Leap Year Storms

Tragic events unfolding since midnight would fall within the technical start of meteorological spring were this not a leap year with an extra calendar day that otherwise does not exist. Between the first observed February tornado in Nebraska's recorded history as well as damaging storms in KS, MO and IL, yesterday along with today will not be forgotten anytime soon. Awaking at 2AM, I took off with the intent of shooting lightning or structure on a squall line that was screaming in at an estimated 60MPH. Rather than try to get in the path of the worst which extended from Vandalia south, I stopped just N of Pana and set up at a familiar location to get a non severe portion of the squall line as it went over the city for there was absolutely no lightning to work with. Were it not for the available light of Pana to the S as well as distant Assumption to the N, there would be nothing to see. Winds howling out of the SW at 30MPH in near total darkness despite being in a relatively safe area was unsettling. Southern Illinois was particularly hard hit this morning which is not surprising given the intense returns and warnings that were ongoing while I shot. One can only imagine how terrifying the experience was and my hope at the time of this post is that loss of life is minimal. Thoughts are with those affected including some friends who were down that way and are a little shook up from this event.







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Weldon Springs / More Galleries

Monday afternoon I took a quick drive around the lake at Weldon Springs. Not expecting to see much let alone come home with anything interesting, a lone gull would change that. On the hunt for fish, it made a noble but ultimately unsuccessful catch attempt from within range. Towards the end I spotted a swimming beaver that upon each surface would raise its tail out of the water. I have no idea why it did this but believe it may have been to help keep it steady against the stiff headwind of the time.

Retreating Boundary

Early Thursday morning we had a line of showers lift from the SW along an advancing warm front. This boundary stalled in the I-72 vicinity and then by midday, began to slowly transition and retreat to the S as a cold front. The apex of this boundary or in other words the pivotal center axis where the warm front to the E lifts N while the cold front to the W wants to drop S was basically overhead. This is not unusual as it is found with every low pressure system and most people pay little to no attention. Normally I would not be concerned however, I couldn't sleep Thursday so upon waking and poking my head outside, I noted interesting cloud textures and decided to step out. Heading S into Christian and then Shelby counties so to place myself ahead of this boundary, the turbulent base was very photogenic. This was not a storm nor was there any significant weather associated other than a wind shift and temperature drop. Between strong SE winds backing into the distant parent low to the SW and in turn colliding with this feature however, the trip was still worthwhile. Temperatures in the middle to upper 50's were reason enough to get out since this would be the last mild day for awhile.





After allowing the above to move on but still along the same boundary, my attention turned to a new area of disturbed weather on the approach from the NW between Assumption and Pana. A true wide angle lens would have done the scene better justice but at least the most dramatic aspects are shown.










and finally, from Friday morning, it is still Winter of course but fortunately not much longer.