Taken by Julian Brimelow

This shot was taken from near Cynthia (located west of Drayton valley which is in turn located southwest of Edmonton) in August 2003. The storm was located between Rocky Mountain House and Caroline. Despite its impressive appearance, the WMI radar showed that is was quite benign. Shot taken looking southwards.

Taken by Julian Brimelow

This photo was taken from Highway 2 about halfway between Red Deer and Edmonton after a long storm chase. You are looking at the anvil on the back side of a convective complex located to our east. Shot taken looking northeastwards.

Taken by Julian Brimelow

This chase was not planned at all and we had to scramble at the last minute to get close. The storm developed near Coal Lake just southeast of the Edmonton International airport in late July 2003. We had an interesting time getting in position, but it was worth it. I have a strong suspicion that this was a small supercell -- I'd have to consult the radar data to be sure. At one time it was producing continuous, loud thunder -- very impressive.
Note the distinct hail shaft to the right (north) of the updraft. Photo was taken looking west.

Taken by Julian Brimelow

Photo was taken a little later than the first one, base has lifted slightly.

Taken by Julian Brimelow

Nyree holding golfball-sized hail from the storm. At this time, the hail had been in the ditch for about an hour.
Reason for the delay -- the storm kinda chased us for a while and we then had to carefully zig zag back east on some very loose gravel roads.

Taken by Julian Brimelow

This shot was taken on the same day as the first in this series. The storm had shown strong rotation on radar a few hours earlier (pers. com. Neil Taylor) when it was over the forested foothills. By the time we could get close enough (southwest of Drayton Valley) it was weakening, but still had an impressive lowering below the inflow. Shot taken looking west.

Taken by Julian Brimelow

This shot was taken just east of Lacombe in 2002. We were having dinner in the local Boston Pizza (after chasing all afternoon) when Neil noticed the leading edge of the gust front approaching. Despite its very impressive appearance, the storm that generated this outflow boundary was relatively weak. Storms earlier that afternoon had produced golfball and larger hail.

Taken by Julian Brimelow

A very impressive storm. I think it was taken (looking southwestwards) on 16 July 2003 somewhere between Rocky Mtn. House and Lacombe. Next year I plan on recording my observations and exposure numbers on a tape recorder! This storm produced golfball-sized hail.
When I took this photo we were experiencing very strong westerly outflow winds -- gusts estimated to be 35 knots.

Taken by Julian Brimelow

Large hail from a severe thunderstorm near Eckville on 19 July 2002. The largest stones were 3.0 to 3.5 cm in diameter. Note that the stones are very oblate. Also, the stones were not smooth but rather had a raspberry-textured surface.

Taken by Julian Brimelow

Close up of some rapidly growing turrets taken on 19 July 2002. They were not the sharpest edges that I've ever seen (some of them are clearly icing out), but one can still see some healthy convective turrets.