Tuesday May 29th - South Dakato - Colorado to Kansas

Yet another long drive. All the way from South Dakota to Kansas into Colorado and back to Kansas where we are currently at the Super 8 in the middle of a Severe T-Storm watch. Nice lightning show going on outside. Winds to 70mph and driving rain... so bad, it looks like a blizzard back home. But, that is how the day ended.

On our way south out of SD we weren't sure were exactly we were headed. Just that we were headed south. In Valentine NE, we stopped for a snack only to be overtaken by 5 trucks carrying blades for wind turbines. One very long load.

Attached is the picture of the rocket scientists who locked their keys in the trunk of their car. They were trying to get into the trunk via the back seat.... Wait, what about the electric trunk release??? Well.. that doesn't work. We spent a few minutes trying to help them, but then we had to bug out to the south and into Colorado south of Denver.

Today's pictures start on page 2 http://portcredit.net/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=14&page=2.

I got a voice mail from a friend in Denver who told me the Interstate was closed due to the Hail that fell. Apparently 3" of it.

As we headed west on I70 into Denver and past Burlington Co., we started to see what we were headed for. Wow, the leading edge shelf cloud was almost horizon to horizon. Even the drive West was interesting due to the very strong cross winds from the North.

We made 2 stops to take pictures. Temperature had dropped significantly to possibly 50F and the winds were gusting from 30-40 knots. There was almost a wind chill factor. The gust front had an amazing amount of dirt and dust in it that were picked up and driven in our direction.

On our way back East to Colby KS, we run into the back of a pretty good Thunderstorm. And, more amazing cross winds followed by a pretty good light show. No lightning pictures yet, but I'm hoping to get on that shortly.

4 weeks ago I ordered a Daytime Lightning Trigger so that I would have it in time. Well, long story made short, it arrived the Monday after I had already left. Thanks to Stuart Crabbe, he has retreived it and is shipping it to me in Amarillo and hopefully I can pick it up tomorrow.