All Hail Broke Loose...

MESO began the day in Dodge City, Kansas - then we got out of Dodge...

We took a slow leisurely drive to Liberal, KS and then as a few cells broke to the county North of us, we began the chase. We intercepted the cells in Garden City, KS. and had a long, slow chase. The cells were moving 10 to 15 knots, which made them very easy to keep up with. After driving through one small hail shaft, we were free from the ear pounding beat of the hail stones. We followed the rotation and saw some great formations and funnel clouds. As we checked storm reports, we found the area we left behind was pummeled with hail the size of tennis balls.

After our show for the day was winding down, we were driving back into Garden City on SR 400 East into the city when we came upon on truck spun out in the median and then a van in flooded ditch, driver inside, unable to get out without getting into three feet of freezing water. We called a tow truck for the guy and waited around until police arrived. The road ahead of us was covered in at least four inches of hail, making driving treacherous. The hail was removed by snow plows from KDOT, Kansas Department of Transportation.

One of our new members Joe Falci from Ohio has experienced his first Great Plains hail storm. Shaking with excitement, he cheered as we went through the hail, and even got a quick prank by me as he stuck his hand out the window to try and catch some hail. Welcome to MESO Joe.

Tomorrow looks good for chasing, and we can stay the night in Garden City at the "Soft Pillow Inn" formerly a Super 8 and wait for things to develop tomorrow. See more of my photos from today in the StormChase2008 gallery to the right and on my website.

A funnel cloud near Garden City, Kansas.