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Last Updated on Sunday, 10 January 2010 00:05 Written by Roger Hill

2002

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This was an interesting day to chase. The atmosphere over my target area was cloudy and cool, with temps in the low 50s and dewpoints near 50. A moderate risk was issued by SPC, and if skies could just clear enough to destabilize the atmosphere, then there was a good chance of significant tornadoes. I left Denver driving through the rain and snow and arrived near Alma, Nebraska by 1 PM. Skies were clearing as the dry slot had pushed northward. A rope cloud had formed and towers were trying oh so hard to establish themselves with little luck. Finally enough heating had occurred to warm temps into the low 60s with dewpoints near 60. A couple cbs became rooted in the boundary layer and quickly exhibited mini-supercell characteristics. Shortly after 3 PM a rapidly rotating cb developed southwest of Crete, Nebraska. This cell raced northward at 50 mph and produced a tornado that stayed on the ground for 4.5 miles just west of Crete. Unfortunately, I did not get my camcorder up and running and focused in time to catch the mature part of the tornado. Photos are below. A couple of the photos have been enhanced to see the tornado in its latter stages.

Large fat towers on the boundary.	These towers were surface based and exhibited strong rotation.
Rotating mini supercell that produced the tornado.	Enhance photo to see the truncated cone tornado.
Another enhanced shot of the tube.	Look at the right side of the updraft for the white tornado.
Rotating updraft with lowering still visible.	Intense motion was easily seen from my location.
Still strong rotation seen.	Tornado still visible on the right side of the video still.