A kiteboarder of several years experience in local conditions, and years of windsurfing before that, CHOSE to launch into a very violent supercell storm minutes away.
- Winds were building steadily as the green squall cloud rushed in at about 55 mph
- Severe Thunderstorm Warnings were widely issued with concerns about 60 to 70 mph winds, golf ball sized hail (almost 2 inch) and lightening. Tornado watches had been issued related to the squall line. This is "Tornado Alley" and most residents are more aware and concerned about weather threats with very good cause.
Just after launch to the left, storm to the right
- Microbursts and squalls sometimes but not always preceded by lulls, as happened in this case. The winds died and his kite dropped to the water. He apparently dropped his kite to the leash in the lull. The sudden lull may have saved the kiters life. Winds subsequently boosted to a reported 70 mph from reports on shore. Heavy rain and perhaps hail followed. His kite leash broke under the wind load sending the kite off to another part of the lake. The kiter pelted by hail, swam in to shore on the other side of the lake. Water was 44 F with the air over 70 F due to a dramatic rise.
- He was reportedly riding a 5 year old 12 m C kite
- Videos shot of the rider from shore (left) and a poor one from his helmet (right) appear below.
This was on radar for days approaching the area. This was just around the time of the microburst near the "X."
This front and the violence of the leading edge was more than obvious on National Radar, for days before.
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