Storm Chase May 16-20, 2013

I took 11 days off to chase storms this May. After nearly a week with no storms, I got antsy and headed north to South Dakota, where it looked like storms would form in a couple days. I spent a day exploring the Badlands area. Storms developed farther to the south the next few days; so I ended up driving through Nebraska and on through Kansas Oklahoma and north Texas before returning to Colorado. 5 days, 2,400 miles, and three tornadoes along with numerous powerful storms--quite a trip!

Badlands Storm. Afternoon thunderstorms move through the Badlands.
Badlands Storm

Badlands Storm. Afternoon thunderstorms move through the Badlands. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Flowers and Storms
Flowers and Storms

Flowers and Storms Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Kansas Supercell Stromg winds swirl around the base of a tornadic supercell in central Kansas
Kansas Supercell

Kansas Supercell Stromg winds swirl around the base of a tornadic supercell in central Kansas. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Hail for Hays. Tennis Ball sized hail falls from this Kansas storm.
Hail for Hays

Hail for Hays. Tennis Ball sized hail falls from this Kansas storm. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Kansas Mothership Supercell takes on a 'mothership' appearance.
Kansas Mothership

Kansas Mothership Supercell takes on a 'mothership' appearance. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Downburst A microburst, or strong downward winds, kicks up dust at the base of a Kansas thunderstorm
Downburst

Downburst A microburst, or strong downward winds, kicks up dust at the base of a Kansas thunderstorm. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Silver Crown. Sun rays light the back of a thunderstorm.  
Silver Crown

Silver Crown. Sun rays light the back of a thunderstorm.

Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Invisible Threat. A tornado drops from a Kansas supercell thunderstorm. This tornado has no condensation funnel, but you can...
Invisible Threat

Invisible Threat. A tornado drops from a Kansas supercell thunderstorm. This tornado has no condensation funnel, but you can see it is a tornado from the debris cloud and cloud funnel. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Gray Spin. Brief tornado drops from a supercell in southern Kansas.
Gray Spin

Gray Spin. Brief tornado drops from a supercell in southern Kansas. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Twisted A tornado ropes out above my head. This tornado formed right behind me as I was chasing the parent storm. It was probably...
Twisted

Twisted A tornado ropes out above my head. This tornado formed right behind me as I was chasing the parent storm. It was probably no more than a couple hundred yards away. I lost my nerve and floored it to get ahead of the twister; by the time I pulle dover the tornado was already dissipating. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Extreme Instability. Massive turbulence in a severe storm.
Extreme Instability

Extreme Instability. Massive turbulence in a severe storm. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Electric Company I pulled off the road and walked out into a field to photograph this amazing lightning display over a power...
Electric Company

Electric Company I pulled off the road and walked out into a field to photograph this amazing lightning display over a power plant in northern Oklahoma. Lighting strikes were occurring nearly constantly throughout the storm. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Cauliflower Clouds Strong updrafts cause towering thunderstorms to take on a strikig appearance.
Cauliflower CLouds

Cauliflower Clouds Strong updrafts cause towering thunderstorms to take on a strikig appearance. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Wall Cloud A rotating wall cloud forms at the base of a supercell thunderstorm.
Wall Cloud

Wall Cloud A rotating wall cloud forms at the base of a supercell thunderstorm. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Texas Trouble. Strong storm moves through a Texas wheat field. The green color is caused by large hail suspended in the cloud...
Texas Trouble

Texas Trouble. Strong storm moves through a Texas wheat field. The green color is caused by large hail suspended in the cloud. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Big Texan What storm chase would be complete without a stop at the Big texan, home of the 72 Oz steak? :)
Big Texan

Big Texan What storm chase would be complete without a stop at the Big texan, home of the 72 Oz steak? :) Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.