2009
8-19-09 HP Supercells - Sangamon & Macon County,IL
Storm Reports
http://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/reports/090819_rpts.html
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/ilx/?n=19aug09
During mid-day of August 19th, a line of embedded HP supercells broke out across far western Illinois. Many of these produced tornadoes/brief touchdowns and microbursts as they progressed throughout all of Central Illinois, flattening corn fields, damaging homes ect. It was a dangerous day for those chasing or stuck out in it due to the tornadoes being heavily rainwrapped. Unless you had good knowledge of radar and storm structure, heading into these storms would of been potential suicide. I positioned myself in eastern Sangamon County to intercept the Loami cell, which was already producing significant damage. Moving in on the southeastern portion of the circulation I noticed a Tornado peaking out of the rainshaft to my northwest. I got within a quarter of a mile from this hidden tornado before the strong circulating leading edge over took my car, bringing very intense winds... I bailed east out of the leading edge as I had a fear of another circulation/tornado devloping to my SW, catching me off guard. Fortunately i made it safely east out of harms way after dodging multiple vehicles pulled off the road bracing for impact. It's usually people who don't keep tabs on when severe weather is taking place that get caught up, and out of nowhere a killer storm is on the approach. Severe weather is nothing to take lightly, especially tornadoes. Anyone reading this new to storm chasing or just browsing, remember, just because you can't see the tornado, doesn't mean it's not there. Tornadic HP supercells are the most dangerous type of storm because you can't see the tornado, as it's usually covered by rain shafts out ahead of the tornado/hook echo. I wouldn't advise attempting storm chasing, especially these types(HP), without proper training and equipment...
http://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/reports/090819_rpts.html
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/ilx/?n=19aug09
During mid-day of August 19th, a line of embedded HP supercells broke out across far western Illinois. Many of these produced tornadoes/brief touchdowns and microbursts as they progressed throughout all of Central Illinois, flattening corn fields, damaging homes ect. It was a dangerous day for those chasing or stuck out in it due to the tornadoes being heavily rainwrapped. Unless you had good knowledge of radar and storm structure, heading into these storms would of been potential suicide. I positioned myself in eastern Sangamon County to intercept the Loami cell, which was already producing significant damage. Moving in on the southeastern portion of the circulation I noticed a Tornado peaking out of the rainshaft to my northwest. I got within a quarter of a mile from this hidden tornado before the strong circulating leading edge over took my car, bringing very intense winds... I bailed east out of the leading edge as I had a fear of another circulation/tornado devloping to my SW, catching me off guard. Fortunately i made it safely east out of harms way after dodging multiple vehicles pulled off the road bracing for impact. It's usually people who don't keep tabs on when severe weather is taking place that get caught up, and out of nowhere a killer storm is on the approach. Severe weather is nothing to take lightly, especially tornadoes. Anyone reading this new to storm chasing or just browsing, remember, just because you can't see the tornado, doesn't mean it's not there. Tornadic HP supercells are the most dangerous type of storm because you can't see the tornado, as it's usually covered by rain shafts out ahead of the tornado/hook echo. I wouldn't advise attempting storm chasing, especially these types(HP), without proper training and equipment...
8-16-09 Shelf Cloud over Long Grove Cemetery - Macon County,IL
My prediction of an approaching line of storms moving over one of my favorite cemeteries was spot on. I've been after a "Gravestorm" scene for years.
7-28-09 Arcus Cloud on Outflow Boundary - Macon County,IL
7-24-09(Arcus Shelf) , 6-27-09(MCS Shelf),6-24-09(wall cloud),6-25-09(Mammatus Anvil) - Macon County,IL
6-21-09 Mini Supercell - Macon County Illinois
As instability increased north of a nearly stationary warm front, a lone Mini Supercell broke out in far eastern Sangamon County before tracking southeast through southwestern Macon County. Just outside of Niantic I would intercept, as a persistant Wall Cloud formed shortly before the storm became tornado warned. A very distinct funnel or maybe even brief tornado developed near Findlay area in a field. Just can't say for since I can't visually see ground contact, but looked to be at least 3/4 way to the ground. As far as I know I was the only chaser on this cell at birth, and at it's peak.
6-19-09 Supercell & Squalls - Macon, Logan, and Dewitt Counties.
During this moderate risk day, three separate waves of storms moved through Central Illinois. Supercells broke out in the mid-afternoon hours to kick off the first round... As one became svr warned in McLean County, I chose to hang back and wait for additional supercell development to the south of this cell. Sitting near Kenney Illinois watching a large base, the next supercell began to form, with a persistent rotating Wall Cloud... This would go on to be the storm of the day, with a Tornado reported near the IL/IN border. The next wave would bring a large svr warned squall line through most of central Illinois, causing wind damage in many locations. To finish off the day, a Cold Front creeping in produced an ominous Shelf Cloud at sunset near Latham Illinois. Was an active day to say the least...
6-2-09 Shelf Cloud with leading edge circulations - Macon & Dewitt County,IL
Warm front lifting north out of Southern IL and Eastern MO triggered an MCS style complex over Central Illinois(macon county), which produced an onimous Shelf Cloud, with weak spin ups and huge gustnadoes. I intercepted in W Macon County, and followed North to central Dewitt County Illinois.
6-1-09 Svr Warned Complex - San Jose, Illinois
5-30-09 Supercells - Central, IL
Several mini supercells broke out across Illinois during mid-afternoon...I intercepted the big one of the day near western Douglas County, then headed back west to Macon and Christian Counties to intercept yet another sliding southeast out of Sangamon County.
5-26-09 Sub SVR supercellular storm - Western Macon County,IL
5-15-09 Tornadic HP Supercell - Northwest Macon County,IL
With a warm front lifting north through East Central MO & Central Illinois, a large complex formed in Eastern MO before pushing east into Central IL. This storm had tornado warnings throughout most of it's life, and seemed to reach it's peak over Central IL/Macon County.
5-7-09 SVR Warned Mini Supercell - Macon County,IL
Fairly classic day with supercell storms expected by late afternoon across C IL...Toward sunset, a fairly long track mini supercell moving into NW Macon County provided a very photogenic structure. Had slight tornadic potential, just didn't have time to get itself organized before another cell in the area smashed into it. Had it been alone, might of seen something here...
4-5-09 Rotating Wall Cloud w/ funnels- Clay County,IL & Shelf Cloud - Edgar County,IL
3-24-09 Mammatus Anvil & 3-18-09 Outflow
3-7-09 Roll Cloud at dusk - Northern Macon County,IL
2-11-09 Fog Shelf Cloud - Northern Macon County,IL
