High Plains Drifter » chase mode updates

test image

Mike U — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 20:18:13 +0000

this is only a test

neighbors blown over wooden playground

Mike U — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 19:58:21 +0000

this is a picture of my neighbors wooden playground structure blown over in
the 70 mile per hour winds gusts last week

chase update 6:35pm

Mike U — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 23:44:49 +0000

well, the one attempt at convective initiation failed north of
Richfield. Despite the strong surface convergence occurring now with
good southeast winds, the lack of appreciable moisture is certainly a
mitigating factor…and the main upper level wave is still a bit too
far west to compensate for lack of moisture. 80 degree temperature
over a 46 dewpoint supports about 1000-1200 J/kg CAPE here, but all
the cumulus just looks really flat now to the west, as the strongest
convergence is in Baca County where the really dry air is (30
dewpoints or lower!). I’ll keep watching things through 7pm, but the
way it looks now, this gamble I took did not pay off. Really no
biggie. I’ll be on vacation to chase May 3-16.

chase update 545pm cdt

Mike U — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 22:52:25 +0000

I am taking a shot at a marginal setup for an isolated, photogenic,
marginally severe storm in far Southwest KS. There is a narrow axis
of 48 to 52 degree dewpoints moving up into far southwest KS providing
900 to 1200 J/kg CAPE where temperatures have warmed into the lower
80s. I am observing a clusted of high based cumulus to my west near
Richfield, KS at this time. It is currently in the dry air where
dewpoints are in the mid-upper 30s… but 46 to 48F dewpoints are
about to become ingested into this highly convergent area, so I am
hoping that a decent isolated storm can result here. We’ll see what
happens. I’m only 100 miles from Dodge, so it’s a decent gamble in my
eyes. I’m due in to work at midnight tonight, so I have time to play
around with whatever develops since it would be moving in the
direction of home.

Supercell structure forming north of haviland 735pm

Mike U — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 00:36:22 +0000

Developing storm near Greensburg looking west 710pm

Mike U — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 00:11:30 +0000

chase update 4/9 620pm

Mike U — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 23:24:49 +0000

Well, I have gone back south to the Barber-Pratt county line south of
Coats, KS. There is a really healthy towering cumulus field, with
some of the towers generating echoes on radar in the Protection area
to my southwest. Visually, there are three areas close to each other
with very tall towering cu with sharp edges. HOpefully something
emerges from this cluster… and if not, it’s only a little more than
an hour back home. Hoping for some sunset magic!

chase update 4/9 5pm

Mike U — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 22:04:30 +0000

The towering cumulus west of me is not progressing to the next level
of development. I am between St John and Pratt on Hwy 281. There is,
however, what appears to be the makings of a legit Cb to my southwest
on the dryline near Buffalo, OK. This is about 90 miles to my
southwest…. or back toward my original target to the west of Barber
County. I may head back south soon toward western Barber County if a
storm forms down there and the cu up here does not progress in
development.

chase update 4/9 350pm

Mike U — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 20:52:39 +0000

I’ve adjusted my target northward to Pratt-Great Bend. I’m concerned
about the northward advancement of drier air/shallower moisture in
Oklahoma. There is a decent Cu field developing along the dryline
now, and I’m watching some decent vertical attempts to my southwest
from about 8 NE Pratt along Hwy 61.

chase day update 4/9 2:35pm

Mike U — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 19:38:59 +0000

I am parked on the south side of Greensburg along the dryline. South
wind here about 25 mph. There is a significant southwest momentum
surge to the west-southwest of me with winds 35 to 50 mph. I think
this will add to convergence in this area by 21-24z. I still feel
optimistic that a storm will develop along the dryline down here.
There is a cumulus field extending along a north-south line just to
the east of me… in the mid 60s dewpoints. I feel that the better
convergence will actually develop a bit southwest of me over the next
couple of hours and should see towering cu field form… hopefully….
from Laverne OK to Ashland KS or so