As I sat in my room spitting up blood in a cup for hour after hour and chatting with fellow chaser Danny Neal, an interesting storm blew up to our southwest. He and I were "armchair chasing" which is a common practice among chasers when we cant be in the field. Tornado reports started coming in, but I was pessimistic and crabby and didnt want to believe them. The following conversation ensued before I was finally convinced to bolt out the door and get what so far is my greatest footage. Its kind of long so if you dont wish to read it all, you can scroll down to see the actual chase pictures and videos.
| TORII48LEGENDS (3:56:11 PM): | tornado coming |
| AeroStorm911 (3:56:11 PM): | argh |
| AeroStorm911 (3:56:25 PM): | well see |
| AeroStorm911 (3:56:25 PM): | lol |
| TORII48LEGENDS (3:56:32 PM): | lol they got one down in marshall coming |
| TORII48LEGENDS (3:56:40 PM): | county |
| AeroStorm911 (3:56:55 PM): | sweet |
| TORII48LEGENDS (3:57:08 PM): | i just got home from baseball and saw TOR WATCH i was like huh |
| TORII48LEGENDS (3:57:09 PM): | ? |
| AeroStorm911 (3:58:24 PM): | yea and it doesnt include cook again |
| TORII48LEGENDS (3:58:41 PM): | lol |
| TORII48LEGENDS (3:58:54 PM): | if this storms continues NE its gonna hit me head on |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:00:09 PM): | now watch |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:00:10 PM): | oops |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:00:13 PM): | wrong IM |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:03:07 PM): | new tornado watch |
| AeroStorm911 (4:05:51 PM): | if its not here then i dont care lol |
| AeroStorm911 (4:05:52 PM): | damn storms |
| AeroStorm911 (4:05:58 PM): | one to the south and one to the north |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:06:09 PM): | its here |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:06:31 PM): | http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/watch/ww0479.html |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:07:49 PM): | lol why arent we chasing |
| AeroStorm911 (4:08:23 PM): | me cuz my mouth wont stop bleeding |
| AeroStorm911 (4:08:27 PM): | fucking oral surgery |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:08:30 PM): | lol wow |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:08:52 PM): | haha |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:09:59 PM): | look what just blew up on the SW and west side |
| AeroStorm911 (4:10:35 PM): | i see that |
| AeroStorm911 (4:10:38 PM): | watch it miss me |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:10:43 PM): | lol |
| AeroStorm911 (4:13:31 PM): | i think its all going to |
| AeroStorm911 (4:13:35 PM): | damn midway bubble |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:13:48 PM): | lol those sups are making a bee line for here |
| AeroStorm911 (4:14:12 PM): | they look like mush tho |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:15:42 PM): | rotation looks good |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:16:06 PM): | look at the one heading for Odell |
| AeroStorm911 (4:16:38 PM): | on srv it aint bad |
| AeroStorm911 (4:16:40 PM): | bv is shit |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:17:21 PM): | tornado report outta lostant in la salle |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:17:54 PM): | north storm is getting choked off by the south one |
| AeroStorm911 (4:19:48 PM): | i see that |
| AeroStorm911 (4:19:57 PM): | im almost tempted to shoot down i-57 |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:20:12 PM): | its moving up 55 |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:21:50 PM): | funnel cloud reported ne of pontiac |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:23:50 PM): | tornado on the ground |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:23:54 PM): | NE of Odell |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:24:01 PM): | numerous reports |
| AeroStorm911 (4:24:09 PM): | really |
| AeroStorm911 (4:24:10 PM): | dammit |
| AeroStorm911 (4:24:11 PM): | lol |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:24:13 PM): | lol |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:24:45 PM): | heading right into dwight |
| AeroStorm911 (4:25:37 PM): | they were 90 over 75 |
| AeroStorm911 (4:25:38 PM): | wow |
| AeroStorm911 (4:27:01 PM): | its raining here now |
| AeroStorm911 (4:27:03 PM): | psh |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:27:28 PM): | THUNDERSTORMS WERE RAPIDLY DEVELOPING THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS NORTHERN ILLINOIS. VERY WARM AND HUMID WEATHER WITH TEMPERATURES IN THE 80S AND DEW POINT TEMPERATURES IN THE LOWER 70S WERE RESULTING IN MODERATELY UNSTABLE CONDITIONS...BENEATH AN UNSEASONABLY STRONG LATE SPRING JET STREAM ACROSS THE UPPER MIDWEST. THIS COMBINATION OF INSTABILITY...AND VERTICAL WIND SHEAR...WILL RESULT IN SOME STORMS BECOMING SEVERE ACROSS THE OUTLOOK AREA DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS. THE DEGREE OF SHEAR SUGGESTS THAT ROTATING STORMS ARE LIKELY...WITH A POTENTIAL FOR DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND ISOLATED TORNADOES. THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD DECREASE IN INTENSITY AND COVERAGE LATE THIS EVENING...THOUGH ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS MAY MOVE INTO THE REGION AFTER MIDNIGHT FROM THE WEST. |
| AeroStorm911 (4:29:04 PM): | weee |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:30:17 PM): | * TORNADO WARNING FOR... NORTHEASTERN LIVINGSTON COUNTY IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS... SOUTHEASTERN GRUNDY COUNTY IN NORTHEAST ILLINOIS...* UNTIL 515 PM CDT...* AT 422 PM...THE PUBLIC REPORTED A TORNADO AND RADAR INDICATED ROTATION NEAR CORNELL...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 32 MPH.* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR... DWIGHT BY 445 PM... GARDNER BY 500 PM... BRACEVILLE BY 510 PM... |
| AeroStorm911 (4:31:02 PM): | i see that |
| AeroStorm911 (4:31:04 PM): | SCUD! |
| AeroStorm911 (4:31:07 PM): | run for cover |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:31:12 PM): | lol |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:31:22 PM): | thats a decent signature though |
| AeroStorm911 (4:31:27 PM): | yea not bad |
| AeroStorm911 (4:32:05 PM): | is it even worth battling 55 traffic |
| AeroStorm911 (4:32:07 PM): | thats the question |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:32:23 PM): | lol its gonna heading into southern cook |
| AeroStorm911 (4:33:47 PM): | 57 is the way to go i think |
| AeroStorm911 (4:33:50 PM): | if it holds |
| AeroStorm911 (4:33:54 PM): | its turning |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:34:27 PM): | i know |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:35:43 PM): | its got a meso marker on it |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:35:45 PM): | yellow one |
| AeroStorm911 (4:35:48 PM): | yea |
| AeroStorm911 (4:35:51 PM): | i see |
| AeroStorm911 (4:35:54 PM): | moderate lol |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:36:01 PM): | idk if i can catch this |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:36:40 PM): | tornado lifted at 426 |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:36:46 PM): | new funnel forming |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:36:53 PM): | per odell fire dept |
| AeroStorm911 (4:37:46 PM): | it can be caught |
| AeroStorm911 (4:37:50 PM): | its over an hour away from 57 |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:38:02 PM): | lol giddy up hah |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:38:21 PM): | looks like heading for peotone |
| AeroStorm911 (4:38:55 PM): | latest scan is mush |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:39:03 PM): | AT 436 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR AND STORM SPOTTERS WERE TRACKING A LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR ODELL...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 32 MPH. THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR... DWIGHT BY 445 PM CDT... GARDNER BY 500 PM CDT... SOUTH WILMINGTON...AND EAST BROOKLYN BY 505 PM CDT... BRACEVILLE BY 510 PM CDT... |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:39:07 PM): | FUUCCCCKKKKKKKK |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:39:26 PM): | aeDFHJOFDHNASFDNDAS |
| AeroStorm911 (4:39:29 PM): | wtf |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:40:22 PM): | 54 miles away |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:40:55 PM): | very large tornado reported on ground |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:41:02 PM): | per spotters |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:41:10 PM): | between dwight and odell |
| AeroStorm911 (4:41:20 PM): | rain shaft |
| AeroStorm911 (4:41:21 PM): | lol |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:41:26 PM): | lol |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:41:37 PM): | im tempted |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:41:39 PM): | big time |
| AeroStorm911 (4:41:53 PM): | lets see what this scan does |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:42:04 PM): | new report by storm chaser |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:42:15 PM): | large debris cloud tornado on ground larger than last one |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:42:32 PM): | oh fuck |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:42:37 PM): | its heading into dwight |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:42:45 PM): | JUUUUST west |
| AeroStorm911 (4:43:06 PM): | god dammit new shit to the south of it |
| AeroStorm911 (4:43:09 PM): | the choke off begins |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:43:48 PM): | a lil west of 55 tracking tornado into dwight guy sees it from his house |
| AeroStorm911 (4:44:24 PM): | i wonder if its a landspout |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:45:00 PM): | lol no |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:45:04 PM): | not with that rotation |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:47:28 PM): | new circulation moving into dwight |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:47:30 PM): | and im still here |
| AeroStorm911 (4:47:43 PM): | and im still spitting up blood |
| AeroStorm911 (4:47:45 PM): | ugh |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:48:23 PM): | ...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 515 PM CDT FOR SOUTHEASTERN GRUNDY AND NORTHEASTERN LIVINGSTON COUNTIES... AT 445 PM CDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR DWIGHT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 32 MPH. THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR... GARDNER BY 500 PM CDT... SOUTH WILMINGTON...AND EAST BROOKLYN BY 505 PM CDT... BRACEVILLE BY 510 PM CDT... |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:49:35 PM): | new tornado forming |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:49:41 PM): | 1 mile south of dwight |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:49:47 PM): | moving north east |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:50:00 PM): | I 55 and dwight road |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:52:11 PM): | huge wall cloud Rt 47 just north of dwight |
| AeroStorm911 (4:52:26 PM): | almost near morris |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:52:45 PM): | moving into wilmington soon |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:53:46 PM): | david mayhew i so ff |
| AeroStorm911 (4:54:52 PM): | i hope sum1 is gettin pics or video |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:55:56 PM): | I 55 and rt 17 large tornado reported 10 mins ago |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:56:10 PM): | damage reports coming in |
| AeroStorm911 (4:56:58 PM): | anything good |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:57:20 PM): | didnt say specifics they just said we are getting damage reports in from NE livingston co |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:57:42 PM): | storm looks like its bowing out |
| TORII48LEGENDS (4:59:25 PM): | AT 458 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED 10 MILES WEST OF HALES CORNERS...OR NEAR DOWNTOWN WAUKESHA...MOVING EAST AT 41 MPH. |
| AeroStorm911 (4:59:56 PM): | mayhew is going for it |
| AeroStorm911 (4:59:56 PM): | lol |
| AeroStorm911 (5:00:03 PM): | good luck buddy |
| TORII48LEGENDS (5:00:06 PM): | lol |
| AeroStorm911 (5:00:10 PM): | that i-55 traffic is hideous |
| TORII48LEGENDS (5:00:24 PM): | 57 |
| AeroStorm911 (5:00:38 PM): | o shit he is on 57 |
| AeroStorm911 (5:00:44 PM): | well once he gets passed 80 hell be good |
| TORII48LEGENDS (5:00:56 PM): | its 4 miles to 57 from my hous |
| TORII48LEGENDS (5:00:56 PM): | e |
| TORII48LEGENDS (5:00:59 PM): | he just passed it |
| AeroStorm911 (5:01:12 PM): | my shit must be behind |
| TORII48LEGENDS (5:01:24 PM): | ...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 515 PM CDT FOR SOUTHEASTERN GRUNDY COUNTY... AT 454 PM CDT...THE PUBLIC REPORTED A TORNADO FROM THIS STORM. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR GARDNER...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 32 MPH. THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR... EAST BROOKLYN...SOUTH WILMINGTON...AND BRACEVILLE BY 505 PM CDT... |
| TORII48LEGENDS (5:02:30 PM): | wtf is that |
| AeroStorm911 (5:03:28 PM): | what is what lol |
| AeroStorm911 (5:03:35 PM): | and i dont have those tornado icons on mine lol |
| AeroStorm911 (5:03:38 PM): | what place file is that |
| TORII48LEGENDS (5:04:06 PM): | http://places.allisonhouse.com/feeds/d1a15ecdd173c2862c39e2c6314e76a4/index.php?lsr=1 |
| AeroStorm911 (5:04:30 PM): | ok got em |
| TORII48LEGENDS (5:04:42 PM): | look at that hook north of coal city |
| AeroStorm911 (5:05:30 PM): | o that lol |
| AeroStorm911 (5:05:35 PM): | looks like a bow segment to me |
| AeroStorm911 (5:05:43 PM): | could be something new tho |
| AeroStorm911 (5:05:47 PM): | i like it bein more north |
| TORII48LEGENDS (5:05:47 PM): | got rotation |
| TORII48LEGENDS (5:06:03 PM): | srv2 |
| TORII48LEGENDS (5:06:38 PM): | its splitting |
| TORII48LEGENDS (5:06:46 PM): | guy says inflow is starting to increase |
| TORII48LEGENDS (5:07:56 PM): | expanded TOR watch again |
| TORII48LEGENDS (5:08:44 PM): | NWS LOT just caleld spotters asking them if they see it swinging north |
| TORII48LEGENDS (5:08:49 PM): | svr warning |
| AeroStorm911 (5:12:17 PM): | and the chicago bubble lives on |
| TORII48LEGENDS (5:12:46 PM): | lol |
| TORII48LEGENDS (5:13:47 PM): | whats the odds of more development to the south and west |
| AeroStorm911 (5:15:16 PM): | id say slim |
| TORII48LEGENDS (5:16:21 PM): | watch lasts another 3 hours |
| AeroStorm911 (5:18:32 PM): | my hopes arent up |
| AeroStorm911 (5:18:34 PM): | cloud cover |
| AeroStorm911 (5:18:36 PM): | loss of heating |
| TORII48LEGENDS (5:18:45 PM): | lol its already hot enough |
| TORII48LEGENDS (5:18:58 PM): | 90/77 |
| AeroStorm911 (5:20:04 PM): | 2.75" hail? |
| AeroStorm911 (5:20:06 PM): | wtf is going on |
| TORII48LEGENDS (5:20:32 PM): | storm looks good near wilmington |
| TORII48LEGENDS (5:21:09 PM): | reporting rotation near wilmington again just now lol |
| TORII48LEGENDS (5:21:25 PM): | TORNADO WARNING |
| AeroStorm911 (5:21:32 PM): | argh |
| AeroStorm911 (5:22:08 PM): | the edge of that box is by my house! |
| AeroStorm911 (5:22:09 PM): | haha |
| TORII48LEGENDS (5:26:44 PM): | tornado on the ground |
| TORII48LEGENDS (5:26:50 PM): | in wilmington |
| AeroStorm911 (5:27:08 PM): | fuck |
| AeroStorm911 (5:27:12 PM): | time to go i think |
| TORII48LEGENDS (5:27:18 PM): | its coming right here |
| AeroStorm911 (5:27:38 PM): | if that storm crosses the warm front which is just to our south then its history |
| AeroStorm911 (5:27:47 PM): | i hope tio can stay rooted there |
| AeroStorm911 (5:27:51 PM): | or the warm front is on the move |
| TORII48LEGENDS (5:29:06 PM): | ...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM CDT FOR WILL AND SOUTHEASTERN COOK COUNTIES... AT 523 PM CDT...THE PUBLIC REPORTED A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR BRAIDWOOD...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH. THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR... SYMERTON BY 535 PM CDT... ELWOOD BY 540 PM CDT... MANHATTAN BY 550 PM CDT... NEW LENOX BY 555 PM CDT... MOKENA...AND FRANKFORT BY 600 PM CDT... FRANKFORT SQUARE...AND MATTESON BY 605 PM CDT... |
| AeroStorm911 (5:29:34 PM): | im out |
| AeroStorm911 (5:29:35 PM): | cya |
| AeroStorm911 (5:29:36 PM): | lol |
So I grab the laptop, my cameras, NOAA radio and out the door I go. I took the fastest way I knew to get to I-57...once Im there I find myself in the storms core. The storm now looks like a monster plains supercell on radar.Once I emerge from the core I see the most incredible straited meso I have ever seen. It easily trumps any storm Ive seen in the plains to date. Video:
I knew I needed to get south...and fast...or I would be in some serious trouble. Core punching such a storm is a risky move which some would consider foolish...as for me Im willing to take the risk. Near the end of the video you can see the RFD cutting into the storm creating the "clear slot" I knew this baby was about to put down. Sure enough I look back out my passanger window and see a funnel quickly drop. By the time I Stop the van and jump out...its already on the ground. Video:
I wish my over-excitement didnt get to me and I was able to keep my mouth shut. I will never talk smack about people who blurt out stupid stuff on camera again. Unless your a passionate chaser, you wont understand the feeling one gets when being so close to something so amazing.
I cut about 30 seconds of the clip out, just before I make the phone call, fellow chaser Danny Neal called me to see where I was at, I hurried him off the phone and let a few more profanities slip so I could call the NWS, whos number I left at home so I called 911 instead to get the information out as the tornado crossed the highway. Video:
Needless to say it was very intense, due to the wet RFD blasting me I had to seek coverage on the side of my van, with no time to setup a tripod. The tornado was rated EF-2 by the national weather service and did wreak havock across the highway. I quickly tried to turn around and stay on the chase....but got stuck in the expressway lockdown due to all the damage.
After about an hour they let us through. Thankfully there were no serious injuries but this situation could have ended allot worse. 6 people were taken to hospitals with minor injuries. People were extremely lucky this time. Once I got home I quickly called my chaser pals over to show them what I was able to capture. Danny, who was also on the chase, was about 2 miles behind me and got stuck in the storms core. Here is a radar image of the storm as it crossed the highway...a truly classic supercell shape on radar...and in my home territory for once!
Everything worked out for today, and I consider myself lucky, the surgery kept me home otherwise I would have chased Iowa and likely not seen anything as amazing, some of my chasers pals, including Skip Talbot were in Iowa and bagged a bunch of awesome wall clouds, but those dont compare to tornadoes. Poor Matt was stuck at a family function and couldn't chase. We had just spent 3 days in Kansas and 2 in Nebraska and saw 3 tornadoes, but none like this, its a shame he missed out because events like this near Chicago are extremely rare. Ive done the last minute local chase many times, but never catching anything like this. It will certainly be a tough one to beat....and I look forward to the day I do.
Here is a google map of the chase. A full map can be viewed by clicking the link under it.
View Larger Map
