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This would be the last
chase day during my five day break from work and the prospects for organized
severe were not as great compared to the preceding days. Nonetheless,
I was off of work and made the most of a post-frontal target along the
Big Horns. I debated targeting the Black Hills, but as the late morning
wore on I noticed better Tds holding in SHR and GCC. I proceeded
south from Miles City to Biddle, MT to Gillette, WY before eventually observing
some TCu and MDT Cu improve to weak Cbs along the Big Horns.
It wasn't long before one Cb stood out from the crowd after having moved off the terrain. Here's a view from north of Recluse, WY looking NW at this developing, SVR-warned supercell. The only road options in these parts dropped off to dirt (no surprise), but amazingly remained very smooth and free of any washboard sections--always a bonus when chasing in a sedan! 1633 MDT |
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Given the distance
from the surrounding radar sites, this is still a pretty classic reflectivity
pattern of the mid and upper levels of this supercell. It wasn't
long before the storm motion turned ESE.
1639 MDT |
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Near the MT/WY border observing
a well-developed inflow band.
1648 MDT |
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Argghh!!! Open
range cattle! Meanwhile, a suspicious base in the distance attempts to further
organize.
1651 MDT |
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Rather photogenic scenery and storm
in one. The cattle cooperated and never once got in my way.
Dang, I was so looking forward to trying out my new cattle prod.*
* this is merely a joke. I do not, nor have I ever owned a cattle prod. I actually support PETA: People for the Eating and Tasting of Animals. 1651 MDT |
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The supercell seemed
to be undergoing a collective organization of smaller
cells; though the southernmost updraft base remained fairly well intact.
The lowered base in the background doesn't look like much, but it later produced a weakly rotating wall cloud that underwent a rapid, albeit lackluster occlusion. 1655 MDT |
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The occlusion mentioned above was
moist and became rather expansive in a short time. This appeared
to accelerate the storm motion and it soon became apparent this supercell
was turning to the right. Rather than proceed north into Montana,
I turned around to head east on the only east road out here...Olmstead
Rd.
1706 MDT |
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Now on Olmstead Rd
looking due north at the most compact and circular portion of the updraft.
1712 MDT |
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Just south of the most interesting
portion of the updraft (shown above) was this occluding circulation and
wall cloud. I believe this was the remnants of one of the smaller
cells from around 1655 MDT as its location was atypical. The opaque
RFD on the left occluded this in no time at all with little fanfare.
1719 MDT |
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Looking much more compact/organized
with a steady balance in place between the moist RFD and the updraft.
1731 MDT |
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My only east road came to an abrupt
end at HWY 59, so I let the supercell's RFD overtake me. Looking
north here just before a meager core settled in.
1737 MDT |
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I considered driving
east on a distant, poorly maintained dirt road to keep chase with this,
but the precip would quickly change the road to soup. So, I settled
for some views from the rear of the storm at the MT/WY border. Note
the hail falling here. The stones never exceeded an inch or so.
1744 MDT |
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Supercell and rainbow fading into
the distance before turning into a photogenic LP near Belle Fourche, SD.
1750 MDT |
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Time for a few additional
photos before making a grueling five hour drive home.
1806 MDT |
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