2009.05.29
Storm Chase Day 9: A frustrating day, an early night
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BELLEVILLE, Kan. -- It just wasn't moist enough. Though there was a cold front pressing south and signals of wind shear aloft we haven't seen the entire trip, dew points hung in the 40s all around us in southern Nebraska. It's hard to wring high-end storms out of that. A few did fire late in the day over northwest Nebraska, diving southeast, but by that time we were out of range, and the storms weren't particularly spectacular, anyway.
We turned in early (5:30 p.m. ... very rare on a chase trip!) at Belleville, Kansas, a small-town in north-central Kansas. We begin our long trip east back to Blacksburg on Saturday, but we will be traveling through areas that carry the potential for severe weather, so adding a chase to a long and mostly stormless trip might yet be possible.
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You are all a tough bunch. Hope the trip back yields some weather for the weary watchers!!!
Comment by Gail — May 29, 2009 @ 9:25 pm
Kevin, despite not witnessing some mammoth storms this year, you still managed to provide us readers a wonderful scenic journey! I always feel as though I'm right there alongside you in those vehicles! Not being able to travel myself outside of the Roanoke valley, I've certainly come to look forward to your annual spring pilgramages into the great midwest and sometimes beyond! btw...I became "hooked" in following your journeys in 2008 with those final exciting days of frightening ferocious weather!
And sll the splendid photography is much appreciated, too! What spectacular cloud formations occur west of Virginia...scary, ominous ones at that. Thanks for sharing those and taking the time to write such wonderful detailed accounts of your travel. I sense the courage it take to be a "storm chaser".
Your passion for meteorology is much appreciated and your column is one of my favorite at the Roanoke Times year-round. Keep up the good work!
You make weather "fun" and interesting to read about, without fail, every single time.
....Have a safe trip home.
Comment by Don — May 30, 2009 @ 2:41 pm