April 6, 2006 storms in the Flint Hills.

On April 6, 2006, the National Weather Service issued a moderate risk of a severe storm outbreak across much of Kansas. A triple point formed in southern KS (I think I remember correctly). The national weather service had put much of eastern and central Kansas into a tornado watch by 1pm! The charts favored a big severe outbreak across central up to northeast KS, and into Nebraska. I decided to head west (from Topeka), after a being delayed. I didn't "storm chase" as much as I "picture chased" this day, knowing I didn't have the time to intercept the storms farther west. Most of these images are in Wabaunsee county. I'm glad I didn't head farther west, as I would have missed the heavy storms. Without a laptop cpu, I wouldn't have seen the dryline stall out farther south than anticipated, and would have more than likely busted on this trip. A few images I'm posting on this page are from another trip, near my new house in Alma. I was also delayed at home on the second trip (can't remember the date exactly, but it is around Apr10-15). I had bought new appliances this day, and they wouldn't fit through the door without taking the entrance door, and appliance doors off. Apparently, house entranceways weren't designed with modern electrical appliances in mind in 1876. ha ha ha. On the second chase, I had a decision to make. Do I drive like crazy to intercept a dopplar-indicated tornadic storm a small distance farther north, or head just a bit south and wait on a smaller, but rapidly developing storm to intercept me. Since the storms were moving NNE at 70+mph, I decided to wait out the smaller storm, even conditions were more favorable for supercell/tornadic development farther north, closer to the low pressure. This storm farther south had fewer storms around it at the time, therefore, it had more moisture and atmospheric instability to itsself, so I guessed that it could develop into something bigger. The local meteorlogist had said that the severe threat south of the interstate was dimishing at this time, which is where I was. I guessed correctly, however, as the storm intinsified, hitting me with around 60mph wind gusts and moderate sized hail. I saw a strange cloud forming, heading in my direction (at 60+mph!), so I had to move QUICKLY!! The cloud lasted only a few minutes, then disappated. It makes me wonder. This storm was tornado warned 2 counties farther to the north as a confirmed tornado did touch down briefly, causing minimal damage. Had this storm not been moving soooo fast, I probably would have continued to follow it. Once a storm passes by me moving at over 60mph, it is really hard to keep pace, expecially on twisty, winding state roads!