Jade Stormchase
Photo Gallery

Season 2026

Frames
37
In the U.S. · 渡米期間
2026.05.08 — 06.2246日間46 days
States
KS · NE · IL · OK · IA · TX

写真をクリックすると拡大し、撮影した日の記録を読めます。← → キーで前後の写真に移動できます。Click a photo to enlarge it and read the record of that day. Use the ← → keys to move between photos.

Goff, KS / 碧獄 / Azure Jail(2026.06.13) Goff, KS / 碧獄 / Azure Jail

The storm was moving faster than I had imagined that day, and even though I was driving at the speed limit of 60 mph (96 km/h), I couldn’t put any distance between us at all.
This photo captures the storm as I was being chased by it.
The blue and swirling clouds of the supercell. It’s as if the azure sky were a prison enveloping the entire area.

Wetmore, KS / 魔手 / The Demon Hand(2026.06.13) Wetmore, KS / 魔手 / The Demon Hand

Since the storm I was targeting had lost some of its strength, I’m switching my focus to another storm.
I set a course for the area that looked most likely to develop into a storm, but another storm blocked my path.
I want to avoid this storm right in front of me and head for a point further to the southwest, but the storm is moving too fast for me to put any distance between us.
I set a course south and escape to the edge of the storm, but its demon hand is closing in on me from behind.

Archer, NE / 雷撃 / Strike(2026.05.17) Archer, NE / 雷撃 / Strike

A storm was approaching, so I was filming while gradually moving further away.
When lightning strikes nearby, it often causes a whiteout, making it difficult to see exactly where it struck.
That’s exactly what happened this time. When I checked the video, I saw that the lightning had struck quite close by, as you can probably tell from this image.
It’s no exaggeration to say that the sight of lightning cutting through the air is truly majestic.

Bradfordton, IL / 地蝕 / Land Eclipse(2026.06.17) Bradfordton, IL / 地蝕 / Land Eclipse

On the final day of the season, a storm forecast of the highest intensity of the season had been issued.
We waited until the storm formed, and the main system finally appeared on the radar. We set our course based on the radar readings.
However, as we drew closer to the radar signal, we began to realize just how overwhelmingly massive it was.
Clouds hung low, covering the horizon, and the storm was developing as if it were about to swallow the earth whole.
I felt a considerable sense of fear as we approached, but with trembling hands, I managed to capture that monstrous sight on camera.

Soldier, KS / 調律 / Tuning(2026.06.13) Soldier, KS / 調律 / Tuning

After escaping the storm that was closing in from behind, wavy patterns formed in the cirrus clouds stretching across the sky, as if reflecting the turbulence of the storm.
In meteorology, various phenomena occur primarily as a result of various balances being disrupted or restored.
Even this turbulence is, in nature’s eyes, a form of harmony.
There is harmony within chaos.

Soldier, KS / 侵宙 / Invasion(2026.06.13) Soldier, KS / 侵宙 / Invasion

While fleeing from the storm closing in behind me, I captured the storm closing in behind me.
It spreads out as if devouring the sky.
The interior of the clouds has taken on an eerie blue hue, a testament to the storm’s immense power.

Duvall, IL / 侵雷 / Lightning Attack(2026.06.17) Duvall, IL / 侵雷 / Lightning Attack

I was photographing the storm as it moved eastward, keeping my distance from what was likely to become a more intense storm.
Although the storm was heading toward the right side of the photo, lightning strikes were occurring repeatedly in the direction it was developing.
Unfortunately, the storm was moving too fast, and my accumulated fatigue hit me all at once, so I ran out of energy.
This photo turned out to be the last one I took during this chase, but it was a great experience to capture the storm before it fully developed.

Saint Marys, KS / 望郷 / Homesickness(2026.06.13) Saint Marys, KS / 望郷 / Homesickness

As I was fleeing the storm closing in behind me, I came upon a town along my route.
While passing through the town, there were other cars on the road and it was congested, so I stopped at a railroad crossing.
When I looked at the crossing, the tracks, and the sky at that moment, I felt a sense of pure nostalgia, so I took a photo.
I wonder where this feeling of nostalgia comes from.

Perry, OK / 天根 / The Root of Heaven(2026.05.29) Perry, OK / 天根 / The Root of Heaven

A forecast had been issued for a mild storm that day, and I had been observing them forming sporadically in the distance.
One of them grew rapidly. It was as if it were putting down roots in the sky.
In less than 30 minutes, it had extended all the way up to the sky above me.

Dewey, OK / 典雲 / The Classic(2026.05.30) Dewey, OK / 典雲 / The Classic

We had planned to watch the Route 66 100th Anniversary Parade in Tulsa that morning and take it easy in the afternoon, but since the forecast called for a storm to develop more intensely than expected,
we decided to dash off toward Kansas.
A supercell was already developing in the distance.
It had the classic appearance of a supercell—a beautiful, massive cumulonimbus cloud.
The anvil-shaped cloud spread out, reaching its peak.
After that, the cloud lost its strength and gradually dissipated.

Duvall, IL / 生盤 / Organism Disc(2026.06.17) Duvall, IL / 生盤 / Organism Disc

I was photographing the storm as it moved eastward, keeping my distance from what was likely to develop further.
The storm’s core was growing as if it were alive, taking on a disc-like shape.
The right side of the disc is the direction of movement, and I think you can see that the rain is heaviest in that area.
In fact, the area on the right side of the frame contained the elements necessary for the storm to grow, and this storm was on its way to becoming one capable of generating tornadoes.
Unfortunately, the storm was moving too fast, and the fatigue that had been building up hit me all at once, so I ran out of energy.
Although this turned out to be the last photo of this chase, it was a great experience to capture the storm before it had fully developed.

Shidler, OK / 郷道 / Country Road(2026.05.30) Shidler, OK / 郷道 / Country Road

Strictly speaking, this wasn’t a storm chase, but as I was heading back to my base in Tulsa after finishing one,
I was treated to a truly beautiful sunset.
It was a sunset made possible by the clear skies left in the storm’s wake and the majestic scenery of Oklahoma.
It suddenly reminded me of watching the sun set with my grandmother long ago.

Topeka, KS / 完叫 / A Final Scream(2026.06.13) Topeka, KS / 完叫 / A Final Scream

The chase for the day was over, and I was completely exhausted, not just from the day’s events but from the fatigue that had built up over the past few days.
I had pulled over at a gas station parking lot to wait out the storm.
As the storm passed overhead and things settled down, a breast cloud behind the supercell came into view.
It might have been the lighting, but the drooping part of the breast cloud looked like a skull.
And it seemed as if it were screaming as it collapsed.

Schaeferville, IL / 懐焼 / Warm(2026.06.11) Schaeferville, IL / 懐焼 / Warm

Five days prior to this day, I had left Tulsa, Oklahoma, and was heading north in one go from Oklahoma to North Dakota.
Since I’d had about ten days in a row with nothing happening, I was starting to feel a little anxious. (I’m sure you can understand how I felt—after all, if 20% of your trip goes by without anything happening, it’s natural to get anxious.)
However, even though I’d made it all the way up to North Dakota, I came down with food poisoning along the way, storms didn’t form in the expected areas as I’d anticipated,
and the road to the area where a tornado had struck was blocked by downed utility poles...
I was completely exhausted, especially after the extremely long drive.
As a result, I was unable to capture almost anything worthwhile over the course of those three days.
I had pulled away from the core of the storm, where lightning was pouring down, and was taking a break at a nearby supermarket.
Since the storm that day was so intense, the accompanying mammatus clouds were massive.
It was almost like a reward—the red evening sun illuminated the vast mammatus clouds, casting a beautiful glow upon them.
I never expected to see those beautiful mammatus clouds—which I’d first encountered two years ago—again, so I was deeply moved.

Topeka, KS / 境界 / Divide(2026.06.13) Topeka, KS / 境界 / Divide

After the chase that day was over, I was completely exhausted, not just from the chase itself but also from the fatigue that had built up over the past few days.
I had pulled over in the gas station parking lot to wait out the storm.
As the storm passed overhead and things settled down, a lenticular cloud behind the supercell came into view.
The boundary between the storm’s core and the clear sky, which was gradually regaining its brightness.

Sabetha, KS / 近直 / Near(2026.06.13) Sabetha, KS / 近直 / Near

I made my way right up to the base of the storm, changing my position as I narrowed in on my target.
In the process, I got close to the core of one particular storm, where wall clouds were extending quite far down toward the ground.
Fortunately, this storm’s rotational force was weak, so it didn’t produce a tornado, but it was an eerie sight.

Springfield, IL / 荒感 / Sign of Disaster(2026.06.17) Springfield, IL / 荒感 / Sign of Disaster

On this day, when a major storm was forecast, the first wave of the storm was already approaching quite early on.
The sky is turbulent, with a massive shelf cloud formation stretching out beyond it, and a green expanse of sky spreading out.
But this is just the prelude. The second wave is coming next.

Kansas / 成核 / Nucleation(2026.06.14) Kansas / 成核 / Nucleation

A storm warning had been issued for western Kansas City that day, so we decided to head there despite being exhausted from our recent back-to-back games in Illinois.
We approached from the south side of the storm, and we could see the developing storm in the distance.
It continued to grow even as I was taking photos; you can probably make out a tube-like structure extending diagonally in the center of the image.
This is the center of the storm, and it’s rare to see such a distinct tube-shaped structure this clearly.

Garber, OK / 晴荒 / Calm and Rough(2026.05.29) Garber, OK / 晴荒 / Calm and Rough

A mild storm was forecast for that day, and as it turned out, no structured cloud formations were observed.
However, we were able to observe the associated mammatus clouds.
Mammatus clouds are beautiful even when visible through breaks in the clouds.

Garber, OK / 荒房 / Rough Mammatus(2026.05.29) Garber, OK / 荒房 / Rough Mammatus

A mild storm was forecast for that day, and as it turned out, no structured cloud formations were observed.
However, we were able to observe the associated mammatus clouds.
Mammatus clouds are beautiful even when visible through breaks in the clouds.

Maquoketa, IA / 謀盤 / UFO(2026.06.11) Maquoketa, IA / 謀盤 / UFO

Five days prior to this, I left Tulsa, Oklahoma, and headed straight north from Oklahoma to North Dakota, then continued on to Illinois.
Since I’d had about ten days in a row with nothing happening, I was starting to feel a little anxious. (If 20% of your trip goes by without anything happening, I’m sure you can understand that feeling.)
However, even though I made it all the way up to North Dakota, the trip was a disaster—I came down with food poisoning along the way, and contrary to my expectations, no storms formed in the areas I’d targeted.
On this day, as I was heading from Iowa toward the storm-prone area in Illinois, wouldn’t you know it—a cloud shaped just like a UFO peeked out.
I’m sure this flying saucer was the cause of my misfortune... (shifting the blame)

Topeka, KS / 落虹 / Calm Rainbow(2026.06.13) Topeka, KS / 落虹 / Calm Rainbow

After the chase that day was over, I was completely exhausted, not just from the chase itself but also from the fatigue of the past few days.
I had pulled over the Arashi in the parking lot of a gas station.
As everything settled down, the setting sun created a beautiful double rainbow.

Brewster, KS / 諧調 / Harmony(2026.05.16) Brewster, KS / 諧調 / Harmony

I positioned myself a short distance from the storm’s core to capture its full extent.
The photo frames both the setting sun and the green-blue hues from the supercell within the same field of view, allowing you to appreciate the beautiful gradient.
The ferocity of the storm itself and the beauty it creates—
It would be no exaggeration to say that the area beneath a supercell is a realm of the divine.

Brewster, KS / 接嵐 / Coming Storm(2026.05.16) Brewster, KS / 接嵐 / Coming Storm

The storm approaches us, still maintaining its imposing presence.
Seeing it in person fills me with an indescribable sense of awe, but at the same time, fear wells up inside me.
After I left, this storm kicked up a sandstorm and turned into a massive haboob.
I got caught up in it too; my visibility dropped to zero, and I couldn’t move.

Colby, KS / 高翼 / High Wings(2026.05.16) Colby, KS / 高翼 / High Wings

This day marked the first storm chase of 2026, as well as the first day of a three-day consecutive chase.
As we confirmed the formation of a storm core and moved closer to it, we spotted an elongated mammary cloud along the way.
I was thrilled because it was the first mammary cloud I’d seen on this year’s chase, and the fact that it was shaped like a wing was a definite highlight.

Columbus, NE / 安寧 / Tranquility(2026.05.17) Columbus, NE / 安寧 / Tranquility

As the jade sky faded away, the rain band of the supercell passed overhead, and the rear of the supercell spread out above.
Spreading out there were mammatus clouds that filled the sky.
They were the most distinctly shaped I’ve ever seen.
Though they may look eerie, what they convey is a gentle sense of security and the tranquility that heralds the end of the storm.
Gently illuminated by the sun, this sight offers a sense of security that feels almost enveloping.

Columbus, NE / 安柔 / Peace and Serenity(2026.05.17) Columbus, NE / 安柔 / Peace and Serenity

The cumulus clouds that day maintained their shape in the sky for a long time, and we were able to observe them for nearly an hour.
They give us a sense of relief, as if we’ve weathered a storm.
Spreading across the entire sky, their appearance could even be described as divine.

Columbus, NE / 碧玉 / Jade(2026.05.17) Columbus, NE / 碧玉 / Jade

After evading the storm that was approaching from the west a moment ago, I waited for the next one.
The entire sky was enveloped in the green glow of a supercell, but the storm didn’t develop any further than it had before.
However, as we waited and took a break, an area with an unusually deep green hue began to approach.
The color was as beautiful as jade, but that beauty was the flip side of danger.
I immediately took shelter inside a building, just as torrential rain began to pour down like buckets being overturned.

Archer, NE / 陽暗 / Light and Shadow(2026.05.17) Archer, NE / 陽暗 / Light and Shadow

Nature is a mysterious thing—even when watching the same cloud for just a few minutes, its color and shape change rapidly.
When I took this photo, I couldn’t see the blue hue typical of a supercell; instead, the dark areas of the cloud stood out.
The clouds were also shifting rapidly. I was observing them while taking photos, but just as I was packing my equipment into the car to leave,
a transparent column suddenly swept up trees and leaves and barreled straight toward me.
Transparent and silent, the tornado’s menacing grasp was closing in on me.
When things get really dangerous, people tend to freeze up.
Fortunately, the tornado dissipated right before my eyes, and I was able to get away unharmed, but if it had continued to develop...

Glasco, KS / 碧波 / Blue Waves(2026.05.18) Glasco, KS / 碧波 / Blue Waves

Day Three of the Storm Chasing Expedition
This was a particularly dangerous day with a very high probability of storms forming.
I chased a storm for which a tornado warning had been issued and captured footage of the updraft of a supercell from behind.
Its appearance resembled both a dragon ascending to the heavens and Katsushika Hokusai’s “The Great Wave.”
It’s usually hidden by clouds, so we rarely get to see it, but this time we were lucky enough to spot it.

Goodland, KS / 躊雷 / Hesitating Lightning(2026.05.18) Goodland, KS / 躊雷 / Hesitating Lightning

We set a course toward the core of the storm and penetrated right beneath it.
Lightning is striking all around us, and whether it hits us or not is entirely up to chance.
Just when I thought one of the bolts was about to strike, it vanished back into the clouds.
Perhaps it takes a fair amount of determination just to reach the ground.

Turkey, TX / 弓暗 / Dark Bow(2026.05.22) Turkey, TX / 弓暗 / Dark Bow

This particular day turned out to be a somewhat unique storm chase for me personally.
I ended up going on a storm chase with a Japanese meteorological researcher.
We’d been talking about it for a while, and had agreed to chase storms together whenever forecasts called for them in the Oklahoma–Texas area.
At that very moment, storms were forecast for northern Texas, and since the timing worked out, I went on my first-ever storm chase with someone else.
Although the storm consisted mainly of thunderstorms and hail, its presence was overwhelming. The arched shelf clouds and the darkness beyond them were truly awe-inspiring.
I got to see some pretty impressive sights, and I also had the chance to interact with the researcher, so it was a day I thoroughly enjoyed.

Goodland, KS / 接柱(EFU Goodland 竜巻) / The Pillar (EFU Goodland Tornado)(2026.05.16) Goodland, KS / 接柱(EFU Goodland 竜巻) / The Pillar (EFU Goodland Tornado)

May 16, 2026, Kansas Goodland The Pillar—EFU Goodland Tornado
I’m continuing to observe from a spot just a short distance away from where the core’s undulations are visible.
I was satisfied with seeing the rain column, but it seems a tornado had actually formed—it was just hidden by the rain.
EFU Goodland Tornado: Fortunately, there were almost no buildings in this area, so it appears there was very little damage.

Archer, NE / 炎氷 / Fire and Ice(2026.05.17) Archer, NE / 炎氷 / Fire and Ice

Moving on to the second day of our chase, which took us from northwestern Kansas to central Nebraska.
A supercell with a hook echo formed to the west of where I was stationed.
Since the storm was heading east, I took up a waiting position.
No matter how many times I see it, I never get used to the sight of a massive storm approaching even while I’m just waiting for it.
The setting sun and the blue hues from the supercell create a striking contrast.

Oakley, KS / 黄陽 / Golden Sun(2026.05.16) Oakley, KS / 黄陽 / Golden Sun

I managed to navigate through the haboob caused by the Goodland supercell and the hail-producing core that had formed overhead, and emerged on the other side.
The beauty of the mammatus clouds and the supercell bathed in the setting sun is a reward for storm chasers.

Oakley, KS / 陽人 / Figure in the Sun(2026.05.16) Oakley, KS / 陽人 / Figure in the Sun

I managed to navigate through the haboob caused by the Goodland supercell and the hail-producing core that had formed overhead, and emerged on the other side.
The beauty of the mammatus clouds and the supercell bathed in the setting sun is a reward for storm chasers.

Clay Center, KS / 朧盤 / Hazy Disc(2026.05.18) Clay Center, KS / 朧盤 / Hazy Disc

It was the third day in a row of back-to-back shoots, and with the terrible traffic that day, I was completely exhausted.
Since I couldn’t keep up with the storm that was generating tornadoes, I stopped at a nearby parking lot to rest, but
another storm was approaching.
A disc-shaped storm was drawing closer in the humid upper atmosphere.
I sensed a sense of divinity, however faint. After that, a downpour hit, and I couldn’t move for a while, but this is still a shot I’m very satisfied with.