6.5.01 South Haven, KS

My target for today was Buffalo, OK. I drove south down I-35 and then westbound on highway 11/64. By the time I reached Alva, OK cumulus was starting to develop to my north. I started to head towards Medicine Lodge, KS when another storm exploded to my west. I backtracked to Alva, OK and then went west on highway 64. The storm produced a nice lowering before becoming obscured by rain. I drove east back to Alva, OK and then a few miles north on highway 281. The updraft base of my original target once again looked strong, but quickly died in a matter of 20 minutes.

Looking at the latest radar image, the storm east of Medicine Lodge was the best prospect. I headed north on 281 then east on highway 2. I encountered heavy rain and winds estimated to 40 mph coming from the north. I was in the outflow from the HP monster to my northeast. Freshly plowed/planted fields were quickly becoming lakes and rivers. Fortunately, the road (now eastbound on highway 44 east of Anthony) remained above water. Lightning was very intense with many bolts striking all around me. I made it to highway 49 and turned southbound. Soon I was out of the driving rain and had a good view of the core of the storm to my north-northeast. Another tornado warning went out for this storm but precipitation around the core prevented me from seeing a tornado if one was there. I traveled south to Caldwell, KS and then east on highway 81 to South Haven. I stopped about 2 miles east of South Haven and started photographing an impressive lightning display. The setting sun cast a beautiful orange color on the scene. Around 8 pm MDT, the storm once again grew stronger and soon it was time to move east. A very strong gust front approached South Haven and kicked up dirt southwest of town. This was reported as a tornado, but I believe it was outflow winds or a gustnado as the main updraft region was still north of South Haven. I headed east to Arkansas City, KS. The storm grew into a very intense HP monster with incredible lightning. It traveled just north of Arkansas City, KS and then began to weaken. On my way back to Wichita, KS I saw the DOW vehicles at a gas station just east of I-35 near South Haven, KS.

When I arrived back in Wichita, KS, another compact storm moved just south of the city. I photographed lightning from the airport in Wichita, KS and listened to many aircraft as they held west of town waiting for the storm to pass.

	433 pm West of Alva, OK looking west-northwest. This storm had a well defined wall cloud. Radar Image
	519 pm North of Alva, OK looking west. After the storm weakened, it intensified one last time before dissipating. Satellite Image
	533 pm The updraft rapidly fizzled and died. Now the best target was a storm that originated near Medicine Lodge, KS.
	704 pm After driving through intense rain, I finally made it south of the storm. At this time a tornado warning was issued but the core was obscured by rain. West of South Haven, KS looking north. Radar Image
	724 pm East of South Haven, KS looking north. Radar Image
	Approx 8 pm A microburst and associated rain foot. East of South Haven, KS looking north. Radar Image
	Approx 8 pm The lightning display and setting sun backlighting made for a surreal setting.
	It was about time to head west. Dust was kicked up to the southwest of me soon after this picture was taken. View is looking west towards South Haven, KS.
	When I got back to Wichita, a compact thunderstorm put down some impressive bolts just south of the airport.