Chase Log: May 07th, 2008
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.
Total Distance: 315 miles
Target Area: Near the Red River
Chase Area: Ringling to Durant, OK
Maximum SPC Risk category: Moderate
Watches:
Mesoscale Discussions (MCDs):
Didn't really expect a lot, but we chased a supercell that was quickly overcome by more widespread convection that developed in a relatively linear fashion. We ended up calling the chase off after it became apparent that discrete supercells were not going to happen. Oh yeah, it was nice to see some tornado reports from a cold-core sort of set-up near OKC. *rolls eyes*
The most interesting feature we saw was some sort of very tight circulation along the leading edge of the convective line just E of Ardmore. We large "bulb" of precipitation was approaching rapidly from the south as we were drive eastward to get farther ahead of the line. We were driving in strong westerly winds, with very apparent rain curtains moving northward on very strong southerly winds not more than 1/2 mile ahead of us. I noticed what appeared to be thin filament of condensation immediately NE of us collocated with an apparent circulation in the rain curtains. At first, I thought it was a small tornado, but I brushed it off as a small, localized "thickening" of the rain curtains. However, a minute later, Howie wondered aloud if what he saw (which was the same thing I saw) was indeed a tornado. I'm a little more confident that it may have indeed been a tornado on the leading edge of the line and localized bow echo after hearing the Howie saw and thought the same thing.
One more thing... Sometime during this chase, my car keys fell out of my pocket. It was not fun getting back to the NWC at 11 pm (or sometime near there) to find that I did not have any keys with which to start my car. Oy. Thanks to Dan Dawson for driving me home!!!!
