Convective Addiction

Scott’s June 17, 2009 Nebraska Tornadofest!

Posted on 17. Jun, 2009 by Scott in Chase Logs

Following two days of fantastic tornadic supercells (June 15 in SW KS, and June 16th in SE SD), June 17th held potential significantly higher than the previous days.  Given the overall poor 2009 chase season, my optimism was guarded; however, it became apparent that June 17 was going to be special.  Only a few hours after leaving my hotel in Yankton, SD, strong convection developed in southern Nebraska, eventually becoming surface based and yielding a few tornado warning and numerous serve reports.  Initially I almost gave into the temptation of following the supercell into southeast Nebraska and Missouri, but central Nebraska around Hastings looked primed for tornadic supercells later in the day.  I stopped my pursuit of the initial supercell near Hebron, ate lunch, and began my trek westward on US 136.

During my trek westward, I stopped in Red Cloud for one last fill-up then slowly made my way northwestward joining friends Bill Reid, Brian Morganti, and Doug Raflik as we sat near Minden watching towers percolate and work against the cap.  Shortly after stopping near Minden, a significant storm developed near Pleasanton and the chase was on!  Shortly after outracing a few-mile-long freight train to cross US 30, I was able to get a clear view of the storm.  Less than 30 minutes later, the first tornado was on the ground near Ravenna (which I had a poor view of), and a second tornado the developed to the east.  Both of these tornadoes were relatively weak and short lived, but provided a fantastic appetizer to the main show which was to come later.

The storm was a dream being in an area with a great road network and moving at a relatively slow pace (<20 M.P.H).  The storm weakened considerably for roughly 5 or so consecutive radar scans, but found new life just west of Alda.  It appeared the town of Alda was in imminent danger with a classic RFD cut and rapidly rotating wall cloud looming over the town.  Thankfully, a tornado would not develop in Alda.  I blasted east toward Grand Island with it becoming obvious the storm was beginning to mean business again, and the last thing I wanted to do was get stuck in Grand Island with a tornado barreling down on me.  I took Guenther Road east to Highway 281 where another round of fun began!

After turning north onto 281, an area of strong rotation became visible just to my northwest.  I had two options, drop south to I-80 taking me away from the potential tornado to get east; or continue north on 281 in an effort to get to Highway 34 but risking a tornado developing in my path.   Given the relative slow storm motion, I felt very comfortable continuing north to 34, hopefully staying ahead of the storm.  About 1/2 mile south of 34 the rotation tightened and debris began flying about only about 1/8 mile in front of me!  What an amazing encounter with a relatively weak tornado!  I felt safe getting a little closer and watch the weak tornado tossing tree limbs around just in front of me as it crossed 281.

I jumped on Highway 34 eastbound driving back under the area of rotation to get out ahead of it.  The storm produced numerous ground circulations east of Grand Island, perhaps all associated with the eventual large tornado west of Aurora.  One of the circulations developed over the Platte River as I was crossing on the bridge.  A more well-developed condensation funnel developed east of the river and the attendant ground circulation lasted for a minute or two.  Shortly after this tornado dissipated, the main event began!

My first view of the “Aurora” tornado was through my rear view mirror when I saw a dust swirl sloshing back and forth along 34 about 3/4 mile behind me.  I quickly stopped, got out of my car, and began to film the rapidly intensifying tornado.  The tornado rapidly grew from a narrow truncated cone, to a rather fat truncated cone nearly enveloping an entire irrigation system!  I stayed with 1/8 mile of the tornado for a while as it slowly crept along the countryside.  As I moved east, the tornado began to morph into a stronger cone with a massive dust swath at the base swirling more and more violently with each passing minute.  I would again film until light precip wrapping around the tornado began to muddy my lens.  I eventually stopped again on the US 34 train bridge and filmed as the tornado hit a farmhouse and narrowly missed an Iams animal food factory and an ethanol plant.  At this point, significant rain curtains were wrapping around the tornado and it was becoming almost completely obscured by dust.  I drove east as the tornado dissipated and night fell, only one emotion was circulating through me at that time, WOW WOW WOW WOW!  I stopped again near York to shoot some shots of the amazing storm structure, then headed east to find a hotel for the night.  As expected, it took me a while to fall asleep that night!