Chase Log: May 26th, 2004

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.

NO CHASE MAP EXISTS

Total Distance: 70 miles
Target Area: None
Chase Area: Union City to Oklahoma City, OK
Maximum SPC Risk category: Slight
Watches: Tornado Watches 298 and 302
Mesoscale Discussions (MCDs): 911, 921, 924, and 927

I wasn't really planning on chasing today, since the environment only looked so-so for early-morning models, and I was wanting to save up for the coming weekend chase(s). However, the each RUC model run looked better and better for the potential of tornadic supercells in Oklahoma. A nice cell popped up near Elk City by mid-late afternoon and was moving into an environment characterized by 3000-4000 j/kg CAPE and 50-60kt 0-6km deep layer shear. Since it was close, I decided to hope on over to Union City to see what I could see...

By the time I got in view of the updraft, the storm was beginnning it's weakening stage and undeniable death. A couple attemps at weak wall clouds were evident, but the storm jutst couldn't do it. Of course, the farther east the storm moved, the strong the cap was (which likely was the cause of death for this storm). Whatever the case, despite becoming non-tornadic and eventually even non-severe, this storm had incredible structure! A beaver tail (in the beginning at least) as far east as I could see) and an awesome stacked-plate appearance with nicely striated appearance. I meandered east with the updraft and shot quite a few pictures and quite a bit of video, as the structure remained incredible. Eventually, however, the cap completely ate the storm and the updraft completely disappeared. Despite only seeing the non-tornadic and then non-severe stage of this storm, it was still well worth the little excursion, if anything to just see the structure.

It should be noted that at about 6:15, I caught word that cells were going up in northern OK near Enid. I knew that the low-level shear environment up there was much better, but I had some concerns about whether I'd make it up there (if they were moving eastward) and get to see anything before dark. And again, now working on a limited budget, I opted to stay with the close-to-home cell. The cell in northern OK ended up producing at least two tornadoes.