October 24th, 2010- Linear storms with Severe Warning

Interesting view from inside a loft of an old barn at the Margaret Guzy Pothole Wetlands in Shelby county. All I needed in the horizon were some good storms! My fellow chase partners Jodi and Paul looked pretty small from up there.





Waiting for storms to initiate, we took some time to stop along Lake Shelbyville and I enjoyed the opportunity to shoot the amazing sunset that was occurring. just as this was happening, a line of storms was developing to our west. You can see the line forming off in the distance in the 2nd shot.


Nice shot of the approaching line of storms in the distance as the sun began to dip below the clouds.


As we ventured out, the cloud structure was illuminated orange and pink by the setting sun.


Later in the evening after meeting up with Convective Addiction members Jesse Risley and Brad Goddard, a cell within that line went severe warned in Logan Co. and we gave chase. We headed to NW Macon Co. and sat near Warrensburg IL at Illini church and cemetery for a few shots. here is a shot of the base and a tiny little lowering. Nothing to get exited about really, but a brief possible little spin-up.


After the line was practically on us and we were getting rained on pretty heavily, we quickly packed up and headed S along I-72 punching through some heavy precip. until we were near Harristown. Here we saw some intense structure under an apparent shelf cloud. The turbulent cloud structure was amazing as seen in this photo.


A nice view of the storm as some lightning lit the sky. But I was primarily using the lights of Decatur to light up these shots somewhat. A nice view of the whales mouth feature is seen, and if you look to the left of the photo, you will see a small "nipple" shaped funnel cloud. It was nothing serious at the time, but looking at the relative storm motion on GR3, there was definitely a small reflectivity present indicating a brief anticyclonic circulation here.


Same shot as before, just taken a few minutes later. Here the small funnel is no longer visible.

10/24/10- On October 24th, 2010, Central Illinois was placed under a slight risk for severe weather by the SPC. Liking what I saw, I decided it would be favorable conditions to chase. I already had fellow chase partner and a good friend of mine Jodi with me, so we called another friend and central IL chaser Paul Hadfield to see if he wanted to join us. He obliged rather quickly as the setup we were dealing with was rare in our parts for late October, and we knew of other chaser converging in an area to our South. So we soon set off to our South as well.
We would make our way into Shelby County and stopped off at the Margaret Guzy Pothole Wetlands for some good old photo opportunity as we waited for these storms to initiate. We then continued to our SE a bit until we were along Lake Shelbyville. The storms were still quite some ways off to our W SW, so we figured we'd stop along the lake and take advantage of the fall foliage and another photo opportunity. The sunset was amazing and I was taking full advantage of that when the line of storms became slightly visible in the distance. As the sun was setting we left and I called up Jesse Risley of Convective Addiction who was in the area with his chase partner Brad Goddard. We agreed to meet up as I graduated high school with Jesse and had not seen him in 13 years, so it was great to meet up with him after all this time. We met with them in Assumption IL and after reviewing radar and determining the line was still over an hour away decided to head to Decatur where we all enjoyed dinner and shared in some chasing stories.
When dinner was over, we went back to our vehicles, saw some lightning in the distance, looked at radar, and noticed that a cell approaching the Macon/ Logan Co. line went severe warned, so we split up and gave chase. We flew into NW Macon Co. near Warrnesburg IL at the Illini Church and cemetery for some good lightning opportunity. We watched this cell intensify and saw several lowerings under the base and even a wall cloud. As the line apprached closer, we started getting some heavy precipitation and decided to head S along I-72 to near Harristown IL. We punched through some heavy rain until we were again in a dry slot and saw some amazing structure under a beautiful shelf cloud. The turbulent cloud structure was a treat and soon we would find ourselves under a massive whale's mouth. Lightning was intense allowing us to capture great shots though at night. Jodi, Paul, and myself all captured a "nipple" shaped funnel cloud in our photos. peaking our curiosity we looked to the relative storm motion on GR3 and did in fact see a small reflectivity indicative of a small anticyclonic circulation, or in other words...a small funnel. Paul would soon have to leave for work as he is 3rd shift, and we parted ways. Jodi and myself continued to chase this line and grab one last lightning opportunity as the one cell was still severe warned! We ended up in far NE Macon Co. where we would sit from the backside and watch this line drift into Piatt and Champaign Counties. Jodi scored some more nice lightning shots, and an evident wall cloud, and we called this chase quits. It was around midnight before it was all over. A very successful late season chase in the bag.

September 2nd, 2010- Severe Storms

Sitting along I-72 near Niantic IL. Facing West as the leading edge of the storm approaches. had a very nice shelf cloud.




looking SW as the shelf cloud passes directly over us.


View of the shelf cloud from the first cell as we later repositioned E SE to Elwin and Mt. Zion IL.


Good view of the shelf along the Northern edge of the storm.


View of the 2nd cell as I sat just W of Rt. 48 in SW Macon Co. The structure and aqua green color was amazing. This cell had supercell characteristics.


Wide angle panoramic shot of the amazing storm structure.


Looking towards the Southern portion of the 2nd cell. Amazing structure as the forward flanking downdraft was amazing to see on the left hand side.




Facing towards the West a bit more, I observed this ominous ragged looking lowering form. It would soon progress into a very short lived wall cloud.


The lowering from above eventually progressed into a brief wall cloud shown here. It was very short lived however as it became detached and quickly fell apart due the strong downburst wind.




A few minutes later where the wall cloud had just been. As you can see, it quickly dissipated as it became detached from the storm.

9/2/2010- A line of storm developed out in West Central IL, and stretched from Macomb to Springfield IL. I would not only intercept this squall line, but also a surprise cell afterward. I was keeping a close eye on radar, when a cell along this line just West of Springfield IL went severe warned. I met up with fellow MIDSCAR members Chris Heater and Alex Burke near Niantic IL along the I-72 corridor at Exit 128(Niantic). We sat on top of the overpass bridge here, and watched as a very nice shelf cloud approached. We observed a brief wall cloud along the southern part of the storm, just behind the shelf cloud. We then decided to continue E along I-72 where we took Exit 133 (Pana) and hit Rt. 51 running SE until we got to Elwin IL where we sat just outside of town and finally let the first cell go. Looking at radar, everything seemed to be breaking apart and dying out. We let the storm go and we parted ways as I headed back towards home. Within a matter of 15 minutes, what had looked like only garbage along another outflow boundary on radar blew up into a huge storm! It had drawn up energy from the first cell, and rapidly intensified. I was along Rt. 48 near Blue Mound and Booty IL where I intercepted this cell, which was a beast and had supercell like characteristics and features. The meso was large with visible inflow. There was also some good circulation within this storm. I watched a very ominous lowering form that would soon develop into a very brief wall cloud. It only lasted about 10 minutes before it was cut off completely by some very strong down-burst winds and became detached from the storm and dissipated. It was at this point that I noticed the storm had gone completely outflow dominant, and I did not pursue it any further. With once cell already in the bag, and seeing the best of the 2nd cell, I was completely happy! Click on the youtube video link or just watch the version below for a quick time lapse shot and the 2nd cell.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQz2vPVvbvY

August 4th, 2010- Pop-up Thunderstorm

Sitting just N of I-72. A nice little pop up storm just outside of Forsyth IL.
Storm exhibited some minor rotation early on. Here is the view looking N. Nice little rain foot just behind the main area of precipitation. The rain bands were swirling around, as this seemed to be a brief down burst of sorts. It was rather gusty and the rain foot came and went in under a minute or two, while the main area pf precipitation still dumped heavy amounts of rain.


Close up of the rain foot and the rain bands that were swirling around.


Here the rain foot starts to dissipate.


looking N nearForsyth IL.

8/4/10- This week was a typical for storm development in the summer. Lots of heat and humidity, and a few pop up thunderstorms that developed. it was hard for SPC to predict when and where the storms would hit. SDS was setting in real bad, and the days that were SUPPOSED to have storms didn't, and vice versa! There was a slight risk that was canceled early on in the week, and I believe that on this day, nothing was expected to develop as far as storms. But such is the case in the month's of July and August....pop up storms can develop in the blink of an eye, as was such the case on this day. A pop up storm developed in Northern Macon county, and a severe thunderstorm watch was soon issued. An outflow boundary was lingering from a line of storms early that morning which helped fire off a few cells later in the afternoon. I intercepted the storm just N of I-72 near Forsyth IL. Though there was some minor rotation, it was short lived, as this entire cell died out rather quickly. I was just SW of Forsyth, and did see a small down burst of sorts. There was a really nice rain foot that developed just behind the main area of precipitation. The rain bands were violently swirling around and it was rather gusty. The rain foot was only visible for a few minutes while the main area of precipitation still dumped adequate amounts of rain as it moved off to my SE. Nothing exceptionally exiting, but enough to satisfy my SDS for the time being.

July 24th,2010-Severe Warned Storm With Straight Line Winds

A few severe cells develop early in the afternoon to my NW. It started out as two individual cells and were already severe warned, and looked as if they'd become supercells. The shear was good enough and a TVS an a small couplet could be seen on radar as it was on the verge of going tornado warned. However, these storms went linear quickly and started to bow out before entering the NW edge of Logan Co. where I was positioned. This is a shot of the impressive structure of the leading edge of the storm as it was just NW of Lincoln IL, about to cross I-55.


There was a lot of strong straight line wind, and it's hard to really judge in this photo, but there could be a dry down burst occurring behind the leading edge here, visible as the lighter area just off in the background. This is NW of Lincoln, about 2 miles away from crossing I-55.


Very dark and turbulent cloud structure as the storm passed over me.


From round two later on in the evening. Another severe line of storms coming in from the west. It hit SW Macon Co. where I was positioned around 9:30 pm. I was able to get a nice shot of the lighting, which lit up the storm structure real nice. It's not real visible in this shot, but I did observe a wall cloud just to the left of the light from the house in the distance there.

7/24/10- Another slight risk day today for storm development, I started out early watching radar. There was a severe thunderstorm watch in effect, and I was eying several strong Cells moving in from the NW in West Central IL. These cells were over by Macomb, and moving SE. Already severe warned, I decided that Lincoln IL was a good spot to intercept. The wind shear was strong enough that a TVS and small couplet could be seen on radar. It was on the verge of going tornado warned. But as the storms moved into Mason Co. they quickly went linear and formed a slight bow. I was in NW Logan Co. just outside Lincoln along the I-55 corridor when the storm rolled in. Had some nice structure along the leading edge, and in the 2nd photo there appears to be what looks like a dry down burst of sorts. There was some strong straight line wind just S of Lincoln IL, and then the storm started to weaken somewhat as it moved E SE into Clinton and Decatur area. Later on that evening another severe storm system rolled in from the west which produced a much better shelf cloud. It was 9:30 and already dark as it rolled into Macon Co. I did see a rotating wall cloud at one point along the I-72 corridor. There was frequent lightning with this storm that lit it up constantly for me to see it quite clearly. The short video I captured of the straight line winds from the first storm is below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tRd0DK4qzA

July 19th, 2010- Severe Warned Supercell & Macroburst Event

Sitting on Archery Club Rd. in Southern Macon Co. looking SW. It was faint, but I saw saw this low contrast wall cloud hovering over Blue Mound IL. It was short lived and soon dissipated and I shifted my attention further W to some wicked looking development. There was a larger supercell blowing up just behind this.


A bit further to the West looking in the general direction of Grove City and Edinburg IL. This was a severe warned supercell that was coming out of Sangamon County. It wouldn't be long before I could see this storm rotating. The meso was beautiful.


Looking West, the structure of the meso, the low hanging features, and aqua green color were incredible. This is where I could first see the storm was rotating. Notice the nice inflow tail on the right side, and another wall cloud developing.


This is a shot taken just seconds later and you can clearly see the wall cloud has become more define.


Close up view as the storm moved in closer. Here you can see the inflow tail quite nicely, but the wall cloud seen in the previous photos has dissipated.


Looking a bit further to my N NW between Mt. Auburn and Niantic IL.




facing NW somewhat, the structure and aqua green color was an eerie sight.


Looking NW towards Niantic IL.


I noted some slight circulation occurring at this time. Looking slightly NE as the storm passed over.


Thought the storm was becoming outflow dominant...there was still enough low level rotation occurring, and a tornado warning would soon be issued as the storm crossed the S Macon/Moultrie Co. line.


Heading back to Blue Mound to check out things on the home-front. I knew that the most Southern portion of this cell was the worst, and it was heading into town. Tornadic rotation was already observed just outside of Taylorville IL. As the storm passed through Stonington IL, another spotter reported seeing a funnel cloud just to the north of town. As the storm approached Blue Mound, it grew even darker overhead and I saw this funnel produce rapidly just SW of Blue Mound. I was just under the leading edge and could see it clearly spinning. I couldn't tell if there was a wall cloud above me or not, but this was definitely attached to the base. I only saw it briefly though as an onslaught of rain soon enveloped both the funnel and I, and I lost all visuals.


Large tree branch down at the intersection of Seiberling and St. Marie Streets.


Some insulation and even a few pieces of siding were strewn for a two block radius by strong straight line winds in Blue Mound IL. These chunks of insulation continued behind me even, and littered the downtown park as well.


A massive tree breaks near the bottom of the trunk, and other large limbs fall bringing down power lines with it.

Some artificial bricks are stripped from this decorative chimney, and a stop sign torn out of the ground.


The Blue Mound, South Macon, and South Wheatland Fire Depts. responding to storm damage in Blue Mound IL.



7/19/10- Recent hot and humid temperatures set up the atmosphere to be extremely unstable for this week. Temperatures were in the lower to mid 90's with dew-point temperatures in the 80's. This created a lot of humidity, and the air was hot and muggy. There was a heat advisory issued for most of the previous week, and a cold front came in on Thursday, and set up a stationary boundary that stayed across most of IL this week firing storms along the way each day. Monday's storm was by far the most severe. With a slight risk for severe weather, and my portion of Central IL in the best area for convection, we started off Monday with a bang. There was plenty of sunshine in the morning to heat things up, and the temperature was a high of 93. So the air was quite humid. Some development was occurring to the west, and it didn't take long for it to take on supercell characteristics. At around 1:30 pm, it was severe warned, and in Sangamon County moving W to E. I had to work at 3, so I was exited to get a small chase in before work... and I would not be disappointed. There were basically 3 individual cells practically on top of each other moving in from the West, the latter 2 being the worst by far. But they seemed they would soon merge into a single monster of a storm. The first tiny blip on radar did produce a wall cloud as it came into view over Blue Mound, but it dissipated soon, and I shifted my attention further West at the main portion of the supercell that was about to blow in. I traveled West a bit and picked a good spot to observe the storm. The structure under the meso was amazing, and I could see the whole storm rotating. As I looked W towards Edinburg IL, I could see a nice inflow tail, and another possible wall cloud development. The eerie aqua green color was intense. I watched this area for a bit then moved N NW until I was between Mt. Auburn and Niantic IL. The rotation was still evident, but this storm started to show signs it would become outflow dominant. Tornadic rotation would still develop though, and it would receive a brief tornado warning near the Macon/Moultrie Co. line, but a tornado would never develop. The most southern and strongest portion was about to pound Blue Mound, my hometown. Jamie, my wife would call me and was concerned about the conditions to soon hit the home front. Her concern would be warranted as well, as this southern portion packed the hardest punch. Strong rotation was observed, and as it passed through Stongington IL, another spotter observed and reported a funnel cloud just North of town. Good thing I was less than 10 miles away. I raced back to Blue Mound, and as I got near the leading edge of this cell, I saw a very large funnel cloud just 2 mi. to the SW of Blue Mound. I was right up under it, and I could quite clearly see it spinning. It was quite dark, so I'm not sure if there was a wall cloud above my head, but this was definitely attached to the base. I would only see the funnel briefly as very heavy rain swallowed the funnel and I lost all visuals completely...the core had arrived. Seeing this storm was becoming outflow dominant, it cut off the inflow and full fledged tornado potential, but a very heavy down burst was about to wreak havoc. A macroburst would hit an do widespread damage. Blue Mound was slammed with 70+ mph winds, and after the storm was over, trees and power lines were down all over town. Even insulation and siding from a structure was blown all over a two block radius. A this storm moved E, it progressively got worse, and the NWS ILX office in Lincoln confirmed straight line winds of 100 mph near Sullivan IL, which had some extensive damage as well. Taylorville IL suffered some minor damage, and a cell phone tower near Findlay IL was severely twisted by these straight line winds. This is why I used the term macroburst in describing this storm...the affected down burst area was greater than 2.5 miles in radius at one single time. It was very wide spread.

Check out this youtube link to see an awesome video capture of what this supercell looked like and how the whole storm was rotating. This was amazing video footage captured by fellow Central IL storm chaser, and good friend of mine Cameron Crosby. It is an amazing time lapse of the structure, and rotation from his advantage point near Niantic IL.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6P4zlgA8KQ4