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23rd May 2010
Day 7

23/05 Day 7

Nebraska Megamamma!

Today was another big day storm-wise, with large and potentially tornadic supercells predicted. We had to drop south from our location in Valentine, firstly stopping for lunch in North Platte where we also booked our hotel, then on to Mc Cook where we parked up to take stock. Coincidentally, we bumped into UK chasers Steve and Pete once again! By mid afternoon, a warm front moving northwards was beginning to develop large cumulus, and one single thunderstorm erupted 80 miles south over Kansas.

We decided to drop south to get onto this cell, and as we were travelling south at 60mph and the storm was travelling north at 40mph, the closing speed was good. We arrived under the storm's northern anvil by early evening and it was producing some good lightning. However, the storm was becoming outflow dominant and we were quickly chased back northwards by a raging gust front. Strangely, a huge group of pelicans were riding on the northern side of the gust front, getting a boost northwards. Eventually, despite trying to outrun the gust front, we lost and sheltered under a garage canopy in Mc Cook. Winds hit 60mph as the gust front pounded through, sending debris flying around and making the canopy above us shake rather worryingly. Hail was pea size and the torrential rain overpowered drains. As the storm moved away, it put on quite the most spectacular mammatus display which had us transfixed for a good 30 minutes.

From here, we headed west to attempt to intercept a violent supercell to our south-west. This was tornado warned and chasers were reporting a large and extremely dangerous tornado about 40 miles to our south-west. We eventually got into the cell after sunset and probably within seven miles of the main circulation. By this time, the tornado had ceased (we think) but the lightning display was vivid and impressive. After a very late Subway dinner (around midnight) in Mc Cook, and after being accosted by a group of young females wearing very little, we headed back north to spend the night at the Comfort Inn in North Platte.

Total mileage: 472 miles

TIV
We parked up in North Platte by early afternoon to book our hotel. Whilst there, the TIV passed us heading southwards, roaring at its characteristic speed.
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Nothing quite like one
Our next pit stop was further south in Mc Cook, southern Nebraska. Skies were blue and the sun was beating down once again! It was still windy though.
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Pretty
Turning the camera to other things whilst we waited for things to happen in the skies.
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Convergence
Once again, we had our own mini UK chaser convergence as Pete and Steve turned up, randomly!
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Urgh

One of the dangers of chasing - fly splats! Pete and Steve's Chevvy had even more dead buggage than we did!

Unit!

Dropping southwards from Nebraska into North Kansas, this huge thunderstorm was developing on the warm front and we were going to intercept.

Sprawling
Within an hour, we were parked up under the northern side of the anvil with thunder growling overhead.
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Threatening
Looking south towards the base of the storm, moving quickly towards us. This dark, flat base was another developing cell.
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Heads up!
The storm became very outflow dominant with a huge and potentially dangerous gust front surging out towards us. We tried to keep ahead of it but it was chasing us down!
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Incoming
Parked up and ready to floor it!
Birds
This was a slightly eerie sight, as a huge flock of pelicans rode the gust front at high altitude, racing northwards at about 50-60mph!
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Threatening
Another brief stop after we outrun the gust front. In this shot, the feature is moving left to right... fast!
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Breezy!
We ran out of road and time as the gust front hit. Sheltered under a garage canopy (which was threatening to fall over), winds hit 60mph with hail and torrential rain. The white object on the ground in front is a bin which had whipped its way across the forecourt to greet us.
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Wow
As the storm began to move away, it put on quite the most spectacular display of mammatus cloud.
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Cowboy mamma!
Cowboy Jones appreciates mamma.
Mamma goodness
This was one of the most spectacular mamma displays most of us have seen.
Zooom
A close up of some of the thousands of mamma pouches.
:-)
One more for the road!
Scary
Finally, a last shot before sunset of the looming anvil of a dangerous, tornadic storm to our south.
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