Storm Chase May 27 - 28, 2010: Landscape Images near Ogallala, Nebraska

 

 

chase images and log by William T. Hark, M.D.

 

I drove to Ogallala, Nebraska from Sterling, Colorado on May 27 and basically edited video, organized and slept. I wanted to be near a decent north road in case I chased that day. Upon reviewing the data, the best chances for tornadoes were up in Canada and I didn't bring my passport! The cap was a major problem. Even if the target was a bit farther south in North Dakota, I didn't feel like driving up there and having a "cap bust." That's when you sit, wait for storms to develop, and nothing happens except a sunburn. Forecasting whether the cap will break is difficult and some of the best chase days are when there is a fairly strong cap but a couple isolated storms develop. After two amazing chase days and decent storms on some others, I was "fat and happy" and less likely to drive a long distance for marginal chances. I felt like one of those full lions in Kenya resting in the shade and not hunting. I also used the day to take some landscape images. The following day on May 28, the chances of chaseable storms was nil. I stayed in Ogallala for another day and visited the nearby Lake McConaughy and Boot Hill. I also enjoyed a "wild-west" mock gunfight before a great steak at Front Street steakhouse. Since there was a marginal chance of storms in the Ogallala area on May 29, I didn't want to leave my location.


Lake McConaughy
developing pine cone

Boot Hill
Front Street Steakhouse
staged gunfight in Ogallala

Go to May 29, 2010

All images Copyright 2010 William T. Hark