CHASE ARCHIVES
Monsoon Season
2009
A challenging chase season for me. I had only one chase opportunity in July via a weekend chase trip to Arizona. The rest of the month was consumed with work as monsoon events were limited to weekdays, as was the bulk of August. The only two good chase opportunities were August 21 and 23, with the 23rd being the best.
July 24, 2009 - Arizona
Chased western and southern Arizona. Began the day along the Colorado River Valley with some weak storms around Parker. Pushed south on US 95 with some flash flooding north of Yuma. Ended the day as a severe thunderstorm near Ajo moved north through open desert dissipating at sunset.
July 25, 2009 - Arizona
Day 2 of the Arizona chase trip. Chased From near Tucson all the way up to Casa Grande. Locations included Oro Valley, Avra Valley, Eloy, Coolidge, and Blackwell.
August, 2009 (day unknown) - Adelanto, CA
Night chase in Adelanto as nocturnal storms fired along the El Mirage CZ. This chase was pretty much forgotten about until the short video surfaced. From what I can remember I positioned myself on the west side of Adelanto with some random lightning, but for some reasons unknown I was not able to take any photos or accomplish and further video.
August 21, 2009 - Blythe, CA
Intercepted intense MCS moving west from Arizona into California at Blythe.
August 23, 2009 - Mojave Desert, CA
Slight Risk issued by SPC for severe thunderstorms in the deserts of Southern California and western Arizona. Chased three storms this day. Storm #1, the weakest, was between Victorville and Barstow and did not go warned. Storm #2 was severe and had formed just east of Newberry Springs. Rotation was detected on radar and I did spot a wall cloud. Storm had visual characteristics of a supercell. Storm # 3 formed over Amboy around 6:30pm and I paced it all the way to Essex where it also rotated and showed supercell characteristics including a mothership meso in its base. An incredible lightning display followed my arrival near Essex. Additional severe storms formed north of my position in the Mojave National Preserve.
September 2, 2009 - Lake Elsinore, CA
Severe thunderstorm formed over Perris and moved southwest into Lake Elsinore. I intercepted the storm as I got home from work, observing its structure during the drive home. The storm exhibited rotation and a tornado statement was included in the severe thunderstorm warning. The storm did produce an unconfirmed landspout in the western section of Perris.
September 5, 2009 - Perris, CA
A rare rotating supercell thunderstorm had formed in the southern end of the Coachella Valley and north side of the Salton Sea. I attempted an intercept however because of distance and time I opted to remain in Perris observing the storm's structure and progress of its track to the northwest. The storm fell apart as it banked up against the San Jacinto and Santa Rosa Mtns and did not progress any farther.
