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Ithaca/Mead Nebraska April 22, 2001      We set out for Wahoo Nebraska to intercept a storm that was classified as a meso-cyclone which had originated in Kansas. By the time we had made the 25 mile trip south, the storm had weakened into a heavy rain event with a lightning show.      It was then that the National Weather Service reported a stronger system some 75 miles south at Beatrice and moving toward us at 55 mph. Since the storm was expected to pass near the town of Ceresco, another 15 miles south, we decided to wait for it there.      Note: While in Ceresco and the storm only 5 minutes away, we were paid a visit by 2 local firefighters. They probably thought we were crackpots, but to their credit, they stopped to find out if we were aware of what was coming.      Not 5 minutes after they had left we spotted the wall cloud emerging from behind the rainshaft just to the south of town. For our own safety we decided to let it pass us, allowing us to chase the storm from its backside, since it was almost entirely rain wrapped.      Once the visibility returned, we headed north on Highway 77 then east on Highway 63 toward Ashland NE. Encountering the heavy rain, we knew we were once again close to the wall cloud and decided to pull over. Visibility was down to less than 500 yards. Literally within seconds the rainshaft passed and 200-300 yards in front of us was the wall cloud, this time with an organizing funnel. It seemed that the storm had slowed down considerably and passed over the highway to our north.      Over the next few minutes, while filming in and outside our chase vehicle, we observed multiple funnels and a brief touchdown near Ithaca NE. We chased the wall cloud past the town of Mead where it once again produced a much larger and longer lasting touchdown near the town of Leshara.      Now three factors worked against us: The tornado/wall cloud had become heavily shrouded in rain. The storm once again began moving at a high rate of speed away from us. The sun had set and our daylight was nearly gone. It was then that we decided to end our first chase of the season.      On a final note, the storm continued into East Central Nebraska where it once again produced a tornado in Washington county.