Chase Potential for the Next Week

After taking about a week off from storm chasing, it looks like there will be several potential chase days between Wednesday, June 25th and Tuesday, July 1st.

I have been staying with a friend in New Mexico for the past few days, but I will likely be heading north on Wednesday, as there may be a few severe thunderstorms in eastern Colorado and that general vicinity.

While Thursday may also feature some thunderstorms in the High Plains, the time-frame that catches my attention the most in the Plains is Friday through Sunday. A broad trough is projected to swing from the Pacific Northwest into the upper Plains into the weekend. Now, while there is a good amount of instability in the forecast, the wind fields will not be as impressive as they were with the severe weather last week. Also, there are some other limiting factors to consider, most notably capping. (think of a lid or cap in the atmosphere that stops thunderstorms from forming) Nonetheless, I have to eventually head east toward Connecticut, so I will not pass up on any potential setups along the way.

Into early next week, there is more uncertainty with how the pattern may evolve. The trough may dig into the upper Midwest and could result in an enhanced threat of severe thunderstorms Monday and Tuesday toward the Great Lakes region. Again, since my eventual travel plans take me east, I will be paying close attention to the forecast trends and such a setup would work great for me.

While storm chasing is a lot of fun, it’s costing a lot with gas money, lodging, food, etc. For that reason, this extended trip is a grand finale for me, as it will likely be the last major trip of the storm season. Because of this, I’m going all out and have taken the time to visit friends and family around the country. Storm chasing certainly has its downtime, so my goal is to take full advantage of both storm days and rest days.