Lemonade 2005-2006 Storm Chase Adventures by Shane Adams DVD * 2005-2006 * 96min * R for language * $20.00 S&H Included This video features beautiful tornadoes, window-smashing hail, and great humor. Ride along on my best chases of the 2005-2006 storm seasons, a period which was extremely inactive for the most part. This collection of chases is the 'lemonade' I made from the dismal ingredients Mother Nature threw at me during these years. Although the storms were far and few, the ones I did observe were phenomenal.

 

April 21, 2005 The video opens with this wild chase through the rural lake roads of southeast Kansas. We nail the forecast and are right in front of the storm of the day, as it develops. The first tornado of the day forms just 300 yards ahead of us, and over the next twenty minutes, we give chase through crazy, winding back roads as the tornado grows into a large F3 stovepipe. As soon as it dissipates, it's replaced to the east by a second tornado, which we chase through more crazy back roads. We catch up to it just as it becomes a brilliant white snake, twisting and writhing with incredible rotary motion at the surface. Our chase ends as we come across the damage path, consisting of multiple downed trees. An action-packed start to this DVD!!!

 

May 12, 2005 The action continues on segment two, which features one of the most insane chases of my career. This time we're deep in the south plains of Texas, intercepting a crazy supercell that rides a boundary. After witnessing multiple dusty, weak tornadoes from a distance, the storm rolls up to us and puts on an amazing show. A tornado develops about a mile to our west in an open field, and then swings southeast as we give chase. The tornado becomes massive, and crosses the road about a mile south of us, displaying an incredible "barrel" rotating updraft. It dissipates as it crosses the road, sending a group of cows into a fleeing panic as it spins itself out. Moments later, we find ourselves trapped between driving into a new developing tornado or being crashed by massive hail. We opt for the hail and pay the price, as both front and back windshield are lost. Trapped by the hail with no rear window, we slowly back out of the danger area and wait the storm out in a farmer's driveway. Another action-packed event!!!

 

June 4, 2005 On a day that starts with high expectations, we're eventually disappointed as the storms just don't seem to have any kick to them. After driving all over Kansas trying to find a decent storm, we find ourselves at a travel stop towards the end of the day, just trying to decide the best way home. As we sit, out of the gloomy rainy mess a lowering appears. We're skeptical but we watch anyway, and over the next few minutes witness a "Wizard of Oz" rope tornado, which we're not at all expecting. A pleasant surprise event that reminds us to never give up on a chase.

 

June 11, 2005 This segment showcases the "other storm" from this day. After scoffing at following the earlier storm east into the Caprock, we move north and then west from Amarillo. We end up on a supercell which produces a quick tornado, that few others see. Although we miss the main show, this compensatory tornado provides us with a unique prize from this day.

 

March 30, 2006 On a day carrying much potential, I venture out solo to south-central Oklahoma, seeking a backyard tornado score. After witnessing several meager storms, I keep moving down the line and finally come upon tail-end Charlie. I position myself east, and watch as this benign-looking storm transforms into a rotating beast. Over the next half hour, I observe a pair of tornadoes that few others witnessed. An obscure tornado event you won't see anywhere else.

 

April 15, 2006 Perhaps the highlight of "Lemonade", this segment is a real show-stopper. We find ourselves in southeast Nebraska just minutes before an incredible supercell develops. We get in front of it, and watch as a wall cloud develops and begins to rotate. Over the next several minutes, the rotation increases, until a tornado develops to our west. It moves rapidly, racing by us at nearly 50mph, as it puts on an incredible visual disply, appearing as a large cone funnel with a huge debris whirl underneath. The incredible RFD cut above the tornado only adds to the spectacle, as this mammoth tornado races by us. One of the best tornadoes of my career!!!

 

April 28, 2006 The video ends with this segment, which best-defines what "Lemonade" is all about: making the best of a not-so-great situation. On a marginal day, I target southwest Oklahoma. A storm develops to my west, and I drive to meet it. I'm disappointed at first, because despite the fact it's isolated and severe, the storm is outflow-dominant. Despite this, I keep ahead of it, and get chased for almost an hour. Eventually, I begin to see rotation develop on the southern end of the storm. Minutes later, a tornado develops, almost quicker than I am ready for. It lasts less than a minute, but puts on a cool display as it fully-condenses to the ground, and brings up a vigorous debris swirl. A fun tornado in my own backyard on a day when I didn't expect much...the perfect ending to this DVD.