June 16th 2011 storm

I always know something's afoot when a friend texts me and asks what's going on in a certain area.
McPherson - 80mph winds, large hail, maybe rotation.  Too good to pass up.  Left the house and headed about two miles to the north and then a quick jog east.  The lightning was incredible, this storm looked very much alive and somewhat angry.

The lightning crawled all over this storm.  Constantly with the fine little bolts.
I thought about heading up to Newton to see this storm, but the way the lightning spread out from this, I didn't want to get any closer and take photos.



The storm moved slow and I did notice the anvil making progress to the south.  Before long Sedgwick Co. was under a thunderstorm warning.

I love photographing lightning with digital camera.  I know it's a functional Darwinism exercise.

Also people would drive up to the intersection and watch us for a long time.  If you do that and notice they have a camera . . . please turn off your brights (at least).

I know I look like a sasquatch with a tripod in a lightning storm.

The fronts stalled out near the city so tomorrows clash could mean more chasing.

Fail.

My snow trolls failed me.  While up on the roof manically yelling "Minion's more ice!" They decided to hitch a ride Northeast and laugh all the way.

Now my snowman looks hungry, and sad.

070809 Wichita Large Hail Storm

It all started off with my wife saying "Wow, those clouds are pretty." Then I heard the thunder.

I was out for about an hour and a half taking lightning pics not knowing it was hailing like mad downtown. I got home as the first drops of rain hit out here in the "Sticks".