Nature's Fireworks on July 4 weekend in Kansas           Photos by Jon Davies

Sunday July 3, 2005 saw its share of natural fireworks in central and south central Kansas.  One supercell storm starting at early afternoon moved from west of Great Bend to east of McPherson with several tornado warnings.  But the big event was a monster supercell that moved from west of Hutchinson to Wichita at late afternoon and early evening, spreading out into a wind storm that produced damage, injuries, and unfortunately one death at Cheney Reservoir, west of Wichita.  This beast of a storm was both ominous-looking and highly electrified, making for striking photo opportunities.  There were several small tornado reports, but apparently all were brief.  The main concern was potentially deadly straight-line winds and lightning.  Jim Reed and I followed both storms, with some photos below.

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This is the first tornado-warned supercell in Rice County looking W from east of Lyons		 CRW_1028_sml(c).jpg (96475 bytes)
Cloud to ground lightning in the storm's forward flank, looking NNW		 CRW_1032_sml(c).jpg (87592 bytes)
Gust front vortex south of McPherson, looking W.  Likely typical of many "tornadoes" reported this day.
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This is a newer ominous supercell due south of Hutchinson at late p.m., looking WSW. 		CRW_1046_sml(c).jpg (85264 bytes)
This dangerous storm produced injuries and major damage at Cheney Reservoir.  View is toward SW.		 CRW_1047_crop_sml(c).jpg (49696 bytes)
The supercell storm was intensely electrified.
View toward NW, east of Cheney Reservoir.
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Big cloud to ground bolts were striking well in front of the storm.  One man was injured later in Wichita.		 CRW_1067_sml(c).jpg (88481 bytes)
This is the storm as it approached far west Wichita.
View is toward SW, from south of Colwich.		 CRW_1069_sml(c).jpg (107194 bytes)
The structure of this storm was almost jaw-dropping at times.  View looking NW from same location.
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Winds of 80+ mph were reported in western Sedgwick County as the storm approached Wichita		 Nature's and man's fireworks filled the sky over Wichita at late evening in the wake of this expanding squall line.

How appropriate for the July 4th weekend...

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I was unprepared for capturing this photo scene from my backyard, unfortunately a little soft & blown out.

-- Jon Davies 7/5/05

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