Outbreak Remnants

It would only be fitting that after having sat out yet another historic weather event that I would catch the remnants from at home. Such was the case Sunday evening as the squall line in advance of a strong cold front presently sliding across the nation kicked off enough sparks to warrant placing a camera on my neighbors balcony. Something is better than nothing I suppose but to continually come up short and be unable to experience this activity after all this time the way I would prefer has given me pause to think. With respect to this latest system which has pretty much checked me, on the bright side, it has brought sorely needed beneficial rain to the region.

Individual bands lifting from the SW caught my attention as I figured they might have linear structure.

Structure wasn't really noticeable once it was basically overhead unless you had a true wide angle which as you know I do not. A cameo by Spongebob made the session highly rewarding lol.

Look at all that good rain! In other news, I decided to shut down my Facebook for a few days so to focus on getting some work done including a new portrait assignment. More on that later...

ISS in April

For much of this month the US Midwest will be in line for daily passes of the International Space Station. This orbiting spacecraft is so large and reflective that it can be seen with the naked eye from earth. The pass I captured for Saturday April 7th was during the morning however, beginning Monday, the passes will mostly be in the evening. The scene below is comprised of 13 images spanning over a brief 5 minute period and shows the departing spacecraft as it disappears over the SE horizon (locals might recognize the steam plumes as coming from ADM/Staley's of Decatur IL). To have this aeronautical marvel of science and engineering slice across a night sky scene is an inspiring example of our space program. Appearing like a star canvassing the heavens that is the magnitude of Venus, for this coming week in particular, a number of long passes up to six minutes in length are expected. You can track local flyby times, length, and direction of travel for your area by visiting NASA's Human Space Flight page found HERE.

To learn more about the International Space Station including current missions as well as history and images, click HERE.

April First Storms

In the predawn hours of this past Sunday, a boundary lifting NE as a warm front sparked off a line of strong storms to the NW. Though activity was forecast to be no further S than along I-74 which runs N of my location, a rouge cell would develop at Lincoln and drop into my lap. Stuck at work unfortunately and unable to be in a more suitable location out in the country, I put a camera out to see what it would capture. Despite no awesome nocturnal structure for being washed out by city light, the event was a fitting entrance to a month when thunderstorm activity increases dramatically.

I'm the dot (c/o Spotter Network)

Once this cell passed, that was it for my location but my attention would be drawn to other regional storms further upstream. In the grab below (c/o Radarscope), a return indicative of strong downburst winds at Pekin captured my interest. The green would go white for the next scan thus signifying very intense winds. The warning at this time was for winds up to 70 MPH and it wouldn't have surprised me to have verified.

Both cells were reportedly producing hail up to the size of golfballs. Friends in that area were seeing and photographing intense lightning.