Supercells
A collection of my favorite supercell photos since I started storm chasing in 2010. Supercell thunderstorms are as fascinating as they are menacing. They seem like living creatures, complete with distinct anatomy, behavior, life cycles and captivating uniqueness.
Bowdle Supercell II
— 22 May 2010 —
A panoramic view of the Bowdle, South Dakota supercell minutes before it spun up its first tornado. This storm had everything and was a perfect lesson in supercell structure and dynamics.
Chase account can be found here:
www.perezmedia.net/ceruleanarc/001425.html


Hail's Breath
— 21 May 2014 —
A high precipitation supercell roams the plains east of Denver, Colorado.

Venus and Wilson Creek Supercell
— 3 June 2015 —
Venus sets while lightning brightens a supercell west of Agate, Colorado
Chase account can be found here:
www.perezmedia.net/ceruleanarc/002242.html

Nuclear Updraft
— 6 June 2015 —
A strong burst of convection develops on the south end of a line of storms in northeast Colorado. A tornado was reported on the storm shortly before this photo was taken.
Chase account can be found here:
www.perezmedia.net/ceruleanarc/002245.html

Kanorado Handoff
— 6 June 2015 —
Dynamics under the base of a supercell: the updraft in the background gets wrapped in rain and hands the reigns over to a new mesocyclone developing in the foreground. East of Kanorado, Kansas.

Chase account can be found here:
www.perezmedia.net/ceruleanarc/002245.html

Kansas Colossus
— 18 May 2013 —
The lead supercell I had been chasing in the foreground is about to merge with another cell moving in from the south—between Offerle and Burdett, Kansas. The result was a stronger storm that dropped a long-lived tornado about 30 minutes later near Rozel.
Chase account can be found here:
www.perezmedia.net/ceruleanarc/001572.html

Willow Mothership
— 18 March 2012 —
A panoramic view of the Bowdle, South Dakota supercell minutes before it spun up its first tornado. This storm had everything and was a perfect lesson in supercell structure and dynamics.
Chase account can be found here:
www.perezmedia.net/ceruleanarc/001512.html

Goshen Stinger II
— 20 May 2014 —
A supercell strengthens over Goshen County in eastern Wyoming.

Sandhills Guardian II
— 19 May 2014 —
Lightning stretches out of the updraft of a tornado-warned supercell over the sandhills of western Nebraska.
Jaws of a Byers Supercell
— 5 June 2015 —
The toothy RFD shelf on a supercell drifts east of Byers, Colorado.

Chase account can be found here:
www.perezmedia.net/ceruleanarc/002244.html

Kanorado Skillet
— 6 June 2015 —
The newly developing rain free base of a supercell moves overhead near Kanorado, Kansas.
Chase account can be found here:
www.perezmedia.net/ceruleanarc/002245.html

Maricopa Pulley
— 4 October 2011 —
This storm exhibited marginal supercell structure including this eerie rotating updraft base near Maricopa, Arizona.

Chase account can be found here:
www.perezmedia.net/ceruleanarc/001497.html

Retreat of an Arizona Supercell
— 27 September 2014 —
A rare Arizona supercell moves northeast over Congress and Yarnell. The rear flank downdraft can be seen cutting a slice in the rain free base while dropping heavy rain and hail across the desert.
Chase account can be found here:
www.perezmedia.net/ceruleanarc/002222.html

Painted Desert Supercell I
— 7 August 2015 —
A supercell crests hills on the edge of the Painted Desert on its way to the Kaibito Plateau. A soft set of Kelvin-Helmholtz waves can be seen along the elevated edge of the storm base, just left of center. Along Highway 89, west of Tuba City, Arizona.
Chase account can be found here:
www.perezmedia.net/ceruleanarc/002233.html

Larkspur Swan
— 3 June 2015 —
A supercell gains strength over the beautiful landscape near Larkspur, Colorado. This was the first storm intercepted during a five-day chase vacation on the high plains.
Chase account can be found here:
www.perezmedia.net/ceruleanarc/002242.html

Wupatki Crown
— 14 September 2015 —
A supercell thunderstorm drops hail and heavy rain across the hills and bluffs of Wupatki National Monument

Lingle RFD Slot
— 21 May 2010 —
RFD carves a circle into the base of the first supercell I chased with my daughter near Lingle, Wyoming.

Chase account can be found here:
www.perezmedia.net/ceruleanarc/001424.html

Wolf Creek Chalice II
— 21 May 2014 —
My trusty Civic hangs out as a strong supercell thunderstorm produces a conical lowering east of Denver. This ominous structure formed behind a clear RFD cut in an area where a tornado might be expected. Although the storm exhibited broad, overall rotation, this particular feature did not become tornadic.

Kanorado Vortex
— 6 June 2015 —
A supercell that we had chased from Colorado into northwest Kansas wraps up a beautiful funnel near Goodland.
Chase account can be found here:
www.perezmedia.net/ceruleanarc/002245.html

Sunset LP in Southwest Kansas
— 14 March 2012 —
This low-topped LP supercell formed north of Englewood, Kansas, displaying stunning color and form while we followed it over the course of two hours.
Chase account can be found here:
www.perezmedia.net/ceruleanarc/001513.html

Back to Top