2008.05.26
Day 15: Cutting off the chase
RICHMOND, Ind. -- There is always a time on these storm chasing trips for them to end. Sometimes, there is an obvious break in the stormy pattern when it's time to move east. This year, it simply came down to the budget. Higher prices for gas and lodging led us to a decision on Sunday morning to return to Virginia on Memorial Day. So this is the last night that this particular chase team will be together. There is a certain amount of sadness that comes with that, as this group has bonded so well and experienced so much together over the past couple of weeks. But this has been an intense and memorable trip, one that each of us will need some time to digest. The stories will be retold for a lifetime, and the lessons learned by each of us will also last that long.
Not far from where we were in the morning, tornadoes have killed at least 8 people in Iowa and Minnesota. The nation's tornado death toll has topped 100 in a year for the first time since 1998, and we're not even to the halfway mark yet.
Severe weather looks likely to occur over many of the next several days in the nation's mid-section. But it is time for each of us to return to our lives in the East, all the while keeping a wary eye to the sky, knowing firsthand what havoc mere wind can wreak.
Follow Kevin's progress on this map.
The most recent video from Storm Chase 2008 was posted May 23. It shows a tornado near WaKeeney, Kansas.
For more on Storm Chase 2008, click here.






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Thank you for providing us insight into your trip. Glad you all are safe and enjoy the drive back.
Comment by Brandon R. — May 26, 2008 @ 1:21 am
Thanks so much for sharing your adventures with all of us. I have come to this blog every day to check and see what you guys have seen and experienced, and Kevin, your writing has been sooo engrossing, again, sometimes I found myself holding my breath as I read. Thankful all are safe and sound. Look forward to hearing all details and seeing the photos!!
Comment by Cindi Eaton — May 26, 2008 @ 6:32 pm
Thanks everyone for your support and prayers. I'm pretty exhausted right now, and there is a lot to absorb from this very intense trip.
Comment by Kevin Myatt — May 27, 2008 @ 10:30 am