April 10, 2017

Statistics

Initial Target

Start

End

Storm Intercepts

Tornadoes

Hail

Wind

Features

Miles

Bloomington, IL

Lebo, KS 9:00 AM 4/10/2017

Springfield, IL 5:45 PM 4/10/2017

Gridley, IL

0 mph

Gust Front

593

Summary

Cold front setup in Illinois. Targeted Bloomington, IL area after car failure the previous day in eastern Kansas. Intercepted storm with gust front before calling chase and heading for home by early evening.

Crew and Equipment

Solo chase. Equipment: Sony FDR-AX100.

Video

Map

Details

I supposedly had a working car again after it had stalled the previous day in Kansas, and there happened to be a potential tornado play in Illinois so I decided to head toward home and see if I could catch something in time. I got my car back from the truck stop mechanic, the stalling issue still unresolved, and plotted a course for Bloomington hoping to catch a storm on the tail end of the system.

Storm
6 miles S of Panola, IL
4:18 PM

I caught a storm north of Bloomington. It looked like it was trying to be a supercell with a rear flank downdraft clear slot.

Gust Front
3 miles SSW of Gridley, IL
4:27 PM

I tracked the storm for a few miles, a large gust front starting to expand out from the base. It filled in with rain and fell apart so I called the chase and headed for home.

7:28 PM

The prettiest skies were waiting for me back at home as the back ends of some distant towers caught the setting sunlight.

Conclusion

A lackluster chase by most standards, but it was at least nice to see a storm on this disaster of a trip.

Lessons Learned

Follow On The Web!

Storm Chasers Giving Back!