Supercell Hail Core, ND

Followed a decent looking supercell today - never turned into a tornado, but it was a thing of beauty. That’s kind of been the story this year: the same high pressure system that is parked over the west is controlling the weather pattern over most of the country. The result is hot, dry and no storms. The ones that form fall apart quickly as they lack all of the ingredients needed to form tornados. Still, this was one was a thing to behold and the downdraft was strong and focussed - probably baseball sized hail in there.

The Supercells over the western states during this time of year tend to move slow - which gives them their wonderful shapes. This one moved so slow it began to ingest it’s down-flow of cold air, in essence robbing it of its heat and lift.


Travel Journal
July 2012