Trentham Stormchasers 2010 USA Roadtrip

 

Day 13: 4rd May, 2010: There's no doubt that sports are very big in high schools....we overnighted in Grinnell, southern Iowa - the blurb in the hotel for the town guidance showed a proud upstanding community with a big emphasis on business and sporting achievements. It's obvious that the town council has a great interest in their community, advertising promotional town meetings for a year in advance. We find that there are a lot of towns like Grinnell across middle America, and in some ways you feel safe walking the streets. Although we come across some small towns that are almost decrepit or rundown, there was always someone out fixing or painting.

Our run today takes us west to Wyoming and then to Montana. We are interested in the weather outlook, the possibility of snow through the northwestern states. For many in this part of America, the last 2 weeks have seen near record cold and lots of snow. The road trip today takes us via the I-80 and connects through the I-29 to the I-90 in South Dakota. We pass through southern Dakota and Rapid City (the Badlands), progressively moving into colder air in the west of the state. As we approach the Badlands region (SW Dakota), we notice low topped cumulonimbus trailing snow streamers. Some of the anvils were being dragged well northeast. Snow streaks could be seen almost reaching ground level. A potent trough is expected into western South Dakota through the night.

We make it into Gillette, NE Wyoming - an industrial town with a large railway sorting yard. This is coal country, which rhymes with cold...and the expected overnight low of 28F (-3C)

 

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Road delays come for many reasons...South Dakota

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A lot of small towns along Interstates (I-90), rely on passing traffic for business. At some places you are greeted by hordes of advertising billboards. They are difficult to read at 75mph (123kmh)! Interestingly, they all claim to be the best for you...so please call in at our business.....

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The curious arc of cloud in the centre of this image is called a horseshoe vortex. They are an odd spinning skyworm.....

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Approaching the Badlands, we start to encounter colder air and relatively shallow cumulus are generating snow showers.

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The cascading precipitation (snow) was a spectacular sight on the plains of western South Dakota

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The Americans have made just about everything out of metal....

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The endless I-90 across the plains of South Dakota

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The edge of the Badlands

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Not all of south Dakota is slightly undulating prairie - hills occasionally appear to break the monotony.

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Remnant snow patches near Sundance, Wyoming

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Open cut coal mine, Gillette, Wyoming

Stay tuned for tomorrow's episode...

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