Day 10 - Reports and Pictures

[Nick F]

We started off from Abilene in west central Texas, and headed east to DFW area then we went to Denton and assessed the situation after some lunch. An active storm developed near Witchita Falls and moved NE across south central Oklahoma towards OK City - but we decided this was too far north to chase -given it was moving fairly rapidly at 40 miles-an-hour. However, a new cell developed further SE and this looked the best cell to chase - so we headed north into Oklahoma on the I-35. On the way we were overtaken by the DOW (Doppler on Wheels) but no TIV, Josh Werman was sat in the front as they passed with their entourage of support vehicles!

We subsequently overtook the DOW, which then followed us onto a county road off the interstate west towards the storm, with numerous other chasers!

Encountered storm SW of Ardmore, OK ... rotation marker on barons directly above our car:

We had a very close C-G lightning strike as we stopped close to these powerlines, made a few jump, some dangerous lightining landing around as the shelf-cloud/gust front moved through:

We decided to leave this cell as it didn't look like producing a tornado and headed east towards a discrete storm further SE heading NE near Sherman, as we headed that way, new cells developed south of the orginal storm we chased - which looked much better on radar - so we decided to hold back and wait for the new storms, at the tail end of the new storm - it produced a funnel cloud - backed up by spotter reports from the area:

The storm then developed a great shelf cloud/gust front:

A real shame we saw no tornadoes, given we were on the best storms of the day in the Moderate risk area ...

[Gorky]

Due to sickness the previous night, I was never able to catch up with these storms, and all seemed lost for the day. Then the Cold front activated, albeit breifly, allowing a small line of cells to form behind me.

It became clear this was gusting out already so I had to head north to geto the path of it and hope I still had time to shoot it from ahead. Unfortunately, I could never get out from underneath it. The views from beneath were great though!

Looking South

Looking North

And north again from a bit further east.

Finally it starts to lose it's shape and gust out completely. The whole process only took 15 minutes or so.

I drove back to Sherman passing through the core of the cell hoping to clean my car, but despite amazingly heavy rain, it didn't do the job Overall, it was a disappointing day, saved at the last minute by the appearance of this shelf cloud. Still, it could easily have beena complete bust

[Louise]

Amazing images guys...

[Roger J Smith]

Once again, fantastic pictures from both chases.

With the Lake Texoma storm, I noticed that it never achieved a very cold top on IR satellite imagery and this may have prevented it from going even more severe. I wasn't able to find the data but would guess it only reached 35,000 ft.

I've noticed in the past as well as today, the dew points in that area are always a bit higher than elsewhere (being a valley with more water surfaces given the large lake), and I wonder if storms have a bit of trouble lifting moist air in that area compared to further south where there is nothing but open country or even urban areas to assist.

With the tornado-warned cell that eventually fizzled out over northeast suburbs of Dallas, you could see how it was struggling to intensify from a very weak cell into a severe cell possibly from the added urban heating effect.

Well, you continue to sample the best cells available, it seems, so a tornado can't be far off, although that landspout in sw KS was quite tornado-like, I guess the wind speeds with those must be down around 80 mph or so but still you wouldn't want to be right under one of those either.

[Rustynailer]

Great pictures, fancy seeing the Dopplar radar truck That event alone would have made my trip.

Careful what you eat guys and don't over do the alcoholic beverage consumption, don't want to miss the best stuff

I can't talk really, the mear sight of the Dopplar radar truck would be enough to prompt an after dinner drinking session and no doubt I would wake up looking like Oliver Read on a bad day

[NL]

Another set of great photos, cant believe yesterday panned out the way it did, so

much anticipation for not only tornadoes but 'big-uns' oh well there's always next-time..!! (Saturday?)

[Coast]

Storms rushing through the Oklahoma City area Wednesday evening caused widespread damage and reports, but no confirmation, of tornadoes, authorities said.

A storm chaser reported a tornado near State Highway 66 east of Yukon, but no damage was found, local authorities said. Tornadoes also were reported near NW 150 and Pennsylvania Avenue, near NW 63 and Meridian Avenue, and near County Line Road and Wilshire Boulevard. None were confirmed.

An observer at Wiley Post Airport reported a tornado three miles east of the airport about 5 p.m. Damage was reported in the area of NW 63 and Meridian Avenue, according to the National Weather Service. In Bethany, witnesses said they saw a tornado touch down about 5 p.m. in the 4000 block of Shannon Avenue near NW 39 Expressway and Council Road, Police Chief Phil Cole said. Trees were toppled and several landed on cars on the Southern Nazarene University campus, Cole said

Source: newsok.com

Gallery of pictures: Here

More stormy weather possible Thursday through Saturday

Oklahoma won't get much of a break on Thursday from the stormy weather. The National Weather Service said the remnants of an upper-level storm system should be east of the state by Thursday morning. Things are forecast to be quiet for several hours, but more storms may move in Thursday night, according to the weather service.

Another round of storms may affect parts of Oklahoma over the weekend, too, forecasters said.

On Wednesday, clouds and heavy rain pounded much of Oklahoma as the storm system and a cold front met up with warm, moist air from the south. The combination led to possible brief tornadoes in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area early Wednesday evening that caused some structural damage, but no confirmed injuries. A wall cloud also was reported in the Tulsa area. The other story was the rain, which fell in buckets across western, central and eastern Oklahoma. Officially, rainfall amounts ranged from .33 inches in McAlester to 2.8 inches in Guthrie. Other amounts included 1.94 inches in Tulsa and 2.2 inches in Oklahoma City.

Temperatures ranged from 66 degrees in Clinton to 73 degrees in Altus, Hobart, Lawton and McAlester. The mercury peaked at 68 degrees in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, forecasters said. Skies should be partly cloudy Thursday through Sunday, with a chance of showers and thunderstorms statewide Thursday night. Temperatures should reach the 70s before falling into the 40s and 50s Thursday night, the weather service said.

There will be a slight chance of storms in eastern Oklahoma early Friday, but highs should still reach the 70s and 80s. Storm chances return on Saturday, mainly for eastern Oklahoma, as highs again reach the 70s and 80s. Lows Saturday night should range from the 40s in the Oklahoma Panhandle to 50s and 60s elsewhere.

Source: www.kristv.com

[Paul Sherman]

Much the same pictures as Nick but the Structures were incredible to be around, nice Fat Funnel Cloud over Sherman which almost produced from an LP Supercell which developed behind us.

- Time to head east with Rotation above our heads

- Heading towards our new Supercell which was in favourable air to the east

- Gust Front approaching

- Shelf Cloud

- Shelf Cloud

- Beautiful Structure

A New Supercell went up behind us so we watched as it approached

- Rotating at the back of the LP

- Funnel Cloud getting better

- Come On GET DOWN!

- As Close as it got

- Ended the Chase with a Scene right out of the English Countryside

Paul Sherman

[kold weather]

Amazing photos everyone, shame you didn't get a tornado but at least you got a pretty decent funnel on this chase. gorky I really like the look of those gust fronts, whilst they probably aren't the thing you really want to see they are still cool to look at. also that shelf cloud Paul is amazing, I love to see LP supercell photos they always seem to look amazing.

[craig1uk]

Hi guys, really enjoying the chase pics, new to the site and glad to see you out there living the dream! Good luck with the rest of the trip.

[Cookie]

welcome mate.

more great images guys