Liberal Kansas to Trinidad, Colorado.

More Properly Known as: Liberal, Kansas to Trinidad, Colorado – May 2015

Just after the Sun peaked in the sky on May 16th, we were in the pre-trolling phase of  convective development. For today we were just outside of Liberal, Kansas.  There had been a moderate risk placed early that morning which stretched from Liberal, Kansas down to Childress, Texas.

We overslept, and the better risk appeared to be down south in Texas, however at this point we were too far north, and apparently more interested in Braum’s burgers than whatever the hell was going on outside with the atmosphere.

Road Food Time!

It was around 2pm when the towering cumulus clouds appeared to be anything but towering. Notably it wasn’t exactly humid outside as would be preferred for a storm day.

After the repulsively delicious and hedonistic meal was finished, we went out to the car and sat on our asses before driving further south out of town.

You think Kansas is nothing but endless brown vistas of stinky ass cows?

You are very wrong.

Located in southwestern Kansas, Monument Rocks is perhaps the most mysterious and beautiful pile of dirt you will find on this planet.

Sometimes the most incredible of days occur just after your most depressing day, and in the most unexpected fashion.

This was nevermore the case for us than on May 25, 2016. An unbelievable tornado occurred the day after I made a damning misjudgment, which led to missing one of the most chaotic storms in memory.

After a day of funnel clouds teasing us in southeast Colorado, we found ourselves crossing the border back into Kansas just before sunset, as the storm we had been lurking around all day weakened in intensity overall and began to join a developing line of storms in the area.

Chances of a tornado were now assumed to be over for this storm.  There was a much more prominent storm moving towards the northeast slowly, well ahead of the developing line which we were just in front of at the time.

As darkness ascended upon us and the day came to a close, something ominous was brewing.  A deep, violent rumbling could be heard in the open skies…coming from the car.