July 10, 2017

Statistics

Initial Target

Start

End

Storm Intercepts

Tornadoes

Hail

Wind

Features

Miles

Champaign, IL

Springfield, IL 3:00 PM 7/10/2017

Springfield, IL 11:00 PM 7/10/2017

Emden, IL

0 mph

Gust Front, Lightning

320

Summary

Summertime extreme CAPE, low shear setup. Targeted storms initiating over eastern Illinois before falling back to west side of developing MCS noting gust fronts and after dark lightning display.

Crew and Equipment

Solo chase. Equipment: Sony AX100, Samsung Galaxy S7.

Video

Map

Details

Extreme CAPE values were plotted due to excessive low level moisture, aided by evapotranspiration from the corn. The forecast sounding analogs were throwing out Roanoke and Plainfield, which were notorious high CAPE/low shear violent tornado events.

Gust Front
5 miles ENE of Emden, IL
7:36 PM

I went way out east for an initial target but had to double back west as an MCS unzipped to the west. The initial storms in western Illinois produced some tornado reports. I caught a dramatic lookign gust front, but nothing noteworthy in terms of supercell structure or tornadoes.

Shelf Cloud
5 miles ENE of Emden, IL
7:36 PM

Wannabe Wall Cloud
1 miles NE of Emden, IL
7:39 PM

Wannabe wall cloud forming on the gust front.

CG
1 miles NNE of Elkhart, IL
8:44 PM

I stuck around for the after dark lightning show. I noted what was a likely powerflash over Lincoln. Straight line winds from a downburst probably caused the power lines to arc.

Conclusion

I was hoping for a bit more than an MCS play and a gust front given the time and mileage. I missed a tornado or two as storms developed over western Illinois while I was way out east, so I'm chalking this one up as a bust.

Lessons Learned

Get on the westernmost edge of the initiating summertime MCS as it may have the best inflow and shot at a tornado before the line gusts out.

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