Sunday, June 14, 2009

 

Chasers:  Shawn Honomichl, Jon Meyer

 

Location: Western Nebraska and Southeast Wyoming

 

Thoughts about chasing in western Nebraska began about two days prior to Sunday the 14^th as the NAM demonstrated the potential for severe weather on the afternoon and evening of that day.  On the morning of the 14^th, the RUC suggested CAPE values reaching approximately 3800 j/kg around mid-afternoon in areas lying directly to the west of Scottsbluff near Torrington WY, and on the western Nebraska/Kansas border.   However, temperatures and dewpoints in the area only looked to be approaching low 80’s with dewpoints in the mid 60’s and relatively weak shear.

 

We decided to give it a try anyway so we headed to Scottsbluff to get ourselves in between the two areas where we expected CAPE values to be the highest.  Storms started firing off a little earlier than expected and the first tornado was reported near Chugwater, WY just as we approached Scottsbluff.  So we headed west towards the storm and lined ourselves along-side it on Highway 26 and followed it back towards Scottsbluff.  We got ahead of the storm and let it pass by us as it crossed Highway 71.  However, by this time, the storm had weakened.  The last reported tornado occurred at 2201 UTC, 15 miles west of Scottsbluff.  In all, the storm periodically dropped funnels and several tornadoes between Chugwater and Scottsbluff and produced 4.25” hail with reports of 12”-18” hail drifts in Platte and Goshen counties in WY.

 

We were about 20 minutes too late getting into the area, so we missed some of the more spectacular features of the storm, but it was still worth the trip! 

 

Check out more photos and a video of the storm:

 

June 14, 2009