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Waking up in Devils
Lake, ND, I planned on chasing near Bismarck as the cold front was to stall
along a rough line from DVL-BIS-GCC. Given the relatively short drive,
I took my time packing up and once on the road I occasionally stopped to
photograph these awesome convective outflow waves as they encountered a
highly stable lower layer.
Once in Bismarck, I pulled up the 18Z sounding and immediately ditched this area as a target given a monster cap. I monitored obs along the front and eventually realized that if I was to chase anything today I needed to be much farther west where upslope forcing would be available. So, I began a grueling drive west to Miles City, MT where upon arrival at ~1730 MDT there was limited evidence to suggest the cap was budging. Not good! 1029 CDT |
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I eventually drifted
south of Miles City to Tongue River Rd where I monitored some meager convection
developing in northeast WY. Later I observed an impressive TCu cycling
well to my NW in Garfield County, but this too would fall short of becoming
something better. Any upslope convection to my west was looking dismal,
so I went back to Miles City thinking the day was shot. While en
route, I noticed a few worthwhile radar returns explode in Wheatland County.
I shot west on I-94 to HWY 12 where I was eventually presented with this
view.
2004 MDT |
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Looking west at a supercell approaching
Roundup, MT. There's actually two updraft structures with the rightmost
showcasing a bell-shaped base. I was still a good 30+ miles away from
this and it seemed forever before I arrived within a reasonable viewing
range!
2025 MDT |
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Here's a better view
of the dual cell structure. On radar, the northern (right) cell was
rotating quite vividly with very little rotation evident within the southern
cell.
2032 MDT |
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Fantastic anvil contrast and colors
with a half moon (aka quarter moon) visible in the upper left.
2033 MDT |
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As this is Montana,
road options are typically few and far between. Upon arrival in Melstone,
I proceeded south on a washboard dirt road called Melstone-Custer Rd with
the inent of positioning myself in the SE quadrant of this storm.
Unfortunately, the gravel chunks on this road were so large that my progress
slowed significantly.
2044 MDT |
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Looking west as the dual cell structure
from earlier sure appeared to be undergoing a merger.
2047 MDT |
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Some nicely developed
mammatus to the northeast.
2049 MDT |
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Looking south at the shelf cloud
overtaking my road. I was averaging only around 35 mph on this crummy
dirt road and soon realized I'd be overtaken by the supercell. I
pulled over to document my certain demise with photos, but the hail never
exceeded 2". I still received a small crack in my windshield, but
this was mere child's play compared to the 4.25" stones that fell near
Roundup earlier this evening!
2108 MDT |
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Looking NW towards
the distant, cyclonically-sheared portion of the updraft.
2108 MDT |
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Looking west at a menacing shelf
cloud with a barrage of hailstones following on its heels.
2108 MDT |
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One more view before
my I'm swallowed up! On radar, the southern end of this structure
was showing more prominence and would soon attain persistent rotation.
2109 MDT |
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After my dirt road merged with another
crummy dirt road (310), I quickly found myself on the SW flank of the supercell.
I wanted to pull over and snap some structure and lightning shots in the
faint twilight, but I still had a long ways to go before getting to the
nearest paved east road...I-94 in Custer.
This shot was taken much later on near Forsyth. The lightning show was incredible! 2225 MDT |
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2229 MDT
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All these photos were taken on Sarpy
Rd, just off I-94. Why am I typing this, you ask? Well, it
was at this location where I almost backed my car into a barely visible
pond overgrown by grass and weeds. To make matters worse, the farm
field entrance was quite narrow and I seriously misjudged the room available.
Upon stepping out of my car I noticed I was only a mere foot or two from
the edge of a steep man-made pond!
2230 MDT |
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Looking NNE as the
supercell continues its long journey across open ranch land. This
supercell would soon dissipate near Miles City allowing me a chance to
recover from this exhaustive day full of driving, adrenaline and crappy
dirt roads!
2235 MDT |
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