Focused 5% tornado risk in sw NE. Awoke in LBF with target just to the southwest knowing this would likely be the last formal chase day for me in 2022. Storms were unable to sustain mid-level rotation and thus we backed off an let the convection push east to photograph the updraft from the west (a great decision). We enjoyed beautiful skyscapes between Wallace and Hayes Center before pushing east for the evening. Overnighted in Omaha, NE.
Much better ingredients with a swath of ENH probabilities across srn NE and nrn KS. Very close to a beautiful open-field tornado early on between Sydney and Lodgepole, NE on HWY 30, but could not quite get the near-surface vertical vorticity focused. Transitioned to some impressive outflow structure later on as we stair-stepped southeast toward Sedgwick, Venango, and eventually Benkelman, NE. Overnighted in McCook, NE.
Not much to show for this day, but it always nice to roam around the Sandhills. We tailed some occasionally severe convection (rather meager ingredients) and took in the scenery. Overnighted in Gothenburg, NE.
Broad brushed ENH. Several bouts with a beauty of a storm exhibiting lots of lightning laminar shelf structure due to outflow and stable air in the boundary layer. Most stops were along US HWY 83 just south of Oberlin, KS; in particular, one very memorable pause to take in a classic Great Plains windmill and copious lightning. Overnighted in McCook, NE.
Initial target just west of Roswell, NM, another day with MRGL ingredients. Got on a severe storm near Roswell; mostly a lightning opportunity (lack of good structure). Overnighted in Roswell, NM.
Targeted ern TX panhandle (initial target of Memphis, TX). Saw a crazy wildfire. Busted west to new convection and found lots of significant hail near Tulia, TX. A random 2x4 in a ditch served as a great opportunity pause for a "hail flight." Overnighted in Lubbock, TX.
Large MDT risk to the north, targeted area near Newton, KS. Storms struggled to get low-level mesocyclones due to lack of helicity and low-level shear. Overnighted in Wichita, KS.
Awoke in Ft. Pierre with an initial target of Martin, SD, as severe convection was forecast to move northeast out of the Sandhills. Sat at a park in Martin most of the afternoon. CI occurred just SW of Martin with an initial pseudo-supercell mode (dewpoints were only in the low 50s). Continued tracking this cell east of Martin as it acquired some weak mid-level rotation and tracked along US 18 toward Vetal. Found a nice old church in Upper Cut Meat before again scrambling east to stay ahead for structure shots. Highlight was a stop along the dam of Antelope Lake just east of Mission, SD, with high-based rotation and a lot of CGs. Stopped to take in some lightning WSW of Winner, SD, before calling it a night. Overnighted in Winner, SD.
