6.4.01 Hesston, KS

I flew to Wichita, KS for a three day chase outing. On 6.3.01, I watched a thunderstorm develop over Medicine Lodge, KS right at sunset. The storm put down some impressive lightning and had radar indicated tornado warnings associated with it until almost midnight.

On 6.4.01, a dry line stretching from Hutchinson, KS to southwest Texas became the focus for thunderstorm development. I drove to Hesston, KS as cumulus updrafts desperately tried to break through the cap. Around 7 pm, the area of development that I was watching finally started getting its act together. The base appeared linear for some time, but quickly changed appearance around 715 pm. Definite rotation produced a bell-shaped rain free base and soon (~720 pm) a clear slot started to form on the west side of the base. The storm continued to maintain a strong updraft until sunset. After which it abruptly weakened and died.

Storms that fired earlier that evening in northwest Oklahoma worked their way into the Wichita area overnight and into the early morning. I was treated to two impressive lightning shows as a result. One around 4 am and the other around 6 am.

	550 pm The updrafts struggle against the cap. However, they grew stronger with time indicating that the cap was weakening. Radar Image
	644 pm A hail shaft cascades down the forward flank.
	723 pm Storm quickly changes characteristics and shows signs of rotation. Up until this point the updraft base was linear.
	729 pm A clear slot now forms on the west side of the updraft.
	730 pm Closer view of the clear slot.
	Approximately 4 am After returning to Wichita, I was treated to a 4 am light show. View is looking west from the airport Hilton.

	Approximately 6 am Another storm rolled by the airport early morning just after sunrise.