04-05-05 Near Chase, KS...first chase of the year!

Instead of heading too far south along the dryline, we decided to chase the cold core setup hoping for a brief non-supercell tornado. We ended up on a cell along the dryline in central Kansas NE of the surface Low. It briefly organized with a lowering base near Ellinwood, KS. Unfortunately, it quickly disorganized and became more elevated so we headed back east at ~4:30pm to meet up with Jon Davies and Jim Reed in Chase, KS. We enjoyed their company at dinner in McPherson, KS and then continued North to Salina and East on I-70. We intercepted a line of severe storms just after sunset between Salina and Topeka. We had a blast driving through dime sized hail and photographing the lightning show. So our first chase was not a bust after all!

Chase log and photographs copyright Melanie Metz and Peggy Willenberg 2005 Twistersisters.com

Sunset just East of Salina, KS

Looking West at edge of updraft base as we approached Ellinwood, KS

Updraft base in Ellinwood, KS

Lightning show in Abilene, KS

CG near Enterprise, KS

Sunset after returning home to St. Cloud, MN on 04-06-05

Great Horned Owl Chic in St. Cloud, MN just out of the nest on 04-06-05

Nearly full moon from St. Cloud, MN during the last week of March