May 24, 2004

This day started off with another high risk assessment by the SPC. Given I somewhat screwed up my chase in the previous high risk just two days previous I was determined to find some neat cloud structure. I had a very narrow window of oppotunity to chase as I needed to be back in Lincoln by 5:30. I figured initiation would be early given the magnitude of forcing and very limited cap. After touring destruction caused by the 2.5 mile wide F4 tornado in the Wilber and Hallam area just south of Lincoln I went back home to look at some data. Before I even had the satellite up I could see a fast rising tower just to my southeast. A look on the radar confirmed there were storms about 40 miles away. Both the radar and satellite also indicated a boundary moving through the Lincoln area. I quick grabbed my camera (forgetting the weather radio) and headed out the door. I drove through the city to get to Hwy 2 (aka: Nebraska Highway) getting irritated at every red light. I made it to Syracuse and decided to go south a short distance, get on a hill, and watch. There was some mild chaser convergence on the road I turned on.. I noticed a tour van parked on the corner and two other chaser vehicles. It was not the best structure I've seen but did capture a couple of wall clouds and a funnel. After watching the storm I went north several miles on H50. I found a new perch to watch from and captured a weakly rotataing wall cloud. I watched this for about 10 minutes and then continued north. Turned west to get back home on U.S. 34 knowing full well the action was just getting going to my east/southeast. I guess you take what you can get. A severe warned cell was to my north and another to my west. Also a neat lowering as I pulled in for gas in the town of Eagle located about 10 miles east of Lincoln. The storm hit during the evening rush hour and it took me 45 minutes to traverse the last 10 miles home. Lincoln drivers!... but that is an entirely different write up. I was hit on "A" street by a few pea sized hail stones and one big quarter or bigger sized stone that struck the windshield on made a loud bang and exploded. Fortunately the window is in good shape.