Very Successful Chase!

Iowa State University meteorology students watch an RFD circulation behind a tornado around 7:32 PM, Saturday, April 9, 2011 near Mapleton, Iowa. The vortex is located directly behind the two students standing left of the car. Our location was a relative safe distance of about 5 miles southeast of town. From left are: Bryce Link, Sam Schreier, Nick Carletta (foreground), Ryan Alliss, Tyler Roney (partially hidden) and Tristan Morath. Inside the car is Ethan Milius. My son Ryan and I left Cedar Rapids in the eastern part of the state about 11:30 AM to meet with six ISU meteorology students in Ames for a chase to western Iowa, set up by a moderate tornado risk release from the SPC (Storm Prediction Center). This was the first time I had encountered a tornado on the ground and we would "see" about nine more in the darkness before the night was done. It was a big three-day span for Ryan, as he was offered a Marine Meteorologist position with Rockwell Collins in Houston, Texas two days later. In this image, one of our two chase vehicles is shown parked along Sumac Avenue near 170th Street.