Monday, May 19, 2025

Supercell and Tornadoes // Northwest Kansas & Southwest Nebraska // 18 May 2025

 I latched onto a supercell south of St. Francis, Kansas during the afternoon of May 18th. After a benign core punch, I placed myself northeast of a wall cloud that was showing major signs of imminent tornadogenesis. However, the RFD wrapped around the circulation and the wall cloud dissipated quickly. I then had to race north toward Max, Nebraska in order to stay within viewing distance of the next potential tornado. This involved a more significant core punch involving large hail, strong rear-flank winds and torrential rain. I eventually emerged out of the hook echo and was immediately greeted with what was likely an anticyclonic circulation and/or weak tornado that accompanied the development of a very strong cyclonic tornado forming to its north. I couldn't see the cyclonic tornadic circulation due to dust, rain, and poor contrast, but I did get clipped by the anticyclonic circulation, which pushed my truck sideways almost off the highway. I then raced north to Palisade and Hayes Center, watched a core of heavy rain that hid a possible tornado, and sampled another round of very large hail. The chase was essentially over at this point and I began the long journey east back to Omaha through multiple rounds of heavy MCS rain and wind.

 









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Cyclic Tornadic Supercell // West Texas & Far Eastern New Mexico // 5 June 2025

 Overnight convection left a pronounced outflow boundary draped across West Texas and Eastern New Mexico by mid to late morning of June 5th....