June 3

Severe squall line begins to show signs of intensifying rotation at it moves into the Kansas City metro.

Stopped at QuikTrip in Raytown, MO for food and to update live. I warn employees of the approaching storm.

First tornado warning gets issued around 1:50 pm.

Doing first live update of the day to the KCSSW group.

Skies darken as storms close in. The distant sirens from within the warning box can be heard.

Radar presentation the new tornado warning just barely to my south.

New tornado warning comes out for the southeast metro and my locations. A tight velocity couplet lets me know a tornado is likely in progress.

Tornado warning issued at 2 : pm as move east on I-70 to position for the storm in less crowded areas. I fear that motorists will misbehave and clog the underpasses.

Surprising and heart-pounding moment as the warning gets upgraded to a PDS tornado warning, the first I have ever been inside during a chase. I am convinced that an unusually significant QLCS tornado is going through my city.

Live Facebook update from Blue Springs, MO, broadcast on the KCSSW group.

: pm radar as I travel north towards Buckner, MO. Note the couplet on velocity and the HP hook on reflectivity.

Pulling into the town of Buckner, many people stand outside watching the storm approaching from the west as sirens scream through town.

I catch visual of a lowered portion of the line. It convinces me that the tornado is still in progress.

Looking west at the curling tornadic segment of the squall line, note the surging rain-shaft on the left side of the frame.

Epic shelf cloud and whale's mouth to my south.

Persistently rotating lowering approaching on the leading edge.

Edge of the rain shaft begins to overtake Buckner to my north.

Leading edge of the storm passes overhead. At this point, I realize I am in a dangerous position after checking radar as the circulation turns east. I move in case the tornado is still on the ground.