Gust Front Sequences

The gust front cometh! The top image shows a sequence of four photo panels with a rapidly materializing shelf cloud low on the horizon and closing fast as seen in the southwest sky at Noelridge Christian Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on the evening of Friday, June 29, 2012. The shelf cloud was riding the leading edge of the gust front. In the background is part of the Colton Square Condominiums. Each panel is one minute apart from the other. Top left: 5:28 PM, top right: 5:29 PM, bottom left: 5:30 PM and bottom right: 5:31 PM. The bottom group of images shows Des Moines radar returns of the storm system from 3:30 PM-6:00 PM. Cedar Rapids is indicated with a white circle. Winds as high as 80 mph were produced in some areas from the gust front, with reports of semi trucks being blown over on Interstate 80 near Newton.