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June 5th Salina, KS supercells squall line
The data looked incredible, looked like a big outbreak was in the makings! Very powerful upper level low with a jet max rounding the base and ejecting into the plains. 80 to 90 knots at 500 mb is impressive to say the least. There was actually a broad area under the gun. Big warm sector spreading from southern KS up NNEWD into IA. 700mb temps were very warm in the southern sector, signifying a very strong cap! But the dryline looked to be setup there, which given good convergence, a cap isnt a big problem. Warm front stalled into a stationary up in the northern sector. Hummmm.......big gamble! One thing I did not like was the upper level flow was paralleling the boundry (i.e. dryline). That had me thinking that things might go linear real quick. Shear was fantastic everywhere, which did not help the decision making! One thing about the northern target was things could get messy very quickly, given no real cap. The other was a lack of forcing.
Derek, Terry, and I eventually choose to head south and play the dryline. Yesterdays defeat was still fresh in our minds, so we were staying alert for this one.
Headed to Salina from Lincoln which is only a hour or so drive. By the time we got to Salina stuff was already starting to go up which we intercepted quickly.
We intercepted the first cell near Beverly. I shot the picture below just outside of town.
After seeing storm motions, we decided to play the intercept game. Speeds were quickly increasing, to around 50 mph. Things also went linear very quickly as well, like I feared. It quickly turned into a squall line of supercells type structure, with imbedded rotation.
We basically were being chased by this thing. It was flying at us at around 50 to 60 mph!!! It would take on this really mean looking structure as it was flying east at us. It was kicking up dust here and there too, as it was pretty surface based.
This shot below was of a tail end charlie. The last storm in the line. Which I dont know why, but I was hopeing it had a chance to do something. It of course did nothing, it just didnt look very organized. I think maybe the setup was just a little to linear for anything to really have a decent chance. I gave up after letting this thing over take me.
Started the drive home......long drive. On the way back, in IA late that night, with no data, I manage to get hit by a bow echo. Insane winds just pick up all of a sudden, with blinding amounts of rain. Had to pull the car over and face the wind. I swear it must have been a 70 knot gust that lasted a few secounds. Enough to say WOW!!!
I was trying to hurry up and get back in time for the setup in IN. Which I managed to get there right in time!!!