May 28th - Maskell, NE
CHASERS: Bobby Eddins,  Edward Cohen
NOWCASTING: Mike Cohen
SUMMARY:
After a day of sight seeing on the 27th where we ended up in Joplin, MO the only play for this day was a long drive to the Sioux land of Northeastern Nebraska, Southeastern South Dakota. All of the ingredients appeared to be in place for some nice slow moving LP storms. After all of our running around the last few days once storms formed, this seemed nice. At least if we saw storms we could sit and watch them. All that was left was the drive so we headed north.

Checking data in Council Bluffs, IA revealed that the elements were coming together in our target area so we continued up I29. About halfway to Sioux City a check of radar showed storms beginning to fire west of Vermillion, SD. This became our target as we moved on.

The storms motion was initially east so we continued trough Sioux City into South Dakota and took hwy 50 west toward Vermillion and the storm.

We set up shop a few miles northwest of town looking for good time-lapse but the storm structure wasn't very impressive. Before long though a new core developed to the southwest of the old one just south of the Missouri River and started moving slowly southeast.

We broke camp and moved back to Vermillion and took hwy 15 which crossed the river and connected us to hwy 12. This area is very hilly but we soon found a side road that took us to the top of one of these hills and a wonderful view. From here we shot some very nice time-lapse of the storm as it slowly moved toward us.

We finally were forced to move further southeast but took hwy 9 back west to Martinsburg, NE where a side road where the hwy turns south provided a nice view. After a short time we were joined by David Hoadley and his group and shared the view. Yes the chasing world seems small at times.

After a while we drove south to hwy 20 and back east toward Sioux City, stopping west of town for a nice view as the sun set behind curtains of rain.

Before the storm hit we moved south and let it pass, then found a room in Sioux City to rest up for the next days long haul back to Kansas.


image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV Nice LP from our hilltop.
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV The base broadens.
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV A heavy rain/hail core shows itself.
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV Looking up at a spiraling base.
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV A short beavers tail overhead.
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV From near Martinsburg with some company.
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV Looking west.
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV An postcard shot looking southwest.
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV A bit of a lowering.
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV Being undercut.
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV Looking up at a barrel.
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV The undercut continues.
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV The undercut is complete.
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV Now outflow dominant from west of Sioux City.
image from Sony TRV-900 miniDV Outflow nears as the sun sets.




CONCLUSION:
Tornados aren't the only thing worth chasing. This was well worth the trip and produced some nice time-lapse for me.

All Images © 2004 Bobby Eddins. All rights reserved.