June 26, 2020

From my morning "chasecast" storm chasing forecast email discussion:

"Day 1 Today: Looking at a target on the IA/IL/CORNER based on position of warm front, morning convective trends and high res guidance. Convective development now in several locations with main line of storms crossing into IL/WI by about 21z or so. That's when they look to peak. Unfortunately terrain is terrible on the east side of the river there. Try to catch your storm on the Iowa side and hope it's mature, or look for a perch on the east side of the river. Veered surface winds and lack of helicity on the front will make for a messy MCS, but perhaps something can spin up if a lead cell can tap a semi backed wind near a lingering warm front/ofb. Good luck.

Upslope target looks like it would be peak on the foothills at 20z. CAMs initiate on or just north of the hot capped air to the south. I'd stay north of Colorado Springs if you want a surface based storm, and Fort Collins still looks good if initiates. (disclaimer, have not looked at current trends over there). "

This was our first chase of the year with the whole team assembled. Chase immediately broke the social distancing guidelines.

Joining us for the multi day run to the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest was a film crew, Zack and Drea, working on a Netflix documentary. We all assembled outside of the Quad Cities on the Illinois side.

Messy storm modes prevailed over northern Illinois our first day out. This gust front was about the best storm structure we could manage before calling the chase and heading to Dubuque for the night.

The drive through Galena across the winding hills of northwestern Illinois was the best part of the day, filled with gorgeous sunset stormscapes of vibrants colors, mist in the valleys, and postcard towns lit up in the twilight.