Tour 3 - Day 2 (31st May 2023) - Eastern NM - SLGT Risk

[MikeUpjohn]

Sorry for the massive delay! For a so-called "quiet period" of weather, Paul and the Neatweather team, absolutely nailed it, and we chased every single day in the end on Tour 3. So just catching up now, all my photos are in one place!

Day 2, saw us start in Burlington, CO and an early get away South into the Texas Panhandle and then Eastern New Mexico, for a SLIGHT Risk for severe weather and a 5% tornado risk, plus sig severe hail and wind probabilities. Storms would initiate behind a morning MCS clearing the Texas Panhandle, and there was a decent chance at some tornadoes, before the storms became more linear later and the risk transitioned to strong winds.

Headed South from Burlington, CO, and with roadworks and other stuff, down through Lamar, CO and a late lunch at a gas station in Dalhart, TX, as the last of the MCS cleared out. Some good bolts of lightning and thunder rumbling around from the gas station here, but most importantly, it was windy and felt humid, ripe storm conditions.

An MD followed by a Severe Thunderstorm Watch was soon issued, but today would be poor for structure, as even the weak MCS storms were creating mini-haboob like conditions across the OK Panhandle.

Stopped on a dirt road as storms got themselves going North of Clovis, NM, before targetting a supercell that was near Grady, NM, which was only a few miles away but obscured by the blowing dust. Zero for structure until you come up on the wall cloud (see pics below). This supercell really had it's act together and nearly produced the goods, but not quite, and another one behind us also looking well organised. Headed South to more supercells blowing up behind it, and treated to several severe-warned and tornadic storms, but no tornadoes for us to.

We finished the day further South towards Elida, watch an LP supercell, and then treated to an epic C-G barrage at dusk (again see pics below). Finished in Portales, NM with the same line of storms crashing past the hotel and some epic structure, with one or two suspicious lowerings as it past.

All in all a brilliant day. Love these days where you end up in the hotel with the storm crashing past after you've checked in!

 

Mike.