Well the new severe weather season is here…Hurray!

I had my first chase of the season on March 10th, a short but exciting venture covering 4 states (AR, OK, MO & KS) but less than 150 miles.

I drove to Joplin, MO and parked at the Highway 71/I-44 intersection, waiting for the storms to fire in the SW, which they did late afternoon.  I started west on I-44 and then cut north on 400 in KS.  Double score, I avoided the toll booths on 44 and intercepted this little system with a ragged shelf cloud as it passed over Baxter Springs, KS.

From Baxter Springs, I hurried back to the east, trying to get in front of the system that was currently in Seneca, MO.  That cell was traveling NE at 45mph+, and I ran out of county road east before I could get in front of it.  Adding to the fun:  the local (Joplin) radio station reported a tornado on the ground south of Neosho, just two miles from my position and moving directly towards me.  2 miles@45mph= 2 minutes and 40 seconds…hmm.

I was soon enveloped in the hail core and the pea and marble sized hail came hard and fast.  It was very dark and visibility was poor;  I was on the wrong side of the storm.

Luckily, hail and some wind was the worst I saw, but I did have a couple of stimulating minutes.  The core passed me by very quickly, leaving the ground and roadway covered in a thin layer of ice.

I learned some things on this chase, and I now realize how quickly one can become trapped in an unfavorable (and potentially dangerous) position.  Sometimes, it might be best just to “let it go”.  Nah, screw that, I’d do it again.

JB

3/13/10

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