|
Earlier I had passed the COD crew and gave a hasty hello before moving south on HWY 21. I needed to build some distance ASAP between me and the supercell. Not long after having turned east on PR 343, I looked north and noticed a lowered base on the front flank with a modest tapered extension. I immediately stopped and picked up the camera in time to capture this developing tornado. 2041 CDT |
|
Well developed tornado! Despite looking very much like
other chasers' photos and videos of the Pipestone tornado early on, this is a completely different tornado that formed after the famous Pipestone event. My telephoto lens was not with me today, so I had a tough time framing this
tightly. No photo cropping in this photo. 2042 CDT
|
 |
 |
A wide angle view of the HP supercell with tornado. I wanted to run into the grass to remove the power lines from my view, but it was just too mushy down there. 2042 CDT |
|
Nice guitar pick appearance.
I had jumped up on my car's trunk to get a better view of the tornado's
base, but the distant hill was just too much. 2043 CDT
|
 |
 |
At this point the tornado had recessed into the shadows and contrast became very poor; however, precip hadn't wrapped around it yet. I highlighted the vortex here, but the linked photo shows how it actually appeared. Bottom line: very difficult for most spotters to observe this. 2045 CDT |
|
I wasn't sure if the tornado was
still in progress at this point or not, but for my safety I assumed it
was and kept moving SE by zig-zagging on gravel roads. I'm still
amazed how fast this supercell closed the gap with me by this point. 2049 CDT
|
 |
 |
Just four minutes later the RFD and shelf cloud were overtaking the road behind me. 2053 CDT |
|
Same time, but looking north at a
gorgeous mesocyclone. Note the tail cloud (just above the ground)
and beaver's tail farther north. Would you have a suspicion that
a tornado may be in progress? Well according to the survey it is. 2053 CDT
|
 |
 |
TIME: 2114 CDT *Tornado is still in progress
somewhere in there* I really thought for whatever reason that
the tornado was over with by this time, but instead it was still hidden
from view. Looking NW from the intersection of PR 448 and PH 10.
According to the survey another tornado developed a few miles north of Boissevain, MB (located just to my south). |
 |
|
By this point I was
running low on gas and dropped south to Boissevain, MB to fill up.
I was also north of a Port of Entry and figured it would be best to cross
back in the States as long as this supercell maintained a SEerly vector.
Upon arriving at the gas station the gas attendant began asking me about the storm and I later verified from him that the Port was open 24 hours. Shortly thereafter he began filling up my car, but like a slap in my face the power went out! The female worker inside yelled to him that they're closing down ASAP for the storm and he told me not to worry about the gas as I could only pay with credit. So I ended up getting about 7 liters (2 gallons) of gas for free! This was just enough for me to continue the chase a short ways in ND. Here's some decent mammatus at 2210 CDT near Hansboro, ND. |
 |
 |
With just a sliver of dusk remaining, I snagged this CG using a delayed exposure shot. I believe the supercell is very close to crossing the International border at this time and is still moving SE. I'm glad I took the Port of Entry south of Boissevain as the other Ports within fuel range were already closed! Yes, disaster averted. :) 2214 CDT |
|
The supercell was still looking great
on radar, but visually more lackluster. I wasn't in any hurry to
get to my motel in Devils Lake, ND as this storm was still putting on one
great light show.
Sidenote: like any other summer night in ND, the mosquitoes were hellacious this evening...even with a decent wind. I received dozens of bites, but the storm was certainly worth every one. 2232 CDT |
 |
 |
The stabilizing low levels were certainly taking
their toll on the supercell as evidenced by the growing cavity shown here.
When I took this photo I never even noticed the buildings in the distance.
I have no clue what town this was. 2257 CDT
I was a good hour away from my motel in Devils Lake, but during this entire chase I overlooked the time zone change back in SK and consequently woke up an annoyed motel manager just after midnight. I did however tell him on the phone I'd be in late! |
All
photos © Copyright 2007 Matt Ziebell