June 9th: Trego County, Kansas, Tornadoes

Best tornado conditions of the season, but my car won't start. After taking it to a dealer in nearby Wichita, I finally get going late in the morning. My target is western Kansas. Though I'm too late to reach the best storm north of I-70, I still manage to intercept a developing supercell in Trego County.

I don't see any other chasers on the lonely roads near Cedar Bluff Reservoir, so I have the added joy of experiencing this storm without a crowd.

A wall cloud forms as the storm matures.

A closer look as I find myself in perfect postion just north of Cedar Bluff Reservoir, with only a sheriff nearby to call in warnings.

A tornado touches down at the southern edge of a wall cloud.

The first tornado dissipates and a couple of minutes later a new funnel reaches downward.

This tornado is much more substantial.

The tornado strengthens.

I have a front-row seat to this wonder of nature.

A few seconds later.

This is my first strong high-contrast tornado.

Wide-angle view.

It is quite surreal to watch this move across the rural landscape.

The tornado dissipates and a new funnel soon begins to lower.

One last view before a thick curtain of rain wraps around from the south.

Waiting for the tornado.

Finally it emerges.

Clearer view just before the tornado begins to lift.

Dissipating stage.

Early evening mammatus after my last great storm of the season.