Full Write Up for June 10th 2010

This would be the first severe thunderstorm facing south towards Littleton that would eventually merge with another severe thunderstorm north in Thorton. Switching sides often I kept an eye on rotation from mesocyclone development. These storms were very low precipitated which gave me an indication that development had intense inflow and updraft to keep these storms long lasting and non-precipitating. As these cells merged east towards Byers they converged into what I have seen from other chasers blogs and pics a beautiful classic LP supercell. One that many dream of specially with tornadic development. It was tough watching this on radar and not being out there, but life goes on. I congradulate all that were able to enjoy this wonderful opportunity that happens only every 5 years. The last supercell of that magnitude that I remember was June 2nd 2005, but no tornadoes were reported which makes this day even harder to get over.

Seen in this picture is intense updraft shear and rotation on the south side facing the north cell over Thorton moving east towards Brighton.

Notice the very low precipitation as you can see the sunlight all the way to the north.


This radar shows the two severe cells making their way out east on the Palmer Divide along with another cell up farther north along the Wyoming/Colorado border.

I am very thankful that a friend of mine Jon Meyer called me that day to be a part by nowcasting for them. They drove down from Rapid City, SD to catch some action in Nebraska, but things weren't turning out the best for them. I did my best to bring this bust to a fun chase day. Before the cell popped along the Wyoming/Colorado border, I saw an area of moisture convergence as very weak development was popping along the Cheyenne Ridge, but not fully converged. I told them their best chances would be to drive west and intercept clouds in all reality. This convergence was bugging me though looking at Mesoscale Analysis, I told them to drive to Kimball, NE as they were waiting in Sydney, NE. Just down the street (I-80). Let me clarify, Jon Meyer is a meteorologist and is very knowledgable. They just lacked radar because laptop could not get plugged in due to a broken power converter in the car. Fuses suck. He knows what he is doing....so I just kind of guided them that's all.


As they were driving towards Kimball the severe cell finally developed in Weld County, Colorado and began moving towards Kimball. While they sat just north of Kimball some cells fired up along the frontal passage but quickly lined out as it sheared out.

Here is a photo from Jon's cell sent to me.
This was the point I warned that the cell down south had gone tornado warned and I told them they had plenty of time to get down there. Pretty much I said go now! They left to intercept the cell south of Kimball moving east parallel to the Wyoming/Colorado border.

This made the day all the more greater as they intercepted and I was able to be a part of just a little thing called nowcasting. Again another cell pic was sent and all I could do was smile.

This summarized the north tornadic cell which was eventually choked off by the dominate tornadic cell to the south which lasted for hours following highway 36 parallel putting down 2 tornadoes and gave a very photogenic day. Breathtaking to say the least.
Back in Aurora, CO another cell popped off the mountains producing a beautiful night thunderstorm.