May 10th - Limon, CO
CHASERS: Bobby Eddins
NOWCASTING: Mike Cohen
SUMMARY:
I started this day in Sioux City, IA with the only good play in the northeast Colorado, southeast Wyoming, western Nebraska area. This meant a long haul before returning to Fort Worth the next day. I was hoping for the northeast Colorado area since it would shorten things up a bit.

After a quick breakfast and data check confirming my target I headed south on I29 toward Omaha, NE then west on I80 for the long drive across the state of Nebraska.

As I approached the I80, I76 split a check with Mike Cohen revealed a mesoscale discussion concerning southeast Wyoming. Now I had to make a decision. Do I continue on I80 to the western Nebraska panhandle or take I76 for northeast Colorado, my initial target? Just after continuing west on I80 I zoomed out on the trusty ThreatNet which I had running and noticed 2 cells already firing off the mountains west of Limon, CO. Case closed! Those cells were closer to home where I had to be the next day so I found the next exit and cut south to I76 and proceeded southwest towards Brush, CO and HWY 71 and headed south toward Limon, continually checking the radar to make sure I would be able to make it. The storms had congealed into 2 flying eagles west and southwest of Limon by this time but were moving slow so I continued.

After turning south at Brush I noted storms firing to my west but checking radar showed they were too far west to for the time of day so I continued south. I was experiencing strong, cool east-southeast winds along the way which blew swarms of tumble weeds across the highway for me to dodge.

By now the northern storm had begun to fall apart but the southern storm still looked good so it became my target. I could see the leftover anvil from the northern storm blowing off with virga falling out to my south and a sharp anvil south of this confirming that the southern storm was still doing well.

I didn't even stop in Limon. I just headed southwest on HWY 24 to Matheson, CO where a very nice circular base into view. There was already a nice RFD cut in the base so I continued to a curve in the HWY just southwest of Matheson and set up for the show.


West of Matheson

Soon a wall-cloud formed on the flank and began to spin rapidly. Out of this a brief funnel formed and fell apart. Then as the RFD pushed into the storm a new meso formed and slid down the occlusion flank and began to wrap rain into itself. Rotation increased and soon it took on the look of large truncated cone. It wasn't long before a hose rapidly formed condensation below this, then dissipated with several visible contacts with the ground to follow. This tornado was actually continuously on the ground for a good while even while 1 then 2 new mesos formed along the lengthening occlusion flank. Even so the first meso refused to occlude completely.

As the first meso finally seemed to wash out one of the new mesos tightened forming funnels along the way. The storm appeared to weaken and become very LP ish while moving farther away so I started driving back to Limon for fuel and a drive northwest on I70 for a final look and some sunset shots. After a short drive I looked back at the storm and saw a tall Elephant trunk hanging out the west side outlined by the setting sun. By the time I found a place to stop and shoot this tornado was evaporating rapidly so I only got the last bit on tape, then continued to Limon for gas.
image from Nikon E990 Near Matheson. What a dream of an updraft!!
image from Nikon E990 Let the inflow bands and RFD begin.
image from Nikon E990 What great structure as the storm tightens up.
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV A wall-cloud forms and produces a brief funnel.
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV RFD forms a new wall-cloud and bears-cage.
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV Getting "The look".
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV Tornado!.
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV The show continues.
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV Condensation evaporates and then reforms with a lean.
image from Nikon E990 Condensation lifts again leaving a broad truncated cone wrapped in precip and dust.
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV The truncated cone just off the deck.
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV The tornado narrows a bit, still wrapped up.
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV As the RFD pushes on 2 new lowerings form east of the old meso.
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV While the old tornado continues on
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV and on.
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV A wider view shows the tornados location relative to the RFD as it becomes less wrapped up.
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV Back to the tornado.
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV Large truncated cone!
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV A new wall-cloud forms east of the old tornado and begins to spin.
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV Close-up of the new wall-cloud.
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV Dueling funnels!
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV A suprise as I move back towards limon!


Northwest of Limon

As I drove northwest on I70 I noticed another small funnel hanging from the middle of the storm. I just wouldn't give up! I found an exit and parked on the entrance ramp back onto the interstate and set up the tripod for some time-lapse.

It wasn't long before the storm appeared to take on a more classic appearance and a lowering formed as new RFD began to push into the base. This wall-cloud began to do the merry-go-round number and produced a very nice dancing Elephant-trunk tornado that kicked up dust for the next few minutes while smaller funnels moved around the circulation. This was nicely backlit and I was thinking what a bonus. Little did I know what was to come!

After this circulation washed out much better RFD structure took shape and a larger faster merry-go-round formed and produced a bigger funnel but no tornado. Out of this a bowl-shaped lowering formed and soon a cone came down and rapidly grew larger and larger to at least a quarter mile. I was looking over a slight ridge by this time so it was hard to tell just how tall but the width eventually grew very large as the darkness fell.

the storm now had great structure as the wide shots will show. Eventually I moved up the interstate to the next exit looking over the valley where the tornado had formed and watched it rope out. Before I left I made out another tornado in a lightning flash but now I had to start for a place to stay the night before the long drive home the next day. I ended up in Colby, KS.

What a day!!
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV The sun sets under the storm which seems a bit less organized.
image from Nikon E990 An LP space ship. Makes great wallpaper for the old computer.
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV A shallow lowering forms in the middle of the storm base and a merry-go-round with funnels insue.
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV A funnel extends downward.
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV And downward.
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV The dance begins!
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV Tornado #3 as dusk kick up!
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV The tornado streches and leans.
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV Still on the ground but very thin.


image from Nikon E990 As this meso occludes a tail-cloud and better structure takes shape.
image from Nikon E990 Yet another meso forms and rotates rapidly.
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV Another funnel lowers but doesn't appear to touch ground.
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV Another merry-go-round rotating very fast!
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV Another unsuccessful funnel.
image from Nikon E990 Structure Shot!
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV This meso finally concentrates into a bowl-shaped lowering.
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV Tornado #4 comes down!
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV The tornado broadens.
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV It grows wider rapidly!
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV Becoming a large tornado.
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV Now very large.
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV It gets even bigger!
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV WOW!!!
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV Changing shape.
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV Cloud tags rotate rapidly around this huge tornado now.
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV Round and round we go!
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV The tornado narrows a bit.
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV It gives a bit of a wiggle as close-in cloud tags race around it.
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV More tags make the round-trip.
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV As the light dims what I can see becomes very broad.
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV Looks like a wedge!
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV As I zoom out a bit the structure is incredible.
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV A wide shot of the whole storm. WOW!
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV I move to the next exit in time to see it's fat rope stage.
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV Tornado #5 shows itself in a lightning flash.




CONCLUSION:
No matter how bad the week may start hang in there and be willing to drive long distances to get what you want. It may not always pay off but when it does it's incredible.

When there's a chance for something on the Palmer Divide play it and don't give up on it!

All Images © 2004 Bobby Eddins. All rights reserved.