Sunday the 26th

The cold air that would ultimately aid in wreaking havoc on the southern US made its presence known across the Central Illinois region in a BIG way this day. Heading out of town a short distance to see what would happen with associated lead cloud, I was initially skeptical that we would get a decent sunset given the amount of blockage on the horizon. Holes in the deck coupled with the early bright white upper cloud that is a often a good sign of uninhibited sunlight to the far west suggested I remain patient.







And then it happened!
























A few hours later an expected arctic cold front complete with squall line plowed through the region. There was very little precipitation with passage at my location yet a few upper cloud lightning flashes were observed. Winds screaming in from the NW dropped the temperature as much as 15 degrees in as many minutes. A peak wind gust of 53 MPH was reported at Decatur with 61 at Pana and 64 at Danville! I wish I had dashcam video capability so to capture the volume of dirt and small debris blowing off of the fields. It was without a doubt one of the most intense frontal passages I have personally experienced.


c/o RadarScope

NW




NE


SW


N


W


N again.


Behind the line, now over Decatur IL

Snow Rollers / Power Squall

Stepping outside before dawn on Saturday the 25th, I discovered that the area was treated to a surprise encounter in that a semi-rare snow roller event had occurred. Temperatures had moderated somewhat so that the snow to fall through the overnight had a slightly higher moisture content. Strong winds accompanying the system caused surface chunks to break loose and 'roll' into small orbs. The last time I witnessed this phenomena was with a big event in February of 2003 (link) and had wanted the opportunity to one day see it again. It would figure that this January on steroids would be the one to finally make it happen!

iPhone pic
















As if the rollers weren't enough, a strong frontal boundary having exceptionally high winds and little to no precipitation would pass later this morning. Any snow rollers would be annihilated but this event in and of itself was of equal significance for generating near white out conditions. Area roads quickly became drifted over and treacherous even though there was no snow falling as it was old pack streaming entirely off of the fields! Pictures only tell part of the story for there were countless snow vortexes as well as a considerable amount of topsoil mixing with the snow adding to the airborne discoloration I observed.










Continuing SE, same tree as above. Seems peaceful yet I was getting "snow blasted!"

Aurora Bust

Back on the 9th, I headed up to Northern Illinois so to escape a cloud deck hanging over the southern half of the state. The intent was to shoot a 'powerful' incoming CME and the associated aurora borealis that was forecast to occur. I would end up spending 12 hours in a vehicle with no heat out in -6°F air with a wind chill of -12°F on what would be one of the biggest space busts in recent history. At the target destination of Rochelle Illinois and a popular stop for photographers, I came away mildly frostbitten but not entirely empty handed.


c/o RadarScope







Inspired by the support and encouragement received on Facebook, my Fine Art America account has been resurrected so to make the above images available as printed items. They will only be up for a limited time. For more on this opportunity, please click HERE.

Grabbing a quick wind farm shot at Minonk on the way back, I was entirely too tired and cold to care about composition but just wanted something for reference. I have not been north of Bloomington since before 2000 and have yet to visit Chicago or St. Louis (believe it or not).

Heavy Rime Ice

On the advisement of a friend, I took a ride up to Clinton Lake in Dewitt County to check out an area that is unfrozen. The heated discharge from the Clinton Nuclear Power Plant enables a vast stretch of water to remain open and is a haven for wildlife as well as fog phenomena. On the morning I visited it was blustery with an air temperature of 17°F and a wind chill of 11°F. Skies were overcast and the steam was not spinning up into giant spouts like what my friend observed a day before when conditions were ideal. Regardless, there was much to see including heavy Rime Ice forming due to a constant stream of moisture blowing against all exposed surfaces that was by far the thickest I have ever seen.



Distant eagle and a few gulls.


Brief time lapse video of the fog riding up and over a weak thermal boundary as result of wind break behind and to the right, note the downstream build up of rime ice.


Now downwind of the video location and in direct shot of the wind coming off the lake, the passing geese were having a very difficult time.


Looking into the fog, the wind was brutal.


Now back at a more sheltered location.






Breakfast to go!




and another but it was not so lucky on this attempt...






Skies would clear momentarily and give me something to work with.




What a difference the light makes!