VORTEX2: Hello South Dakota

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VORTEX2 researchers use Doppler on wheels (DOW) like this one to track tornadoes this summer.

VORTEX2 moved north last week into Nebraska and South Dakota in search of severe storms. Normally active tornado alley has been unusually quiet this month. The Nebraska and South Dakota storms were the only big weather game in the Midwest.

Imagine the surprise in little Hemingford, Nebraska last week when an armada of Doppler radars on wheels rolled into town. In classic Midwestern style, Hemingford rolled out the welcome mat. The VORTEX2 researchers even gave a tour to local elementary students. Talk about a nice impromptu field trip!

The team intercepted a rotating supercell near Alliance, Nebraska. The storm did not produce a tornado, but it was a great opportunity to give the weather fleet a test run. One of the lead researchers, Josh Wurman blogs about the pursuit that day.

The big picture is a little like being all dressed up with no place to go. There has been a remarkable lack of severe weather in the plains since the VORTEX2 project kicked off this month. It figures. What do you get when you gather 100 top severe weather scientists and 40 highly instrumented vehicles and send them into the plains after tornadoes? A drought, of course.

I have had the pleasure to meet some of the lead researchers in this group. The senior staff includes Howie Bluestein, Don Burgess, Josh Wurman and a host of other "monsters" in severe storms research. Together they are the best on the planet.

There is some indication they may have increased severe storm activity this weekend in the central plains. If it happens, they will be there to get what could be the best data ever recorded from tornadic supercell thunderstorms.

PH