Tempest Looming

Story

North America’s High Plains region is a broad expanse of flatland, and home to some of the most extreme weather events anywhere. Each year during tornado season, super cells form. High wind, hail, rain, and even tornadoes spawn out of these cells. While photographing tornadoes is incredible, the clouds on the plains are even more compelling, as Tempest Looming showcases.

Photographed just outside Texhoma, Oklahoma, this massive supercell features some of the most impressive clouds I’ve ever seen. I love how the main portion is curling back up and over on itself due to the differing winds throughout the air column. It’s almost as if the clouds are a wave of water. Add to that the field below and the sublime lighting, and everything comes together.

Make no mistake, though. This is a violent storm, and there is a tornado on the ground behind these clouds. We can’t see the tornado, luckily, but it is now driving this super cell.

Tempest Looming illustrates the power and beauty of super cells on the Great Plains and the outstanding display of nature.