Tornado Chasing For Non-Dummies

As those of you who've read my TCfD* series know, I tend to do the bulk of my chasing when the conditions here in Colorado are perfect for it -- usually late May into early July. Tornado activity is usually very spotty, if at all, after that.

But sometimes, Ma Nature likes to throw some teases out at unexpected times, as She did on the afternoon of Sunday, August 24.

A rather impressive series of storm cells developed over Douglas County, Colorado (just south of the Denver Metro Area), and tracked east. Around 4:30-5pm or so, the storms went tornadic, with tornadoes reported near Castle Rock, Parker, and Sedalia.

As you can see, the one pictured at the right is the one that was produced near Parker, CO. An absolutely great photo, the kind I spent the summer -- and the last several previous -- trying to get. This is exactly what all the miles, the cost, and occasional risk and discomfort has been about: photos just like this.

Let's review this year's efforts, just for the record: four storm chases. Approximately 2,000 miles driven. I missed an EF-3 that hit and heavily damaged Windsor, CO, in late May, by 25-30 miles. I missed a reported EF-4 in eastern Kansas, by 5-6 miles (close enough to see, but couldn't see because of heavy rain, hail, and 60 mph winds in my immediate vicinity), and had to settle for a pithy funnel cloud, about 15 miles away, a little later. I missed another tornado near Bird City, Kansas, catching only, yet again, another pithy funnel cloud. And I missed a pair of tornadoes in the vicinity of Yuma and Ft. Morgan, Colorado.

So as you might expect, this picture is immensely gratifying to me. Except for tiny little thing: I didn't shoot it. My sister-in-law did. From the comfort of her own home, near Parker, CO.

Where was I, when all this was going on? Finishing up and leaving work, more than 50 miles north and west of all this.

Four trips, 2,000 miles, all the overpriced gas associated therein, and only two pithy funnel clouds to show for it, and my sister-in-law (a sweetheart, by the way) accomplishes my mission without leaving the comfort of her house.

I don't know how many people noticed and wondered about the guy, driving east on I-70, who was banging his head on his steering wheel, while listening to live reporting on the pictured tornado; but I'll bet you anything, not a one knew the reason why.

At least you do, now.

*Tornado Chasing for Dummies