After looking at the models again this morning, I decided to head south toward Colorado Springs early, and then play the I-70 corridor later in the afternoon, and that strategy couldn’t have worked better.  Had to go it solo today when I had 3 people flake out on me.  Oh well, they missed a great day!  I headed out around 12:30 south down I-25 and first pulled off at the Palmer Lake exit.  After venturing back a bit west, I could see storms starting to initiate but nothing very impressive. 

First stop at Palmer Lake didn't show anything too impressive...

I then got back on I-25 and headed a little bit further south and eventually wound up in Peyton via Black Forest, where in the not too far distance I saw some nice structure of a cell starting to organize.

This eventually got pulled into the 'muck' just outside CO Springs...

There was one dominant cell that crossed I-25 just north of Colorado Springs that kept absorbing these smaller cells that tried to go up, so I hung around to see if that dominant cell was going to do anything but it didn’t.  So, with no new cells being able to remain discreet and the dominant cell not looking too impressive, I decided to hit highway 24 and make my way back east toward Limon.  I did catch a nice little cell just outside Calhan that showed some potential for about 45 seconds.

Nothing too impressive but it did give me a nice shower on the way to Limon...

 I got back in to Limon and decided to head back toward Denver on I-70 to intercept a cell that had already went severe warned.  The structure in front of me as I got closer to it was amazing.  I finally decided to get off 70 in Strasburg and wait for it to come to me.  I didn’t have to wait long.  The base of the storm was very, very low and rotating like crazy.  I was actually surprised there was no tornado warning issued.  Anyway, lightning was striking very close to me on all sides.  I sat on the side of the road and shot some video and also shot some stills.

Lowering on the storm was rotating indeed!

I was excited and nervous as I shot this knowing the punch it was going to pack...

I raced back east on a side road and had this thing right on my tail.  I remember looking through the rear view mirror to see if the rotation was still there and all I saw was a flash of purple as a lightning strike hit very close.  I got back to I-70 and didn’t get too far since visibility was completely gone.  I sat on the side of the highway with about 20 other cars until it let up a bit.  After the rain lightened up for a minute or so, it re-intensified for round 2.  I trailed just behind it, now going back E on I-70 and got off at Byers and shot some lightning for about 10 minutes.  After that I made my way home.  Whew…

Anyway, the first half of the day down south was pretty lackluster but did yield some decent photography opportunities but the main event of the day was for sure in Strasburg.  Felt good to get out for a nice summer chase!  Youtube link of the chase below.

Youtube Link For Today’s Chase

Wayfaring Map of my route today 

Scott

PS - Sorry for no streaming today.  I realized near CO Springs that I forgot my firewire cable.  Doh!