5/9/15 Colorado Tornadoes

Was going to try to post each chase log as it came this year... well-already 6 chases behind! Here is a start.

Started the day in Wichita Falls, TX and blasted northwest into southeast Colorado to play along the low. Unlike most, this was our target area (Lamar, CO) mostly because we had the best chance at making a play on numerous storms. Also, with weaker moisture than previously forecasted (due to numerous MCS's through the warm sector) the elevation would help overcome that. Development stared early on the NM/CO line and gradually moved northward. We got on it SW of Lamar and watched several attempts at organization. Finally it got its act together and a gorgeous cone/needle tornado developed (tornado #1).

 

After tornado #1, the storm had some great classic supercell structure just before producing again.

After roping out after about 20 minutes of being on the ground, another RFD cut around the base and a large cone tornado developed (tornado #2). A second satellite simultaneously developed and roped around the main circulation (tornado #3). The cone grew quite a bit (tornado #2).

 

Once the large tornado picked up, another rope tornado developed (tornado #4).

 Once the previous lifted, the storm tried several more times to develop a large tornado west of Cheyenne Wells, CO. As it moved north a very quick rope tornado developed and died after about 20-30 seconds (tornado #5).

 

 After some steak, we shot east to catch the long lived supercell producing tornadoes by Oakley, KS. We decided to watch it from the distance and got an awesome lightning timelapse.

Great chase! That makes 8 tornadoes on the year thus far with another setup coming this weekend! Thanks for checking out my page!

Chip