Name: Jason Breakiron
Date: 7-1-2001
Target Zone: Local-Northern Virginia Area.
Miles Logged: 71
Hello Everyone,
I've had a real bad month health wise and needed to get out for a bit to
do something as I was bored out of my mind.
I called a friend who lives in Annandale, VA and discussed my options
with him. He's a Hurricane chaser, but storms can help relieve some
boredom to him as well. I arrived in Annandale about 3pm and
immediately jumped to radar at his house. After finally making up are
minds we decided we where perfect just in Annandale.
Storms had quickly built to our west & northwest and as luck would have
it aimed right for our position about 1/4 mile east of route 236 &
Hummer road which is also about 1/4 mile from interstate 495.
The first storms rolled in about 5:45pm and we where disappointed that
they had not intensified like we had hoped. So while the thunder clapped
& the lightning flickered we sat in the car eating our dinner and once
again watched radar for any other storms that might roll our way.
About 6:45pm a second storm approached from our northwest. This was a
supercell, our supercell. Clouds tops estimated at 45,000-50,000 ft & a
very impressive overshooting top gave us notice of what was to come.
Re-postioning ourselves behind a shopping center, we pondered about high
tailing it out of there when we saw the wall cloud coming straight at
us.
We stuck our ground though and watched as this cloud rolled toward us.
When I say rolled, I mean churned over and over upon itself. As you
looked up you could see the impressive wall cloud all the way up to the
main storm cells.
About this time my video camera died on me & I came very close to
throwing it against the pavement from disgust. But hey I'm a dedicated
chaser so I just kept watching this impressive storm come our way.
Rotation was very intense, clouds where spinning in all directions
including what amazed me as up and down barrel like motion.
Marcus, spotted the first funnel cloud just to our northwest. the funnel
lasted all of about 25 seconds and then disappeared. Moments later
another funnel about 1/2 mile to our southwest formed and again lasted
20-25 seconds before disappearing.
Just about a minute later I spotted a very tightly formed & fastly
rotating funnel which looked like a small F1. It was very compact, like
a suger cone base. we where able to keep in in view for about 45
seconds to a minute before we decided to split.
We had already seen enough & didn't have a choice as that funnel
barrelled directly towards us. Maybe as close as 1/2-1 mile from us.
As I drove away the entire scene was something directly out of Oklahoma.
This was the second time in 2 months I have witnessed storms with a
midwest attitude.
You know the type of storm which you would only think you'd see in
"tornado alley". These storms which at points extended from as far as
Indiana I believe to Maine had a very violent twist to them. Anyway,
After getting of the cell phone from the Skywarn network with our
eyewitness reports we took cover in a nearby park as the rains came.
Although now the the punishments have hit me, and I'm thinking back to
last night when A VERY GOOD FRIEND in Fallston, MD was telling me about
car rides & bad backs. Maybe it was the core punching {Something I have
only done twice & it's not recommended}. I'm in a lot of pain right
now, but it was worth it. To my other VERY GOOD FRIEND, President &
founder of the Storm Chasers Of America John Jensen "No hail dents this
time buddy" :)
Take Care,
Jason Breakiron
Manassas, VA
M.E.S.O. Assoc INC.
http://www.mcwar.org
Storm Chasers Of America
Member # 12 {I believe}
http://www.stormchasersofamerica.org
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This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Sat Sep 01 2001 - 13:05:11 EDT