Soon the storm will be over, and the clouds will all pass by...
...to be insane beyond belief, is sometimes the best relief.
To expand on my electronically shortened post from the evening of the Comfort Inn destruction incident, I find it quite hilarious the things that I fear versus the things that I don't. During the height of the storm, with strong rotation indicated on radar (those scans that weren't heavily aliased, that is), and 60-80 mph straight-line winds, along with hail of at least quarter size, I fought the urge to go outside. Never once was I fearful during the storm. I sat there analyzing radar data and occasionally venturing to the lobby doors and windows to watch in awe of the beautiful display being offered.
After following the supercell from its initial development through when it began lining out (including the brief tornado near Hill City), we had dinner at Whiskey Creek in Hays. I was rather impressed to find out that the establishment did, in fact, have a basement, as much of the staff headed there shortly after we paid and left to head for the Comfort Inn. I was equally impressed at the local emergency response staff, who drove around town blaring sirens and warning people of the impending storm and the fact that a tornado warning was in effect.
We went upstairs to our room, taking the chance that power would survive and we would not become stuck in the elevator (power never went out during the storm, which was incredibly impressive), and watched the wind outside the window of our third floor room. Geoff and I then went downstairs to get a closer look, and to check radar data, while Mike filmed out the window. Mike left and came downstairs once the wind started to howl and the roof began to creak.
It was nice to become the de facto expert for the hotel as a group gathered around me while I analyzed radar data. It is nice to have your skills be put to use to inform others.
In any case, the windows in the lobby apparently bowed inward significantly under the strain of the west-northwest winds, and rain began to seep in around them. After the storm had passed, we ventured outside to survey the damage and confirm that, amazingly Rav4 Sport did not sustain any damage, although, as of right now, we DO have good luck Dairy Queen hot dog box and good luck Diet Pepsi bottle wedged under the luggage rack atop the vehicle. It is still rather dusty in here as well.
To expand on my electronically shortened post from the evening of the Comfort Inn destruction incident, I find it quite hilarious the things that I fear versus the things that I don't. During the height of the storm, with strong rotation indicated on radar (those scans that weren't heavily aliased, that is), and 60-80 mph straight-line winds, along with hail of at least quarter size, I fought the urge to go outside. Never once was I fearful during the storm. I sat there analyzing radar data and occasionally venturing to the lobby doors and windows to watch in awe of the beautiful display being offered.
After following the supercell from its initial development through when it began lining out (including the brief tornado near Hill City), we had dinner at Whiskey Creek in Hays. I was rather impressed to find out that the establishment did, in fact, have a basement, as much of the staff headed there shortly after we paid and left to head for the Comfort Inn. I was equally impressed at the local emergency response staff, who drove around town blaring sirens and warning people of the impending storm and the fact that a tornado warning was in effect.
We went upstairs to our room, taking the chance that power would survive and we would not become stuck in the elevator (power never went out during the storm, which was incredibly impressive), and watched the wind outside the window of our third floor room. Geoff and I then went downstairs to get a closer look, and to check radar data, while Mike filmed out the window. Mike left and came downstairs once the wind started to howl and the roof began to creak.
It was nice to become the de facto expert for the hotel as a group gathered around me while I analyzed radar data. It is nice to have your skills be put to use to inform others.
In any case, the windows in the lobby apparently bowed inward significantly under the strain of the west-northwest winds, and rain began to seep in around them. After the storm had passed, we ventured outside to survey the damage and confirm that, amazingly Rav4 Sport did not sustain any damage, although, as of right now, we DO have good luck Dairy Queen hot dog box and good luck Diet Pepsi bottle wedged under the luggage rack atop the vehicle. It is still rather dusty in here as well.