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wednesdav March 27,1991 / University Daily Kansan
'Severe storms team' savors rough weather
By Lara Gold
Kansan staff writer
Joseph Heim wanted tornadoes to come through Lawrence last night.
"I've never seen a tornado before," said Heim, Clarence, N.Y., graduate student. "It's almost like a meteorologist's high."
Heim is one of about 20 meteorology students in the Severe Storms Chase Team, a club that goes out in the field and documents severe weather conditions.
"I have always loved the weather since I was a little kid," he said. "I'm looking forward to it."
a tornado happens when a warm front meets a cold front and they begin swirling around each other. The two forces push against each other and cause the funnel-shaped downward extension.
Rodney Price, coordinator for the chase team, said the group was thrilled about the change in weather yesterday afternoon.
"Two tornado watches in our area. We are all fired up." he said.
The group breaks up into teams, videotapes and photographs weather changes and documents the times the changes occurred, Price said.
"We take notes and observe thunderstorm development to know what to look for when forecasting," he said.
But, more importantly, he loves being outside during severe weather conditions.
"There is a thrill of being out there when a hailstorm comes through," he said.
Price said that everyone on the team had been looking forward to spring because of tornado season.
Matt Foster, president of the group, said the combination of water and heat turning into vast amounts of energy was phenomenal.
"This is Mother Nature at her best," he said.
Tornadoes touch ground in Kansas
The Associated Press
HUTCHNSON, Kan. - Multiple tornadoes were reported on the ground in Reno County between Hutchinson and Nickerson early yesterday evening, including one that was estimated to be a half-mile wide.
The National Weather Service reported a tornado on the ground
three miles west of Abbyville, southwest of Hutchinson.
One house was reported destroyed in Abbeyville, and five people were reported injured. One home was destroyed in Willowbrook. None of the injuries were reported to be serious.
Larry Walburn, sales manager of Jim Clark Motors, 2121 W. 29th Terrace, examines hail damage to a 1991 Chrysler LeBaron. Walburn said yesterday's hailstorm would substantially reduce the market value of most of his inventory of cars.
Storm's damage
Neighbors' efforts stop fire caused by lightning bolt Kansan staff report
Two Lawrence men extinguished a fire in their neighbor's garage after a lightning bolt pierced a hole in the roof. Though the root about 5.p.m. yesterday
Mark Riley, 1618 Northwood Drive,
said he was at home when he saw fire
through his neighbor's garage windows
dows after lightning hit the roof.
Riley said he and another neighbor, Randall Conrad, 1624 Northwood Drive, fought the fire with a garden knife. The fire was out five minutes before the fire was out.
A Lawrence fire truck arrived just afterward. Riley said.
Capt. Don Knight of the Lawrence Fire Department said the lightning broke a rafter apart and caught some cardboard boxes on fire.
The house at 1619 Northwood Drive suffered some minor water damage because the outside water spilled into the fire was broken, Knight said.
Jessica Pennewell, owner of the house, said she was driving home from work when she saw the fire truck in front of her house.
Conrad said he was looking at hail damage to his car when he saw a red and orange explosion above the roof, followed by a load boom.
Karen Hickey, 1625 Northwood Drive, said she was watching television when the lightning struck next door and knocked her off her couch.
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