|
|
|
|
Tour
#4: June 24-29 Mamma
Nature pulls a fast one on us for this tour, shifting into a mid-late Summer
pattern. A
closed low over the Appalachians and a growing ridge in the middle of the US
makes it quite complicated. Therefore
most of the intense weather is shunted way up into Canada, and Montana. We
intercept a building tower just south of North Platte NB. at supper time on Day
#3. This
storm slowly gathers with beautiful mountains of dark gray beneath a massive
anvil, and ragged prec. curtains below that include hail. The curtains visibly
dance in the wind; a rather eerie sight. This
storm eventually has a severe warning declared on it, and produces a rainbow as
well as an increasingly spectacular light show as evening progresses. We
position to 15 miles west of N. Platte to witness a powerful lightning show
unfold towards sunset. The storm keeps its severe warning, and lightning fills
the sky across the south, while dark curling mountains of newly building
thunderheads arise across the north, soon having lightning in them as well.
It is utterly breath taking in beauty and splendor. Dashes of electric
pink across the anvil cloud adds highlight as well. On
day #4, we position deeper into W. Central NB, to position within a slight risk
area north of a stationary front. We
enjoy driving through beautiful country, and greet a high-based storm with
occasional lightning, booming thunder and sheets of rain, but nothing severe
pans out, excepting well into Wyoming and into Canada. We
chase storms, mostly rainstorms back in OK on day #5, and drive to the middle of
a severe storm watch near Lawton OK that never even gives us a thundershower.
About 4 AM the next morning we awake to watch some great lightning
outside the motel. This
tour therefore focuses upon lots of sight seeing.
Among the places we visit, the Twister Museum is a hit, and we also get
interviewed by the newspaper in Liberal KS. |
Send mail to thundereye@juno.com with
questions or comments about this web site.
|