Soils, Syncopations, Solitude

Thursday, April 30, 2009

The Storm

This was the first sign of trouble. Dad pointed it out while we were working on the planter while Over East.

He turned on the radio in his pickup and, sure enough, radar indicated tornado warning. They said at the time that it was 5 miles south of Garden and headed east.


Here is what the storm looked like 40 minutes later. I guess this is what they call a possibly-rain-wrapped tornado (because you can't really tell if there is a tornado on the ground or not.)
It was about this time Chris texted me that the storm had changed directions and was headed our way.I stopped a few times on the way home to photograph the multiple funnels, some of which merged before my eyes.


I pretty much floored it all the way home after this shot.

And here is my deer in the headlights shot. Headed. Straight. For. Me. Can't. Look. Away. This one must to have dissipated just as it was upon us. It's nice because I can look out the back door and be in the basement under my desk in about ten seconds. Probably not a good thing...
This funnel missed Frosty's place by less than a half mile.

Meanwhile, this is what the storm looked like from 10 miles to the southeast (The farmstead pictured is Jay's.) This shot had to be taken just about the time I was huddled in the basement. Anna and Betsy were in town. The main funnel must have passed right over the northeast corner of the quarter the farm is on (which is located on the southwest corner), judging from the pieces of Plymell Dairy scattered in our field.THIS IS NOT MY PICTURE! I stole it from here.

Here is a shot of one of the ancillary funnels. This picture is taken about 3/4 mile south of the Finney county line. The black spot on the horizon just to the left of the funnel is the oil tanks located on the southwest corner of Ida Ruth's quarter. This is the same funnel you will see in my video just before I make my second trip to the basement. This one must have missed Boyd's place by a quarter mile at the most.ALSO NOT MY PICTURE! You can see the video I took this from by visiting KSN's Website.


And here is some of my own video:

Labels: , ,

13 Comments:

Blogger betsyann said...

I'm glad you're safe. And that we were in town. I think I would have been yelling at you.

5:40 PM, April 30, 2009

 
Blogger You can call me Kentolla said...

That...
Was...
AWESOME!

5:51 PM, April 30, 2009

 
Blogger linda jean said...

peace train farming... that was a close one. Worldwide-- good choice. Goes well with about everything-- except maybe kittens.

6:12 PM, April 30, 2009

 
Blogger nattyman said...

Sweet daddy that is cool.

We started watching Lost last night at about 9:30, so we saw the warnings a little late. Worried us a bit. Glad you and your property are safe and well.

Also glad Betsy was in town, so that we could enjoy the pictures and video.

I too like the choice for Adam Again.

6:23 PM, April 30, 2009

 
Blogger Trinket said...

I'm so thankful you all are okay. And as I was watching the video, I yelled, "Matthew, get in the basement!"

8:19 PM, April 30, 2009

 
Blogger mllr said...

sososo cool...you were surrounded!!! oh Peace Train sounding louder...and soon it will be with you...come take me home again. Thanks for the pics and video! AMAZING.

8:26 PM, April 30, 2009

 
Blogger jmlo said...

Wow! Thanks for posting...I do not think I can in good conscience thank you for taking the video because you probably should have been huddled under your desk in the basement.

9:54 PM, April 30, 2009

 
Blogger Melanie said...

Betsy's comment answered my question. :) Cool pics. Glad you were all okay!

11:41 PM, April 30, 2009

 
Anonymous Janet E said...

As a native Kansan now living in PA, all I can say is that these storms populate my nightmares. As I watched I kept wondering how you could stand out there taping it?! But then I can't look away either. I'm glad you and your family and farm are safe.

8:07 PM, May 01, 2009

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Home Sweet Home!! Safe and sound, Mother Nature at Work.Be Safe Farmer Man. Thanks for the show!

9:55 PM, May 03, 2009

 
Blogger dbilberry said...

Whoa!

1:17 PM, May 04, 2009

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

HOLY CRAP

11:01 AM, May 06, 2009

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Having lived for 7 years a couple miles away from where this tornado came through, I must say I am glad I have been high and dry in Colorado for 8 years now. It took me 5 years to quit having nightmares about tornadoes. Probably because the first year we lived there, a tornado at night took one of our neighbors barns away and scattered irrigation pipe for miles. Also a tornado going through the sandhills trapped us at Target in Garden and caused major hail damage to my car one year. All very minor things compared to what they can cause, but enough to fear them.

5:35 AM, May 08, 2009

 

Post a Comment

<< Home