Storm Chase 2013 (Storm chase images and reports)

May 18 - May 31

by William T. Hark
Stock Photgraphy and Video

I had a very successful 2013 storm chase season with multiple tornado encounters including the EF-4 Shawnee, Oklahoma tornado, Edmond tornado, slow moving wedge tornado near Bennington, Kansas and the massive El Reno tornado. I also observed beautiful supercells, hail, rainbows and landscapes. After the Tornado Alley trip, I intercepted a rare Virginia tornado. The chasing was long with essentially no down days to rest. I enjoyed getting together with friends who I usually only see once a year during storm season. This was also a season of tragedy. There was the unexpected death of Chris Curtis, a long time partcipant with Cloud 9 Tours, and the chase trip ended with a too close encounter with the 2.6 mile wide El Reno tornado. I would find out later that the tornado claimed the lives of several people including the well-known and respected storm researcher Tim Samaras, his son Paul Samaras and chase partner Carl Young. I knew all three and would often chat with them during brief encounters in the field or at the Storm Chaser Convention in Denver. RIP.

Total Miles: 4776

Click on the picture or text to access the corresponding chase log. There are thumbnail images in the middle or the end of the chase accounts. Click on the small pictures for a larger image.

Images are for sale. If you have questions about image usage, video for television shows, or tornadoes and storm chasing, please see my Storm F.A.Q.


May 18 (Epic fail in Kansas and nocturnal dust storm in Oklahoma)


May 19 (Tornadoes in Edmond, Shawnee and near Carney, Oklahoma)


May 20 (Tornado near Duncan, Oklahoma)


May 21 (Unexpected loss)


May 22 (Travel day and Big Texan)


May 23 (Amarillo area bust, Lake Meredith and Big Texan)


May 24 - 25 (Colorado and Kansas storms and rainbow near Goodland)


May 26 - 27 (Arcadia, Nebraska storm structure and lightning and Kansas storms)


May 28 (Bennington, Kansas wedge tornado)


May 29 - 30 (Oklahoma storms and exploring Oklahoma landscapes)


May 31 (El Reno, Oklahoma tornado)

 

Although not part of my Tornado Alley chase trip, a successful chase in Virginia


June 10 (Jetersville area tornado in Amelia County, Virginia)

All photos and pictures are copyright 2013 William T. Hark, M.D except as noted. My pictures are either video captures using HD camcorders (Sony 3CCD Z1 and Canon HV20) or images from the Nikon D600/Canon S100.

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Please E-mail me with questions, comments and complaints. Wthark@aol.com