2BrokenBowNE12June00

Date: 12 June 2000

Location: Central, Nebraska

Chase Partner: Alone

Summary: Departed Denver at 1100

Arrived Nebraska State line at 1335 - Severe Thunderstorm watch issued.

Headed North on HWY 61 out of Ogallala, NE. Dry line was firing up to the West near Alliance, NE. Storms were rather isolated but developing very quickly. Near Tryon, NE stopped and watched development of an LP Cell to my West. Arrived in Stapleton, NE at 1708. Headed N on Hwy 83 to observe a very large shelf cloud near Thomas/ Logan county border. CG was very intense with this cell. Numerous cells were firing up all over the area and developing into what seemed like a line of severe storms. Continued N on Hwy 83 to Thedford, NE (Arrived at 2030) and topped off the fuel tank in a deluge of rain. Out of Thedford, headed E on Hwy 2. Arrived at Merna, NE at approx 2130 and observed a well developed lowering that was reported as a tornado by law enforcement officials. After observing this lowering for about 5 minutes and trying to convince myself that I had finally bagged a tornado, I could not bring myself to call it that. After watching the video forward...backward.......fast....slow......sober..................and even drunk, I cannot say that this was a tornado do to the simple fact that there is VERY little, if any rotation, nor could I see contact with the ground or a debris cloud. In the video you can see what appears to be some updrafts on its rear flank, but I cannot see definite rotation, no matter how bad I wanted it to be there!! I accepted the fact that this was scud. The video caps of this show a very impressive lowering that resembles a truncated wedge. Want a copy.........let me know. You can judge for yourself. So after that observation I continued to Broken Bow, NE and topped off my fuel again. I was just going to head to Grand Is and find a motel for the night. However...........as I was paying for my gas, the girl behind the counter was listening to a radio station out of Broken Bow that was talking about a "tornado on the ground S of Merna." Well, it was now dark, but curiosity killed the cat..............so out the door I bolt and head south on Hwy 21. The lightning was incredible. It was almost like day the night sky was so electrified. I drove down Hwy 21 for about 10 miles. Another tornado warning was issued near Callaway and heading toward Oconto. I began to feel the adrenaline rush kick in.............but also a sense of "what am I getting into here?" I stopped at a location that had a good field of view through 180 degrees of horizon from North to South. There was very little precipitation and I could see for probably 30. I could see nothing that resembled a wall cloud or tornado. I sat there for about 20 minutes and finally headed back north to Broken Bow and then made my way toward Grand Is. This is going to be one of my favorite chases for a long time.

Shelf Cloud near Thomas/Logan county border