Should He Have Chased This Tornado?

Storm chasing is a dangerous pursuit for even the most seasoned experts. What would you do in a situation like the one described below? Would you have continued the storm chase?

My name is Jon. I am currently pursuing a physics degree with aspirations to continue school with atmospheric research. I am spending my summer in NW Iowa, which has given me a lot of chances to go storm chasing. One of those chances arose last night around 7pm, as a squall line quickly approached Sioux Falls.

As we neared the southern tip of the cell, I saw the classic indicator of a mesocyclone, which was a shelf cloud. The shelf cloud was VERY strong, and low to the ground, with an enormous temperature fluctuation with it. As it came over us, I saw how violently the clouds were spinning above us. Immediately the radio screamed out a tornado warning for the county. This warning was Doppler indicated, meaning it didn't actually necessarily mean a tornado was spotted, but that one could happen at any moment. Knowing this, I began to fear one would drop down right on top of us.

So I retreated back to the outer edge of the shelf cloud, and waited for it to weaken before taking the plunge into the storm. Because of this, I missed the tornado as it apparently tracked north of my location. My question is, when chasing storms like this, is the shelf cloud something to be concerned with, or is it just the signal of me coming closer to the rain free base? The rotation above had me worried, but I also know that tornadoes only rarely form from shelf clouds.

Because of my worries, I ended up missing the tornado. Were these worries valid or should I be less of a sissy and continue heading into the bear cage next time? Thank you so much for your help.

What would you do? Read the reader responses - When is a Storm Chase Too Dangerous?