WxWatcher007

It’s complex and fascinating just how different a world it is out here. Shortly after this post, two storms popped to my north and south, each dropping funnels and at least 1 tornado and/or 1 potential landspout. Initiation happened because of the “Denver Cyclone”. Then, CI happened just as I arrived in Limon due to an impulse east of Pueblo, and the real chase was on. It went from a series of thunderstorms to a congealed cluster, and finally, into a monster long track supercell. Said it before and I’ll say it again—you’d love it out here. I’m still learning how to do it right but I’m getting better each time.

It’s not as picturesque, but it was something to behold from convective initiation to when it became a monster. I have some other pics on different cameras and hopefully one of them has a funnel.

What an evening. Ended up on the eventual Lamar cell. Had to stop due to darkness and that was a great call because Lamar really got hit hard.

Just just between the two cells that each produced funnels.

For the purposes of today at least (I’m in the Denver area) if there’s a way to determine the threshold llvl lapse rate to overcome a cap for the explosive convective initiation.

I have to learn how to forecast lapse rates.

Today’s my final chase day, and it’s the toughest yet. We have the ingredients for a significant severe event today, but capping may be an issue. Last night, I was planning to set up shop in Lamar. Early this morning (around 5am local) it looked like Pueblo would be the spot. Then after sunrise and seeing the clearing here in Denver and stratus further south, I decided to stay here until things fire…if at all. It’s a good forecasting challenge, that I hope bears fruit.

Really didn’t expect to see that.

I have absolutely loved it out here, and I agree. The landscape is so beautiful. To be available to see as far as your eyes can take you is a wonderful thing. Every time I come to Colorado in particular I love it more.

Didn’t see this coming

Wow—those are awesome! With the limited road network…and driver fatigue…I stayed near Colorado Springs and ended up leaving just before things got active lol. It’s certainly an interesting (and wide) split between the SPC/LFO and the CAMs today. Hard for me to believe SE CO will be that capped but we’ll see what kind of recovery we get after the morning storms, which have pushed east for the most part via early visible and IR. Looking at just planting in that highway 50 corridor and being patient. Even one long track supercell could put this trip over the top for me, but want to make sure I stay in proper position should we actually get late afternoon/early evening activity. We’ll see. Best of luck out there today.

Meh day here in CO but my luck continues because I captured a brief time lapse of the one severe warned storm in the area today. Dropped 1” hail according to a spotter report. Happy birthday to me lol

By my east coast standards lol, yesterday was fantastic. Thinking today may also be a solid day in CO or northern NM with more isolated storms and good shear.

Chaser Report: 7/4/23 Yesterday was fantastic. It started with storms in Sioux Falls and it was a lot of driving from Sioux Falls to Kearney, NE. I was between going to CO or heading to KS, but decided to head to the high plains. In NE CO, everything was collapsing and that eventually led me south in eastern Colorado and then west when the target was acquired. It was a nice supercell initially but kept cycling. There was a report of a funnel cloud, and if you look closely maybe you can see one, but in real time it didn’t stand out as such. Very quickly after this storm departed, a big dog line rapidly formed to the west near Denver. As we were traveling toward Denver you could see the massive complex come together with frequent lightning and a clear hail core. We stopped in Bennett and it was a good call. The storm was hellacious. Here’s a new video of what it looked like. Areas just west reported winds between 60-67mph. Yesterday was long but a great early birthday present. Hoping for more action today in CO or NM.

Fantastic shot!

Nice! Finally driving into Denver after a solid chase and insane severe storm that bowed over the area. Fireworks going off on both sides of I-70. Great, great day.

OH MY GOODNESS!!! What a storm I just went through outside Denver.

Target acquired. Wish me luck.

1.43 so far at home

Flash flooding occurring across central CT.