Extreme Instability, Scary weather and incredible shots [37 pics]

By on July 21, 2011 in Arial Photography, Environment, Featured, Nature, Odd, Phenomenon

monZG Extreme Instability, Scary weather and incredible shots [37 pics]

1

Extreme Instability: Nebraska Sand Hills Monster Supercell Storm

Very intense high precipitation supercell storm moves south in the Nebraska Sand Hills south of Valentine, July 13, 2009. Very low, long and fat inflow cloud stretches east of the storm. Winds gusted upwards of 60+ mph into this storm. Tornado warning with the storm mentioned baseball size hail and winds in excess of 100 mph, a rare warning text indeed. As intense of a storm as it was, it only produced one short-lived small tornado. Traffic heading north up highway 83 would be driving right into the storm’s forward flank downdraft, which contained large hail and intense rain.  Image Credit (and all rights reserved by): extremeinstability.com

Extreme Instability, Scary weather and incredible shots [37 pics]



Introduction

These images simply blew us away (pun intended). These photos a incredible and simply breathtaking. The Photographer, Mike Hollingshead who runs the extremeinstability.com website is a storm chaser that got into photography because video captures weren’t doing things justice. He started chasing in 1999, but has always watched storms around town. He usually drives around 20,000 miles a year just chasing storms, from Texas to North Dakota, Colorado to Indiana. Though more and more he’s satisfied with South Dakota to Oklahoma, Colorado to Iowa.

He always shoots with a Canon Digital Rebel SLRs. He has a 10-22 EF-s, a 50mm 1.8, and a 100-400L and that is it for lenses. He shoots strictly in RAW.

He states that “Second to a love of storms, is a love of all other things weather. I love witnessing rare weather and sky scenes, such as atmospheric optics, fog displays from above, ice-storms and blizzards.”

We are very grateful he has allowed us to present some of his favorite pictures.
[37 pictures]

Hint: Use “J” and “K” keys (after the page finish loading) to navigate from picture to picture.

SBU3g Extreme Instability, Scary weather and incredible shots [37 pics]

2

Extreme Instability: June 19, 2011 McCook Nebraska Supercell

The vertical wave wall was just crazy, but then you my also had that really funky curling wall/base up there. It’s like a backwards inflow band(not literally). Often you’ll see a mid-level band going the other way, from away from the storm to the south (left) and then going into the storm around the northeast side. This was backwards. But really what that would be(I think) is more or less the “elevated base” to the real convection above. All the rfd and cool sinking action would be behind that, which was plowing forward and helping lift the stabilizing lower levels.. making that wild wall/wave. Maybe like if an elevated storm had a big wall cloud, lol. Photo Credit (and all rights reserved by): extremeinstability.com

24Qap Extreme Instability, Scary weather and incredible shots [37 pics]

3

Extreme Instability: Whales Mouth

Shelf cloud moves over a storm chaser producing what they term the “whales mouth” in southeast Nebraska August 9, 2009. Photo Credit (and all rights reserved by): extremeinstability.com

8j9bK Extreme Instability, Scary weather and incredible shots [37 pics]

4

Extreme Instability: Storm and Stars

Stars trail above a storm complex over Omaha Nebraska as an airplane detours around, summer 2010. Photo Credit (and all rights reserved by): extremeinstability.com

x6U78 Extreme Instability, Scary weather and incredible shots [37 pics]

5

Extreme Instability: Nebraska Sand Hills Monster Supercell Storm

Very intense high precipitation supercell storm moves south in the Nebraska Sand Hills south of Valentine, July 13, 2009. Very low, long and fat inflow cloud stretches east of the storm. Winds gusted upwards of 60+ mph into this storm. Tornado warning with the storm mentioned baseball size hail and winds in excess of 100 mph, a rare warning text indeed. As intense of a storm as it was, it only produced one short-lived small tornado. Traffic heading north up highway 83 would be driving right into the storm’s forward flank downdraft, which contained large hail and intense rain.Photo Credit (and all rights reserved by): extremeinstability.com

kZdIH Extreme Instability, Scary weather and incredible shots [37 pics]

6

Extreme Instability: Fire Devil and Snow Geese

Very tall fire devil spins away behind a flock of snow geese during a controlled burn at Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge in northwest Missouri. Photo Credit (and all rights reserved by): extremeinstability.com

xT8hj Extreme Instability, Scary weather and incredible shots [37 pics]

7

Extreme Instability: Badlands Fog Storm

Fog storm overtakes the Badlands of South Dakota June 18, 2008. Colliding outflow from morning storms creates a vertical wall of clouds, which rapidly engulf the badlands terrain with high winds and near zero visibility. Within a couple minutes of being overtaken, the sky clears. Photo Credit (and all rights reserved by): extremeinstability.com

gqh70 Extreme Instability, Scary weather and incredible shots [37 pics]

8

Extreme Instability: Noctilucent Clouds

Rare mid-latitude noctilucent clouds over western Iowa July 14, 2009. Photo Credit (and all rights reserved by): extremeinstability.com

vtO7N Extreme Instability, Scary weather and incredible shots [37 pics]

9

Extreme Instability: Tower Lightning

Lightning rises up from the north Omaha TV towers September 29, 2008. Photo Credit (and all rights reserved by): extremeinstability.com

m5sKR Extreme Instability, Scary weather and incredible shots [37 pics]

10

Extreme Instability: Kansas Tornadic Supercell

Massive supercell storm produces a tornado near Hill City, Kansas June 9, 2005. To the right of the tornado is a large inflow cloud in the shape of an alligator head, a very unique feature. Photo Credit (and all rights reserved by): extremeinstability.com

U2Owy Extreme Instability, Scary weather and incredible shots [37 pics]

11

Extreme Instability: Circumzenithal Arc and Sun Dogs

Circumzenithal arc shines brightly above the sun and sun dogs along the Missouri River in eastern Nebraska on a bitter January day. Photo Credit (and all rights reserved by): extremeinstability.com

lNSBc Extreme Instability, Scary weather and incredible shots [37 pics]

12

Extreme Instability: Iowa Tornado

Tornado kicks up debris near Ft. Dodge Iowa June 11, 2004. Photo Credit (and all rights reserved by): extremeinstability.com

0kURg Extreme Instability, Scary weather and incredible shots [37 pics]

13

Extreme Instability: Moon and Light Pillars

Arctic air combines with river steam and a corn milling plant’s steam to produce light pillars over Blair Nebraska, thanks to ice crystals floating in the air from the steam sources. A setting moon adds to the scene, creating a light pillar of its own. Photo Credit (and all rights reserved by): extremeinstability.com

ewh2m Extreme Instability, Scary weather and incredible shots [37 pics]

14

Extreme Instability: Lightning Strikes

Lightning strikes western Iowa June 20, 2010. Several long exposure photos stacked. Photo Credit (and all rights reserved by): extremeinstability.com

HnMaE Extreme Instability, Scary weather and incredible shots [37 pics]

15

Extreme Instability: South Dakota Mammatus Clouds

Mammatus off severe storms in northeast South Dakota, May 22, 2010. Photo Credit (and all rights reserved by): extremeinstability.com

EiFUv Extreme Instability, Scary weather and incredible shots [37 pics]

16

Extreme Instability: Truck Stop and Twilight Supercell

Amazing supercell storm during twilight nears a York Nebraska truck stop on I80 as it spits out lightning, June 17, 2009. Only a half or so earlier this storm was producing a long-lived large tornado near Aurora Nebraska. Photo Credit (and all rights reserved by): extremeinstability.com

6F2X7 Extreme Instability, Scary weather and incredible shots [37 pics]

17

Extreme Instability: Loess Hills Fog

Low fog blankets the valleys in the Loess Hills of western Iowa, September 9, 2008. Moisture laden crops frequently produce thick ground fog on cool mornings with light winds in this region. Photo Credit (and all rights reserved by): extremeinstability.com

LulU9 Extreme Instability, Scary weather and incredible shots [37 pics]

18

Extreme Instability: Stormy Nebraska Sunset

Vivid sunset under severe storm in central Nebraska August 17, 2005. Photo Credit (and all rights reserved by): extremeinstability.com

U6D8V Extreme Instability, Scary weather and incredible shots [37 pics]

19

Extreme Instability: Nebraska Mammatus

Intense mammatus form over eastern Nebraska August 21, 2007 behind a line of storms. Photo Credit (and all rights reserved by): extremeinstability.com

psVqY Extreme Instability, Scary weather and incredible shots [37 pics]

20

Extreme Instability: Nebraska Twilight Supercell

Striated supercell passes just north of Grand Island Nebraska May 10, 2005 producing large hail and lightning during twilight. Photo Credit (and all rights reserved by): extremeinstability.com

xIvwE Extreme Instability, Scary weather and incredible shots [37 pics]

21

Extreme Instability: Headlight Fogbow

Defined fogbow shines ahead of a car in some crop fog over a field in western Iowa. The only way to see such fogbows is to walk out 50-100 feet into your headlights and look away from the vehicile. This could not be seen from inside the car itself. At the center it appears as though there is a car out there facing you with its headlights, but it’s simply your own headlights reflecting back at you. Often there is a glory in that center location. Stars shine brightly above as this kind of fog is quite shallow, though can be quite dense at the same time. Photo Credit (and all rights reserved by): extremeinstability.com

iBTgr Extreme Instability, Scary weather and incredible shots [37 pics]

22

Extreme Instability: Severe Nebraska Storm

Severe storm races southeast in southwest Nebraska June 10, 2006 producing high winds and small hail. Photo Credit (and all rights reserved by): extremeinstability.com

ecfqT Extreme Instability, Scary weather and incredible shots [37 pics]

23

Extreme Instability: Inversion Mirage

A temperature inversion creates a sun mirage over a foggy eastern Nebraska landscape. Photo Credit (and all rights reserved by): extremeinstability.com

amgHH Extreme Instability, Scary weather and incredible shots [37 pics]

24

Extreme Instability: Iowa Funnel Cloud

Funnel cloud dips down in central Iowa June 21, 2009. Photo Credit (and all rights reserved by): extremeinstability.com

XJhQj Extreme Instability, Scary weather and incredible shots [37 pics]

25

Extreme Instability: Nebraska Summer Supercell

Very intense high precipitation supercell storm moves south in the Nebraska Sand Hills south of Valentine, July 13, 2009. Winds gusted upwards of 60 mph into this storm. Tornado warning with the storm mentioned baseball size hail and winds in excess of 100 mph. As intense of a storm as it was it only produced one short-lived small tornado. Photo Credit (and all rights reserved by): extremeinstability.com

YcaiQ Extreme Instability, Scary weather and incredible shots [37 pics]

26

Extreme Instability: May 22, 2010 Bowdle South Dakota Violent Tornado

Long-lived supercell produces an EF4 tornado that tracks across northeast South Dakota, just missing the town of Bowdle, May 22, 2010. Photo Credit (and all rights reserved by): extremeinstability.com

QYRcG Extreme Instability, Scary weather and incredible shots [37 pics]

27

Extreme Instability: Sunset Lightning

Lightning strikes the ground after sunset in eastern Nebraska. Photo Credit (and all rights reserved by): extremeinstability.com

KsvNm Extreme Instability, Scary weather and incredible shots [37 pics]

28

Extreme Instability: Lightning Production

Storm produces frequently lightning in northern South Dakota, June 16, 2010. Several longer exposures stacked. Photo Credit (and all rights reserved by): extremeinstability.com

itcQ4 Extreme Instability, Scary weather and incredible shots [37 pics]

29

Extreme Instability: Colorado Supercell with Beaver Tail

Supercell storm moves across eastern Colorado June 2, 2005. Photo Credit (and all rights reserved by): extremeinstability.com

TPlTq Extreme Instability, Scary weather and incredible shots [37 pics]

30

Extreme Instability: Nebraska Shelf Cloud

Slow moving tornadic supercell speeds up and gusts out as a fast moving shelf cloud July 12, 2004 near Bartlett Nebraska. Photo Credit (and all rights reserved by): extremeinstability.com

z1m42 Extreme Instability, Scary weather and incredible shots [37 pics]

31

Extreme Instability: Nebraska Supercell

Long-lived supercell moves across northeast Nebraska May 28, 2004, allmost following highway 12 from Niobrara down to Sioux City perfectly. Photo Credit (and all rights reserved by): extremeinstability.com

NFbpu Extreme Instability, Scary weather and incredible shots [37 pics]

32

Extreme Instability: Nebraska Supercell

Long-lived supercell moves across northeast Nebraska May 28, 2004, allmost following highway 12 from Niobrara down to Sioux City perfectly. People in South Sioux City seemed a little frightened by the sight. Photo Credit (and all rights reserved by): extremeinstability.com

P67YT Extreme Instability, Scary weather and incredible shots [37 pics]

33

Extreme Instability: Kadoka South Dakota Supercell Base

Base of a supercell storm moves into Kadoka South Dakota July 13, 2009, producing intense and frequent cloud to ground lightning. Photo Credit (and all rights reserved by): extremeinstability.com

9Yxxl Extreme Instability, Scary weather and incredible shots [37 pics]

34

Extreme Instability: Nebraska Sand Hills Monster Supercell Storm

Very intense high precipitation supercell storm moves south in the Nebraska Sand Hills south of Valentine, July 13, 2009. Very low, long and fat inflow cloud stretches east of the storm. Winds gusted upwards of 60+ mph into this storm. Tornado warning with the storm mentioned baseball size hail and winds in excess of 100 mph, a rare warning text indeed. As intense of a storm as it was, it only produced one short-lived small tornado. Traffic heading north up highway 83 would be driving right into the storm’s forward flank downdraft, which contained large hail and intense rain. Photo Credit (and all rights reserved by): extremeinstability.com

bfE1z Extreme Instability, Scary weather and incredible shots [37 pics]

35

Extreme Instability: Nebraska Sand Hills Monster Supercell Storm

Very intense high precipitation supercell storm moves south in the Nebraska Sand Hills south of Valentine, July 13, 2009. Very low, long and fat inflow cloud stretches east of the storm. Winds gusted upwards of 60+ mph into this storm. Tornado warning with the storm mentioned baseball size hail and winds in excess of 100 mph, a rare warning text indeed. As intense of a storm as it was, it only produced one short-lived small tornado. Traffic heading north up highway 83 would be driving right into the storm’s forward flank downdraft, which contained large hail and intense rain. Photo Credit (and all rights reserved by): extremeinstability.com

57Ee7 Extreme Instability, Scary weather and incredible shots [37 pics]

36

Extreme Instability: Sun Pillar and Geese

Geese fly by a sun pillar at Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge near Mound City Missouri. Photo Credit (and all rights reserved by): extremeinstability.com

7YTLd Extreme Instability, Scary weather and incredible shots [37 pics]

37

Extreme Instability: Twilight Lightning

Lightning strikes western Iowa north of Omaha Nebraska during twilight June 9, 2008. City lights and a power plant’s lights create a red-orange color to the rain during a longer exposure. Moon light helps light up the puffy clouds. Photo Credit (and all rights reserved by): extremeinstability.com




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31 Responses to Extreme Instability, Scary weather and incredible shots [37 pics]

  1. Juan July 21, 2011 at 3:32 pm #

    Wow, those skies are frightening! Amazing pictures. :)

    Reply
  2. Javier July 21, 2011 at 10:29 pm #

    This extreme inestability will be very common if the climate change continues.

    Reply
  3. CDS July 24, 2011 at 8:09 am #

    Great photos. I live in tornado alley and see these dramatic weather scenes sometimes. The pics really capture the feeling of being near a huge storm and watching it tear across the prairie.

    Reply
  4. Geoff July 27, 2011 at 6:27 pm #

    HI Liam

    First curtian camera exposure will give you that effect.

    Reply
  5. Randy August 3, 2011 at 8:16 pm #

    This is the best I have ever seen, by far. Great job falls short.

    Reply
  6. Mike Hollingshead August 9, 2011 at 7:43 pm #

    Lightning was evidently flashing at the start of the relatively short shutter, flashed the semi with the rest of the foreground and storm, then the lights streaked forward after it.

    Reply
  7. Grover R. Moore August 15, 2011 at 9:20 am #

    Something certainly is increasing climate extremes here in the U.S. this year. I think you present an excellent theory. I found the Popular Science article and it is right on target and very credible.The only case that could be made for climate change alone causing this might be how extreme weather was in Australia earlier this year.

    Reply
  8. W.C. August 18, 2011 at 5:15 am #

    Brave guy to do this but very informative.

    Reply
  9. June August 18, 2011 at 11:46 pm #

    Wow~ Awesome photos. Scary looking clouds.

    Reply
  10. Wayne August 25, 2011 at 9:03 pm #

    Wow amazing tornado,s.

    Reply
  11. An Elephant's Child. August 27, 2011 at 5:57 am #

    They are magnificent photos.
    I’d love to be a storm chaser, but in Britian we just doesn’t get stuff like this.
    The weather is very changable, all four seasons in a day, but we rarely get any extremes.

    Reply
  12. Meri Clason August 27, 2011 at 4:19 pm #

    Not only are these some beautiful photos, but the commentary lets us know what we’re seeing, and when and where. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Sandra Chamberlin November 4, 2011 at 2:44 am #

      Photography is amazing,but you really need to edit your grammar and spelling!!

      Reply
  13. Richard Ng August 29, 2011 at 7:48 am #

    Wow is insufficient to depict my shock and admiration when seeing such stunning photos.

    Thanks for the sharing.

    Cheers!

    Reply
  14. Fritz August 31, 2011 at 8:47 pm #

    Hats off to some incredible photography Thanks

    Reply
  15. Jennifer September 4, 2011 at 3:53 pm #

    Cheers to whoever had the courage to shoot these pictures (:

    Reply
  16. John September 7, 2011 at 4:29 pm #

    Crazy photos! I really like the big rig trailing lights.

    Reply
  17. sam September 20, 2011 at 7:01 pm #

    Did anyone else notice that the first and fourth pictures were the same thing?

    Reply
    • sam September 20, 2011 at 7:02 pm #

      Sorry, I mean the first and fifth

      Reply
  18. James September 21, 2011 at 7:09 pm #

    wow, some of those pictures are absolutely terrifying. It is truly incredible what mother nature can make happen if it is angry enough. I would buy some of these photos if i saw them larger and framed in a store.

    Reply
  19. Miss Lego October 12, 2011 at 1:17 pm #

    No no no no, this is absolutly good! too perfect!..I mean suhc much beauty that at the same time it’s risky….wow

    Reply
  20. Jacob October 13, 2011 at 10:49 pm #

    I actually live in Nebraska pretty near where a lot of these were taken (just east of Valentine). Pretty cool stuff to witness, sometimes scary to endure. A nifty look at beauty behind these powerful storms.

    Reply
  21. mrgoldenart November 6, 2011 at 9:42 am #

    Wonderful photos of Gods wrath or creation depending upon your viewpoint. I lived through a tornado cluster in Knox County in 1956 when I was 12. Now I am 66 and retired. Never forget it.

    Reply
  22. Amanda February 12, 2012 at 7:23 pm #

    Wow #22 was totally wicked! I’d step on the gas and get the hell outta dodge.

    Reply
  23. Jim Echols April 19, 2012 at 10:34 am #

    Neat stuff.
    FYI. Arial is a font. Aerial is occurring in the air or atmosphere.

    Reply
  24. Sourav March 2, 2013 at 12:42 am #

    all photos are just amazing. .! Hats off to the photographers

    Reply

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