South Haven, KS — Travis Farncombe — Highways & Hailstones

Published on May 19, 2013

May 19 2013 was primed for a major severe weather event. The Storm Prediction Center had issued a large moderate risk area across much of Easter Kansas and Oklahoma, including a 15% hatched area for strong tornadoes. Silver Lining Tours had an unbelievable chase the day before, catching the Rozel and Sanford tornadoes, and we were ready for another active day.

As was the case the day prior, two targets were evident; on was to the north in Kansas, the other was to the south in Central Oklahoma. After some debate, Roger settled on the Kansas target and we set off in the direction of Wichita.

We arrived as storms developed and became severe, but modes were messy and linear; it appeared the southern play may have been a better choice for the day where isolated supercells were now exploding. Nevertheless, we positioned at the southern of of the line of storms that stretched through Kansas and watched as Tail End Charlie developed.

Somewhat to our surprise (given the linear, junky appearance of the storm on radar), an area of rotation developed and soon a slender cone funnel darted down to the ground. It rose and fell a few times before going down to stay, a ghostly and dart-like tornado that was pretty and white, front-lit by the afternoon sun.

The tornado was a classic and pretty, Kansas twister. We let it approach our location, watching and filming for bout five minutes until it came time to get out of its path.

Travis Farncombe

I am the founder Highways & Hailstones. I live with my family in Toronto, Ontario - about 2000 miles from Oklahoma City and the heart of Tornado Alley. Every spring and summer, I travel down there, to the American Midwest, to witness the most awe-inspiring weather on the planet.

The first time I chased was ten years ago; I signed up as a guest with a storm chase tour company, and joined that group for a week on the plains. I saw my first tornado on that trip. It was a silhouette on a dark Kansas night, betrayed by strobes of lightning flickering in the distance. While the rest of the tour guides and group scanned the storm to the south, a lingering flash drew my glance to the north, and there, unmistakable, was a backlit cone. It was serendipity. I yelled cone tornado!, and a storm chaser was born.

After chasing for a few years as a guest with Silver Lining Tours, I gradually began to spread my wings and chase on my own, having learned enough from Roger Hill and other veterans to chase safely and responsibly. I became a guide with SLT in 2015. Now, I am a certified spotter and chase locally in Southern Ontario, as well as down in Tornado Alley. I am always meeting new people, always learning, and always humbled by the power of nature.

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