Chaser Profiles: Jamie Gustina

JAMIE GUSTINA

1)What is your name and where do you live?

My name is James Gustina and I live in Cincinnati, Ohio.

2) Do you have a website or a brand name that people identify you as?

Well I’m currently taking part in two sites. I put some items on www.toledotornadotrackers.webs.com from time to time as well as tornadohandoff.com which is a site Nathan Curtis-Wagoner and myself are working on to have a venue to showcase our photos in an easy way.

3) What got you interested in weather?

I honestly can’t place it. Tornadoes never really interested me as a child except for one and other than that I was usually scared for my life every time there was a severe thunderstorm. I’d guess I place it on the April 9 1999 Blue Ash F4 that hit nearby. That tornado scared the mess out of me but also piqued my interest a bit.

4) What is your favorite aspect of weather?

Severe thunderstorms are by far my favorite aspect. I love forecasting for chase days and all the different cloud types and dynamics associated with severe storms.

5) When did you first start chasing?

I first started chasing sometime in 2008 (I don’t really remember when) but it wasn’t until May 2009 that I got serious. I still count my first storm chase as May 30, 2009.

6) What do you see chasing as... a hobby or a business?

Hobby and nothing more

7) Who do you credit for getting you into chasing and what have they done to further your career?

I can’t really place my finger on who or what got me started but I’d have to say a blend of the first season of the Discovery show Storm Chasers and myself after a project on tornadoes in eighth grade.

8) Do you have any chase partners?

I sometimes chase with Brandon Copic and Ryan Beach but my parents were my first faithful chase partners for the early years. I can’t give them enough credit for having the willpower to continually go out with me to drive around the middle of nowhere in search of storms.

9) What was your most successful chase?

That title is split between May 25, 2011 and May 30, 2009. May 25^th gave me one of the two Ohio supercells I have ever chased and it truly was an amazing storm. Only regret was missing a tornado it put down south of Dayton. May 30^th gave me the other Ohio supercell and it being the first chase I have photographs from I consider it one of my best.

10) What was your most terrifying moment?

Getting cored by the same supercell on May 25^th, 2011. The storm had been undergoing a merge with a smaller cell to its south and what had been a clear updraft base turned messy and clogged up with rain still with a strong couplet somewhere in that mix. Thankfully we missed the worst of it after the mesocyclone passed further north of us.

11) About how many tornadoes have you seen?

It pains me to say it but so far zero.

12) What do you think about people who chase for sales and the need to get up close and personal with Mother Nature?

Honestly, if chasing for profit is someone’s thing, I don’t really care. If the need for that profit means getting up close and personal then so be it, I just hope those same individuals stress the difficulty and skill required to be that close to something as dangerous as a tornado.

13) Describe your dream chase.

A classic dryline setup in western Kansas. High instability with moderate shear along with a moderately strong cap to cook things over for maximum punch. First supercell that rolls off the dryline is a classic high plains supercell with a barber pole updraft and a beefy updraft base. Maybe a tornado or two but those aren’t necessary, just a nicely structured supercell.

14) What is your favorite set up to chase?

Warm front setups in the Midwest. They’re challenging to forecast for and the reward at the end is that much better.

15) Which state has brought you the most success? Least success?

Indiana has oddly brought me the most success since I’ve never busted there. Ohio is the worst, I’ve never seen so many setups go down the toilet while chasing here.

16) Do you want to pursue a career in meteorology? Would you ever chase locally for a t.v station?

I do intend to pursue a career in meteorology. I honestly can’t see myself chasing for a news station just because it adds on so much unnecessary pressure to something I only want to do for myself.

17) What do you see chasing as being like in 5-10 years?

A lot less crowded. A lot of new chasers including myself have come up in the past several years but droves of people are probably beginning to move on now that “the fad has died” so to speak with Storm Chasers going off air and the visibility of the hobby going down a little, even with all the big outbreaks we had this past season. A bit more high tech as mobile broadband tech gets improved as well as cameras but essentially the same.

18) Despite all the deaths and destruction in 2011, are you looking forward to chasing in 2012 knowing you can run into a Tuscaloosa or Joplin?

I definitely am looking forward to chase season 2012. What happened in Tuscaloosa and  Joplin were some of the worst tornadic events possible and even though every season has the potential to put out one of those monsters that goes tearing through a town or a city that will never stop me from chasing, I just hope I’m able to help out in some way when another event like that comes along.

19) Is there any point in time where you had no desire to chase anymore? What caused that and what gave you the power to move on.

So far I’ve been blessed to have missed most of the more gruesome aspects that come along with chasing and so I’ve never felt the need to stop chasing as a result of something I’ve seen.

20) How long do you plan on continuing chasing?

I may as well spring for the cheesy here: to infinity and beyond.

21) Outside of chasing, what do you like to do?

I play a lot of soccer with the time that isn’t spent with chasing or school. I’m also into Great Plains history (no surprises there) as well as travelling as much as I can.

22) What kind of music do you like to listen to on the chase or in general?

It varies. A lot of times I don’t even have the radio on or a CD in when I’m chasing, but I’d have to say alternative rock is the most played genre in the car.

23) What is your favorite professional and college sports team?

My favorite teams are of course the Cincinnati Reds and the Bengals but also Newcastle United Football Club (English Premier League).

24) Do you have a family or pets?

Sure do, have a lemon-colored Beagle named Finch.

25) Tell me 3 things that someone outside of chasing may not know you for.

-My favorite food is good ole cheeseburger with ketchup, pickles and grilled onions with steak fries on the side with a cherry coke.

-I’m not as shy as most people think, I could talk for hours if given the chance haha

-I’ve been out of the country three times to visit Andros Island in the Bahamas and Madrid, Toledo, and Barcelona in Spain, both times with my school and finally Victoria, British Columbia on a family trip.

26) If you have kids or plan on having them... would you like to involve them in your chasing?

If I do end up having kids, if they decide they want to try out chasing with me and my significant other won’t have an aneurysm imagining her kids out with their crazy dad chasing after tornadoes then I’d totally love to involve them.

27) Do you have a job and what do you do?

I don’t have a job yet but I’m trying to get in at a soccer shop to help fund my season.

28) How do you feel about people who say they chase tornadoes for the sole purpose of saving lives?

I could go on and on about this and I’m sure I’ve ranted about this more than twice but I have only two words to describe people who delude themselves into that frame of mind: Cockamamie BS.

29) If there was one event in history that you wish you were around for to chase, what would it be?

Definitely, I wish I had been around for the April 1974 Super Outbreak. I’ve always been a bit fascinated by the Xenia and Sayler Park F5s and chasing that would have been the setup of a lifetime.

30) Do you only chase severe weather or do you chase hurricanes and winter weather as well?

I’m a severe thunderstorms only guy. I don’t have any interest in the least for hurricanes and despise winter weather with a passion.

31) Do you go to a college or university, if so, what do you major in?

I’ll either be attending the University of Oklahoma or the University of Kansas for meteorology in Fall 2012.

32) What do you expect in 2012?

A dang good chase season. I have a lot more freedom this season than I’ve had in the past and I’m hoping that I can get several tornadoes out of my first trip to the Great Plains this upcoming May. I’m hoping late May/early June light up like a Christmas tree!

Chaser Profile: Jim Zandonai

JIM ZANDONAI

1) What is your name and where do you live?

Jim Zandonai- Rockford IL.

2) Do you have a website or a brand name that people identify you as?

For weather it is- onthegustfront.blog spot.com which has accounts of many chases ,local events, and photos etc.

3) What got you interested in weather?

Way back in 7th grade seeing amazing cloud structures, thunderstorms and visiting the weather service at Rockford at the time.

4) What is your favorite aspect of weather?

 It provides many photo opportunities and It's always usually something going on somewhere. It's rarely boring for very long.  Supercell thunderstorms rule.

5) When did you first start chasing?

Around 1987 and that was just with nothing but a weather radio then and map.

6) What do you see chasing as... a hobby or a business?

For me it's a hobby..If I sell a picture or two great but it has always been a hobby.

7) Who do you credit for getting you into chasing and what have they done to further your career?

Just myself. No one got me into chasing as  I started on my own initiative.

8) Do you have any chase partners?

No, Although these days having a  good driver would be nice.

9) What was your most successful chase?

There has been a few as far as photographs go or punching the core. One of the best ironically was one that I didn't even have any equipment or a laptop and my weather radio batteries died. That was the July 13th 2004 Supercell which tracked Southeast from NW IL to east IL. The storm provided some terrific pics on the backside. That was the same day of the Roanoke Tornado which I had no idea was happening because of a dead weather radio and no laptop.  I was only a couple counties from it besides. If that would have been today it would have been grand.
Still had rotation form right in front of me on that day..was great in N.Livingston Co and S La Salle co. IL.

10) What was your most terrifying moment?

Really it's probably been close lightning strikes in some storms.

11) About how many tornadoes have you seen?

Unfortunately none worth of note besides funnels. The closest on July 13th 2004  and one that I Iost sight of in the early 80s after it past my house. However, I am content with great storm structure that provides and excellent photos.


12) What do you think about people who chase for sales and the need to get up close and personal with Mother Nature?

To each his own ..I do not do it for the money.

13) Describe your dream chase.

Catching a decent Tornado in the open with decent daylight still  and capturing great pictures of it.

14) What is your favorite set up to chase?

 Sunny, Warm and  humid day with lots of cape and weak cap to begin with and an active frontal zone in the area with of course Wind shear !

15) Which state has brought you the most success? Least success?

I only chase in IL and South central WI.  No luck when in IA.

16) Do you want to pursue a career in meteorology? Would you ever chase locally for a t.v station?

No not anymore.. I had a chance in 1985 going to NIU and didn't continue to that point.
For a TV station I might but it would depend on conditions..doubt that will happen here though. I share pictures though with a local TV station however. As long as they give me credit I am fine with that.

17) What do you see chasing as being like in 5-10 years?

Probably like it is now and perhaps more congested in the plains.


18) Despite all the deaths and destruction in 2011, are you looking forward to chasing in 2012 knowing you can run into a Tuscaloosa or Joplin?

Sure I try and chase as much each year . Obviously I hope I wouldn't place myself in the direct path of  it obviously IF that were to occur. 


19) Is there any point in time where you had no desire to chase anymore? What caused that and what gave you the power to move on.

Not yet..


20) How long do you plan on continuing chasing?

As long as I have desire and I can safely.

21) Outside of chasing, what do you like to do?

Besides watching the weather.. photography, being on facebook, watching movies, traveling when I can , being near on a lake and spending time with my cat and girlfriend.

22) What kind of music do you like to listen to on the chase or in general?

Generally classic rock or 80s.

23) What is your favorite professional and college sports team?

Depending on the Sport-- S.t Louis Cardinals baseball and Miami Dolphins football..Not really into college much but did like the Hurricanes for a while.

24) Do you have a family or pets?

     Yes I have a cat . She is is now an elderly 22 years old !

25) Tell me 3 things that someone outside of chasing may not know you for.

  I was a police officer for Rockford IL for a while in 1993-94 before I decided I did not like it as much I thought I would.
  I was the IL state, central states and Mid- American bodybuilding champion in the mid 80s in the 154 1/2 lb class and competed nationally.
  I had my appendix removed in 1985.
 

26) If you have kids or plan on having them... would you like to involve them in your chasing?

No kids and none in the plans.

27) Do you have a job and what do you do?

 Work for a large cable company as a customer care specialist. Chasing has been a challenge working around work schedule for past 5 years.

28) How do you feel about people who say they chase tornadoes for the sole purpose of saving lives?

 If they actually believe that I guess it's good but most its just an excuse for why they are really there.  I chase for the photography,  and to experience the power and glory of the storms. Of course being a NWS spotter I report too.

29) If there was one event in history that you wish you were around for to chase, what would it be?

Well realistically based on where I am probably the Belvidere Tornado in 1967.

30) Do you only chase severe weather or do you chase hurricanes and winter weather as well?

Just severe weather.

31) Do you go to a college or university, if so, what do you major in?
I went to Rock Valley college and have a degree in Earth Science.
I also went to the University of IL. and got a my Law Enforcement Certification there for RPD.

32) What do you expect in 2012?
Well provided I can get to chase on some good days working around my work schedule, I hope much with great photos and accounts.

I love to storm chase which has always been in the N.IL or S. WI.  It is to experience the power and glory and capture it in photos the best I can .

Chaser Profiles: Charles Russell

CHARLES RUSSELL 

1) What is your name and where do you live?


Charles Russell - Greenville, MI



2) Do you have a website or a brand name that people identify you as?


Charlesimages-Stormedia - http://www.stormedia.info/



3) What got you interested in weather?


When I was 4 years old. I remember sitting on the floor in front of the tv with paper and crayons copying weather maps, while watching Meteorologist Craig James present the weather forecast on WOOD TV 8 in Grand Rapids, MI.



4) What is your favorite aspect of weather?


It's variables, from bright sunny days, to snowstorms, to severe thunderstorms. I love it all. 



5) When did you first start chasing?


Officially, 2006. But I would "porch chase" before that.



6) What do you see chasing as... a hobby or a business?


Both.



7) Who do you credit for getting you into chasing and what have they done to further your career? Do you have any chase partners?


I came up with the idea of wanting to chase on my own, but my late Father was always into weather, he and I would watch storms together and marvel over them. He'd relay severe reports on his travels to and from work also. I partner up with friends every once in a while, but mainly prefer to chase solo.



9) What was your most successful chase?


I may sound like a noob here, but the Derecho that occurred on July 11, 2011 in Grand Rapids, MI. Something about those 90+mph winds that I just love. Reminds me of the 1998 Southern Great Lakes Derecho, which I was smack in the middle of.



10) What was your most terrifying moment?


I don't get scared or worried while out chasing. I respect the storms for their power, but have never had a scary moment. 



11) About how many tornadoes have you seen?

2 in my lifetime, but both times I didn't have a camera, I was just a kid. 



12) What do you think about people who chase for sales and the need to get up close and personal with Mother Nature?

I think they have a passion, and if they can make money doing it, great. I personally enjoy making money with it, money = more chasing.



13) Describe your dream chase.


Catching a mothership supercell from the first cumulus clouds, taking a time lapse of it developing/maturing, then having it drop a beautiful tornado in a field somewhere about 300yds from me. Then core punching the HP remnants with large hail, follow that up with a beautiful sunset with other cells in the background and a double rainbow and loads of color and it's a win. 



14) What is your favorite set up to chase?


Discrete, slow moving cells. Whether they be supercells or not.



15) Which state has brought you the most success? Least success?

Michigan, I live here, and have been able to experience so many weather extremes. 



16) Do you want to pursue a career in meteorology? Would you ever chase locally for a t.v station?


I could never pass the math courses involved. I'd chase for a tv station, sure. I had FOX follow me on may 31, 2011 for a news story on myself and storm chasing, I would do it again. 



17) What do you see chasing as being like in 5-10 years?


The way it's going, I wouldn't be surprised if eventually becomes a national sport. People love nature, and most are too afraid to get up close and personal with it. I feel that sponsors should take a better look at chasing, where it's headed, and make some investments. There are lots of folks who go out for the thrill, but if you toss business into the mix, things could get somewhere. It's proven fact. 



18) Despite all the deaths and destruction in 2011, are you looking forward to chasing in 2012 knowing you can run into a Tuscaloosa or Joplin?

Yes.



19) Is there any point in time where you had no desire to chase anymore? What caused that and what gave you the power to move on.


A couple of times. Once while facing a foreclosure, and another when nearly left to die in the streets. But I love chasing too much to just give up.



20) How long do you plan on continuing chasing?


Until the day I die.


21) Outside of chasing, what do you like to do?

I like fishing, hiking, photography, watching NASCAR races and NFL games. I'm a pretty simple guy. 



22) What kind of music do you like to listen to on the chase or in general?


Metal of course! Metallica, Lamb of God, Megadeth, Judas Priest, Slipknot, and loads more. I will chase with rock too though.



23) What is your favorite professional and college sports team?


Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL) and I don't watch much college football, but I like UofM and OSU.



24) Do you have a family or pets?


Yes, my Mom, Sister, and 2 cats.



25) Tell me 3 things that someone outside of chasing may not know you for.


I like pop, rap, and hip hop music, and will listen to the likes of Britney Spears and Ke$ha often. My appearence is only half of what I'm about. I am a straight male, who is only interested in females (the way people joke, I had to toss that in there) LOL



26) If you have kids or plan on having them... would you like to involve them in your chasing?

I will never have children, but I try to help fuel the fire that burns in other children in regards to chasing, and educate them in any way I can.



27) Do you have a job and what do you do?


Legally? I'm classified as Unemployed, but I make money where and when I can, doing what I can. 



28) How do you feel about people who say they chase tornadoes for the sole purpose of saving lives?


That's great if you do, but if you don't, then just be honest, the world works better with honesty.



29) If there was one event in history that you wish you were around for to chase, what would it be?


April 1956 Hudsonville-Standale tornado.



30) Do you only chase severe weather or do you chase hurricanes and winter weather as well?


I chase anything, even strong rain showers. I love it all. I will drive somewhere just to get time lapse footage of cumulus clouds. Hurricanes are on the bucket list. I've chased plenty of winter weather. 



31) Do you go to a college or university, if so, what do you major in?

I go to the College of Life, I major in Living.



32) What do you expect in 2012?


I expect an above average severe weather season as a result of the La Nina pattern and the long term effects of it. This year is "Andy's Year" and myself, along with many others are dedicating our chase season to Andy Gabrielson's memory. 

I’m a Storm Chaser. Not many people can legitimately say that, considering the population of the world exceeds 6 billion. I am proud to be a storm chaser, and as a storm chaser, it is my duty to spot, report, inform, collect data, record media, and use it all to educate others, provide entertainment, and hopefully, save lives and property in the process.

June 17th, 2010 - Southern Minnesota Tornado Outbreak

June 17th, 2010 - Southern Minnesota Tornado Outbreak

 

Thursday, June 17th, 2010 -  I almost didn't chase this day. Almost. Not because I didn't want to, but because I had a family obligation on Friday, the 18th, at 7 P.M. My usual chase partner Adam Lucio and I talked about this set up for a couple days and decided it would be well worth the trip. However, I needed to make it a one day affair and he had plans of chasing multiple days in a row. Rather than risk going solo and then marathoning it back to Chicago (already on no-sleep) I decided to sit this one out. It was hard to do but in my eyes family comes first. 

I made that decision on Wednesday night at 5:30 P.M. I signed on AIM to tell Adam that I don't know if I could make it when Skip Talbot IMs me and asks if I was going to go. He was going, but his Verizon aircard broke, his phone broke, and his robotic camera dome was giving him issues and wanted to know if  I would be going. I told him the situation and he made an offer I couldn't refuse. We all agreed to meet at Skip's house, caravan up to his cottage near Montello, WI, chase Thursday, and then we would take turns driving back Thurs night/Fri morning. Rather than giving up a potential great chase day, I immediately agreed. Adam and Deb came and got me at my place and we were on our way. It was only 30 minutes to Skip's house; we loaded up the gear and headed north for Wisconsin. It was around a 4 hour drive from Chicago to Montello. We arrived there around midnight, looked over data, and went to bed.

From the get go I liked southwestern Minnesota. No convection moving through, nice Theta-E ridge, clear skies, 3-4k CAPE, great moisture return and it was a little more removed from the dryline/cold front. Adam pondered if we should go north toward Fargo. I liked my southern target, but could certainly see and understand why he would want to go north. My big caveats with going north were A.) I didn't bring my passport and didn't want to risk being cut off by the Canadian border and B.) I just felt that the window up there would be very small due to the front overrunning the convection and quickly causing it to become linear. I felt southern Minnesota was the best chance to get a long tracked supercell before a squall line from the west overtook it. Turns out Adam, Skip, and I all were right on. 

The next morning we woke up at 6 A.M. and grabbed a bite to eat at Sparks grill in Montello. Usually Adam and I never stop and eat breakfast before a chase as we like to be on the road early in case the storms decide to fire quickly. This breakfast place was spectacular. I ordered the corn beef hash and it was just scrumptious. We were in and out of there in 25 minutes and on the road. We wanted to leave early, because everything pointed to convection going up north at noon and the rest of the dry line blowing up by 2 P.M. We were 5 1/2 hours away from Worthington, MN and knew if we left by 8 we would be there by almost 2. We drove west the length of Minnesota only stopping to fuel up in Austin. By the time we got near the Worthington area we started noticed a Cu field to our west and south. Encouraging! Since Skip and I had no data and Adam's AT&T wouldn't allow him to use roaming, we were strictly visual this chase. Skip and I led the charge with Adam and Deb following us all the way to Luverne. It was here that I finally got signal on my cell phone and decided to look at the COD analysis page. The satellite showed 3 distinct bands of TCu stretching from Fargo to Omaha. We thought we were in a good spot; the SPC even MD our area. It was getting close to show time. After only 20 minutes sitting in Luverne, a big cell popped up 100 miles to our north. Adam and I usually have this philosophy that the first cell that goes up is the sacrificial lamb if you will. By that we mean when towers have been fighting the cap for a while and one finally breaks through, the cap eventually wins the battle and the storm never really establishes itself. But having broke the cap it creates a weakness and allows other storms to fire at will. May 22nd, 2010 was an exception. That storm that day blew through the cap and was up to 50,000 feet in 30 minutes. 

Anyway, we figured the dry line would light up south along it and we would be on the tail end charlie. We sat and waited, huddled around my cheap radar on my 2 inch droid screen. As the next update came in, the storms to north grew and expended in coverage eventually become tornado warned. Meanwhile we were sitting under a baking sun with TCu still firing all over. When would one of these become established? Skip was looking for WiFi so we hunted all over town searching for a hotspot to no avail. We finally gave up and decided to sit and watch the sky. Adam's AT&T finally regained service and we actually had data. The storms up north in North Dakota and northwest Minnesota were making our hearts sink. 9-10 tornado warnings with confirmed tornadoes on the ground 160 miles to our north. To our east a band of showers developed off the supercells in northern Minnesota. At first we thought nothing of them, but when we looked to the eastern horizon we could see massive towers going up from northeast through southeast. I was confused at this point. We were sitting directly on the convergence boundary with good moisture aided by a strong 20 kt southeast surface flow. CAPE was up to 3,500 and the cap was virtually gone according to mesoanalysis. Nevertheless we sat and watched as tower after tower to our east went up and anvil-ed out. Finally we threw in the towel on the Worthington-Luverne target and decided to make a run at the now severe warned line developing. 

Visually they looked linear from behind. There were so many rock hard updraft towers in such a confined space along the eastern horizon. We thought for sure the dry line had advanced much further east than thought and was now just firing off one big squall line. We had great low and mid level flow, but the upper level flow was wacky. We started getting that sinking feeling in our stomach that we drove 9 hours from Chicago only to bust on linear storms that were 50 miles to the east of us and heading to the northeast at 50. Instead of pouting and throwing in the towel we all decided to floor it east on 90 back to Worthington before going up toward Windom. Along the way, the northern most cell in the line became tornado warned and broke away from the trailing convection. It was a good 100 miles to the north and we figured we wouldn't have a chance at it. On my phone radar it looked like the stuff to the east and southeast had become one big severe warned QLCS. 

After getting to Windom, we continued east in hopes of punching through the back end of the line and reappearing out ahead of it just to get a shelf cloud shot to somewhat salvage the chase. I didn't know what was warned and what wasn't so I pulled up COD's severe weather warnings page. As I figured the cells we were on were severe warned with a plethora of tornado warnings for the storms way up north. After a couple of more refreshes I was shocked to see a tornado warning pop up in extreme northern Iowa. Hmmmm. I pulled up Des Moines radar (on COD's 1 km radar site) and was pleasantly surprised to see a cell pop up within the last 30 minutes and become supercellular. I wasn't sure if Adam was aware of it and told him that Skip and I planned on dropping south and east for that storm and ditching the cells in front of us. 

He was on top of things and too noticed the cell and already figured out a route to it. Getting to this storm meant core punching one of the severe warned ones. Not a big deal. We hit it from behind just southwest of Mankato and noticed a lot of turbulent motions going on with a rather high base. Scud was being inhaled almost off the tree tops while CG absolutely littered the emerald prairies. The storm we were core punching was become surface based. We didn't want to hang around and play with it though. We knew that the tail end charlie was 25 miles to our south southeast and that the current cells inflow would contaminated by the outflow from that storm. I had lost cell signal just north of Blue Earth and called Adam for an update. We said the core of the tornado warned storm would be over I 90 in 45 minutes. We were 3 miles north of I 90 so I wrote it off and encouraged Skip to continue on to 90 and then shoot east. Well little did I know was that Adam's radar had timed out on him and it was nearing a half hour old! We got on 90 and went east about 2 miles before we got slammed from south by a 50 kt crosswind. Almost immediately heavy rain and small hail was peppering us on 90. We needed to punch it east and get ahead of it. Not an easy thing to do while battling 50 kt winds, blinding rain, scared motorists and a storm moving northeast at 50 miles per hour. For 10 minutes we battled this thing and finally won just north of Kiester.

We pulled off at exit 134 and followed that east a mile until we turned south on SR22 and headed south for Kiester. Upon arriving in town a lowering was evident 5-6 miles to our west. We nudged up the road a bit to get a better look at this lowering. I actually got out of the car and attempted to stand on the bumper to get a better view, until a CG barrage unlike any other started raining down near us. Not the most ideal setting to film needless to say I quickly retreated back into the car. After a few minutes it was clear that this lowering was not rotating and was actually being pushed out at us by outflow. However, we noticed a new cell merging with this storm from the southwest. I never got a picture or video of it (I should have) but it was a beautiful little LP structure with a tiny rounded base that was 2-3 miles removed from the former storm. We went back north through Kiester and back east on County Highway 46. Upon doing so Adam, still behind us, texted me saying Roger Hill had a tornado out of that merging cell. I looked back and couldn't see anything as precip was now falling and obscuring my view. I told Skip to punch it east and we did. Out of the rain I began to see the base again and a nice little lowering. I yelled at Skip that we may have something but needed to get east for a better view. He obliged and we made it to 640th Ave. before turning south. 

As we traveled a mile or two I began seeing what I thought was a cone funnel coming down. I couldn't be sure since we were dodging trees and houses and only could get a brief glimpse of it. Finally as we crested a hill, we saw a magnificent cone tornado 7-8 miles to our southwest. We continued south on 640th watching the tornado get a little bit bigger. A couple of more trees blocked our view of it and when we re-emerged the cone had changed into a slender stovepipe to the left. That tornado dissipated and another cone lowering started to descend. The lowering immediately came down as an elephant trunk tornado. At first I thought it may have just been the same tornado, but as we approached the circulation it was CLEAR that there were 3 areas of intense rotation. The tornado was on the left side of the meso with a new cone lowering coming down on the right. After 30 seconds we had both tornadoes on the ground at the same time. We witnessed three tornadoes in a matter of 10 minutes. We knew the storm wasn't done. Not by a long shot.

The former tornado lifted while the new cone churned away several miles to our southwest. The contrast was poor and we contemplated moving toward the west on one of the county roads. I thought the way to improve contrast was by continuing south and this was certainly the case. The cone lifted after a minute or two. We pressed on and noticed a very large wall cloud was now evident. At this time we made it to 650th Ave. and 140th St. and were looking at a tornado very near Kiester. We set up shop here for well over 20 minutes as these circulations approached. As the multi-vortex moved just to the north of Kiester it wedged out into a very large tornado directly west of us. Tornado maxed out to almost a mile wide as it moved east northeast very near Kiester. The motions were violent as violent can be. CG's were crashing down everywhere with multiple bolts striking very close to us. The tornado continued to approach our location and continued to be extremely violent. This will be a very high rated tornado I am sure. As the tornado approached it began to inhale and absorb its own tail cloud on the north side. Cumulus clouds were being thrown into the wedge as it neared our location. I called 911. We didn't have data or a ham radio so I couldn't make Spotter Network reports. The only thing I could do is dial 911 and report everything I could and I did for the majority of the chase. Nevertheless, despite the warnings I was giving thewedge continued to move northeast away from Kiester. 

As the wedge approached, it lifted but there was still a multiple vortex circulation on going so in my mind it was still on the ground. I zoomed out to try to get a perspective of the structure just as a fat cone fully condensed underneath the left side of the wall cloud. The old circulation that produced the wedge was still producing a multiple vortex tornado. A new circulation developed very close to us just west of us. This photo illustrates the older circulation in the background and the never circulation in the top left-center. We watched both circulations spin violently with the old circulation still putting down fully condensed tornadoes. These were not separate tornadoes, rather spin ups from the same circulation. At this point we tallied a total of four tornadoes. CG's were still pouring out of this storm. What a crazy/intense supercell; we knew it was going to produce something nasty. The old circulation dropped another large condensation behind the trees (still parent circulation - still counting it as same tornado) while the new circulation kept dropping a cone funnel. I couldn't see behind the trees, so risking getting hit by lightning, I ran out of the car and down the road to see what I could see behind the trees. Once I got to the edge of the trees I was AMAZED at what I saw 3 miles down the road. Still part of the same Kiester circulation and was fairly long tracked although with intermittent damage. The old circulation was still producing while the new one was still rotating violently. This new circulation dropped an amazing white cone while the old circulation was a multiple vortex cone.

The cone was brilliantly churning in the field across the road from us as the old circulation finally occluded. This tornado was number 5 on the day, but quickly retreated back into the cloud base all the while the ground circulation was still evident. We sat there and watched for two minutes waiting to see if this cone would come back down. The rotation was definitely supportive of this. Finally all at once a massive stove pipe crashed down just behind a farmstead a mile to the north northwest. I zoomed the camera in here as I wanted to see the perspective of it to the farm stead. Very close call but this property was spared. The tornado quickly wedged out underneath some of the most jaw dropping structure known to supercells. I was in awe. A day so busted on our part turned into something so treasured. As the wedge moved to the north northeast the structure just continued to get better and better. I couldn't believe it. I again called 911 to tell them a large tornado was on Conger's doorstep. It was obvious that they probably knew about it since the area was littered with law enforcement and emergency vehicles but I wasn't taking any chances. We hoped in the car and went back to 140th and took that east one mile to 660th Ave. As we turned north the tornado had morphed back into a big cone funnel with debris whirl. The tornado then turned back into a fat cone just southwest of Conger. The tornado became stationary for a while, with power flashes and whirling debris. We nudged north another mile as the tornado widenedeven more. We noticed a road block up ahead and decided to turn around and take SR 15 east until it curved north into the town of Conger. We had hoped Conger wasn't hit but that large tornado was perilously close. As we moved into town it was clear that it missed Conger, barely, to thenorth.

We turned east out of Conger as the tornado wedged out again. A satellite tornado danced around it as it moved in the general of Albert Lea. It turned back into a big white Manchester-like conebefore wedging out again. As we were looking for roads, I zoomed out and too my horror realized this tornado was dead set on hitting the west side of Albert Lea. We continued up the road where police had blocked the road. We sat there for 3 minutes waiting when suddenly the police officer started waving us through yelling the tornado had turned and was heading for us. There was a grove of trees blocking our view so I had no idea if this was true or not. Nevertheless we made the ominous drive through Albert Lea. When we re-emerged out of Albert Lea on the east side we realized that rain had obscured our view of the tornado and we need to head back west and south a little. We set up just southeast of the town of Hayward and saw another lowering. The Albert Lea - Conger tornado had lifted in the 20 minutes we were in town, but this new lowering was near if not over Albert Lea. Suddenly another tornado dropped and we had our 7th of the day! We decided to go north, but the tornado dissipated. We figured it would be a great idea to keep up with this circulation as it headed north in case it dropped another tornado. Little did we know amonster was already on the ground in the rain. Lightning sparked out of this great beast as it grew up to 3/4 of a mile wide. We advanced on the tornado as it neared Hollandale. The tornado then transitioned into a slender tilted stove pipe and finally roped out. We followed the storm north into Blooming Prairie unable to see anything else and called it a chase!

Tornadoes: 12

Hail: 1.00

Wind: 40 mph inflow

Close CG's: too many to count

Strongest tornado: EF-4

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