Chase Log: May 08th, 2003


Click on any of the SPC products below (Convective Outlooks, Watches, or MCDs) to see the SPC's "Severe Thunderstorm Events" page pertaining to this event.


MAP

Total Distance: 550 miles
Target Area: Blackwell, OK
Chase Area: Caldwell to Arkansas City, KS, to Herd to Wann, OK
Maximum SPC Risk category: High
Watches: PDS Tornado Watches 304, 305, 308, and 311, Tornado Watches 298 and 307
Mesoscale Discussions (MCDs): 842, 843, 850, 851, 856, 857, 858, 861, 863, 864, 865, 867, 868, and 870

Another major tornado outbreak expected as very moist warm sector (tds >70) undercuts very strong flow at all levels. The model biases continued as each model run pushed the dryline farther and farther west. The high instability - high shear pattern continued as southwest flow remained over the region. While the early outlooks put northeast KS, Nw MO, and extreme SE NE in the greatest risk, I wasn't buying the model solution that the warm front would make it that far north. On this, we decided to change target areas from Coffeyville, KS, to south of Wichita, KS. We got to Blackwell, OK, by early afternoon and decided to set up shop here as we were expecting (per MCDs) a tornado watch to be posted soon.

After meandering around in Blackwell, we saw cells going up to the west and northwest of us. We jetted northward towards southern Kansas as the storms exploded. At the same time, we were heading reports of another storm going up over Caddo county, OK. The Kansas storms got ahead of us and we tried like heck to catch up with them. After meeting up with Paul's friend, Perry, we continued northward in hopes that the cell motion (which was, at the time, around 50+ mph) would slow. We started to get more pessimistic as it was becoming apparent that catching these things would be very difficult. As we stopped to discuss the situation, I heard reports of a tornadic supercell over northeast Noble County, OK. We pulled a 180 and headed south, hoping to catch the OK storms. As we got east of Arkansas City, KS, I was able to pull up a radar image and saw that the supercell was quite impressive on radar.

We were looking for a south-bound road that would get us into position to intercept. As we got to Chatauqua, KS, we decided that, despite the chance of unintentionally punching the core, we needed to take Hwy 99 south if we wanted to intercept. As we got into Osage county, rain picked up and the wind started to howl. We got out of the rain north of Big Heart, OK. It was hear that we got the first view of a large tornado on the ground right in front of us. As we neared, we saw the storm cross immediately in front of the road. We turned back because of concerns that the roads would be blocked by either debris or police. We followed on the north side of the storm and continued to see the tornado south of the road (now west of Copan, OK). We continued east until a north-bound road was able to get us to Coffeyville. As we drove through Coffeyville, we heard a report of a tornado northeast of the town. After getting through some trees, we were able to see the tornado on the ground. The sky was getting dark and there was a SEVERE lack of lightning, so we decided to call it a day. We headed back to Coffeyville and ate at the local Wendy's, where we met and talked to Mr. Al Moller. Wow, that was quite a pleasure!!

This chase was probably the best of the year so far because of two things -- I saw a tornado for the first time in one and a half years, and we had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Moller. A great chase indeed. :)


Click here for information on the May 8th, OKC tornado from the OUN NWS (including radar, damage pics, track, etc).