4:34 pm, looking northeast from 2.5 miles N of Lincoln KS
Tornadic storm in weak shear environment over north central Kansas on
7/1/04 (associated with 500mb low)
Photos by Jon Davies
4:34 pm, looking northeast from 2.5 miles N of Lincoln KS
According to my camera times, this tornado lasted from around 4:33 pm to roughly 4:38 pm CDT, moving north or northwest a short distance located roughly 3-4 miles north-northeast of Lincoln KS (northwest of Salina). It appeared to touchdown in open country on the southeast side of an otherwise non-severe storm (no hail was observed) that had some visual supercell characteristics. However, shear in the general environment appeared weak from available information (0-6 km shear < 25 kts, 0-1 km shear < 10 kts) ahead of an upper low circulation in northwest KS evident on satellite and at 500 mb, making this an interesting case. The tornadic storm (indicated by the arrows on the satellite and surface map images below) appeared to occur near an intersection of boundaries enhancing local shear east of the surface low and ahead of the upper low and its dynamics. Photos further down show the storm structure, development, and life cycle of the tornado.
Click on the two thumbnails to enlarge:
<2145
UTC visible 
<21 UTC surface map
Photos:
3:55 pm: Soon-to-be tornadic cell, looking NNE from I-70 through broken clouds
southwest of Lincoln KS
View of storm structure at 4:25 pm looking northeast from 2.5 miles N of Lincoln KS (note
lowering at right)
Closer view of lowering or wall cloud, which is on southeast side of storm, looking
northeast
Tail cloud shows rapid horizontal then rising motion as air enters from southeast
Under this area of horizontal-then-rising motion, a couple areas of rotation are seen in
condensation fragments
Rotation consolidates into one area as cloud base condensation fragments begin to rotate
rapidly
At 4:32 pm, rapid rotation and rising motion is easy to see at cloud base
Visual condensation funnel is now in clear view
Wide view of southeast section of storm as tornado touchdown is confirmed by 4:34 pm, view
to northeast
Closer view
Tornado continues at 4:36 pm, looking NE
Wide view showing tornado with wall cloud above and tail cloud at right
The rear-flank downdraft (light area left and above tornado) becomes more evident
Rope out phase at 4:37 pm
Roping continues
By 4:39 pm, the tornado is gone... This was the only tornado observed.
Jon Davies - 7/1/04