Randy Baker,
Phil Kurimski,
Mark Rader,
Kirk Swain
Target:
Bella Fourche, SD
Distance:
723 miles (4 states)
Duration:
˜14 hours
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Partners: Randy Baker, Phil Kurimski, Mark Rader, Kirk Swain Target: Bella Fourche, SD Distance: 723 miles (4 states) Duration: ˜14 hours |
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This was the first full day of chasing on my week-long adventure. As I would find out, the other guys were as hardcore about chasing as I am. We headed out of O'Neill, Nebraska and took 83 north into South Dakota...then took 90 west towards Rapid City, SD. A nice supercell developed to the east of Rapid City as we approached the city. However the outflow from the storm pushed out ahead, cutting off its updraft. So we headed further northwest into Alzada, Montana to better shear and lower LFC heights. Storms developed across the southern end of the Big Horn Mountain range in Wyoming, so we went southwest to Gillette. On the way to Gillette, we stopped at Devil's Tower to get some pics of this amazing structure. In Gillette we noticed one storm was intensifying so we took Highway 50 southwest of Gillette, as a Tornado Warning was issued. We intercepted the storm 13 miles southwest of Gillette, around 725 pm MDT, where we experienced hail up to dime size...but did not see any signs of a tornado. Storm reports indicated a tornado later, which we did not see evidence of. The storm produced frequent lightning so we wisely stayed in our vehicle as it overtook us. After the storm passed, we viewed a rainbow, very photogenic mammatus clouds, and crepuscular rays as the sun set behind the storm. We drove back to Rapid City and spent the night. Several pics of our adventure are posted below. This day left me no doubt that I was in for a hardcore week of chasing!!!
 Devil's Tower, WY |
 Kirk adjusts his improved roof top cam, ZOROCAM II |
 Crepuscular rays after the storm passed |
 Rainbow and faint secondary rainbow |
 Another shot of the rainbows |
 Sun setting in the wake of the storm |
 Pronghorn antelope on a nearby ridge line |
The sun illuminates the underside of the mammatus |
 Mammatus on the bottom of the anvil |
 Another shot of the incredible mammatus |