Going Vertical: Dunbar, WV - June 19, 2002 - 4:30 PM
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I've lost more than $1 million to copyright infringement in the last 15 years, and it's finally brought an end to my professional storm chasing operation. This page is a detailed account of the biggest threat to my photography and video operation that I had to battle daily to just barely survive, and eventually could not overcome. It's a problem facing all of my colleagues as well. |
Heavy storms were firing in eastern West Virginia on the hot, muggy afternoon of June 19. Although the bulk of this activity stayed well east of the Charleston area, a few small cells managed to develop in eastern Kanawha County around 6:00PM.
This little cumulonimbus cell was rapidly pushing skyward, and made for an impressive sight in the eastern sky for those in the Charleston area. The 'hard' cauliflower-like edges of the cloud indicated strong vertical development. However, not long after these images were taken, the cloud tops began to lose their momentum as the sun set, and by nightfall they were all but gone completely.
This cell probably produced marginal lightning activity before it fizzled, but it definately gave a good dousing to the mountains east of town.
Camera: Fuji Finepix 4700 Digital, 2400x1800 resolution. |
