Chase Log: June 16th, 2006

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: 500 miles
Target Area: McLean to Clarendon, TX
Chase Area: Groom to Shamrock, TX
Maximum SPC Risk category: Moderate
Watches: Tornado Watch 492, Severe Watches 489, 491, 494, 495, 497, 498, 499, and 500
Mesoscale Discussions (MCDs): 1201-1206, 1208, 1210, 1211, 1212, 1214, and 1216

Another disappointing chase to fit in with the majority of 2006. As a high-amplitude, seasonally-strong trough moved into the plains, strong shear profiles were progged to be juxtaposed with moderate to strong instability. As has been the case for the vast majority of the season, however, low-level moisture was pitiful, resulting in >2000m LCLs and outflow-dominant storms. What a waste of nice wind profiles... I was weary of playing anything north of the Texas panhandle owing to southerly 250mb flow by afternoon as the trough swung out from the west, so we (Dan Dawson and I) targeted the central and southern TX panhandle. Here, midlevel and upper-level flow was going to be more veered given its proximity to the base of the trough. The majority of the time, the low-level veering - upper-level backing wind profiles tend to lead to MCS development, which was indeed the case up in KS and NE.

There was a strong bow echo that moved through the eastern TX panhandle, resulting in 100mph winds in Pampa. We didn't get to witness those winds, but we did see a very large gustnado (a couple hundred meters wide is my best guess) as the gust front passed us east of McLean on I40. Other than that, not much to talk about (again).