A NASTY STORM RESULTS IN A TORNADO NORTH OF US

INCOMING STORM AT BAYFIELD'S SOUTH PIER LATE THIS AFTERNOON

If it wasn't for me constantly saying how nice the weather has been lately I wouldn't have much to say at all these days.  Today was another one of those nice days. (well almost)  I'll just let the following few photos from this morning carry tonight's post..........  Just as I finished typing this the TV screen suddenly flashed an 'EMERGENCY ALERT'!!  But first.....my few photos from our Jeep ride to Goderich and back this morning.

 A SPIN DOWN AROUND THE GODERICH HARBOR AND BEACH AREA THIS MORNING

 I'M GLAD GODERICH HAS ALLOWED PEOPLE TO WALK THEIR DOGS ON THE BOARDWALK....IF YOU LOOK CLOSE, THERE ARE TWO DOGGIES HIDING UNDER THE BENCH

ON MY, A LITTLE HANKY SPANKY ON THE BEACH THIS MORNING

 'HELLO 911......I'M CALLING TO REPORT SOME HANKY SPANKY ON THE BEACH'

As soon as the warning flashed across the TV screen I checked our live radar weather feed and saw that we had a big smasher of a storm heading across Lake Huron right for us.  And it was almost here.  Pheebs and I didn't waste any time heading out the door and into the Jeep heading for Bayfield's beach area in hopes of catching the big storm clouds coming in.

 THIS WARNING SUDDENLY POPPED UP ON MY SUNROOM'S TV SCREEN

 QUICKLY HEADED INTO BAYFIELD TO HAVE MYSELF A LOOK OUT OVER THE LAKE

 I COULD SEE RIGHT AWAY THE BULK OF THE STORN WAS TO THE NORTH

As soon as I had a few pics from the beach area I was quickly into the Jeep heading back to the highway.  The storm was to the north so that is the direction we headed.

 HEADING BACK TO HIGHWAY 4 WE TURNED LEFT ACROSS THE BRIDGE AND DROVE NORTH

 REALLY DARK SKIES AHEAD

Just north of Bayfield, I turned right on Bayfield Road and headed about a mile and a half east out into open farmland where I could get an overall view of the sky.  And what a turbulent sky it was as I pulled over on Whys Line and got out of the Jeep.  No rain yet but the winds were fierce.  I had to quickly throw on a jacket as temperatures took a dive.  Again, I scanned the darkened sky for any signs of a funnel cloud.  Skies were darkest to the north towards Goderich.  We are prone to tornados here and it was a decade ago when a tornado came in across the lake and devastated Goderich's downtown core and outlying areas.  One death.

 HEADING EAST ON BAYFIELD ROAD LOOKING TO THE NORTHEAST

 BUFFETING WIND GUSTS BLEW ME AROUND A BIT HERE ON WHYS LINE

 THE SOUTHERN EDGE OF THE STORM CAN BE SEEN HEADING FROM RIGHT TO LEFT

 LOOKING NORTHWEST

 LOOKING EAST IN THE DIRECTION THE STORM IS HEADED

 LOOKING SOUTHWEST

 LOOKING SOUTH ON OUR WAY HOME

About 5 minutes after pulling over on a side road (Whys Line) I noticed skies began to lighten a wee bit.  I could see some thunder and lightning on the western horizon and it wasn't long before the rains began.  We headed home and got inside before the heavier downpour started about 20 minutes later.  From there on it was a medium rain as the storm passed and headed inland.  But wait....there's more, and here is an update::  Looks like Port Elgin, 70 miles north of Bayfield along the shores of Lake Huron reported a Tornado late this afternoon.  Also widespread Power Outages in that whole area and especially inland from Lake Huron.  As I post this tonight about 8 p.m. it is still raining (heavy at times) and we have thunder and lightning happening.   

 THIS IS WHAT SKIES LOOKED LIKE ABOVE US WHILE PARKED ON WHYS LINE LATE THIS AFTERNOON

GROANER'S CORNER:((   The woman applying for a job in a Florida lemon grove seemed way too qualified for the job.  Look Miss," said the foreman, "have you any actual experience in picking lemons?"  "Well, as a matter if fact, yes!" she replied. "I've been divorced three times."

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Yesterday my spouse was berating me for checking my email all day as I work from home.  "You know," she complained, "I think that work rules your life."  "No dear," I replied, "you rule my life... I just prefer work."

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