Flooding of farmlands and homes along the San Joaquin River.

Flooding of farmlands along the San Joaquin River.

Workers sandbagging a tributary creek of the San Joaquin River keeping floodwaters out of farms and homes.

Waters roaring out of the outflow of the Friant Dam.

Hydromet Data Collection Site at Independence Mine. This equipment collects hydro and meteorological data at the Independence Mine State Historical Park, on the National Register of Historic Places. This former gold mine is located in Alaska's beautiful Matanuska Valley.

A massive supercell which dropped large hail is visible out the window of the Rapid City National Weather Service Office.

TAO Buoy Array deployment preparations on board the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER.

TAO Buoy Array deployment preparations on board the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER.

TAO Buoy Array deployment preparations on board the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER.

TAO Buoy Array deployment preparations on board the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER.

TAO Buoy Array deployment preparations on board the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER.

TAO Buoy Array deployment team: Don Ventura (Team Leader), Jeffery Wise, Paula Campbell(Port Meteorological Officer), Alan Lossett, James Rauch, and Dane Jaynes on board the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER.

TAO Buoy Array deployment preparations on board the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER.

TAO Buoy Array deployment preparations on board the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER.

TAO Buoy Array deployment preparations on board the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER.

TAO Buoy Array deployment, mooring sequence in the deep sea on the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER.

TAO Buoy Array deployment, mooring sequence in the deep sea on the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER.

TAO Buoy Array deployment, mooring sequence in the deep sea on the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER.

TAO Buoy Array deployment, mooring sequence in the deep sea on the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER.

TAO Buoy Array deployment, mooring sequence in the deep sea on the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER.

TAO Buoy Array deployment, mooring sequence in the deep sea on the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER.

TAO Buoy Array deployment, mooring sequence in the deep sea on the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER.

TAO Buoy Array deployment, mooring sequence in the deep sea on the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER.

TAO Buoy Array deployment, mooring sequence in the deep sea on the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER.

TAO Buoy Array deployment, mooring sequence in the deep sea on the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER.

Anchor line streaming aft as the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER steams slowly head leaving the TAO buoy astern. The ship is proceeding to the mooring location of the buoy prior to dropping the anchor.

While the TAO buoy streams aft, innocent looking clouds approach. Perhaps this cloud looks like a hand puppet dragon or dinosaur.

While the TAO buoy streams aft, innocent looking clouds approach. Billowing cumulus on the horizon.

While the TAO buoy streams aft, innocent looking clouds approach. Perhaps this cloud looks like a hand puppet dragon or dinosaur.

While the clouds approach and the TAO buoy streams aft with attached line, the deck crew of the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER move a second TAO to its pre-mooring preparation stand.

While the clouds approach and the TAO buoy streams aft with attached line, the deck crew of the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER move a second TAO to its pre-mooring preparation stand.

While the clouds approach and the TAO buoy streams aft with attached line, the deck crew of the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER move a second TAO to its pre-mooring preparation stand.

While the clouds approach and the TAO buoy streams aft with attached line, the deck crew of the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER move a second TAO to its pre-mooring preparation stand.

While the clouds approach and the TAO buoy streams aft with attached line, the deck crew of the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER move a second TAO to its pre-mooring preparation stand.

While the clouds approach and the TAO buoy streams aft with attached line, the deck crew of the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER move a second TAO to its pre-mooring preparation stand.

Innocent-looking clouds have moved ever closer as they are taking on a somewhat ominous appearance.

Spray from a waterspout appears in the distance. The spout is moving towards the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER which is constrained in its ability to maneuver as the recently launched TAO buoy is not yet anchored and is still secured by its mooring line to the ship.

Waterspout sequence as the spray from a waterspout approaches the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER which is constrained in its ability to maneuver as the recently launched TAO buoy is not yet anchored and is still secured by its mooring line to the ship. The funnel remains invisible throughout this sequence.

Waterspout sequence as the spray from a waterspout approaches the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER which is constrained in its ability to maneuver as the recently launched TAO buoy is not yet anchored and is still secured by its mooring line to the ship. The funnel remains invisible throughout this sequence.

Waterspout sequence as the spray from a waterspout approaches the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER which is constrained in its ability to maneuver as the recently launched TAO buoy is not yet anchored and is still secured by its mooring line to the ship. The funnel remains invisible throughout this sequence.

Waterspout sequence as the spray from a waterspout approaches the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER which is constrained in its ability to maneuver as the recently launched TAO buoy is not yet anchored and is still secured by its mooring line to the ship. The funnel remains invisible throughout this sequence.

Waterspout sequence as the spray from a waterspout approaches the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER which is constrained in its ability to maneuver as the recently launched TAO buoy is not yet anchored and is still secured by its mooring line to the ship. The funnel remains invisible throughout this sequence.

Waterspout sequence as the spray from a waterspout approaches the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER which is constrained in its ability to maneuver as the recently launched TAO buoy is not yet anchored and is still secured by its mooring line to the ship. The funnel remains invisible throughout this sequence.

Following passage of the waterspout, the crew prepares to drop the anchor for the TAO buoy. The anchor is composed of railway wheels. Operations on the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER.

Following passage of the waterspout, the crew prepares to drop the anchor for the TAO buoy. The anchor is composed of railway wheels. Operations on the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER.

Following passage of the waterspout, the crew prepares to drop the anchor for the TAO buoy. The anchor is composed of railway wheels. Operations on the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER.

Following passage of the waterspout, the crew prepares to drop the anchor for the TAO buoy. The anchor is composed of railway wheels. Operations on the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER.

Following passage of the waterspout, the crew prepares to drop the anchor for the TAO buoy. The anchor is composed of railway wheels. Operations on the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER.

Following passage of the waterspout, the crew prepares to drop the anchor for the TAO buoy. The anchor is composed of railway wheels. Operations on the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER.

Following passage of the waterspout, the crew prepares to drop the anchor for the TAO buoy. The anchor is composed of railway wheels. Operations on the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER.