May 12 2004

May 12, 2004.
Our initial target was in the vicinity south of Dodge City, Ks to the Oklahoma border. The front was located roughly just north of the OK-KS border and I expected that any storm riding along the front might have potential of tornadoes. We stopped to watch the skies at the intersection of 283 and 16t0 south of Minneola, KS. Congestus was increasing to our SE. We soon targeted that area and went east on 160. two separate storms formed. At first, the northern one was the dominant storm. We encountered two inch hail 12 miles east of Coldwater. We stopped west of Medicine Lodge to watch and choose a storm. The southern storm was strengthening and we had better road options for it. A tornado warning went out for the northern storm. We went east and soon saw a tornado south of Medicine Lodge. We found a great place to pull off and watch it. We then continued east and observed a quick tornado SW of Attica. It only lasted seconds. We went into town as baseball then softball size hail came down. We found shelter from the hail. After watching the hail. I ran out into an opening to look for signs of a tornado. I soon saw a cone funnel south of town and it quickly extended to the ground and was coming out way apparently. We went west to get out of the path. The tornado was illuminated by the sun and had a huge red dirt debris cloud. After it dissipated, we tried to get east, but the road was blocked due to damage, We eventually went south of Anthony and watched an incredible lightning display. Then a tornado was illuminated by lightning to our north. We watched it for some time till it dissipated.