5/12 - 5/22 CoD Trip 2

From 5/12 - 5/22 I assisted teaching the College of Dupage's experiential learning thunderstorm laboratory course with colleague Paul Sirvatka. Every year there are 5 trips that each take 14 lucky participants into the beautiful, vast emptiness that is the U.S. Great Plains. The trip is open to anyone and differs from most storm chasing tour experiences in that it is relatively cheaper, and allows one to earn college credit! We do our best to allow students to learn the intricacies of severe weather forecasting while enjoying severe storms and awesome local food (typically BBQ!). Below are some pictures of my account on trip 2. Also, a big kudos to Jeff and Jim for safely driving us on our 3500+ mi. journey!

All smiles as we leave CoD!

First stop! Lunch @ Wildwood Smokehouse & Saloon. Near Iowa City, IA. 5/15/2011

Thumbs up for Wildwood!

Paul happy to be back at Jess & Jim's (S side of KS city). 5/15/2011

Nothing left on the table after leaving...yum!

Lunch @ Hog Wild BBQ Pit. 5/16/2011

Dinner @ BJ's in Norman, OK. 5/16/2011

Dinner in Guymon, OK 5/17/2011

Clarke very excited to get some real brisket.

Dinner in Oklahoma City, OK. 5/18/2011

Lunch in Guthrie, OK. 5/20/2011

Dinner in Wichita, KS. 5/20/2011
Trip 2 participants
My attempt at comically describing a high-based supercell
HDR shot of the "storm of the trip." Near Emporia, KS. 5/21/2011
More pictures from this day can be found here.
My my...Is that a clear slot I see?
Tornado moving northeast out of Emporia, KS. 5/21/2011
Video capture of a tornado moving toward Reading, KS. 5/21/2011
Watch video here.
Paul frustrated trying to find an semi-inverted glaciated non-rotating wall cloud. 5/22/2011

Interested in chasing with the College of DuPage? I recommend visiting this link first.