Chase Log: June 09th, 2005

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: 450 miles
Target Area: Woodward, OK
Chase Area: Seiling, OK, to Wheeler, TX
Maximum SPC Risk category: Moderate
Watches: Tornado Watches 442, 443, and 444, Severe Watches 441, 445, 446, and 448
Mesoscale Discussions (MCDs): 1257, 1259, 1261, 1262, 1264, 1265, 1266, 1267, 1268, 1269, 1270, 1271, 1273, and 1274

I hadn't really planned on chasing this day, as the next few days looked to be significant chase days. As such, I did not pay much attention to the situation until very early afternoon. By that time, it was evident that there was a supercell risk across much of the western Plains, from northwestern KS to southwestern TX. Well, I had blown any target out of Oklahoma given my late decision to head out. By mid-afternoon media helicopters were on a tornado-warned supercell that formed along an outflow boundary in west-central / northwestern OK. Off I go.

Given the time, I picked up Kim from work and headed to the northwest. The original supercell dissipated as we approached Geary, though another supercell developed to its northwest. The storm, south of Vici at the time, was displaying nice supercell structure on radar by the time we made it through Watonga. We continued to make a beeline towards vici. Unfortunately, as we neared the storm, we saw nothing but an incredible anemic, dying updraft. After stopping for some pictures of baseball-sized hail in Vici, we had to make a decision -- either head north towards cells that looked to be along the OK/KS border, or head west and hope for initiation that way. After a talk with Gabe, and my desire to avoid "warning chasing", we decided to head southwest into the eastern TX panhandle, where there existed extreme instability and nice shear.

While there was a cyclic tornadic supercell near Hill City, KS, convection in the eastern TX panhandle was weak. We decided to cut our loss and call it a day. In hindsight, I certainly should have paid more attention to the situation and headed to northern / western KS. Unfortunately, I didn't want to overcommit since the following 3-4 days looked like they'd be all chaseable. As it turns out, the next day was garbage. Ugh.

06-09-2005 Chase Pictures

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