- 2001 CONVECTIVE FIELD STUDY A
May 20, 2001
At the 6 PM discussion it was decided that we
will not leave tomorrow as conditions do not look
favorable for severe weather in the plains. We
will wait for one or two days and take the
eleventh day for chasing.
May 21, 2001
9:00 A.M. - We still don’t see much of a reason
for heading out. The ridge that is sitting over
the southern plains isn’t going to allow a lot of
convection. We will leave tomorrow and
concentrate on TX, OK, and NM, where upslope may
help convection
May 22, 2001
6:00 P.M. - The CBs have been hooked up and the
plan is to leave tomorrow at 8 AM.
Day 1: May 23, 2001
8:22 A.M. - Now that we’re done taking pictures
we are departing from the parking lot of Mueller
Hall. Conditions here are really stinking
cloudy.
- Russ Schumacher- "Mr. Muller, would you like
your hat or ae you going to leave it here as it
blows off the top of your car?"
8:30 - While stuck in traffic on 49 we are
taking estimates on total mileage for the trip.
(mph)
8:39 - T/Td = 55/46 (not sad that I'm leaving
this)
-Car names are chosen:
Chase 1 (The Hobbyists) - Bart Wolf
(coordinator), Alan Srock (driver), Russ Chibe
(navigator), Neil Davis
Chase 2 (Suction Spots) - Adam Stepanek (team
leader), Chris Kuhlman (driver), Becky Eager,
Erin Hokanson (logger)
Chase 3 (Dust Devils) - Eric Muller (team
leader), Rachel Trimarco (driver), Ginger
Zuidgeest, Brian Balinski
Chase 4 (Rising Scud) - Russ Schumacher (team
leader), Jared See (driver), Jenni Hemmelgarn.
Steve Jaye
9:00 - 80/94 west
- Bart- "I'd like to change our name from 'The
Hobbyists'; to 'I forgot my underwear on the
bedroom floor this morning.'";
-Bart - "That's a big a$$ state!"
11:22 - The sun's peeking through.
11:26 -T/Td = 69/37
12:12 - Stopping for food in Springfield, IL
-took a field trip to the Big K for speakers for
the laptop and underwear. Chibe also picked up a
Krusty doll that says some choice phrases when
squeezed.
1:08 - Gassing up and hooking up TOILET
1:18 - Pulling out and the first CG of the trip
is spotted in a nearby storm.
-TOILET isn’t working. We think it may be the
car.
1:30 - It's raining (yay for rain-x!)
1:33 - Bart reports hail and we can see what
looks like a flanking line to our east, as well
as three anvils with some great mammatus.
1:45 - T/Td = 70/39 (we'll call this sychrometer
#1)
- T/Td = 70/44 (#2) => We think that #1 is
reading low on the dew point
2:19 - Raining again (light)
Heavy rain at exit 70
2:31 - Clear skies above with clouds all around
us
2:40 - Louisville arch in sight
- Call from the wx center saying that messo
discussions are calling for damaging hail and
winds in Southern MO and northern AR
3:03 - Stop at Radio Shack outside of St. Louis
for a battery charger for the digital camera
3:31 - T/Td = 68/42
-Have sighted some CG, mostly CC to the North
3:36 - Tone! => Severe T-storm warning has been
issued for St. Louis county,reporting 60 mph
winds and damaging hail
3:53 - Pulling back on to I-44 after The
Hobbyists went to Target, Best Buy, Circuit City,
and then got stuck in traffic.
4:18 - Severe storms reported possible from
Vandalia, IL to Cuba, MO
and we are seeing a lowering
4:46 - 5 miles outside of Cuba and we have
entered a clearing.
Bart- "That's some well structured cumulus - Oh,
it's Shoji!"
6:11 - Stop in Conway, MO for gas, and using what
may be the slowest gas pumps in the United
States.
7:58 - Welcome to Oklahoma
8:20 - CC spotted to the South in a developing
cell. What a sunset to the west!
9:11 - Welcome to Tulsa! (44)
9:20 - Pulling into Best Western
Today's Mileage = 730 miles
Day 2: May 24, 2001
- At 7 AM weather discussion we decided to stick
with our previous plan to drive to at least Waco,
TX. The day one outlook from SPC shows a slight
risk through southern TX and LA, northward nearly
to Indiana. The best chance for us is southern
TX.
- TOILET was switched from Suction Spots to the
Dust Devils. It was working in the test runs
7:30 - T/Td = 54/45
-departing from the hotel
7:53 - Pulling on to 75 South
"[TOILET] is picking up 2 noises per minute"-Eric
"Are you sure it's not your mouth?" - Bart
8:15 - just outside of Tulsa T/Td = 58/43
9:15 - on 69/75 South
10:28 - Welcome to Texas
10:43 - T/Td = 71/37 (1)
T/Td = 72/39
11:19 - Report of 79 degrees and calm winds in
Waco and 11 AM
11:24 -Back on 35 in Dallas
12:43 PM - T/Td = 80/38 (1)
81/38 (2)
12:43 - Stopping for gas and food in Hilsoro
1:24 - Back on 35
Note : Bart puts "age" on the end of every word
2:02 - TOILET is picking up strikes at 250 miles
to the west
2:13 - T/Td = 88/58 (1)
- T/Td = 87/60 (2) - clear skies
2:32 - T/Td = 90/60 (1)
T/Td = 90/61 (2)
Note: Exit numbers in Texas are not necessarily
the same inbound as they are outbound.
3:08 - T/Td = 9/66 (1)
"I like the smell of gas. It makes me happy."
-Russ Schumacher
3:35 - Pulling into Best Western in Manor, TX
6:55 - Heading west to Kerriville to catch a
storm and watch some lightning. It is too capped
in this area and there are some cells to the
east.
7:31 - TOILET's alarm just went off. (strike
within 50 miles)
- report of a tornadic cell moving SSW towards
Junction
- We’ve got tone- Mr. Roboto is reporting a watch
in our area for 3 inch hail and wind gusts of 69
mph.
7:55 - Stopped to reassess. Something may pop up
on the outflow to the east. Don't know if we
should pursue farther west. Toilet is showing
lightning growing more intense in the direction
of the storm.
8:06 - Heading for a hill to watch the storm.
TOILET is picking up 160 strikes per minute
- elevation = 1198 ft
8:11 - found a great view from a church parking
lot. We can see some lightning in the distance
8:18 - Heading south for a better intercept
position
8:20 - T/Td = 82/65 (2)
- T/Td = 80/73 (1) => We think the batteries are
dying
- elevation = 1127 ft and we passed an exotic
animal ranch with zebra, camels, antelope,
ostriches, and emus. There is some mammatus on
the anvil over our heads.
8:34 -TOILET is getting 155 strikes/min and there
is a tornado warning for Edwards County. There
is a line reported to be moving from Galespi to
Edwards with outflow winds of 60 mph
8:49 - We're having a problem with treeage.
TOILET is at 205 strikes/min and 150 miles out,
but that may be off.
8:57 - Passed a Sac-N-Pac (Russ S. was excited)
- We are making a left turn from the right turn
lane onto 2439 from 12
-Over 300 strikes/min on TOILET which was just
visually confirmed
9:11 - Pulled into a gravel type area to watch
the storm. It's a great light show!
"Where do you think a mice would be?" - Adam
9:35 - Back to I-35. We saw some excellent
lightning and are now bagging the chase after
getting eaten alive by bugs and finding that many
of us were standing next to a dead animal in the
dark. (I thought that something smelled funny
but I thought it was Alan's tuna.)
10:12 - Finally on 290 after missing the exit . .
. twice
10:23 - At hotel . mileage for the day was 570
miles
11:00 - A cell west of us has split, one to San
Antonio, and the other towards us. This storm
has kicked up some spectacular lightning; CG, CC,
and anvil crawlers. There was heavy rain and
winds estimated to be around 50 mph
"If it goes around more than once is it still
considered warm air advection?"- Bart (Things
that make you go hmm.)
-Our most southern point reached today was San
Marcos. (A new record?)
Day 3: May 25, 2001
-At the 8:30 AM discussion we decided to head for
Sanora, TX. SPC has a slight risk for southern
Texas.
9:43 - Departing from the hotel
10:04 - south on 1, mostly clear
10:15 - Mammatus spotted ahead
10:25 - Heading into dark skies and the elevation
here is 1097 ft
10:58 - the skies are clearing up ahead after
getting some rain
11:29 - Stopping for gas and food in
Fredricksberg
12:29 - Moving out on 10 west
12:40 - T/Td = 79/59 (1)
2:00 - T/Td = 88/52 (1)
-T/Td = 88/53 (2)
-Elevation is 2307
2:28 - T/Td = 87/52 (2)
-T/Td = 88/52 (1)
3:00 - Stopping for gas in Ozona, TX and the
elevation here is about 2600 ft
3:13 - There are some cu about so we're heading
north out of town for a better look.
3:18 - Stopped just outside of town
3:32 - After a short softball expedition in a
rocky, rodent hole ridden diamond, Bart has the
latest SPC info. The slight risk is west of San
Antonio. Things are expected to pop up later
when the low-level jet kicks in, and to go severe
after 7 PM. Still heading west
3:35 - Puling onto 137 and the cu fields are
building
3:45 - T/Td = 90/49 (1)
-T/Td = 90/50 (2)
3:55 - T/Td = 89/49 (1)
4:02 - T/Td = 92/47 (1)
-stopped in Biglake
4:13 - T/Td = 88/50 (1)
4:23 - Weather center called and reported that
the moisture boundary runs from Hobbs to Midland
to San Antonio. Their suggestion is to head for
Big Springs. Looks like that will put us in the
middle of this cu field. Here it is thick but
extremely elevated. (we are now on 33)
4:32 - T/Td = 88/47 (1)
- T/Td = 88/49 (2)
- We have just passed a cow crossing sign
4:43 - T/Td = 89/49 (2)
- Large dust devil spotted.
5:10 - Stopped for observation. No one seems to
know what the name of this town is.
5:30 - We've been watching a bunch of turkey
towers go up but nothing is breaking through the
shear
5:57 - We've given up on these cu and are heading
back onto 33 after a rousing game of catch.
According to the wx center, the best moisture
convergence is around Ozona. The plan is to head
to a hotel.
"Is full continental breakfast an oxymoron?"
6:27 - Hotel in Big Spring => mileage for the day
was 368
Day 4: May 26
- At 8:30 AM weather discussion we decided to go
to Childress, TX. SPC has a moderate risk for
that general area and southeast. The shear isn't
all that great (hasn't been the entire trip) and
the cap may be too much. Dry line in west Texas
is the best bet. It will be pushing east
throughout the day.
9:35 AM - Leaving on 20 east
9:51 - T/Td = 80/57 (1)
- T/Td = 80/59 (2)
10:45 - T/Td = 77/58 (1)
- T/Td = 77/60 (2)
10:52 - Dust Devils take out a turtle
11:10 - on 380
-T/Td = 77/57 (1) There are some altocu
converging overhead
-T/Td = 7759 (2)
"We're in a Marmalade void!" - Adam
11:34 - T/Td = 80/61 (2)
-T/Td = 80/60 (1)
11:38 - U-turn on 83
12:23 PM - stopped at Texaco in Guthry, Texas.
We've some chaser convergence with Ball State,
Mississippi State, and Kent State.
12:35 - leaving
1:03 - T/Td = 77/65 (2)
Russ S. - "We've almost reached ludicrous speed."
Russ C. - "Just make sure you don't go plaid."
1:15 - T/Td = 77/64 (2) - looks like there is a
cu field popping up here
- T/Td = 75/62 (1)
1:32 - pulling into hotel
2:12 - The decision is to go south and west and
we are now grabbing some food
3:17 - Data from the hotel room shows that the
dry line has strengthened significantly and dew
points are up on the moist side. Plan now is to
go towards Paducah and East of Lubbock, TX.
3:20 - T/Td = 8/63 (1)
- T/Td = 85/63 (2)
-TOILET is picking up strikes from the New Mexico
storms. The skies here are completely clear and
we are seeing some cu to the north.
3:42 - Welcome to Paducah (can we say Ghost Town)
- T/Td = 70/62 (2), T/Td = 86/68 (2)
4:04 - T/Td = 90/55 (2), T/Td = 91/55(1)
4:09 - Stopping for gas in Matador, 4:25 -
Leaving gas station. There are some impressive
towers going up to our north.
4:32 - T/Td = 98/55 (2), T/Td = 89/54 (1), we are
now approaching 3000 ft
4:43 - chaser convergence; we ran into VACUUM.
We're stopping on a dirt road (231) to watch the
pretty clouds.
5:03 - We're hearing thunder from the storm above
us and TOILET is picking up lightning strikes
5:20 - Wx center info: The storm to our SW shows
60 Dbz on the radar. The one above us is
intensifying and dropping lightning. The weather
radio is telling us that we're in the middle of a
tornado watch box and that these storms are
expected to drop some hail. We're going to go
south of this storm and watch it from there.
There is also some major dust devil action going
on around here.
5:31 - There is a small microburst to our south
and this storm just dropped some CG. It's also
got some mammatus on the anvil.
5:37 - T/Td = 86/50 (1)
5:43 - The cell is dying, probably because of
lack of moisture. T/Td = 83/52
5:53 - Traveling on TX 70. The wx center is
telling us that there are severe t-storm warnings
on the storm we just left.
- T/Td = 85/54 (1), T/Td = 85/55 (2)
6:03 - T/Td = 87/52 (1)
Note: Rain-X works as well on juicy bug guts as
it does on rain.
WX radio report says that a tornado has touched
down SE of Levland. We're going to try to
intercept the storm. The consensus is that it is
back building, and it is 60+ miles away.
6:24 - The wx radio is reporting that Spur, TX is
in the path of a severe thunderstorm capable of
golf ball sized hail. Our target is now south of
Spur, heading on 21. The tornadic storm is
breaking up.
6:36 - T/Td = 89/57 (2) and we are pulling over
on another dirt road. According to the wx center
the storm has turned hard right to the south so
we're turning around again. From here we can see
a rain shaft.
6:47 - West on 261
6:58 - We're seeing some excellent staccato
lightning from the original storm. Look! We
found another dirt road to pull onto.
7:02 - T/Td = 86/53 (1), The storm is
intensifying on radar.
7:23 - Stopped again to observe a rain foot with
cu forming from it. We're getting continuous
rain and CG from this storm.
7:34 - TOILET's at 300 strikes/minute
7:45 - After heading south, we've stopped on 380.
7:51 - We're on the road again and Doppler on
Wheels is up ahead of us. TOILET is now picking
up 420 strikes/minute
8:05 - We're going to try to get some hail!
"Muller's a dick." - Bart
8:25 - The storm is obviously back building.
We're going back east through the storm and back
to the hotel.
Note: "It always helps to talk into the right
side of the CB." - Chibe
8:41 - We stopped for some fantastic mammatus
pictures and now we're moving on again. The
storms eventually formed one conglomerate mass.
Bart- "Our windshield looks like a war
documentary from the history channel."
10:40 - Back in town and looking for food. Of
course, there is nothing open.
11:26 - The search for food is over and we are
back at the hotel.
Day 5: May 27 (4th Anniversary of the Jarrel
tornado)
8 AM wx discussion - There's a moderate risk for
today in SE CO, W KS, W OK, and the panhandle of
TX. Predicting 40-60 kn. shear, strong CAPE and
a weak cap. There is a dry line in SE NM and W
TX, which becomes unpronounced farther north.
We're just wondering where the moisture is going
to be.
9:21- Pulling out and getting gas
9:40- Heading out on 83 to Elk City
"Shut your hole!"- Krusty
10:35 - Stopped for data in Shamrock
10:54 - Heading out and the plan has now changed.
We are now going towards Woodward, OK.
11:13 - T/Td = 79/64 (1), T/Td = 80/65
11:40 - Stopped at Shamrock’s historical marker
(site of it's first post office) to get a cell
signal. Advice from the wx center is to Liberal
as things will be initiating quickly.
12:00 PM - We're on our way! :)
12:30 - T/Td = 82/66 (2)
12:50 - T/Td = 84/62 (2)
1:21 - taking 54 into Liberal, TX
1:32 - Food stop. WX center says that initiation
is happening in SE CO.
2:31 - We've checked into a hotel and gotten gas.
Data check shows that the dry line is just west
of here and the front is north.
2:49 - Turning onto 83N and heading toward
Moscow.
3:20 - T/Td = 93/52 (2), stopping for obs.
3:35 - Heading west again and we are now in a
severe t-storm watch box. There are some towers
going up to our west.
3:44 - Turning west on 56. Winds are SSW.
3:55 - Now in Hugaton, KS and still heading west.
T/Td = 90/55 (2), The storm is developing a
flanking line and what looks like an inflow band.
There are multiple warnings all around the area.
4:15 - stopped for obs.
4:33 - A cell in Stanton County has gone severe,
producing golf ball sized hail.
4:52 - The base of this storm has evaporated and
has left an orphan anvil. We are now heading
south on 51 to intercept the next southerly storm
from the first.
4:56 - Now going north on 56. The weather center
has reported tornado on the ground in Wichita
County and that the storm is heading toward
Garden City. (taking 56 to 83) There are 4 or 5
storms in the area.
5:02 - There are severe t-storm warnings for
Finney and Ford counties in Kansas and there is a
tornado reported in Wichita. There is a line of
storms moving from Kalvesta to Holcomb, KS moving
south. North of here we can see a shelf cloud
from an outflow boundary.
5:42 - Gas stop in Satanta, KS. There is a
tornado reported on the ground in Ford County.
5:52 - Driving back on 56. There's a sweet dust
foot on this gust front. (Brown wall of
Reckoning) Flash flood warnings have been
reported for Finney, Ford, and Hotchman counties.
We've decided to pull over and ride out the gust
front.
5:55 - We're getting rolled!
- anemometer readings of peak winds were 71 mph!
(a new VUSIT record) Most of the gust front has
passed, but wind gusts are still pretty intense.
We're heading back through town. - Dust
Devils and Suction Spots were almost nailed by a
truck topper tumbling across the road between
them.
6:20 - We've decided to catch up with the gust
front and get ahead of it in order to get some
pictures of the whole thing. On an 83 detour
some signs are flattened most of the telephone
poles are no longer completely vertical. 7:24 -
We are pulling over for a spectacular view of
this gust front.
7:46 - That was fun! Gusts only peaked at about
47 mph but we were in an area with no dust fields
so most of us rode it out outside the cars. The
temperature has dropped drastically and we're on
our way back to Liberal.
8:25 - We're back and the total mileage for the
trip so far is 2,845 miles.
Day 6: May 28
8:30 AM Meeting - The MCS last night produced a
boundary in southern TX. A dry lines setting up
through west TX and southeast CO. We're not sure
how far north the boundary will advance. We
think Springfield may be a good target area.
We're going to stick around here for an hour or
so and wait for new data.
11:20 wx discussion - Dry line seems to be more
of a dry punch
12:18 - Leaving hotel and heading toward Dalhart,
TX. The front is not moving as fast as everyone
had anticipated. There is a lot of cloud
coverage over TX and the western panhandle may be
the main focus towards evening. Here it's clear
and the elevation is now 3100 ft.
12:37 - T/Td = 75/54
12:90 - Welcome to Hooker, OK
1:22 - Just entered Texhoma and we've spotted two
dead cows on the side of the road.
1:36 - Spotted a small cu field ahead, but
nothing huge. Conditions are cloudy behind it.
Antennas fell off of three of the cars, might
have something to do with passing semis. Winds
are SE or SSE. T/Td = 77/52, elevation is at
3750 ft, and it's getting cloudier hear.
1:47 - Dust Devil spotted in a nearby field.
2:01 - Elevation is at 4011 ft! Two telephone
poles are down at 45 degree angles. (wind damage
from last night)
2:07 - T/Td = 80/54 (1), T/Td = 79/54 (2)
2:11 - At Best Western at Dalhart.
2:27 - Gassing up and grabbing food
3:42 - Taking 54 to Tucumcari, NM. We may have
some luck there with some clearing and the dry
line.
3:48 - T/Td = 76/58 (2), and it's really
stinkin' cloudy out here
3:58 - TOILET has picked up the first strikes 220
miles to the west.
4:19 - Welcome to New Mexico
4:45 T/Td = 80/60. We hit a bit of a clearing in
Logan, but as we proceed southwest it gets worse.
We've also lost wx radio and the plan is to head
south on 469
5:09 - T/Td = 75/52 (1), T/Td = 73/63. Making a
data stop
5:27 - We couldn't get anything at the station on
the laptop, but we did get some insightful
information about love, health, and happiness on
the Great Zambini machine. We are again heading
south to get into wx radio range. There is a
very small amount of light poking through a
clearing, but nothing exciting. Winds are ESE.
5:33 - T/Td = 73/52 (1), 71/62 (2). (what's up
with these sychrometers?)
5:40 - Elevation is 5004 ft!
"My beer better not explode!" - Chibe
5:55 - taking 209 E. Yep, it's still cloudy :(.
According to Bart, (we're still not sure if he's
just pulling our legs) the wx radio is reporting
that storms are expected to form over the
mountains, move east into the plains, and produce
tornadoes.
6:07 - T/Td = 70/63 (2), T/Td = 70/54 (1). We're
seeing a bit of week towering in the cloud
coverage. Kurri (here) is forcasting t-storms,
some severe with 20-30 kn. winds and gusting.
Right now the boundary is sitting just south of
Lubbock, TX and Clovis, NM.
6:27 - Stopping in Clovis for gas and we may have
tone. There is a tornado watch south and east of
a line from Colorado Springs to Las Vegas, NM.
6:45 - Here in Clovis we're taken of for the
north. We're in a clearing (we can actually see
the sun) and the temp seems to be rising.
6:49 - T/Td = 74/65 (2), T/Td = 75/58 (1).
Going north on 469.
2nd reading - T/Td = 72/56 (1) =>; feels more like
this, T/Td = 71/63 (2)
7:30 - Nothing seems to be going on so we're
stopping at Cap Rock Park for a radio signal and
some scenic pictures.
7:53 - Got a little bit of a wx radio signal
(nothing much), and what I'm sure will be
fantastic cacti pictures.
8:03 - Stopping in Tucumcari to see if we can't
get some Weather Channel info
8:09 - Spotted some transverse rolls north and
northeast of here.
8:25 - taking 54 E.
8:28 - We're seeing anvil tops to the west, but
since TOILET isn't picking anything up and it's
almost dark. we're heading back to the hotel.
9:32 - At the hotel and the mileage for the day
was 375.
Day 7: May 29
- Could they make showers with the spouts any
shorter?
8:30 AM WX Discussion - It looks like stuff's
going to take off somewhere in the north
panhandle of TX, OK, and southwest KS. Shear
seems to be better than it has been. A front is
moving north from somewhere near the Red River
region and an already prominent dry line is
forming in western TX. Dew points are high, but
there is quite a bit of cloud coverage. Some
clearing is pushing into KS. The plan at this
moment is to head to Liberal.
10:13 - Heading out on 54 to Liberal. The
pouring rain is a bit of a bummer at the moment.
10:45 - Hail! pea sized so far.
10:55 - We've got SE winds and it stopped hailing
a few minutes ago.
11:10 -Entering Texhoma once again.
12:12 PM - T/Td = 74/66 (2), T/Td = 74/60 (1),
and we're making a stop for data.
12:36 -The storms that we just went through
produced outflow that will intersect the front
and dry line => massive destabilization in the TX
panhandle. TOILET is picking up 47 strikes/min
starting at 75 miles out. We're going back
south. The weather service reported that the
early storms produced nickel sized hail and 70
mph wind gusts.
1:03 - T/Td = 78/63 (1), T/Td = 78/68 (2). We're
coming into a cu field. It may be the boundary
coming north.
1:13 - Stopping in Guyman for gas, food, and
data.
1:46 - Went to the library for data and we seem
to be on the northern edge of the activity.
We're getting a hotel here and will continue to
monitor from there.
2:46 - Starting out. We have a few choices.
There is a boundary around Lubbock and a dry line
bulge at or on the central TX, NM border. There
is a lot of moisture convergence in the central
TX panhandle. We're going south.
3:11 - TOILET is reading 22 strikes/min.
3:22 T/Td = 79/68 (2)
3:27 - Taking 287 S. We're in a PDS tornado
watch for the northern TX panhandle, the OK
panhandle, and northeast NM, with 4 inch hail!
(yipee!) We're going to Dumas
3:51 - T/Td = 80/66 (2), T/Td = 81/62 (1). Got a
visual on some storms.
4:11 - Going for the cell to our southwest.
Going east on 152
4:23 - The cell to our SE looks extremely
impressive, hard updraft.
4:40 - It's raining.
4:50 - Taking 245 south and we're out of the
rain. The storm has some inflow bands.
4:54 - Stopping for gas.
5:02 - We're driving towards Panhandle, TX on 246 S.
5:13 - We’ve got some rain and visual on
lightning to the west. Now heading south on 207.
TOILET's reading 160 strikes/minute
5:28 - TOILET's at 260 strikes/minute. We are
now turning onto 2385 E and pulling over. From a
distance we can see a rain free base and what
might be a lowering.
5:43 - There is a Doppler indicated tornado
warning for the Potter County cell. Going to
take 293 W to get closer to this storm. Taking
293 west, and the cell to our south now has a
doppler indicated tornado warning.
5:50 - Stopped to observe.
5:58 - We're now heading west for a better view.
The storms have slowed to 10 mph.
6:03 - Turning and stopping on 2373 S. (Not that
you'll find this road on any normal map.)
6:21 - We saw some decent lowerings and are now
heading west on 293. There is a lot of rising
scud in this thing.
6:30 - Stopped for obs. Looks promising!
6:41 -There is a rotating wall cloud nearby. A
little close for comfort so we're striking east.
The inflow is absolutely amazing. Inflow bands
are condensing like crazy. The storm is turning
south. We've got a right mover! When we were
stopped we saw wall clouds die out and regenerate
indicating a cyclical messo.
7:07 - We saw a tornado! It touched down
briefly. Just before we stopped Rising Scud
spotted a funnel halfway to the ground. The
inflow gusted at 40 mph. The cell behind us is
showing some impressive hail shafts.
7:27 - We've got a wedge! It's moving east
towards White Dear, TX.
- Before the wedge we managed to have another
wall cloud pop up just overhead. We captured the
tornado a couple of times on film before it
became rain wrapped, tracking it east and south.
It lifted just north of White Dear, TX. We
estimated it to be about 4 miles away and to have
a 1/2 mile wide base. At one point we could even
see suction vortices. The outflow of the
subsiding storm was clocked at 41 mph. Sometime
before the large tornado, we caught a brief
glimpse of a rope shaped tornado for a total of
three tornadoes. At that point the log was
hastily discarded underneath the seat in front of
me, so I'm not sure of the time.
- On the way home we saw some great mammatus
that we couldn't resist getting some group
pictures taken in front of. We also saw the
corkscrew updraft of an exposed messo.
8:45 - Stopped for bathroom and food.
- The cell that was to our south in Randal
County reportedly dropped two tornadoes.
- So far there are no reports of anyone being
injured in the tornado we tracked, but it did
kill some cattle and a house was found lying
across some railroad tracks.
- Right now the stars are shining overhead and
we're watching an amazing lightning show to our
east. Total mileage for the day was 540 miles.
"VUSIT keeps it real!"
Day 8: May 30
9:30 discussion - Even though we couldn't
possibly top yesterday's events we've decided to
go chasing since we can keep from detouring too
much from the way home.
9:42 - Left the hotel to fill up on gas. The
most promising area sees to be southeast OK,
around the Red River region. A weak low is
positioning north of the area. Models show a
negative tilt in the upper levels and directional
shear is good. Wind speeds aloft are weak,
however. There is also a boundary along the Red
River region slowly moving ESE. We're going to
start with Oklahoma City.
9:54 - Leaving gas station
11:45 - Taking 183
11:55 - T/Td = 75/58 (1), T/Td = 76/58 (2).
There is some cirrus in the sky, but it's mostly
clear. Winds are out SE.
12:31 - Did Rachel just take out another turtle?
12:35 - T/Td = 77/60 (1), T/Td = 80/60 (2)
12:45 - There is some cu up ahead. Looks like
the front.
12:55 - Now driving on 270 S
1:02 - T/Td = 81/67(2), T/Td = 81/65 (1). New
info - outflow boundary and cold front
intersection seem to be around Laughton.
1:2O - Pulling onto 40 E
1:37 - Stopping in Del Rio, OK for gas and food.
Rachel assures me that she did not hit the
turtle.
2:02 -Heading out on 40 E again.
2:27 - T/Td = 82/70 (2), We're seeing towers to
our south, east, and north.
2:30 - Taking 35 S. T/Td = 80/70 (1)
3:00 - T/Td = 83/76 (2), T/Td = 4/74 (1).
Towers are shearing off, but Bart says that they
are still building about so it will give us time
to get south of the boundary.
3:13 - Stopping in Pauls Valley where we are
seeing some impressive wind damage.
3:48 - We're leaving. The new Day 1 shows a
larger moderate. Capes south of the boundary are
already at 4000 j/kg. We're going to sit just N
of town off of 35 to watch.
4:08 - A north wind is coming up and we have a
clearing. It seems like we are now north of the
boundary so we are heading south again on 35.
T/Td = 89/73 (2), T/Td = 89/70 (1)
4:27 - Stopped for obs. We've decided not to go
any further south because of the drive home.
5:42 - T/Td = 91/69 (2) The towers are just
getting sheared off. Stuff is going off to the
south and east of here but we can't chase due to
time restraints and bad terrain. We&'re staying
until 6 PM and then bagging it.
6:01 - Going north on 35.
6:26 - Now taking 59 E.
6:41 - We're seeing quite a bit of activity now
that we're heading home. In the distance to our
NE is an overshooting top. There are lots of
multi cells to our east. Going south toward ada
to see if we can't catch one.
6:51 - Taking 59A from Pontotoc. They are
expected to go severe.
6:56 - Just spotted a lowering in the rain free
base.
"I think your head is massively rotating." (I'm
not sure who said this, but I'm pretty sure it
was about Muller."
7:06. Heading SE on Route 3 out of Ada. We just
passed the boundary. T/Td = 83/72
7:22 - Severe t-storm warning to our NE, storm
with golf ball sized hail in Lamar.
7:33 - TOILET is picking up 220 strikes/min.
7:40 - Heading east on 31, and there is a doppler
indicated tornado warning NNE of here. The
topography here (hills and trees) is making
things a bit difficult.
7:48 - We can see the rain free base and it looks
like it has a few lowerings. We also just got a
view of a beaver tail, and what is either an
exposed messo or an enormous wall cloud.
7:59 - We're stopping.
8:05 - We're heading back a bit for a better
viewing area.
8:48 - What a great storm! We saw 1-3 wall
clouds and what may have been a funnel. We're
now heading east and this lightning may be the
best we've seen so far.
"Proud of our Betchlets!"
8:56 - Driving into some heavy rain
9:14 - driving NE on 1/270
9:20 - Chibe has just informed us that our good
friend Krusty has passed.
- Chibe and Adam have given touching eulogies.
9:37 - It's sprinkling now.
"Spread across the sky lightning." - local radio
weather expert.
9:45 - We're at a dead stop behind what looks
like an accident.
9:50 - We're moving, which is good because I
think some bladders are going to bust if we don't
find a bathroom.
9:58 - Stopping in McCalister for food, gas, and
a greatly appreciated bathroom.
10:13 - found a McDonalds
10:37 - Heading back out.
Here is a assortment of entertaining comments
from our friend the trucker. Some had to be
excluded . . .
-"I heard you guys talking about a eulogy. Did
you just come from a funeral, r somethin'?"
-"Are ya'll from Val-pa-rai-see-o or whatever you
call it?"
-"I'd swear I was on nine wheels! Man, I was
praying for my life."
-Trucker 1 said, "Haver (?), tune down your
modulation." Trucker 2 asked, "Who, me?"; and
Trucker 1 responded with, "What other Haver do I
know!?!"
- "My wife calls me a fruit loop because all
watch is the weather channel."
- "I';m an Ogy from Muskogy!"
- "I didn't pay too much attention, but I did
learn about diffusion."
12:10 AM - Stopped for bathroom
12:13 - Leaving on 69
12:29 - Now on 28
12:39 - We're in some really heavy fog.
12:45 Going north on 82, from here we'll go to 60
E
1:00 - Fog's cleared
1:34 - We're back in Missouri
1:51 - On 43 N
2:00 - Pulling into hotel in Joplin.
2:18 - The first hotel didn't work, but we have
just checked into another. Good night.
The day's mileage was 686.
"Instead of the Show Me state, Missouri should be
the Shoji State."
Day 9: May 31
9:05 AM - Departing from hotel. Taking 44 N.
It’s raining and sprinkling on and off.
11:00 - Stop for gas.
11:14 - We're off again. Going to take 70 E.
2:00 -Stop for food and gas.
2:45 - On the road again.
3:23 - Now taking 57 N and we&'re starting to vote
on t-shirt quotes.
4:44 - Finally done voting on quotes.
5:01 - 24 E
5:50 - 41 E
6:13 -2
6:23 - 25 more miles!
Muller - "Beginning of the year I had no
tornadoes. Now I have four tornadoes under my
belt." Chibe - "At least now you have something
under your belt."
Top ten quotes: (not necessarily in this order)
- VUSIT keeps it real.
- I think your head is massively rotating.
- Proud of our Betchlets.
- California University, thanks for playing.
- Two words: Rip Griffin.
- Bart, What is stuffage?
- I heard ya'll talkin'; 'bout a eulogy. You guys
comin'; from a funeral or somethin';?
- That's some well structured alto cumulus - Oh
it's Shoji!
- It smells like a damn stockyard in here.
- Shut your hole!
Cities of the year = Panhandle and Sublet, TX
Total Mileage = 5,020 miles
Records broken:
- Latest start
-Latest to finish
- Farthest south
- Latest hotel check in
- 71 mph wind gusts recorded
- Most tornadoes seen in one day/on a trip
- Largest tornado