Day 2 Pictures Of The Team

[Paul Sherman]

Day 1 Of the Storm Chase was a Positioning Day, after an Overnight Stay in the Best Western Inn at Denton (Tx) we moved Northwards in readiness for action later this week. A little 275 mile drive to Woodward passing through Oklahoma City on the Way.

- The Team

L-R :- John, Paul S, Nick, Stuart, Martyn, Michael, Peter, Ian C, Paul M & Ian P

- The Chase Team Beasts all 6.5 Litres

Below is the 1st Installment of Michael's Blog for the Daily Telegraph

Michael Fish Daily Telegraph Blog

Regards

Paul Sherman

[NL]

Those are certainly beasts Paul...!! Can they be LPG converted?, cool to have one of those

over here.

Early indications are showing severe event still on for Thursday afternoon, a few concerns still apply too, with capping holding back initiation till late afternoon, (cap might hold out over N Texas,) still early days but its looking likely that there maybe tornadoes after dark again..Night-vision goggles..!!!!

[grab my graupel]

Yeah I like those jeeps too, much better than 4x4s that we have over here that are extremely boring

The red one looks awesome the way it sparkles in the sunshine.

Can I just ask guys, those sandals that you are wearing. Was it a buy one get three pairs for free offer

Only joking..I must say you all look very chilled on those latest pictures.

Anyway cheers for the update and look forward to the next report

Brian

[Cookie]

great to get a whole team picture

[Osbourne One-Nil]

Beka's going to be saving those to her desktop.

[dogs32]

looks fantastic..keep us all filled in..God them Suv would cost a fortune to fill up here..Good report by Mr Fish

Are the Hotels so booked up because so many people are storm chasers....Just quoting from Mr Fishes report

Edited April 30, 2008 by dogs32

[*Stormforce~beka*]

Beka's going to be saving those to her desktop.

Definately! Those cars are the best i've ever seen!! Very sexy. I might even name them...

[pottyprof]

Just to give you an idea as to where the team are.....

This is the 2 day outlook from the SPC.

SPC-Day2 Discussion

ACUS02 KWNS 300602

SWODY2

SPC AC 300600

DAY 2 CONVECTIVE OUTLOOK

NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK

0100 AM CDT WED APR 30 2008

VALID 011200Z - 021200Z

...THERE IS A SLGT RISK OF SVR TSTMS PORTIONS ERN NEB/IA SSWWD TO

ERN RED RIVER VALLEY REGION OF TX/OK...

...SYNOPSIS...

PRIMARY UPPER AIR FEATURE FOR THIS FCST WILL BE CYCLONE NOW MOVING

FARTHER INLAND SRN BC...WITH TROUGHING SWD ACROSS NRN CA. AS THIS

SYSTEM MOVES OVER NRN ROCKIES LATE DAY-1...SPEED MAX IS FCST TO DIG

SEWD AROUND SWRN/SRN RIM OF THIS VORTEX...WITH NEW PRIMARY

CIRCULATION CENTER DEVELOPING BY APPROXIMATELY 2/00Z VICINITY SWRN

NEB. THIS SCENARIO IS SUPPORTED BY SREF CONSENSUS AS WELL AS

OPERATIONAL NAM/NGM...SPECTRAL BEING SOMEWHAT FARTHER NE AND FASTER

WITH LOW-MIDLEVEL CYCLONE OCCLUSION.

ASSOCIATED SFC CYCLONE SHOULD LIFT NEWD SLOWLY FROM VICINITY KS/NEB

BORDER TO ERN/NERN NEB DURING DAY...WITH OCCLUSION TRIPLE POINT

PROPAGATING EWD ALONG WARM FRONT OVERNIGHT. WARM FRONT SHOULD LIFT

NWD SLOWLY ACROSS IA/NRN IL AND OVER PORTIONS SRN LOWER MI BY END OF

PERIOD. MEANWHILE...COLD FRONT IS FCST TO MOVE SEWD ACROSS SRN HIGH

PLAINS...WRN OK AND WRN/CENTRAL KS BEFORE END OF PERIOD. BY AROUND

2/00Z...DRYLINE SHOULD EXTEND FROM COLD FRONTAL INTERSECTION --

INVOF EXTREME SERN NEB -- SSWWD ACROSS ERN KS TO NEAR DFW METROPLEX

AND INTO CENTRAL TX. COLD FRONT WILL OVERTAKE DRYLINE FROM N-S

ACROSS REGION NOCTURNALLY.

...CENTRAL/SRN LOW PLAINS...LOWER MO VALLEY TO NE TX...

BASIC SFC/UPPER PATTERN IS QUITE FAVORABLE CLIMATOLOGICALLY FOR

EARLY MAY SVR OUTBREAK. HOWEVER...NON-TRIVIAL CONCERNS LINGER

REGARDING BOTH DAYTIME CAPPING AND QUALITY AND NWD EXTENT OF

MOISTURE WITHIN WARM SECTOR...KEEPING UNCONDITIONAL SVR

PROBABILITIES BELOW MDT RISK CATEGORICAL THRESHOLDS ATTM.

EARLIEST SVR POTENTIAL SHOULD DEVELOP CLOSE TO SFC LOW OVER NERN

KS/SERN NEB/SRN IA...AND ADJACENT SEGMENT OF WARM FRONT. TYPICALLY

THIS WOULD BE SOME CONCERN FOR SMALL/LOW-TOPPED SUPERCELLS WITH

TORNADO THREAT...HOWEVER THIS POTENTIAL APPEARS VERY

CONDITIONAL/UNCERTAIN ATTM. FCST SOUNDINGS SUGGEST COMBINATION OF

SOMEWHAT MEAGER MOISTURE...COOL SFC TEMPS AND SOMEWHAT ERRATIC

DIRECTIONAL WIND PROFILE ATOP BACKED SFC FLOW. WITH

TIME...HOWEVER...SFC AIR MASS SHOULD HEAT/MOISTEN AHEAD OF

FRONT/DRYLINE OVER NWRN MO...SERN IA AND NERN KS...GROWING TOTAL SVR

POTENTIAL THROUGH LATE AFTERNOON/EARLY EVENING.

FARTHER S ACROSS SERN KS/SWRN MO/ERN OK REGION...EXPECT LESS DIURNAL

CONVECTIVE COVERAGE BUT GREATER POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT SVR WITH

THOSE STORMS THAT DO FORM. SFC DEW POINTS UPPER 50S TO LOW 60S ARE

EXPECTED DURING DAY...WITH MID 60S OVER PORTIONS ERN OK...INCREASING

FROM S-N IN PREFRONTAL AIR MASS DURING EVENING. TORNADOES STILL ARE

POSSIBLE IN ADDITION TO THREAT FOR LARGE/DAMAGING HAIL...ESPECIALLY

WITH ANY MATURE/DISCRETE SUPERCELLS THAT CAN MOVE INTO FAVORABLE

BOUNDARIES AND/OR EVENING LCL REDUCTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH WEAK

DIABATIC SFC COOLING. SLGT BACKING OF SFC WINDS BENEATH

STRENGTHENING LLJ ALSO SHOULD INCREASE HODOGRAPH SIZE SUBSTANTIALLY

NEAR AND AFTER 00Z...FOR A FEW HOURS WHILE EFFECTIVE LIFTED PARCELS

STILL ARE ROOTED AT SFC. PARTICULARLY OVER ERN/SERN OK AND RED

RIVER REGION...TIMING/COVERAGE OF CONVECTIVE INITIATION WILL BE MAIN

UNCERTAINTY BECAUSE OF STG CAPPING...INDICATING POTENTIAL FOR VERY

ISOLATED BUT STILL SIGNIFICANT-SVR PRODUCING SUPERCELLS.

AFTER DARK...LINE OF TSTMS MAY BUILD SWWD ALONG COLD FRONT TO

SWD-PROPAGATING FRONT/DRYLINE INTERSECTION. ALTHOUGH MOISTURE WILL

BE MORE FAVORABLE FROM SERN OK SSWWD INTO CENTRAL TX AHEAD OF

FRONT/DRYLINE...SWD EXTENT OF SVR POTENTIAL BECOMES MORE CONDITIONAL

BECAUSE OF MESOSCALE BOUNDARY UNCERTAINTIES...WEAKER UPPER

SUPPORT...AND STRONGER CAPPING WITH SWD EXTENT.

..EDWARDS.. 04/30/2008

As Roger pointed out, there has been a tendency for the models to push things through a little too quickly in the 1-2 day time frame this year, so I feel they are nicely positioned for Thursday. :lol:

[Gorky]

I'm sat in Erick, OK at the moment, heading NE. I think I'll stage for tomorrow around Coffeyville, but I may well pull in for the day before that in case the risk is moved further west. Anxiously awaiting the day2 update atm.

[kold weather]

Good to hear Gorky that all is going ok for you!

Great photos there Paul! You lot that are out there and going out there are so lucky!

Love that 2nd one, its like an action photo with you lot all pulling different poses!

Also yeah good report from Mr.Fish, won't be long before things start getting more active in terms of the weather!

[Roger J Smith]

The only kind of storm anyone is likely to see today in KS or OK is a dust storm, winds are picking up rapidly and the humidity remains very low. The Gulf feed is leisurely to say the least, but I think this system will explode tonight, too bad that some pretty juicy storms are likely to be wasted in the dark hours. Still expecting some severe development late this afternoon over the northern Front Range area Denver to Boulder and up towards Cheyenne WY, this likely to spill out into the high plains around 00-02z and reach western KS around 06z. Could be quite boisterous but, as I say, dark except for the frequent lightning. Tomorrow, still looks good for far eastern KS although 18z storm initiation likely to be Wichita to east of Salina KS into eastern NE. Strongest tornadoes tomorrow could actually be in NE and SD from looks of guidance. Then the whole thing shifts slowly east on Friday, central to eastern IA to MO into w IL the most likely risk zone, could extend back into AR and e TX although perhaps not very good chase conditions.

I'm guessing nobody is heading for Colorado but my max opportunity (let's drop this word risk) point would be 20 miles north of Deer Trail off the interstate, about 70-100 miles east of Denver, and the timing about 02 to 03z.

In parts of western OK and southwest KS watch for periodic visibility reductions in blowing dust, this would be worse in n TX and se CO although don't expect anyone reading this to be there.

[Gorky]

I can confirm the winds are very brisk here, but it's still a dryish wind. Moisture should advect north very quickly with these winds I'd imagine. Just in El Reno at the moment trying to work out the best way to get towards Tulsa without paying a lot of money on road tolls Still happy with Coffeyville for tomorrow at least as a start. I leave my options open that way.

[MAF]

looks like the fire risk is severe because of the arrid conditions

http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/fire_wx/overview.html

[MAF]

not sure if this is the topic for storm discussion or just for pictures, but will post here and hope its ok. just checking out the SPC/NOAA reports for today/tomorrow.

DAY 1 CONVECTIVE OUTLOOK

NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK

1114 AM CDT WED APR 30 2008

VALID 301630Z - 011200Z

...NO SVR TSTM AREAS FORECAST...

...NRN ROCKIES INTO NRN/CENTRAL PLAINS...

UPPER SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN AS IT SPREADS ACROSS THE

NRN/CENTRAL ROCKIES THROUGH THE PERIOD...WITH STRONG MID LEVEL JET

NOSING AROUND BASE OF TROUGH INTO THE CENTRAL PLAINS. ASSOCIATED

SURFACE LOW WAS ALREADY BEGINNING TO TAKE SHAPE OVER THE CENTRAL

HIGH PLAINS AHEAD OF STRONG COLD FRONT NOW PUSHING ESEWD ACROSS

MT/CENTRAL WY. SECONDARY LOW OVER SWRN ND THIS MORNING IS EXPECTED

TO LOSE DEFINITION AS A LOW CONSOLIDATES OVER THE NEB PANHANDLE BY

THIS EVENING INVOF TRIPLE POINT ALONG COLD FRONT AND LEE TROUGH.

ENVIRONMENT AHEAD OF THESE FEATURES INTO THE CENTRAL/NRN HIGH PLAINS

WILL REMAIN QUITE DRY WITH PW AOB .4 INCHES AND SURFACE DEW POINTS

AROUND 40F THIS MORNING WHICH COULD DROP SIGNIFICANTLY THIS

AFTERNOON WITH DEEP DIURNAL MIXING. DEEPENING ASCENT AND VERY STEEP

LAPSE RATES SHOULD SUPPORT LOW-TOPPED...HIGH-BASED MOIST CONVECTION

SPREADING EWD ACROSS THE HIGH PLAINS THROUGH THE EVENING INCLUDING A

FEW THUNDERSTORMS. A FEW STRONGER GUSTS CAN BE EXPECTED...WITH

ISOLATED GUSTS AROUND SEVERE LIMITS.

[Greyowl]

Good luck to you all for Thursday and happy hunting.

[Ilovecornwall]

Had any luck with those storms yet people?

[ian cameron]

Hi Guys

We are in Woodys Bar in Pratt having Refreshments at the moment before our Overnight stay in Witchita (Ks) in readiness for tomorrow. Have had a very Sobering day in Greensburg today, some of the guys have done some interviews with locals who were in tears and brought us to tears with stories, the place still looks like Ground Zero and we have some very sombering Photo shots.

Paul, Nick and Michael will post our target later today, but all the guys are raring to go for tomorrow.

Ian Cameron

[Julie Cameron]

hi ian, nice to see you on line ,ian what do they call people who visit prat are they visitors to prat or prat visitors tried to do what you said tonight but it didnt work so here i am again, footie isnt looking to good for you went into extra time jim has taped it for you, glad you r all havin good time lets hope you all see some action tomorrow x

[MAF]

Hi Guys We are in Woodys Bar in Pratt having Refreshments at the moment before our Overnight stay in Witchita (Ks) in readiness for tomorrow. Have had a very Sobering day in Greensburg today, some of the guys have done some interviews with locals who were in tears and brought us to tears with stories, the place still looks like Ground Zero and we have some very sombering Photo shots. Paul, Nick and Michael will post our target later today, but all the guys are raring to go for tomorrow. Ian Cameron

thanks for the update Ian, should imagine the stories are quite sad after the loss of life and property in Greensburg.

for those of you not familiar with the story >>> http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/world/news/06052007news.shtml

just a reminder how devastating the weather can be

[kold weather]

That sounds really emotional Ian that place was hammered, we all want big tornadoes but obviously not hitting populated areas.

Nice strong jet streak at 700mbs showing on the models for Thursday, the WRF shows it upto 50kts by Thursday afternoon your time, large CAPE values as well and a modest cap which weakens around 2-3pm close to peak heating. Along the dryline I expect there will be some beastly cells popping up, IMO anyway its enough for a mod risk tomorrow.

[Cookie]

the whole Greensburg. thing is very sad, been watching some videos past few days very sad

[Roger J Smith]

Looks like the front is getting close to the Front Range in CO now, watch for explosive development in n.e. CO and s.e. WY in about 2 hours. Heading out, 00z thoughts after 03z ... humidity must be up to 5% now in parts of s.w. KS

[TEITS]

I believe the main action tomorrow shall be E Oklahoma, E Kansas during the latter part of the evening with little if anything occuring before hand.

[Nick F]

Just booked into a Day's Inn in Witchita, KS - been blowing a gale for most of the day, quite tricky driving at times with the strong winds blowing across the plain trying to blow our trucks across the centre of the road at times.

Will post up our photos of Greensburg in the thread started and talk about our target for tomorrow when we get back from dinner.

[Blackie]

Hi guys

Sending this from Wichita where wse just arrived for tonight's stop. Tried to post while en route in the Chevy, but the Verizon signal has been very patchy, so it was difficult to stay online for long. The wind was really blowing as well, so it was hard to type while on the road.

Greensburg was very moving indeed. I was photographing the devastation and stopped to talk to a couple of ladies. One of them sat on the steps of what was a large church and told me she came from not far away and tht it was her favourite place to visit. It had been converted into an antique store. She bent down and picked up some smashed porcelain and helf them in her hand, and just broke down crying - saying how sad it was. I choked up and started blubbing with her.

Not been able to post any photos for the past day or so because of the poor internet signals. Should be able to post a few tonight. No weather ones yet, of course, but hopefully tomorrow we may get our first supercell. And it will be our first real day of chasing storms that might flare up. So far we have just been positioning ourselves.

If we get any decent storms I will try and post them online from the road. That would be a first for me. Still trying to sort out the GPS tracking and geotagging the photos. I have only just got both programmes and the GPS tracker, and nothing seems to be doing what I want it to. But we have our resident IT whizzkid, John, who should be able toget it sorted. Then I can upload a Google Earth track of our daily journeys, with some photos plotted in along it. Should be neat...if it works!

Cheers for now