17 November 2013 High Risk Southern IL and West KY

Start:  Daviess county KY
End:  Daviess county KY
Chase Members:  Kerry Martin  Chris Conley 


This day happened almost a year ago but now that it's coming up on the one year anniversary.  It seems fitting that I finally get this done.  This day went down as one of the most destructive fall tornado outbreaks causing over 100 injuries and 11 fatalities.  3-4 days before the event word was spreading that a high end event was to unfold on Sunday.  Social Media was covered up with a "apocalyptic" type hype that does nothing but scare the natives.  Does this help?  Maybe a little bit but now days it's way over done for my taste.  The Storm Prediction Center did a fantastic job forecasting 5-6 days in advance.

On the morning of the 17th the Storm Prediction Center issue a rare High Risk centered over Indiana and covering portions of adjacent states.  Kerry and I knew it was going to be a big day so we got an early start.  Our target was to get on the south side of the High Risk and wait to see how the day would unfold.  That would give us time to get in a good spot to be on the south side of a supercell.  Keep in mind from the info we were seeing these storms would be racing northeast at 55-60 mph.  There was no way we were going to be able to keep up with how some of the road networks play out.  This was not a day to fool around in the trees and on winding roads.

Our plan was to head north of I-64 and chase the day in Illinois and then over to Indiana.  Once we arrived in the Carmi, IL area it was soon clear to us that no chasers via Spotter Network were along the hwy 13 corridor.  Everyone was either north or south but no one in the middle.  Kerry and I made the decision that this was one of those days we need to hang in the center and protect the home front.  We have family and friends there and this is the right thing to do.  I truly believed that it didn't really matter if you were in the high risk or the moderate risk portion of the outlook area.  Tornadoes would be a good bet, we just had to get in the right spot and time it just right.  We moved southwest to Marion, IL and got set up.

Once west of Marion, IL there was no time to play.  GR Level2A was showing a developing supercell coming out of Jackson county.  When we arrived on the county line east of Murphysboro the precipitation core and the rain free base were in clear view.  We were pretty leery that this day would produce tornadoes that would be rain wrapped.  After brief discussion we decided that once east of Harrisburg, IL at we would not get off the main highway.  The area north and east is a death trap for chasers as two rivers, the Wabash and the Ohio meet with very few river crossings to escape.  With the speed and motion of these supercells these storms needed to be given their respect.  Chasing in the Tri-State is a completely different ball game and different rules apply than out on the Plains.

Screen shot to the right shows developing supercell moving into southwest Jackson co.  Our position in the flatlands would give us a good view and escape route to the east in case it took a right turn.  Storm quickly produced a tornado warning issued by NWS Paducah and were in a good spot to stay just south as crossed SR 13.  This storm didn't not produce a tornado for us as we let it go on to the northeast.  Kerry and I decided to let this one pass and catch new convection quickly developing to the southwest.  It was going to be a "tail end Charlie" kinda day.  We headed to Harrisburg, IL with a few stops along the way for pictures.

To the right shows the forward flank of the same supercell as it's crossing the William/Saline, IL county line.  You can see the ground hugging front edge that had some incredible motion.  We waited it out just west of Harrisburg so we could get a peak at the southwest side.  With a rotating wall cloud evident we had to let it go.  Road network is terrible north east of Harrisburg.  This would go on and produce a tornado in Wayne co and the town of Sims just west of Fairfield.

Radar screen shot to the right clearly shows the reason why Kerry and I chose not to pursue this storm.  Too many choke points (bridges) to cross and too few roads to get there.  Our main mission for the day was the home front and to stay in the middle.  Another mean looking supercell was developing to the southwest and it looked as the two were going to merge.  We had to move farther east.  Things were going to change in a hurry....

After a brief stop just west of Shawneetown, IL it became clear that if we didn't cross the Ohio River we'd be in big trouble.  We needed to gain some space to maneuver.  This was our biggest concern of the day, getting trapped.  Chasing storms in this area you better be planning non-stop.  On days like this it's fast paced and stressful.  The best planning is usually done days in advance.  We all knew this day was coming and by knowing the planning phase also started days in advance.  This move is where that days in advance planning pays off.  Know where your obstacles and choke points are and don't get suckered into going where you know it's dangerous to maneuver just so you can get that picture or video.  Any chaser's ultimate mission is to come home safe.  We're no good to anyone if we are rolled over in a ditch or even worse injured or dead.

Once safely across the bridge we didn't hesitate to punch farther east.  The area east of the bridge is what we call the Union county Black Hole.  Literally that's exactly what it is.  No cell service, no internet, no view, no escape routes and more importantly no place to seek shelter if you needed to. We immediately shot to the west side of Morganfield, KY.  There you come upon a loop that takes you clear of the urban area and once on the east side you can see for miles.  From there just off to the north it ends on hwy 60 which is a good east bound road to continue on with good visibility.  Upon arrival at our vantage point a rotating wall cloud showed itself over the tops of the tree line.  There was no lightning most of the day so Kerry and I felt pretty good about standing outside the truck for the view off to the west.

Within less than two minutes a rapidly rotating funnel cloud formed right under the RFB and inflow winds leading into the storm quickly picked up to around 40 mph.  Kerry commented then how the wind sounded like a jet above us.  This was going to produce a tornado, you could feel it.  A quick call was place to local Eyewitness News 25 to give a report.

Within 45 seconds to a minute a tornado developed and was on the ground just northwest of Morganfield with debris field clearly at the ground level.  Our call finally got through.  There are some that say we should have called NWS first.  Maybe so, but the storm was already warned but if I could talk for one minute and get the ground truth to hundreds of thousand of people in an instant.  It was a split second decision and it worked.

To the right is the video shot as it happened.  Highly stressful to say the least.  This was not my first tornado but the first time I have actually called one in to the media.  After the day was over I felt like I acted like an idiot.  Talked way too much.  I've been working on my communication skills ever since.  All that needs to be said:  What is it.  Where is it.  Where's it going.  Then just shut up and let them ask the questions.  There's a label on my laptop now to remind me and a rookie experience I won't forget.

The tornado was quickly racing east northeast as a classic stovepipe, rare in these parts.  We took a right turn onto hwy 60 and raced to keep up at 60 mph.  A call was placed to Henderson county Emergency Management, Kenny Garrett.  We continued on the phone throughout the entire 14.5 mile track providing positions and if the tornado was if fact still on the ground.  Next stop, Waverly, KY.

North of Waverly it took on multi-vortex structure.  This is where the EF-3 damage occurred.

Here's a snapshot from video taken as the tornado hits a barn and grain bins just before it enters Henderson county KY.  At times Kerry and witnessed 3 separate vorticies circulating inside the parent tornado.

Tornado continued on it's east northeast path and struck the town of Corydon, KY.  Snapshot from video clearly shows the debris cloud north of the water tower.  This was helpful as we were able to pass that information to Henderson county EMA so they could pin point where the damage had actually occurred and respond accordingly.  Once in Corydon it was clear that there was significant damage.  Tornado lifted 1 mile east of town and Kerry and I witnessed a terrific rope out stage.









To the right is a time lapse video of our chase through a GoPro camera.  There is some incredible motion in the clouds showing the moisture flow into these supercell thunderstorms.

November 17th 2014 was significant in many ways for Kerry and I.  We had come to realize that there some things that were needed to be done to make ourselves as a team better.  We made a ton of mistakes that day.  From the mistakes we will learn.  It has been a year since this event and I can't tell you how many chases we have been since.  Are we better??  You bet, but a lot of that comes with experience in the field and training.  Another step we took is become better communicators with all the players involved in warning the public.  Also, we take the time to go into schools and businesses giving presentations to enhance the public into becoming more weather aware.  That last statement is important to Kerry and I.  I think as chasers/spotters we should be doing more as community helpers in raising awareness.

I'd also like to add that Landon Hampton was a big help in getting me where we're are as chasers today.  He's one of the severe weather forecasters in the business.  He was a huge help on November 17th and continues to be today.  Thank you sir!!