USMA Severe Weather AIAD: Day 3

We started off the day in Goodland, KS, and the Storm Prediction Center had highlighted an area of "moderate risk" (the fourth highest of five categories for severe weather) stretching from far eastern Kansas into northern Missouri. Ultimately, we decided that area was too far for us and also had less desirable terrain so we decided to target north, central Kansas instead, where an approaching warm front would hopefully trigger some late afternoon storms. We headed east to Salina, KS where we stopped to reevaluate our position while eating some fantastic BBQ at Hickory Hut. We then drove north to Concordia, where we waited patiently for storms to develop while talking to other weather enthusiasts. Storms finally fired late in the afternoon, and we drove west where two supercells were rapidly strengthening. West of Concordia, we stopped on a hill and waited as the first of the two storms approached. The wind was howling, and the skies grew increasingly ominous. Although a confirmed tornado was reported several miles from our location, it was obscured by rain. We then pushed back east to get into better position as the second storm approached. By the time it reached us, this supercell had weakened somewhat, but it still produced some spectacular skies. We eventually called it a day, and as we drove back toward Salina, we were able to see massive supercells to our east.

Passing one of NOAA’s mobile radar units on the way to our target area in Concordia, KS.

Radar image highlighting our position (blue circle) west of Concordia. The tornado-warned storm passed several miles to our west with a confirmed tornado, although it was obscured by rain so we couldn’t see it.