Look Who it Was Random video

Severe Bow Echo / Derecho - August 4, 2012, St. Joseph County, MI.

604 views · Published 5 August 2012 · 8:19 · Indexed 4 October 2026

Channel: marshallbs · 2012 · Film & Animation

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This video was taken on the northern fringe of a very intense bow echo that was racing eastward along and south of the Michigan-Indiana border.  I didn't have time to get directly in the path of this storm as I underestimated its speed.  I really need advice from some seasoned chasers as to how to get reliable radar data on a mobile phone.  My phone kept downloading 20 minute old images instead of the most recent and as a result I thought I had a lot more time than I actually did.  Don't know if it was the web site, a bad connection, or what.

I think I found a great location though as the CGs were quite visible and the rain was light enough to allow me to crack open my driver-side door and capture some nice thunder without getting too wet.  The rain even let up enough to get out of the car at one point and I captured a couple great bolts.

The best visible CGs are at 3:38, 4:26, 4:43, and 5:01.

My only gripe is a lot of areas north of the Indiana border could have used some decent rain.  I don't know why the whole northern end of this line pooped out and never redeveloped.  There was plenty of instability over the southern half of lower MI, at least there "was", before the stratiform debris came in and ruined it.  I think the hi-res NAM showed the action staying south, but all the local forecasters were discounting it, saying everyone would get at least a quarter inch.  Wrong!

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