Football Storms

After not participating last year because the program wasn't available for her age group (peewee vs. JFL), Ava is back doing cheerleading again for the Cardinals. This was my first game since 2011 so it would only be fitting that a weak frontal boundary dropping into the region would 'kick off' an appropriate backdrop. The Sangamon Valley 'STORM' lagged up until the half but played strong for the second yet couldn't get it done. It was still an exciting game albeit hot with evening index values still in the mid 90's. Warrensburg 32, Illiopolis 18

Moonlit Storms

Hoping for a front lit, moon lit storm like last month but from out in the country, an early morning cluster dropping into the region on Thursday would dissipate on arrival and rob me of a desired shot. Initially I was going to time lapse the scene below but the haze made for a low contrast animation so I skipped it. It was still a worthwhile moment of peace which seems so hard to find these days.







Early Friday morning a cell cluster developing along an outflow boundary drifting through the area made for a better time lapse scene though I would have preferred to be much further south and out in the country, maybe next month.

Blue Moon / Ava Morphs

Between last night's shot as well as a few ideas Ava and I kicked around this summer, some things only happen "Once in a Blue Moon"

Emerging Cicada

Arriving home, this guy was occupying my parking spot.

Second Week of August

The annual Perseid meteor shower did not disappoint this year and on the 10th I had a camera pointed up from my location just north of Decatur. As an impromptu foreground subject, I placed a few roses on a shed roof ledge for which Perseus must have approved :)









Early on the 12th I was out again with a roses offering only this time covered the ledge and had a little fun with T-Rex. Perseus must've liked my attempt at humor for he gave me my brightest meteor yet!


On the evening of the 12th after Ava's celebratory birthday dinner, I had a few minutes to myself to travel just outside of town and get a perfectly timed incoming storm.








Similar feature on the leading edge as my post from the other day. Tried to get it with the 300m before dissipating.




On passage.

Slow Moving Boundary

Storms developing along an extremely slow moving cold front on the 7th eventually collapsed into an equally slow moving striated outflow boundary. This boundary provided several panorama opportunities before passing overhead with minimal activity only to trigger new development to the south after sunset.

Northeast Macon County




Northwest Macon County








From southeast of Mt. Pulaski is where it became interesting for at one point while driving, I noticed a slender, semi-transparent tube extending to the ground along the slow moving gust front. It dissipated by the time I pulled over however, leading edge funnel clouds persisted. The outflow boundary was angled SE to NW and traveling S which I believe aided in enhancing low level shear under new updrafts to produce possible landspouts. Rotation was easily discernible and you can still see remnants of the tube as faint discoloration descending from the foremost area in the first image. Cool air spreading outward from the parent cell would undercut this feature and effectively shut down the entire process.




Facing north along I-72 as the previous storm rained itself out, the boundary continued south to generate new convection with lightning at dusk in Northern Christian County.

Fogbow

Clear skies, ample moisture and temperatures in the low 60's resulted in a unique atmospheric optic phenomena.