STORM TRACK: May 31, 1984 (Volume 7 Issue 4)

In future issues of ST, look for accounts of last year's Medicine Lodge, Kansas and Plainview, Texas tornadoes; representative prices that chasers ask and receive for their pictures; the WARN facility and capability in Oklahoma; the enhanced operational coordination and cooperation between Oklahoma's NWS services and the media during severe weather season; a short account of some recent Virginia tornadoes ("Yes, Virginia ..." they are here); the Abysmal Storm Chase and more.

Addendum: "Rocky" Rascovich, O.U. student chaser called with a late chase report just before ST went to press with the May issue (publication delayed due to the Editor's own annual chase trip). Rocky was in northern Iowa on fateful June 7, 1984 when that state, Minnesota, and Wisconsin (Barneveld) suffered an historic tornado onslaught. He was 115 miles east-southeast of Sioux Falls, when the first tornadoes began there, which then spread and multiplied rapidly eastward. He described limited visibility and low clouds, 800 - 1,500 ft, moving rapidly from the south beneath skies darkening ominously from red to green to dark gray. Twilight turned to darkness as headlights went on at 4:30 PM (!) on the high plains. Bases were indistinct, except as occasionally picked out by jagged streaks of strangely "pink" lightning. And, just to cap this surreal experience, Rocky heard a local tornado warning on his van radio, even as a continuous rumbling of thunder or roar of something else (?) filled the air at (Yes) Cylinder, IA! Thereafter, tornadoes were reported in just about every direction, but the pervasive darkness limited his view. He saw no tornadoes but did photograph a strong, flanking line with 40,000 ft towers that blew up in 40 minutes over (Yes, again!) Storm Lake, IA. Hey, Rocky, come on! Cylinder and Storm Lake? Rotating bases were subsequently photographed near Filmont and, on Friday, near Emporia, KS, where small, twisting vortices were continually forming and breaking away underneath.

Mr. Rascovich had a big week -- last. One thing he did learn: what it was to sense fear that early night in Iowa. He found his storm and drove as far as he dared into that approaching, strangely-colored and boiling darkness before stopping to look, listen and reconsider: the better part of wisdom. He had the good sense to back off a little, as an immeasurable fate passed close-by. A veteran chaser comes of age.