Great Plains Storm Chase Expedition 2004

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While videotaping about 5 miles east of Bunker Hill, Kansas near Interstate 70, a wonderful and very close wall cloud decended from the main storm base and seemed about to produce a tornado (but never did).  Everyone was videotaping when a lightning struck very close to us.  So close in fact that I actually was shocked in the feet by the lightning.  I felt a sensation simular to a very sharp needle sticking into both feet, a little stronger feeling than a typical household wall plug shock.  Although the actual strike is not on video (of the footage we've review), the flash and simulantous thunder crackle is all too clear.  We all estimated the strike to be within 100 yards.  [a side note: a soccer team suffered severe inquiry after a simular strike hit a soccer field in a South American Country]

Interestingly enough, we also sustained some electrical equipment damage.  Chris Collura's laptop battery ceassed to function, as well as some of the WeatherLab III rooftop weather mesonet.  Parts will be ordered in the morning and shipped overnight, if possible.

Blasting east on I-70 in Central Nebraska	Wall cloud, filled just before lightning strike
A very close wall cloud in Bunker Hill, NE	Amos' truck & the "WeatherBus"

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