2004 CHASE LOG

DATE: May 8, 2004 TIME: 18:30 to 21:30 STATE(S): Iowa

COUNTIES: Boone, Dallas, Madison, Polk, Warren

CHASE CREW: Loren Karr, Travis Stevenson

BASE CREW: Fenner Stevenson CHASE # 3

Day began with warm temps, highs in upper 70’s, and dew points in mid 60’s. Storms developed over Western Iowa, Tornado warning issued for storm near Adel.

Encountered a wall cloud that may have produced the weak tornado near mention above. Cloud was observed at approximately 19:45 one mile South of Van Meter at the intersection of County Rd R16 and F90. Cloud did not produce a funnel while being observed but did show signs of rotation. See location 1 on map.

As we headed south to observe from a better location, quarter (1”) size hail was encountered. This location was approximately two miles South of De Soto on US highway 169 at 20:01. See location 2 on map.

Remainder of chase yielded only rain, with heavy rain on IA highway 92 from Winterset to Bevington. Light to moderate rain fell on the rest of the trip from I-35 at Bevington to Boone.

Hail at location 2 was reported to NWS later in the evening.

Map of Chase Route.

Photos from May 8, 2004 Chase (#3)

A picture looking west from location #1, the intersection of county roads R16 and F90.

A bright bolt of lightning exits our storm cloud, near the location that rotation had been spotted. This picture was taken at the same location as the picture above, looking west-northwest.