Description

Supercell thunderstorms are among the most destructive forces on the planet. They contain damaging winds, softball sized hail, and sometimes tornadoes. But within all their fury and terror, there is beauty. In July of 2020, conditions on the High Plains of Wyoming were optimal for storms and supercells. By mid afternoon, near a town called Chugwater, a massive storm was slowly approaching. For over 30 miles, I drove in front of the storm as it strengthened. Just north of Cheyenne, the storm was finally moving out of the hills into the vast prairie and pasture land of Wyoming. Pulling to the site of the road, I quickly set up my camera to capture the scene. The storm was like a painting; vast swaths of aqua from the sunlight shining through lofted precipitation, shadows of grey and black from the dense cumulus clouds, and faint hints of amber from the rays of light streaming underneath the storm. I was face to face with the storm, The Titan of Wyoming.