Author | Lightnews

Tornado McHealey

@healeyphoto.bsky.social

1.1K followers 160 following 340 posts

Impulse driven hobo with a concerning amount of photography gear and gas money. Lightning, Aurora, Structure, Tornadoes, Landscapes. In that order. Sony Alpha A7RIV A7IV w/ Sony and Sigma glass.

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Tornado McHealey @healeyphoto.bsky.social · Jan 14

A few lightning highlights from this year. Photos that are finally “finished” and will be available for prints at some point soon. I can remember all of these moments clearly in my head, and I cant wait to chase more bolts and get that rush again in 2025. #wxsky #photography

A massive structured supercell thunderstorm fills the sky above Canyonlands National Park west of Moab, UT. A lightning bolt pierces the top of the storm and strikes the red rock canyon below just above the chocolatey Colorado River. To the left ahead of dust and precipitation being blown out of the storm you can see miles into the park as jagged and stepped rock formations carved out by the river stretch to the horizon, and to the right everything above the canyon rim is obscured by rain and hail being blown around by 70+ mph winds.

Standing atop the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, you look out upon the vast landscape. To the far right, a flat and relatively void desert landscape sits atop the rim, while everything to the left of it is layered jagged rock formations carved thousands of feet into the earth by the Colorado River snaking through the canyon in the distance. The eastern walls of the canyon are illuminated by the last bits of sunset light reflecting off the storm clouds above. The distant part of the canyon are obscured by rain, and a part of the eastern wall that juts out is struck by a massive branchy lightning bolt arching out of the cloud above.

The flat and hilly terrain of the foreground aggressively changes to bluff walls, buttes, mesas, and mountains in the distance, just north of I-70 in Eastern Utah. Storm clouds lurk above the high terrain and a massive lightning bolt illuminates the whole sky above and landscape below as it strikes the corner of one of the bluffs.

A recently harvested corn field in Kansas is riddled with the shredded yellow husks and stalks of the last crop. A previous lightning strike from the storms overhead ignited the harvest litter and the flames of a large fire reach above the distant horizon, with a massive brown smoke plume drifting out of frame to the left. A new lightning bolt erupts from the storm, branching downwards in every direction before finding the more conductive particles within the smoke plume, and following a single channel to the ground through the smoke and into the raging fire.

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Tornado McHealey @healeyphoto.bsky.social · Jul 6

Bullfuckingshit what reality do these people live in

Reposted by Tornado McHealey

Ryan @ryanswx.bsky.social · Mar 23

I can’t believe this is even a conversation. Shutting down radiosonde sites will cost orders of magnitude more $ via poorer forecast skill. NASA’s GMAO keeps tabs here: gmao.gsfc.nasa.gov/forecasts/sy...

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Tornado McHealey @healeyphoto.bsky.social · Mar 18

Being a piece of shit is just instinct for that dude

Tornado McHealey @healeyphoto.bsky.social · Mar 15

Solid 4 hours of offroading, recovery, cleanup, and bullshitting with locals around Rover after we all found ourselves trapped by several tornado damage paths earlier tonight.

Tornado McHealey @healeyphoto.bsky.social · Mar 14

That is absolutely freaking ridiculous. Definitely a vantage I gotta go for sometime

Tornado McHealey @healeyphoto.bsky.social · Mar 14

I was kinda waiting for this. Europe is dying to become the science powerhouse of the world

Tornado McHealey @healeyphoto.bsky.social · Mar 14

Also, is that photo taken from john hancock?

Tornado McHealey @healeyphoto.bsky.social · Mar 13

I was heavily considering sticking around for it, but i think STL might actually be a much bigger payoff

Tornado McHealey @healeyphoto.bsky.social · Mar 13

I drove >75k miles last year, I’ll re-register out of state or move over that one for sure.

Tornado McHealey @healeyphoto.bsky.social · Mar 8

This is the way

Tornado McHealey @healeyphoto.bsky.social · Mar 6

Can we make or appropriate a slur for these dipshits

Tornado McHealey @healeyphoto.bsky.social · Mar 4

That kid has posted some of the dumbest shit I ever saw in my life when I still used twitter. Absolutely garbage human being with no clue how the world functions

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Reposted by Tornado McHealey

Elizabeth Leitman @wxliz.bsky.social · Mar 1

That little black spec on the right hand side of this infographic is the total budget of the NWS. How is eliminating positions that exponentially increase economic dividends through enhancing commerce and mitigating/preventing disasters saving money or eliminating waste/fraud?

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Tornado McHealey @healeyphoto.bsky.social · Mar 1

Rahm has always been a raging piece of shit idky this is even surprising to anyone

Tornado McHealey @healeyphoto.bsky.social · Feb 28

Did not expect to see a bunch of Chinooks from 160th flying over Lake Michigan

Tornado McHealey @healeyphoto.bsky.social · Feb 28

It works because even the post was messed up!

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Tornado McHealey @healeyphoto.bsky.social · Feb 27

Looking forward to the definitely no consequences as we approach a major tornado outbreak

Andrew Freedman @afreedma.bsky.social · Feb 27

New: Layoffs underway of probationary employees at @noaa.gov Unclear so far how many were exempted for public safety reasons at the Nat'l Weather Service, NOAA Satellites and other units. www.axios.com/2025/02/27/l...

Layoffs hit federal climate, weather agency NOAA

The cuts could affect NOAA's weather forecasts, climate research and other functions.

www.axios.com

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Reposted by Tornado McHealey

Dr. Larissa @rissarwx.bsky.social · Feb 27

All probationary federal employees at NOAA’s EMC that’s responsible for keeping all US weather model systems running have been fired with 1 hours notice. And that includes me and colleagues. We will not go quietly because we care about the NOAA mission to protect the public.

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Tornado McHealey @healeyphoto.bsky.social · Feb 27

Nothing says the sun is rising in North America like geomagnetic activity increasing.

Aurora Forecast Bot from NOAA (UNOFFICIAL) @aurora.nws-bot.us · Feb 27

Aurora Forecast Update for 2025-02-27T11:20:06Z

ALERT: Geomagnetic K-index of 6
Threshold Reached: 2025 Feb 27 1110 UTC
Synoptic Period: 0900-1200 UTC

Active Warning: Yes
NOAA Scale: G2 - Moderate
Additional Details Here.

Space Weather Message Code: ALTK06
Serial Number: 615
Issue Time: 2025 Feb 27 1114 UTC

ALERT: Geomagnetic K-index of 6
Threshold Reached: 2025 Feb 27 1110 UTC
Synoptic Period: 0900-1200 UTC

Active Warning: Yes
NOAA Scale: G2 - Moderate

NOAA Space Weather Scale descriptions can be found at
www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation

Potential Impacts: Area of impact primarily poleward of 55 degrees Geomagnetic Latitude.
Induced Currents - Power grid fluctuations can occur. High-latitude power systems may experience voltage alarms.
Spacecraft - Satellite orientation irregularities may occur; increased drag on low Earth-orbit satellites is possible.
Radio - HF (high frequency) radio propagation can fade at higher latitudes.
Aurora - Aurora may be seen as low as New York to Wisconsin to Washington state.

:Product: 3-Day Forecast
:Issued: 2025 Feb 27 0030 UTC
# Prepared by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
#
A. NOAA Geomagnetic Activity Observation and Forecast

The greatest observed 3 hr Kp over the past 24 hours was 4 (below NOAA
Scale levels).
The greatest expected 3 hr Kp for Feb 27-Mar 01 2025 is 4.00 (below NOAA
Scale levels).

NOAA Kp index breakdown Feb 27-Mar 01 2025

Feb 27 Feb 28 Mar 01
00-03UT 2.67 4.00 3.67
03-06UT 2.00 3.67 2.67
06-09UT 2.33 3.00 2.67
09-12UT 2.33 2.67 2.67
12-15UT 1.67 3.00 2.67
15-18UT 2.33 3.33 3.00
18-21UT 2.33 3.67 2.00
21-00UT 3.67 3.00 2.00

Rationale: No G1 (Minor) or greater geomagnetic storms are expected. No
significant transient or recurrent solar wind features are forecast.

B. NOAA Solar Radiation Activity Observation and Forecast

Solar radiation, as observed by NOAA GOES-18 over the past 24 hours, was
below S-scale storm level thresholds.

Solar Radiation Storm Forecast for Feb 27-Mar 01 2025

Feb 27 Feb 28 Mar 01
S1 or greater 25% 10% 10%

Rationale: A chance for S1 (Minor) levels exists on 27 Feb as levels
slowly decline to background.

C. NOAA Radio Blackout Activity and Forecast

No radio blackouts were observed over the past 24 hours.

Radio Blackout Forecast for Feb 27-Mar 01 2025

Feb 27 Feb 28 Mar 01
R1-R2 65% 65% 65%
R3 or greater 25% 25% 25%

Rationale: R1-R2 (Minor-Moderate) events are likely, with a chance for
R3 (Strong) or greater events, over 27 Feb - 01 Mar.

Map from NOAA titled showing North America and the North Pole with a color gradient overlay of aurora likelihood.

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Tornado McHealey @healeyphoto.bsky.social · Feb 25

Finally wrapped up working on my car and wondering why my hand hurts so bad since its not the one I’m usually wrenching with. Trip over my sledgehammer and suddenly flash back to full blast smashing my fist against the hub I was removing a lug from and feeling suspicious of the lack of pain.

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Tornado McHealey @healeyphoto.bsky.social · Feb 25

2025 bout to be CRAZY for you my dude. I feel it

Tornado McHealey @healeyphoto.bsky.social · Feb 20

I hope IBEW and UAW see their opportunity to become the hardline labor forces of this country. The Teamsters were sold to the CEO’s and someone has to take up the slack and be louder than SOB

Tornado McHealey @healeyphoto.bsky.social · Feb 20

Sean O Brien got his position campaigning as a hardline workers rights fuck everyone else type of guy, then immediately fucking folded for the establishment the moment he had a chance.

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Reposted by Tornado McHealey

Micah @rincewind.run · Feb 19

this is exactly how to frame it, great work by Slate here

Meet the Disabled Vets, Cancer Researchers, and Nuclear Techs Fired by Elon Musk

Musk's vulture-capitalist approach to dismantling the federal government may be opening the door to wrongful termination lawsuits.

slate.com

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Tornado McHealey @healeyphoto.bsky.social · Feb 19

A significant part of the problem on my end is probably that I’ve interacted with those posts so they get pushed to me (same as when i block AI on fb and now my whole feed there is AI if i ever log in) but theyre almost always pretty viral posts