April 17

My forecast plan for the day ahead. Notice how there is not a definitive target circle!

Dead ahead is the anvil of the supercell we are targeting while playing catch up. This storm would would go on to produce a deadly tornado in Lena, IL.

2:15 pm radar reflectivity of the tornado-warned supercells we are targeting 

More updrafts appear to develop south of the storm along the confluence band.

We realize that it is unlikely we will be able to catch up to the monster renegade supercell, so we shift our attention west. Looking south from Mechanicsville, IA at the massive anvil of the new round of storms coming in with the cold front.

3:32 pm radar of small prefrontal cells that are getting our attention.

The first small updraft comes in to view, but seems to be dying here.

Next prefrontal here seems to have a much better updraft structure, perhaps even supercellular.

Wall and possible tail cloud with the storm's base over the Cedar Rapids area.

4:01 pm radar reflectivity and velocity of the small supercell.

4:25 radar of the tornado-warned cold front cluster reaching us, as well as a new spot of interest to our west.

Looking west/northwest into the green core of the tornado-warned storms associated with the cold front.

After moving further east the shlf cloud of the mighty storm charges after us.

Looking north/northwest into the tornado-warned storm from southwest of Anamosa, IA at 4:44 pm.

Radar at 4:41 pm of the tornadic storm.

Radar as we let the storm pass over us.

Low clouds overhead after the storm lets up and rear inflow jet begins to subside.

We notice another tornado-warned cell to out south and decide to position for it before heading back.

Gorgeous mammatus clouds from the severe and tornadic storms in the region.

View of the storm's downdraft region as we approach.

Tornado warning extended for our storm.

Once we arrive on the storm near Bennett, IA, a barrage of positive lightning strikes ensues around us.

5:56 pm radar with our position on the north side of the bow-echo.

Turns out that while we were stopped, we had been stuck the whole time. We spend a good 10-20 minutes trying different things to get unstuck to no avail. A kind local came to the rescue and pulled us out of the mud free of charge!

Calm after the storm, and after a hard, stressful chase. The amazing anvil with faint mammatus visible.