Car 1: Tilted Updraft (Pilot)
Driver- Tyler Brock/ Erin Hokanson
Team Leader- Bart Wolf
Navigator- Andy Dixon
Adam French

Car 2: Pete to Pete Shear (P2P)
Driver- Mark Volberding
Team Leader- Kelley Johnson
Videographer- Peter Bienick
Pete Hasa

Car 3: Lifted Shimmy Index (LSI)
Driver- Jessica Busse
Team Leader- Jolene VanderMeer
Jerrod Lichty
Brian Dillion

Car 4: Rear Flank Downdraft (RFD)
Driver- Joe Vorrier
Team Leader- Erin Hokanson/ Tyler Brock
Trip Logger- Melissa Hoeman
Mark Trahin

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Sunday May 18, 2003- Planning Meeting

-6:00pm: Met in Weather center at Valpo. SPC outlook places slight risk in northern plains. Our plan of action is to head to Central/Western Missouri-Iowa region before going further west. Prepared cars for journey- attached CB radios, applied Rain-X, set up anemometer and TOILET, checked chase kits. We will meet tomorrow morning at 7:30am and plan to leave at 8:15am. Inaugural Chase for Met Department's new Honda Pilot.
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Day 1- Monday May 19, 2003

-7:30am: Met for discussion in weather center, decided to head toward Missouri although a lack of instability and shear makes severe weather unlikely tomorrow. On Wednesday we will head towards West Texas.
-8:30am: Finished with photos and packing cars. Leaving Valpo, where weather is cloudy and dreary. Checked CB radios. 20,297- Beginning mileage on Car 4.
-8:35am: Turned L from Highway 30 to West Hwy 2.
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Mileage Guesses:

Car 1: Tilted Updraft
Tyler- 5370
Bart- 1
Andy- 5444
Adam- 5580

Car 2: Pete-to-Pete Shear
Mark- 5299
Kelley- 5120
Pete- 4930
Peter- 5320

Car 3: Lifted Shimmy Index
Jessica- 5550
Jolene- 5217
Jerrod- 5829
Brian- 5828

Car 4: Rear Flank Downdraft
Joe- 5118
Erin- 5616
Melissa- 5303
Mark- 5410
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-8:55am: Temperature (T) / Dewpoint (Td) of 65/66- Digital psychrometer not reading right.
-9:05am: Car 4 got stuck behind Lake Co. Hwy Dept. Truck
-9:10am: L turn (south) to Holtz Rd. (turned into Clark Rd.)
-9:12am: R turn to Belshaw Rd.
-9:20am: Car 4 finally made getaway from dump truck, began to catch back up to group.
-9:22am: L turn onto 41
-9:31am: RFD (Car 4) rejoins caravan.
-9:55am: R onto West 24
"Unity Seeds They're peace-loving corn" ­ Erin
-10:00am: Entered Illinois
-10:25am: Passed through Crescent City- Sign had picture of burning town.
-10:35am: Turned onto I-57 S: Psychrometer still broken- T/Td 69/70
-11:10am: Temp- 76
-11:30am 1st pit stop- Rest Area to take care of a "PDS"
"What the heck is that thang?" ­Comment directed toward P2P and anemometer.
-11:40am: Back en route.
-11:55am: Update from weather center- Slight risk extends from Central Missouri SW-ward, with best chance in OK. ETA shows good instability in W Texas for days 3,4,5. Tomorrow looks like a relocation day, with chasing in W Texas by the end of the week.
-12:10pm: First raindrops of trip- Mutton, IL
-12:40pm: "That's what happens when you get your degree- your nerd humor gets even worse" ­Bart to Erin in response to her updraft/downdraft comment.
-1:00pm: Stopped at Sonic in Vandalia, IL
-1:45pm: Headed over to Clark for gas after eating
-1:55pm Back on I- 70 W
-2:37pm Turned onto I-270 W
-2:50pm Crossed Mississippi River, entered Missouri
-3:10pm "It actually powers my car" ­Mark after questioning on the anemometer
-3:15pm Town & Country, MO 85/61
-3:20pm Turned onto I-44 W
-4:50pm Rest Stop # 2 before Rolla, MO
-5:20pm Back on I-44: Weather Center Update- Severe T-storm in N TX/ S OK
High plains of TX and North for rest of week. "High Slope City"
-6:20pm "Is TOILET grounded or is Pete to Pete going to get electrocuted?" ­Erin
-6:30pm "It's like Jurassic Park w/o the Dinosaurs" ­Mark Trahin
-6:35pm "If you go black, you never go back"-Random Trucker
-6:40pm Stopped for gas in Springfield, MO
"Indiana That's close to Chicago, IL isn't it?"
"Hope you all don't get caught in a hurricane or tornado or something" -Random Missouri Man
-6:53pm: Back on I-44 S
-7:10pm: Hook Echo in Oklahoma City, increasing CAPE. Also multicell severe storms with lightning.
-7:55pm: Pulled into Sleep Inn in Seneca, MO

Total mileage: 624
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Day 2- Tuesday May 20, 2003
-8:30am: Met for Weather Discussion- Led by Bart, Mark, Brian
No convective outlooks today- relocation day, Tomorrow there is a slight risk in NW TX, which increases in size for day 3. Cold conditions in area, approx 40 on SW of High pressure covering plains. Jet coming beneath ridge, which creates T-storms. Plan of Action: Tour SPC at 3:00 today.
-9:50am: Departed Sleep Inn, back on I-44 toward OK.
-9:59am: Entered Oklahoma.
-10:35am: Pilot passed through toll plaza w/o paying toll. Poor Erin.
-11:12am: West 412/ 44 to Tulsa, OK
-11:20am: West 44/ 66 to Oklahoma City
-11:28am: 75 South
-12:00pm: Conoco Stop
-12:12pm: Back on highway
-12:32pm: Turned onto West 40
-1:01pm: Elevation 906 ft. 59/39

Took a variety of bets:

Highest Elevation: Time of Arrival at SPC:
LSI- 4444 ft. LSI- 2:21:13
Pilot- 6121 ft. Pilot- 2:24
P2P- 4445 ft. P2P- 2:19
RFD- 5101 ft. RFD- 2:13

First Hail: Distance from VU:
LSI- Thurs. 5:30p LSI- 1030 miles
Pilot- Thurs. 6:47p Pilot- 1051 miles
P2P- Friday 3:30p P2P- 1050 miles
RFD- Never RFD- 1199 miles
GPS- Driving West

-1:33pm: I- 240 W
-1:44pm: Exit on 35 S- 18 miles to NSSL- here we are in Moore, OK where there is visible damage from recent tornado.
-1:55pm: Exit Robinson Street- E on Robinson
"We're weather weenies going to the mother ship" ­Jolene
-2:01pm: Arrived at Storm Prediction Center, where we had a tour of SPC and viewed National Severe Storms Lab equipment.
-4:13pm: Left SPC/NSSL
-4:25pm: Arrived at Souper Salad for dinner.
-5:26pm: Departed Souper Salad- North on I-35.
-5:41pm: I-240 West.
-5:47pm: I-44 W- Wrong turn!!! Navigators to find best option.
-5:53pm: Hwy 37 West
-6:17pm: N on 81
-6:19pm: W on 37 again
-6:45pm: Shell Station for gas and restroom.
-6:55pm: W on 37/ 152.
-7:17pm: Elevation: 1540 ft. T/Td: 64/37
-7:25pm: Elevation: 1542 ft. and rising. Highest elevation today: 1551
-7:33pm: Elevation: 1700 ft.
-7:34pm: Elevation: 1754 ft.
-7:36pm: Elevation: 1819 ft.
-7:37pm: Elevation: 1860 ft.
-7:38pm: Elevation: 1912 ft.
"With this upslope your cars could convect at any time"
"LCL- Lifting Car Level" -Bart
-7:50pm: N on Hwy 6
-7:54pm: Elevation: 1951 ft.
-7:57pm: Elk City, OK
-8:03pm: Elevation: 2003 ft. Arrived at Best Western
"Come to bed, Dixon" ­Peter

Day's Mileage: 407
Total Mileage: 1041

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Day 3- Wednesday May 21, 2003

-8:30am: Weather Discussion led by Andy, Peter, Pete, and Adam
Focus has shifted north based on model runs and SPC outlooks. We are now looking at SE Colorado to W Kansas, where conditions are improving due to low level jet and a slight increase in moisture. Plan today is to head to Lamar, CO where conditions will continue to improve till tomorrow night.
-10:13am: Left Best Western- Highway 6 N.
-10:29am: N-283: Pilot missed exit
"You guys just continue or pass us the other way, that'd be good too" ­Bart after missing exit.
-10:42am: Elevation: 2078 ft.
-10:54am: Elevation: 2174 ft.- Highest thus far.
-10:55am: Elevation: 2205 ft.
-10:55am: Elevation: 2256 ft.
-11:06am: Elevation: 2301 ft. 61/48.
-11:10am: Elevation: 2364 ft.
-11:18am: Elevation: 2414 ft.
-11:23am: Elevation: 2460 ft.
-11:29am: "When the cows get horny, it gets stormy" ­Jerrod
-11:32am: Pizza Hut in Shattuck, OK for lunch.
-12:51pm: Departed Pizza Hut
-12:54pm: T/Td 65/45
-1:15pm: W on 270/412/3 after photo op with armadillo.
-1:35pm: Slapout, OK- pop. 8, filled up at Phillips 66.
-1:49pm: Back on road after buying Slapout souvenirs at station.
-1:55pm: Elevation: 2555 ft.
-1:56pm: Tornado Museum
-2:22pm: Change of plan after contact with Matthew at weather center. Focus has moved to Nebraska/Kansas region. We are going to move N toward CO, KS, NE borders. Dewpoints, vertical shear seem promising. Forecast for scattered T-storms, isolated severe storms with large hail.
-2:30pm: Elevation: 2710 ft. 71/43
-2:40pm: Elevation: 2812 ft.
"Y'all missed the tornado a week ago" ­Trucker
-3:02pm: R on Hwy 83 N.
-3:25pm: Entered Kansas.
-3:44pm: 74/45.
-4:12pm: 72/48
-4:33pm: Walmart stop in Garden City, KS.
-4:47pm: Back on the road.
-5:06pm: Took out some geese chicks on the highway.
-5:35pm: T/Td 73/48.
-6:00pm: 83/40
-6:06pm: West on 70

-6:19pm: Exited on exit #53, Holiday Inn Express in Colby, KS
"No Pete, it doesn't stand for Female Body Inspector" ­Jolene

"I hate dry air!" ­Bart
"If this doesn't bring in enough moisture, let's all go home tomorrow" ­Bart
-9:30pm: Weather discussion- nothing for tonight, reconvene tomorrow at 9:00am.

Today's mileage: 359.5
Total mileage: 1400.5

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Day 4- Thursday May 22, 2003

-9:00am: Weather discussion led by Jolene, Kelley, Jessica, Erin, and Melissa. Conditions are favorable in our current area, hopefully. After looking at CAPE, super cell index, and surface forecasts, we decided to move south to Garden City, KS where we will be central to possible severe weather. For tomorrow, we will likely be located in this area or further south, toward OK.
"If that happens, we'll have dancing tornadoes" ­Bart
-10:50am: Left Holiday Inn Express.
-10:51am: Filled cars up at Amoco.
-11:00am: I- 70 East
-11:08am: T/Td: 64/55
-11:09am: "They're white and they're in the sky" ­Jolene's technical cloud description
"Can we see the animal freak show?" ­Mark Volberding
"Just look around your car!" ­Bart
-11:16am: Highway 83 South.
-11:19am: T/Td: 68/56
-11:55am: 67/57
-11:55am: Update from weather center- slight risk extending from OK to the NE, concentration on 2% tornado probability in KS. Stratus are dissipating and dew points are increasing. Max dewpoints in NE Colorado and SE Kansas. We estimate thunderstorms around 5:00 pm, when temps are highest. For now, we will go to Garden City, KS where we will check in and eat lunch.
-12:14pm: 73/59
-12:25pm: 75/61, which verifies ETA's prediction of increased moisture. Hopefully CAPE will increase as well.
-12:38pm: 156 West to Holiday Inn Express, Garden City, KS.
-12:45pm: We can get in rooms at 2:00, go to grab lunch before getting data.
-12:50pm: Lunch by Cars- meet back at 1:15.
-1:35pm: Storm Chase Crew (minus Bart and Peter) gets stuck in hotel elevator. Apparently those weight restrictions are for real.
"I'd rather bond in front of a supercell quite frankly" ­Bart
-1:45pm: Weather Discussion/ Data Viewing
After call from weather center and looking at new SPC outlooks, we are headed to eastern CO. Hail, winds after 21 Z continuing through evening. CAPES approximately 1200-1500.
-3:30pm: Left hotel by 83 North.
-3:36pm: Weather Center Update as we pass through Tribune, CO- CAPES 2000-2500 in West-Central KS, Helicities approximately 250.
"I'll put my truck in the barn so it doesn't get hail damage" ­Trucker over CB
-3:42pm: 82/56
-3:58pm: Severe Thunderstorm Watch on 730 AM for Cheyenne, Sherman, and Wallace Counties in NW Kansas.
-4:02pm: 84/56
Elevation: 3252 ft.
-4:16pm: ASOS- NNE wind at Lyman, CO, dewpoint rose in last hour. Scotts Bluff Temp decreased 2 degrees. ENE wind in Akron. Goodland 82/51- dry conditions.
-4:22pm: N on Hwy 27.
-4:25pm: 89/50
-4:39pm: P2P hit bird.
-4:40pm: 87/50
-4:46pm: 51 DBZ storm south of Hwy 24 in Carson City CO, we discuss heading toward Tribune.
-4:49pm: Strike recorded by TOILET.
-4:50pm All cars determine that we should stay at Tribune.
Another lightning strike recorded by TOILET
-4:52pm: Stopped for gas.
-5:15pm: Got back on Hwy 27 to head N of Tribune to wait.
-5:18pm: 7 strikes recorded by TOILET on cell 250 miles away.
-5:20pm: Left gas station and proceeded North _ mile.
-5:35pm: Left spot and headed further north after update from weather Center. Moisture convergence and CAPE increases look better.
-5:39pm: 86/51.
-5:50pm: Stopped further down on Hwy 27. We are currently in a severe thunderstorm watch.
-6:10pm: A forecaster, Ted McGuire, from Goodland, KS passed us as he was chasing as well.
-6:15pm: Dust Devil, first "excitement" of chase.
-6:25pm: Watch in Scott County, headed west. Wind has picked up again in our area, now facing SE. T/Td of 83/62.
-6:27pm: Moisture bullseye shifting to S. Extends from SW Kansas to OK. 730 AM radio reports boundary from Tribune, KS to McCook, NE with rapid storm development.
-6:30pm: Pilot, LSI hit snake.
-6:45pm: E on Hwy 96- stopped to watch storm.
-6:50pm: 79/59.
-7:06pm: E to Lydia, where we will sit for 2 hours until sundown.
"Driving West"-GPS
-7:20pm: Cloud to right is dissipating, Cap couldn't be broken.
-7:30pm: Passed thru Leoti, parked along roadside.
-8:15pm: After seeing yet another "little updraft that couldn't", Bart responds, "No wonder Bob Dole is from Kansas, all these clouds need Viagra."
-8:30pm: "Whose idea was this trip, anyway?" ­Bart
-8:40pm: "If I amputated my arm, I could be the one- armed meteorologist. I could have attachments to measure the T/Td and an anemometer arm" ­Tyler
-8:55pm: Leaving spot for Scott City. Most exciting part was the sunset. Maybe tomorrow... Took Hwy 96.
-9:16pm: Hwy 83 S.
"Dude, you've got something on your car!" ­another anemometer comment
-9:20pm: Dairy Queen at Scott City.
-9:53pm: Leaving Scott City for Garden City by 83 South.
"If you were epileptic and driving through this part, you'd have a major problem" ­Bart
"Sorry, we're banging our heads in here so we can't listen to you" ­Bart
-10:25pm: 50 E/ 83 S.
-10:30pm: 156 to Holiday Inn in Garden City, KS
-10:45pm: Informal Weather Discussion- group to meet at 9:00 am tomorrow.

Today's mileage: 316.5
Trip mileage: 1717

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Day 5- Friday May 23, 2003

-9:00am: Weather discussion led by Joe, Tyler, Jerrod, Mark V.
Winds and boundary in Texas, but high cap.
Cold 500 mb temps in TX, from here we can chase upslope closer to mountains or continue south.

Plan for today: Head down to OK panhandle while keeping eye on temps in TX. From here we can chase upslope closer to mtns or continue south.
"I slept great last night, I am ready to kill something" ­Bart
"It's so hard to distinguish between your agreement and your look of death" ­Pete to Erin
-10:25am: Left hotel for quick stop in Target for medicine for Tyler and Erin
-10:34am: Left Target- South on Hwy 83
-10:38am: 63/60- extremely foggy conditions
-10:45am: 26 hrs 26 mins since we started driving. Max speed 88.8 mph. Courtesy of GPS.
-11:07am: "Bring it on Mama Nature" ­Bart
-11:12am: T/Td of 61/61 20 mi. N of Liberal, KS.
-11:36am: 83 to 54 W in Liberal, KS.
-11:42am: 65/64
-11:45am: Crossed back into Oklahoma.
-11:50am: Call from weather center- 2% tornado in OK/TX panhandles and corners of CO, NM. 25% hail/wind in OK,TX. Upslope initiation- super cell possibility due to increasing moisture.
-11:52am: T/Td: 71/67
-11:59am: 74/66
-12:11pm: Elevation: 2934 ft.
-12:14pm: Guymon, OK: Pizza Hut for lunch.
-1:03pm: 82/66 leaving Pizza Hut for gas at Texaco.
-1:20pm: Headed for Dumas, TX.
Weather Center Update- New Supercell Index shows nothing in panhandle. 1 Z supercell max in southern TX panhandle, something possible between 7-10 pm tonight. Day 2- slight in C/E OK and TX panhandles to Central KS; 25% hatched.
-1:38pm: "You guys sure got some good looking girls"
"Those storms, they creep me out" ­Mark pretending to be a trucker, which was not revealed until the ride back to Valpo.
-1:40pm: Crossed into Texas.
-1:41pm: "I'm not seeing what's going on in your cars"
"I can't see it, I want to watch" ­Mark as a trucker
-1:42pm: Weather Center Update- dewpoints in W panhandle are in the 50's while dewpoints in the E panhandle are in the 60's. Mesoscale discussion puts action in Eastern half of panhandle, where CAPE is close to 3000 J/KG.
-1:56pm: Highway 287 S.
-2:00pm: T/Td 85/58
-2:03pm: Another Weather Center Update- Supercell indication, CAPE of E Texas panhandle moving SE.
-2:07pm: T/Td: 83/50 Elevation: 3603 ft.
-2:23pm: Elevation: 3656 ft.
-2:26pm: Stopped at gas station in Dumas, TX where team leaders went inside to check data. T/Td 87/58.
-3:00pm: Headed W/SW to New Mexico, filling gas here.
-3:11pm: Pilot went to get keys to hotel.
-3:25pm: Met back as group, headed back on 287 N.
-3:27pm: Headed to Lamar, CO where nose of Theta E is located.
-3:37pm: Weather Center Update- nothing going on in Lamar. ?? Now what??
-3:47pm: ASOS data-
Lamar 26/14 (Celsius)
Clayton 26/14
Guymon 29/18
-4:04pm: After several U turns, going thru Stratford to Delhart to Clayton. It's a long way, but there is a large supercell to the west, where a hook was spotted.
-4:11pm: T/Td: 89/56
-4:20pm: 42 strikes per minute on TOILET.
-4:22pm: Elevation: 3959 ft.
-4:27pm: Storm has weakened to 59 dbz, after peaking at 64.
-4:29pm: T/Td: 83/57.
-4:30pm: Driving Rt. 87 North.
-4:37pm: 85/57 Mammatus cloud formation to our left (we are driving NW).
-4:44pm: 58 dbz storm with _ inch hail reported.
-4:54pm: Elevation: 4345 ft.
-4:56pm: West on Hwy 296
Storm NE of Union has _ inch hail.
-5:01pm: N 2586, Cumulus developing straight ahead.
-5:04pm: Elevation: 4549 ft.
-5:06pm: Back in OK.
-5:09pm: Hwy 56 E.
"We're going to turn R, unless of course we turn into the other lane into oncoming traffic" ­Bart
-5:10pm: Picture stop on farm road.
-5:18pm: Back on 56. "There's nothing worse than a lonely cow"
-5:21pm: 356 strikes per min on TOILET.
-5:25pm: T/Td: 81/56.
-5:28pm: Cancelled warning on storm.
Got on 385 to Boise City.
-5:34pm: 62 dbz; moisture convergence heading toward storm.
-5:35pm: Stopped for gas and bathroom in Boise City
"Please see cashier for receipt"
-5:46pm: Back on Hwy 56 to 64 to Guymon.
-5:51pm: "We've got the upper hand, it's like the bad guys in 'Twister'" ­Andy
-5:52pm: Weather Center Update- Storm at 58 dbz, should intensify as it moves to boundary- plan to stay on Hwy 56 to Keyes, as storm is moving due E.
-5:59pm: Weather Center-storm just dropped 2 in. hail, now at 57 dbz.
-6:00pm: T/Td: 81/55
-6:04pm: N on 0420
-6:08pm: Stopped on farm road to watch. T/Td: 79/63
-6:20pm: Original storm died, now at 20 dbz; Tower beginning to form to NW of original storm.
-7:10pm: Leaving station as all clouds have died. Back on Hwy 56.
-7:20pm: We are going to go south on 385 in case clouds form to SW.
-7:27pm: South on Hwy 385.
-7:30pm: Quick photo stop then back on 385.
-7:32pm: Visible anvil with towers forming to SW. Weather center reports warning for Randolph, which is south of Amarillo. Destructive hail.
-7:33pm: Pilot took out another bird.
-7:39pm: T/Td: 79/55.
-7:43pm: Re-entered Texas.
-7:53pm: T/Td: 85/36
-7:55pm: Weather center- SE storm over Amarillo.
-8:08pm: Pulled into Phillips 66 in Delhart, TX to get Tyler more medication.
"I think I'll send the dryline through my bladder" ­Andy
-8:09pm: LSI finished singing "100 bottles of beer on the wall"
-8:25pm: Back on 87/ 385 S.
-8:39pm: P2P and RFD stopped to take photos of sunset. LSI and Pilot continued to hotel.
-8:40pm: Stayed on 87.
-9:06pm: Back to hotel in Dumas, TX
Tomorrow's discussion at 8:30am.

Today's mileage: 451.6
Total mileage: 2168.1

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Day 6- Saturday May 24, 2003

-8:00am: Weather discussion moved earlier because of storms in OK Led by Brian, Mark T, Bart. However, there is no way we can get to them
2% tornado risk today in TX panhandle.
Plan for the day: nothing really going on.. We are going to take Tyler to the urgent care clinic in Amarillo.
-9:45am: Leaving hotel South on 287.
-9:50am: Fumes noticed coming out of P2P.. Going to stop in a second. T/Td: 78/54
-9:55am: Stopped off of highway exit- Visible damage to oil filter from bottoming out yesterday at hotel entrance. We plan to insert a quart of oil and duct tape the undercarriage so it doesn't drag. We are going to try to make it to Amarillo.
-10:15am: After careful deliberation, we decided to go back to Dumas, where we can get the filter checked out. North again on 287.
-10:25am: Pulled into a Pennzoil Oil Change Shop in Dumas after splitting up to locate a place. They can replace the filter outdoors, so the anemometer doesn't need to be removed.
-10:45am: Back on the road with a new oil filter.. only $21.00 and 20 minutes!! Back S on 287.
-11:45am: Arrived at Family Medical Center in Amarillo, TX for Tyler to see a doctor.
-12:00pm: Drivers went down road to get gas.
-12:15pm: Headed out of medical center for lunch and Tyler's prescription.
-1:00pm: Left lunch by means of 40 E to Plainview.
-1:10pm: 79/59 I- 27 south.
-2:10pm: Arrived at Comfort Suite in Plainview, TX to view data.
"They have high-speed internet. I want high speed wind" ­Bart
-3:45pm: Leaving Hotel to Dumas, judging from radar and data. Storm moving slowly SSE in Moore County most promising, not rain wrapped- moving into area with shear and moisture convergence. I-27 N.
-3:50pm: T/Td: 88/60.
4:13pm: T/Td: 86/58
-4:25pm: "There's no honor code in west Texas" ­Bart
-4:35pm: "We're in a mesoscale convective doughnut" ­Erin
-4:50pm: Driving I-40 West.
-4:57pm: Stopped for gas at Pilot along I-40.
-5:30pm: Leaving gas station- I-40 W. Going toward New Mexico border, where visible storms are moving 13 knots SE
"Where's my car?" ­Jessica
-5:35pm: South I-27, Hwy 60.
-5:45pm: 60 West.
-5:50pm: Weather center called and told us that the storm to west has decayed. New storm located to W of original one. Encompasses W Central Oldham County.
-5:55pm: 1062 W.
-6:05pm: New Plan- storms to NE developing, not impressive. Storm here developing with a line developing to SW w/ 70 dbz about 40 miles away.
-6:07pm: 809 S- going after 70 dbz storm.
-6:12pm: Hwy 60.
-6:17pm: Lamb County and Bailey County- reports of golf ball sized hail. T/Td 83/66.
-6:22pm: 385 S- circumnavigating storms to avoid hail.
-6:29pm: Cell moving N, another cell moving S We are taking 86 W to 216 S, where we may get hammered by golf balls.
-6:32pm: "The cross of death" seen on TOILET's output.
-6:42pm: R on 385 after short pause for info from weather center.
-6:44pm: 194 E at fork in road. -6:55pm: Storm maintaining intensity- determined by Weather Center, others forming behind it- possible MCC.
-6:56pm: Right turn on 168 South.
-7:08pm: Severe storm warning for Bailey County
It started to rain as driving into Olton. Jessica switched driving responsibilities with Adam.
-7:15pm: Tornado on ground 5 miles W of present location. Storm spotter verified rotation. Warning in southern Roberts County.
-7:20pm: 168 South.
-7:37pm: 54 West toward Littlefied
Storm headed W of Littlefied, boundary should intersect before sundown.
-7:40pm: T/Td 78/62.
-7:43pm: Almost had a 4 car pile-up at stop sign after railroad tracks.
-7:45pm: Small hook seen on radar.
-7:52pm: TOILET shows 350 strikes per minute with 52 being close. 178 noises recorded.
-7:54pm: "Animals have that extra sense.. they can hear" -Joe
-7:57pm: 303 South.
-8:01pm: Over 400 strikes per minute recorded.
-8:16pm: 114 West.
-8:45pm: Back to White Face after 30 mins of pictures. Race to Lubbock before we get hammered.
-9:00pm: Surrounded by severe thunderstorms; funnel reported by Littlefield, we're at Levelland.
South on 385 to escape storms, decide to go to Walmart for shelter.
-10:05pm: Leaving McDonalds after catching shelter in Walmart. Headed on 114 E to Lubbock.
-10:40pm: North on 289 loop.
-10:45pm: 27 North.
-11:24pm: Arrived back at Comfort Suites
Weather discussion at 9:00 am tomorrow.

Today's mileage: 545
Total mileage: 2712

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Day 7- Sunday May 25, 2003

-9:00am: Weather discussion led by Pete, Peter, Adam, and Andy

-In Colorado, stronger winds aloft, right entrance region w/ vertical motion, higher CAPE than previous models although SPC retracted slight risk from CO. However, if we head to CO, then we would be closer for possible chasing especially on Day 3 in NE, SD, and ND.
-Other option- Southwest TX gives us a long drive tomorrow, but conditions are a little more favorable today. The SPC slight risk remains in this area today.
-Plan for Day- Get hotel in Portalis or Clovis; chase in NM, W Texas
"Hey, don't write off Idaho" ­Bart
"All those square states look the same" ­Adam
-11:30am: After backing off in the recent day 1, SPC has reinstated the slight up through NM and CO, we have decided to go north, as the risk for winds, hail are the same up there as in TX.
-11:45am: Left hotel to get gas, going to La Junta. Grabbed lunch at close fast food restaurants.
-12:20pm: Leaving by means of I-27 North.
-12:23pm: 194 W, headed to Lamar, CO. Approximately 4 hours away.
-12:50pm: T/Td of 69/60
-1:10pm: 385 North.
-1:57pm: Elevation: 3526 ft.
2:10pm: Elevation: 3680 ft.
-2:14pm: Elevation: 3826 ft.
-2:15pm: Elevation: 3929 ft. Temp/Dewpoint: 69/60.
-2:25pm: Stopped for gas in Dalhart, TX.
-2:47pm: Back on 385 North.
-3:05pm: "Jerrod looks like the Marlboro man in the hat and you look like the cowboy from the Village People" ­Jolene to Mark V.
-3:06pm: Elevation: 4123 ft.
-3:15pm: Re-entered Oklahoma.
-3:25pm: Elevation: 4206 ft.
-3:29pm: North on 287/ 385 in Boise City.
-3:35pm: Weather Center update- New Day 1, slight risk extends to WY. In eastern Colfax County, New Mexico there is a storm just south of the CO border. If it moves from high plains to La Junta, there is a chance it will go supercellular.
-3:45pm: Entered Colorado.
-4:08pm: 160 West.
-4:21pm: 63/57- cloud cover present.
-4:31pm: Turkeys in middle of road. Stopped for quick photos.
-4:37pm: Elevation: 5127 ft.
-4:40pm: Elevation: 5219 ft. Temp/Dewpoint: 67/57
-4:42pm: Elevation: 5318 ft.
-4:44pm: Elevation: 5378 ft.
-4:46pm: Elevation: 5446 ft.
-4:47pm: Elevation: 5513 ft.
-4:50pm: Elevation: 5602 ft.
-5:00pm: Stopped at United Church of Christ in Kim, CO for restroom attempt. Elevation: 5704 ft.
-5:03pm: 109 North to La Junta for gas, hotel, etc. No cell service out here, very isolated, small towns.
-5:24pm: Pulled off 109 at Muddy Valley Ranch to take photo of cumulus over mountains.
-5:31pm: Back on 109 to La Junta.
-5:35pm: T/Td: 72/58
-5:45pm: "Sure we'll take your credit card, Bart" ­Mark V.
-5:50pm: 60 dbz storm located in SE Pueblo County. We are going to take 350, which will place us SSE of it.
-5:56pm: Arrived in La Junta.
"We shall be lemmings" ­Erin
-6:00pm: Gas at Conoco in La Junta before chasing.
-6:10pm: Leaving gas station on 50 W. Original storm died.headed to 167.
-6:30pm: 1 inch hail moving SW in Pueblo County. We are approaching from SE.
-6:32pm: "If hail is bigger than my middle finger, then I duck because it is basically the hail flipping me off" ­Jerrod
-6:35pm: Storm turned again, moving SW at 15. Temp/Dewpoint of 73/57.
-6:40pm: Eastern portion of storm has died, leaving center of storm stationary close to Pueblo.
-6:45pm: 167 South.
-6:45pm: P2P kills another bird.
-6:56pm: Hwy 10 South.
-7:00pm: Warning cancelled.
-7:05pm: Stopped along road to watch.
-7:10pm: Left to find closer station.
-7:20pm: Temp: 62 F, outflow registered at 35 mph.
-7:25pm: Pilot left navigator behind, who promptly joined RFD's car.
-7:28pm: Moving SE on 10 toward new storm developing E of Waltonburg.
-7:36pm: "It's like a rain mirage although we aren't in the desert and it's really raining" ­Erin
-7:43pm: Turning around on 10; cells raining themselves out.
-7:48pm: Outflow boundary visible to our left, going to watch winds turn as it passes us.
-7:50pm: "I hope we get another suite because I'm really getting tired of sleeping with Peter" ­Andy
-8:00pm: Elevation: 5502 ft. Temp: 62 F.
-8:33pm: "I don't know what Jerrod did to this doll, but it used to have an outie and now it has an innie" ­Jolene
-8:39pm: Arrived at Holiday Inn in La Junta.
-11:00pm: Brief weather discussion- to be continued tomorrow at 8:30am.

Today's mileage: 482.3
Trip mileage 3194.3

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Day 8- Monday May 26, 2003. Happy Memorial Day!

-8:00am: Weather discussion led by Erin, Jessica, Jolene, Kelley, and Melissa. Judging from parameters and SPC predictions, conditions look less favorable than previously thought in Montana. Instead we discussed the Denver Cyclone in addition to developments along the Wyoming/Nebraska border. Current plan is to head North, eventually getting to western Nebraska for tonight's lodging.

-10:30am: Temp/Dewpt. 78/55.
-10:38am: Leaving Holiday Inn Express on 50 W, clearer skies today.
-10:51am: 71 North.
-10:55am: Elevation: 4272 ft- we'll cross the Palmer Divide, which is a large elevation barrier extending from Denver E to Limon.
-11:06am: Elevation: 4529 ft.
-11:10am: Max elevation so far- 6256 ft. when we were chasing yesterday 6.22 miles before turning around to return to La Junta, 53.1 miles from La Junta, at 7:52 central time. Pilot wins elevation bet.
-11:40am: Elevation: 5400 ft.
-11:43am: T/Td: 65/54
-12:00pm: Phone call from Weather Center advises that the best chance for supercells is in WY and MT.
-12:04pm: Limon, CO for Gas and Lunch at Arby's.
-12:55pm: Leaving Texaco, back on 71 North.
-1:30pm: T/Td: 75/56.
-2:10pm: Stopped in Fort Morgan for a call to the weather center and brief discussion. We are now headed closer to the Rocky Mountains, toward Cheyenne, WY. We reconsidered hotel arrangements. Instead of Ogallala, NE we are looking more towards Sidney, NE which will put us a little more west for tomorrow's placement.
-2:25pm: Headed to bathroom before going chasing.
-2:45pm: 34 West
-3:03pm: I-76 West.
-3:10pm: 34 West, Temp/Dewpoint: 82/55.
-3:14pm: "Anybody who's out here chasing storms has probably been dropped on their head a few times" ­Bart
-3:29pm: Weather Center has advises us to go north of Greley; storms expected to initiate N of this position.
-3:35pm: Hwy 37 North.
-3:38pm: Turned right to follow Hwy 37.
-3:47pm: Weather Center Update- 60 dbz storm along WY/CO border on Hwy 85. Expected to move SSE at 10-15 mph.
-3:50pm: Right turn onto Hwy 43 North.
-3:52pm: Stopped along crossroads to watch. T/Td: 79/56
-4:06pm: Hail warning for storm, headed further north on 43. Storm reached 68 dbz. T/Td: 79/55
-4:15pm: Turning right on Hwy 14 - Headed for Briggsdale.
-4:30pm: Possible funnel?? Stopping. Most likely not.
-4:35pm: Headed east then north for a better view. We need to be closer to see anything.
-4:42pm: North on CR 392.
-4:45pm: East on RD 100.
-4:50pm: Stopped on hill.
-4:55pm: After advice from weather center, we are continuing E then going toward WY border.
-5:07pm: RD 390 South.
-5:15pm: Hwy 14 East.
-5:35pm: Stoneham, "this is a pretty week excuse for a town" ­Bart
Storm to N reinstated- Take 71 and beat it.
-5:37pm: North on Hwy 71.
-5:50pm: Storm at 71 dbz
-5:52pm: Rd 120 West to watch for a bit. No escape routes to East. South of storm.
-6:10pm: Back to Stoneham by Southbound Hwy 71.
-6:20pm: Plan- go to Sterling where more storms are located on the front range.
-6:25pm: Decided to head toward Brush so we don't' need to backtrack if storms form closer to Denver.
-6:30pm: East on Hwy 14.
-6:31pm: Stopped at Stoneham because Jessica needed bathroom.
-6:35pm: Back to 71 North, Storms building SW of Limon. Storms in WY continue to intensify. We should cross into NE in an hour.
-6:52pm: "All I have to say at you guys is that you are not storm chasers" ­Pete
-6:53pm: "Pete, you need a hobby" ­Bart
-6:54pm: T/Td: 66/52
-7:00pm: Entered Nebraska.
-7:01pm: "We are traveling Mach 1, I don't think you can miss us" ­Tyler in reference to Joe's speed.
-7:10pm: Kimball for propellant.
-7:11pm: "I wonder where the evil storm chasers are" ­Bart
-7:30pm: "I need to find a sammich to dry my bladder" ­Bart
-7:35pm: Matthew in Weather Center suggests going home because storms are moving so slowly.
-7:45pm: After a run-in with Kimball Police, we are going back to hotel in Sidney, paying close attention to speed limit signs. The storms are moving so slowly that we would not be able to see them before dark.
-7:47pm: I-80 Eastbound.
-8:10pm: Arrive in Sidney, NE at Comfort Inn.
-9:45pm: At Perkins: "You can call me Susan if it makes you happy" ­Andy to Pete

Today's mileage: 443
Total mileage: 3637

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Day 9- Tuesday May 27, 2003

-8:30am: Weather Discussion led by Joe, Mark, Tyler, Jerrod. Things don't look promising today- lack of vertical shear makes organized storms unlikely. Tomorrow's risk extends in IL and IN which will obviously be a long trip. Options to chase today or wait till tomorrow.
"Doesn't the cold front drape from my left shoulder down to my right thigh" ­Bart
-Plan for Day- Chase in Cherry County, NE today, hoping for severe thunderstorms. We will get a hotel in Norfolk, NE which is a little further today but will be appreciated tomorrow.
-9:20am: Only smoking rooms available, instead we are using Andy Dixon's military affiliation for a discount in O'Neill, NE.
-9:40am: Departing hotel, taking I-80 East.
-9:55am: Went wrong way on I-80- going back West.
-9:57am: Taking Northbound 17 to bypass the town.
-10:00am: Hwy 30 West.
-10:09am: 385 North.
-10:37am: Elevation: 3775 ft.
-10:52am: RFD took out yet another bird.
-11:24am: Hwy 2 East.
-11:25am: Stopped in Alliance for lunch.
-12:02pm: Leaving on Hwy 2 East
-12:10pm: Arrived at Carhenge to see car display.
-12:22pm: Leaving Carhenge after photo shoot. Now northbound on 87.
-12:30pm: Temp/Dewpoint: 76/59.
-1:00pm: On Hwy 20/87
-1:02pm: T/Td: 77/57
-1:15pm: Plan- Gas up in Merriman and wait for further instruction from weather center.
-1:34pm: 80/57- approaching line of cumulus, possible cold front due to north wind.
-2:11pm: T/Td: 80/58
-2:30pm: Reentered Central Time Zone.
-2:45pm: Arrived in Valentine, NE.
-3:05pm: After getting gas, hanging out at the airport. There is nothing going on around here according to the weather center.
-4:00pm: Leaving airport and heading east on Hwy 20. We are going to Fremont, NE instead of O'Neill because it will give us better placement for tomorrow's drive back to Indiana.
-4:55pm: T/Td: 83/60
-5:20pm: Stopped in Stuart, NE at "The Pit Stop"
5:35pm: Back on the Road
-6:14pm: 275 East.
-7:00pm: "You don't need a dance beat to beat to it" ­Erin
-8:00pm: Karaoke w/ LSI, P2P, RFD as pilot catches up after quick stop.
8:18pm: Hwy 77 South.
-8:30pm: Arrived at Sleep Inn in Fremont, NE. Waiting for Pilot to catch up after their restroom break.
-8:35pm: Pilot arrives.
-9:00pm: Headed to dinner as a group. It's our "Last Supper" together- going to the Wooden Windmill.
-10:40pm: Back to Sleep Inn for a final night.
"Pete, you're pretty close to the right exit region" ­Jerrod about sitting too close to Mark V.

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Day 10- Wednesday May 28, 2003

-8:15am: Leaving Fremont, NE for our trip back to Valpo.
-8:20am: Stopped at Texaco for gas and to look for a CB radio for LSI.
-8:35am: Hwy 30 East.
-9:22am: I-29 South.
-9:26am: I- 680 East to I-80 East.
-9:50am: Entered Iowa.
-9:59am: 5343 miles from here to Valparaiso, Chile; 420 miles to Valparaiso, IN.
-10:22am: T/Td: 73/57.
-11:40am: Stopped in Newton at Subway.
-12:30pm: Leaving Newton, heading back to I-80 E. Weather center called- storms beginning around Davenport; we're going to attempt to get there in time. Approximately 2 hours away.
-1:00pm: Made T-shirt decisions.
-1:30pm: Read trip quotes.
-1:42pm: Convective outlook updated N Illinois to Wisconsin; storm movement SE at 20. Storm near Rockford and Gailsburg.
-2:20pm: Quick rest stop.
-2:24pm: Back on I-80, trying to catch storms in IL.
-2:29pm: T/Td: 80/53
-2:40pm: Lincoln, IL looks promising. Storms should cross I-80 around Joliet.
-3:00pm: T/Td: 79/57.
-3:10pm: Tornado on ground in Washington, IL at 2:57, moving south at 30.
3:11pm: Front has moved through Peoria, winds shifted to west.
-3:13pm: New storm on I-39 at 63 dbz. Warning for Kankakee cancelled.
-3:15pm: T/Td: 79/55.
-3:31pm: T/Td: 80/56.
-3:55pm: Tornado sirens going off in western Chicago suburbs, tornado reports in Will County.
-4:15pm: Morris, IL- viewing large wind gusts - we are going to head south before we get rolled.
-4:24pm: Tornado warning cancelled, we are headed further east.
-4:26pm: Gas and Dash at BP before leaving Morris.
-4:34pm: New cell developing to west - Dwight and Mazon counties - Raining here, need to get out of outflow. We are going to head further west on 47.
-4:42pm: Thunderstorm warning for our location, Grundy County.
-4:55pm Tornado just went through city of Morris, where we just were- it was rain-wrapped, which is why it was not visible.
-5:20pm: Cell to west is intensifying- if we get south to Sibley, it will pass to our north.
-5:23pm: County Rd. 100 N.
-5:27pm: Stopped to take photos.
-5:40pm: Tornado warning 4 miles from us to the East.
Cars drove through dry microburst.
-5:46pm: Back on 47 South.
-6:02pm: Hwy 9 East.
-6:07pm: T/Td: 68/46.
-6:20pm: Stopped at Paxton for dinner.
-7:10pm: Left using I-57 North toward Valpo.
-7:47pm: IL 17.
-8:00pm: Hwy 114.
-8:10pm: Entered Indiana- now on IN 10.
-8:28pm: Stopped at I-65 intersection for gas.
-9:20pm: Arrived in Valpo.