Memorial Day

While most people were enjoying the holiday, it was just another day for me. Such is life but anyways, as I was heading down to check my mail, I had the unfortunate pleasure of running over a massive heat buckle on US 51S between the I-72/US36 split and the Sangamon River. The location was somewhat obscured for being on an incline and impossible to miss. Despite the massive impact *THUD* my vehicle was spared. Two others pulled to the shoulder up ahead however, weren't so fortunate with multiple blow outs and front end issues. Rather than continue, I backed up and threw on my flashers as well as reported the buckle. Not surprisingly, many motorists still hit the fault at full speed. Another gentleman came along and between the both of us, tried our best to alert drivers till a State Trooper arrived. I tend to stay away from getting involved in roadway incidents but from the experience of careless drivers flying by, I can appreciate the need for high visibility attire despite the flack some people get for wearing them. The near exhausted flare seen below was mine for I do at least keep a roadside safety kit. Exchanging dialogue with the officer, I offered a weather update since he was concerned about incoming storms that for the most part fizzled. Just before leaving he asked that I check on the disabled motorists and inform them that additional assistance was en route. That was an experience as well for according to their testimony, I was the only one to stop (one was a mom with her kids). This bothers me as it happens all too often but is typical of the world in which we live where the vast majority of humans are not concerned with the plight nor well being of others. Little did I know this was only the beginning of a rather eventful afternoon...



After getting my mail, I noticed a large plume of smoke to the west and learned it was an oil tank that had been struck by lightning from south of Mt. Auburn. At first I was relatively far but would venture much closer. The firefighter I spoke to from the vantage I ended up at told me one of the tanks erupted shortly after they arrived and generated an enormous fireball as well as mushroom cloud. Thankfully no one was hurt.








Upstream, the smoke appeared to pool against what I believe was a surface outflow boundary and in turn developed laminar characteristics.

Giant Puffball

Last Sunday evening...

Dude you should totally climb this!


What do you think?


Made it!


What's this?

Wednesday's Severe Weather

Supercells with a history of producing damaging tennis ball sized hail over East Central Illinois developed across the mid-state Wednesday. A somewhat photogenic early cell to go up in NW Macon County quickly earned warning and would be the one I followed into Piatt County. Ava had a softball game scheduled for this evening so I wasn't out for long.

















As the cold outflow ejected from the back of the storm and traveled westward, it encountered warm, moist air coming in from the southwest. Where these contrasting air masses collided, scud clouds condensed. As they rapidly ascended, the combination of upward vertical velocity coupled with mild directional shear generated very large, brief, slender vortexes akin to steam devils. I tried to get video of this phenomena but was unsuccessful. Regardless, it was by far the coolest thing I saw all day. More on this significant hail event including pictures c/o the National Weather Service can be seen HERE.


Dying cell coming in from Logan County after the game.


and on Thursday, a weak system encountering dry air passed through the region producing a scene I thought worthy of pulling over for.

More May

Attempting to get caught up as I have been all over the place this month, the one thing that has remained consistent is the desire to get shots when opportunity presents. Probably shouldn't be so aggressive as I've been overwhelmed while dealing with some nuisance pain but it's just natural for me to see something and want to get it for people that weren't there to see it firsthand.

Way back on the 9th, a line of sub-severe storms bubbled up across the mid-state and made for a worthy stop while running errands.


Dalton City








On the 12th, while heading into work, a well timed but exhausted frontal passage with minimal lightning made for an interesting commute.


I liked how nearby Warrensburg illuminated the underside.


ENE towards Argenta


Decatur and Forsyth


Decatur


Later that night, more storms with occasional lightning developed. Sorry for the raindrop but thought it was still worth sharing.


On the 15th, while out on errands again, a line of marginal storms lifting from the SW having interesting leading edge features made for an interesting drive through Christian County. An anomalous upper level system with considerable cold air aloft and responsible for below average temperatures last week was the catalyst for this event.












Rapidly ascending scud bomb.


On the overnight when the center of the upper low moved through the region, an associated boundary passage made for an unbelievable time lapse opportunity seen at the end.

Mother's Day

Sunday May 11th was interesting not only for a complex of thunderstorms to lift through the area before dawn but additional afternoon activity would create the perfect backdrop during a visit to Lake Decatur. While there, a particular severe warned cell over Shelby county complete with daytime moon would have been fine on its own but the experience took an exciting turn when a vintage B17 flying out of Decatur appeared on the horizon. It would pass almost directly overhead, bank west, loop to the south, curve back north and then make another appearance before landing. To pair the "Flying Fortress" against an angry mass of boiling cumulonimbus clouds ranks as one my favorite shots yet.





She dressed up for her mom.