wrapping, rear-flank precipitation field receded rather quickly, tossing strong outflow across these center-pivoted cornfields and revealing a dazzling skyscape. The fresh, cool, moist breezes, interspersed with the chortling of western meadowlarks and a chorus of frogs among unseen puddles, layered more multisensory joy to this High Plains experience. Yet for all its splendor and visual softness, this was a very severe storm, slamming the Oklahoma Mesonet station south-southeast of Boise City with a 98-mph gust just a few minutes after the photo.
5 ESE Felt OK (19 Jun 20) Looking ENE
36.5552, -102.715The Beauty of Atmospheric Violence
For many years, I’ve presented a recurring slideshow with this name at the Severe Local Storms Conference, offering beautiful images from often violent weather. This scene truly epitomized the title. A strongly tilted supercell with sunset-illuminated wall cloud and wrapping, rear-flank precipitation field receded rather quickly, tossing strong outflow across these center-pivoted cornfields and revealing a dazzling skyscape. The fresh, cool, moist breezes, interspersed with the chortling of western meadowlarks and a chorus of frogs among unseen puddles, layered more multisensory joy to this High Plains experience. Yet for all its splendor and visual softness, this was a very severe storm, slamming the Oklahoma Mesonet station south-southeast of Boise City with a 98-mph gust just a few minutes after the photo.
5 ESE Felt OK (19 Jun 20) Looking ENE
36.5552, -102.715