Chase: Aug 5, 2023 (Iowa)

by Eric August 5, 2023

written by Eric August 5, 2023

Details

Location	Sioux Center, Le Mars, Quimby, Cherokee (Western Iowa)
Start	Aug 5, 2023 9:00 AM
End	Aug 5, 2023 11:59 PM
Features	Wall cloud, funnel, tornado, shelf cloud

Overview

Had to take advantage of the upgraded 5% over western Iowa and eastern Nebraska. In hindsight, I left just in time from MN and set off for Sioux City, IA. I stopped a couple times along the way to re-calibrate my target position. Things were already underway. It appeared like most of the storms were on the east side of the TOR outlook area. Storms were predominately rotating around the MCV low in eastern Nebraska. Mostly immature clusters and nothing well defined yet. By the time I reached the approximate area, there was a larger system over Sioux Center, IA and that became the general landing zone.

No sooner did I arrive and get my bearings…you could see significant rotation rapidly forming on the southern tail of the system and NWS quickly warned the cell. Lots of the cells were showing weak to medium rotation, but this one pop’d up rather quickly and was only a few miles away. I arrived, west of Orange City, just in time to catch the tail end of the tornado fizzling out. Just north, another tornado was on the ground. I watched the rotation and the slingshot updrafts for a while, but as it weakened, rain moved in. Rain… like I’ve never seen. It was later reported Orange City got 10″ in a couple hours.

I made my way south east to find a few of the less mature storms that were beginning to pop. Chased several of these around which included fairly robust rotation on one near Cherokee. Updrafts were pretty decent too just sucking up moisture. Countless little funnels, but just not enough surface conditions for any to produce an established funnel or tornado. Ended the chase by heading back towards Quimby, IA where I caught amazing pictures of a shelf cloud moving across the area. Then drove home 4 hours in pouring rain. Thanks Iowa!