2002 Chase Logs
The 2002 chase season was filled with frustrations and busts. While my exact mileage is unrecorded, I figure that this year’s chasing took me over 3200 miles on nine chases (>100 miles).
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April 07th -- Western N TX
Total Distance: 510 miles
Target Area: Abilene to Wichita Falls, TX
Chase Area: Olney to Denton, TX
Maximum SPC Risk category: Moderate
Watches: , ,
Mesoscale Discussions (MCDs): 323, 324, 325, 326, 327, and 328
This day was greatly anticipated in the previous several days. There were several issues that were acting to complicate the scenario, with the largest being moisture recovery and insolation. By the 06z day one outlook, it was looking more and more likely t... CLICK HERE FOR MORE!
April 16th -- Southcentral OK
Total Distance: 90 miles
Target Area: None
Chase Area: Davis to Pauls Valley, OK
Maximum SPC Risk category: Slight
Watches: Tornado Watches 97 and 101
Mesoscale Discussions (MCDs): 378, 380, 383, 387, and 390
This was more of a "warning chase". Tornado warnings were issued for counties just south of where I was (Norman). I decided that I had nothin' to lose, so I hopped into the car and headed south on I35. By the time I got into the Arbuckles, the sun had set ... CLICK HERE FOR MORE!
April 20th -- SW OK / W N TX
Total Distance: 480 miles
Target Area: Childress to Quanah, TX, to Altus, OK
Chase Area: BUST
Maximum SPC Risk category: Moderate
Watches: Tornado Watch 132, Severe Watch 133
Mesoscale Discussions (MCDs): 458, 461, 463, and 465
There was the potential for a significant tornadic supercell event across southern OK and northern TX. However, through the morning, low clouds were very slow to dissipate across most of Oklahoma. By afternoon, however, a front was evident near the I44 c... CLICK HERE FOR MORE!
May 05th -- TX Panhandle / W OK
Total Distance: 540 miles
Target Area: Altus, OK, to Childress, TX
Chase Area: Canadian, TX, to Elk City, OK
Maximum SPC Risk category: Moderate
Watches: Tornado Watches 226, 227, 232, and 235
Mesoscale Discussions (MCDs): 662, 663, 668, 669, 673, 675, and 678
There were two targets on this moderate risk day. One was the dryline that was forecast to enter western TX by afternoon, and the other way a warm front that was located near the Red River. Given that I didn't want to drive out to the far western portion... CLICK HERE FOR MORE!
May 08th -- Northcentral OK
Total Distance: 350 miles
Target Area: Fairview, OK
Chase Area: Medford to Blackwell, OK
Maximum SPC Risk category: Moderate
Watches: Tornado Watches 254, 255, 256, and 261
Mesoscale Discussions (MCDs): 717, 718, 721, 722, 723, 724, 725, 728, and 731
Another finals-week chase... Kim and I headed to northwestern OK on hopes that the dryline would initiate supercells in an highly unstable and nicely sheared environment. As the sky remained cloud-free, we realized that the cap was handily winning, so we ... CLICK HERE FOR MORE!
June 19th -- Southwestern MN
Total Distance: 450 miles
Target Area: Pipestone to Marshall, MN
Chase Area: BUST
Maximum SPC Risk category: Slight
Watches: Tornado Watch 441, Severe Watches 444 and 445
Mesoscale Discussions (MCDs): 1170, 1172, 1175, and 1176
The prospects today weren't incredibly good, but strong enough for me to take a trip to southwestern Minnesota. I kept heading west until it looked like storms were going to develop... I made it pretty close to the MN/SD border, before turning around and ... CLICK HERE FOR MORE!
July 20th -- Central MN
Total Distance: 440 miles
Target Area: St. Cloud to Alexandria, MN
Chase Area: BUST
Maximum SPC Risk category: Moderate
Watches:
Mesoscale Discussions (MCDs): 1403, 1405, 1406, 1408, and 1411
A huge CAPE and low-level shear day. 00z MPX sounding showed EHI near 13! Absolutely would have been a very dangerous situation ... if the cap would have broken. Again, however, the season of the bust continues...
July 28th -- Southeastern MN
Total Distance: 150 miles
Target Area: None
Chase Area: Northfield to Kenyon to Zumbrota, MN
Maximum SPC Risk category: Moderate
Watches: Tornado Watch 544, Severe Watches 542 and 549
Mesoscale Discussions (MCDs): 1503, 1505, 1508, 1513, and 1519
I had a gut feeling that something was going to happen today, but the repeated busts had eaten at me and significantly chipped away at any optimism of severe weather. When I heard that tornadic supercells had developed in southern Minnesota, I decided that... CLICK HERE FOR MORE!
July 31st -- Central MN
Total Distance: 180 miles
Target Area: St. Cloud, MN
Chase Area: BUST
Maximum SPC Risk category: Moderate
Watches: Tornado Watch 544, PDS Severe Thunderstorm Watch 560, Severe Watches 557 (morning) and 561
Mesoscale Discussions (MCDs): 1540, 1541, 1542, 1545, 1549, 1551, 1552, 1553, and 1554
A Potentially very active day... The 6z SPC outlook had a HIGH risk over northeastern Minnesota (25% hatched for tornadoes), with moderate risk extending through central MN and into Wisconsin. By the 13z outlook however, it was becoming obvious that the wa... CLICK HERE FOR MORE!
