June 14, 2005
tyler | June 14, 2005Miles Traveled: 146
| Forecast and radar data says time to go if I want to catch the first storm in Ripley County, IN. I have about a 60 minute drive to where I want to be (Red Dot on Map)
The atmosphere wasn't right for a tornado or anything more than soggy wet and high wind but I was going to go postal at work (long story) if I didn't leave for a half day. So what better to take your mind off of work than to try and keep yourself from getting killed by mother nature! |
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| I arrived in Ripley county just as they activated their spotter net with the storm about 5 minutes from crossing the county line. They were begging for mobile spotters so I checked in and told them I figured South Ripley was my best bet. Net Control agreed and off I went.
Like I thought. Visibility down to 10 feet at times. 30+ mph winds. Heavy rain and dime size hail. Nothing that meets reporting criteria. Oh well. Still was fun. It's always great spotting in Ripley county because their Net Control will call out constant storm activity so you don't have to be worried (as much) of having a storm crawl up your backside while you drool at the one in front of you. Sorry about the bad pictures. I was fighting with the camera all day trying to get the auto-focus to turn off. Of course the manual was at home. |
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| Hey!!! It's a McDonalds. Just in time for lunch.
While stopped for lunch I hear Ripley net control call out that a storm to south of the county was tracking directly for Burlington, KY and it was much larger than the one Ripley had earlier. Figures! Burlington is my home town. Luckily the whole region saw nothing but high winds, rain and small hail. Some power outages across the river in Ohio but nothing major. This chase sorta makes up for the total bust a few days before. |
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