Driving through OK

Right now we are heading though sunny western OK, hoping that storms will initiate on the outflow boundary from yesterday's activity and the dry line. Nothing has started up so far though. If the storms can get started, then they should grow explosively. The land is filled with center-point irrigators and the new greens of spring.

An Exciting Wednesday

Wednesday provided us a long chase, north of Amarillo in the Lake Meredith area. We worked our way north on US 287 and crossed the dam holding Lake Meredith by Sanford. A line of storms set up along a dry line, which also spurred storms in KS and down toward Lubbock. A couple of those storms spawned tornadoes that were reported on the ground, and the storms we chased also received tornado warnings. We did see a small funnel cloud, but it never developed into anything more impressive. The most intense action of the day was located in the triangle between Sanford, Borger and Fitch, TX. The supercells we were looking at were more HP (high precipitation) in character and had a good deal of hail with them as well. Many of the updrafts showed some rotation and the cell moved slowly providing ample time to watch it. The precipitation made photography a bit more challenging. We were able to stay with the storm for almost 6 hours, watching wall clouds, rotation, supercell structure, flanking lines, hail cores, lightning, and even rainbows. As the storms dissipated, we headed back to Amarillo for the night.

Texas Panhandle, short chase

Today we started out in Branson, MO, and headed to Oklahoma City to meet up with Jay and begin our chase. Heading through AK, there was some nice scenery along the US 65 and I-540 corridors. By mid afternoon, we were working our way down I-44 toward Lawton, OK. Soon we were in TX, and while a couple of radar-indicated tornadic storms appeared in northeastern NM, there was no way for us to reach them. A small storm did develop about halfway between Amarillo and Lubbock and we headed for it. Despite a low cloud deck and temperatures in the 50s and low 60s, we worked our way up to the storm's base and got a quick look at it before having to head east.

Another highlight of the day was our dinner at The Big Texan, where if you can eat their 72oz. steak dinner an hour, the meal is free. They even have a special table set up where you get to eat the steak.

We settled down for the night on the west side of Amarillo and expect to be chasing in the same areas or up into southwest KS, tomorrow.

Soggy but not stormy

Today was a long day. To make up for lost time, we drive through the night passing through the impressive tunnels along the PA turnpike, before cutting into MD along I-70 and I-68. We moved through WV in the small hours of the morning, convinced that to save money, the state uses the same backdrops and road alignments time and time again. By sunrise, we were in KY, heading past the Marathon/Speedway refinery (and learning they were the same company). We crossed KY on a long diagonal and did it early enough that there was no chance to eat at a KFC in KY, always a trip sidelight highlight. As KY had recently upped the speed limit to 70, we made good time except around Lexington. We left KY by the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers (see photo) and stopped to take photographs at Fort Defiance Park in IL. The park is an amazing point of U.S. geography, but so poorly maintained and under appreciated that it is appalling. Trash litters the banks of both rivers as they merge and the degraded habitats are not particularly appealing to people or wildlife.

In the afternoon, we hoped to find some storms in southwestern MO, but except for showers that became heavier as we headed toward Springfield, nothing chasible developed. Even the National Weather Service's (NWS) server watch for the area was cancelled. Some storms in TX were more severe, but we were no where near enough to consider trying to observe them.

For the evening, we headed to Branson, MO. Neither of us had been there, so we decided to check out this tourist mecca. The rolling hills and thick forests provide a beautiful backdrop, especially in the early yellow-green of spring. The town is very commercial and filled with chains and franchises of every sort. The place is clean and well organized and is the epitomy of American consumerism.

For Tuesday we will head to TX, where the set up for storms in the panhandle seems good.

Driving west

Well, we are finally out on the road. We left New York on a 95 degree day with record warmth. According to Shawn, this is typical of shifting from a weak La Nina to an El Nino pattern. In addition, these could be among the warmest temperatures on the year, as El Nino patterns tend to lead to cool summers in the northeastern U.S. Our current plan is to drive through the night and work our way through West Virgina and Kentucky before hoping to encounter the severe weather that should set up in Missouri and the surrounding area for Monday afternoon and evening. Ed is quite pleased the Orioles won the ealier in the day. Shawn is not as pleased about the 4-1 deficit the Yankees find themselves in.

What we look for

When most people think of storm chasing, they think "tornado." While tornadoes are a prime target of storm chasing, they are not the only think we look for. On top of that, anyone that knows either or both of us know that we are not exact typical. America provides many incredible sites and curiosities and we try to see and enjoy as much as we can as we travel through the nation's heartland. As for chasing actual storms, it is supercells that are the main target. These well-organized self-sustaining systems are both beautiful and awe inspiring. As a picture is worth a thousand words, here are two from the 2008 storm chase. These Kansas storms raced northwest at 60mph and did spawn some tornadoes later in the day. The photo with the telephone pools shows a funnel cloud just north of Scott, KS.

Welcome to Storm Chase 2009

Shawn and I are constantly asked about what is like chasing and for updates as we go on our storm chasing adventures. To this end for 2009, we have decided to put together this blog as record of our adventures. We will add photos as well. So whether you have known us for years, break bread with us at the Reservoir Inn, or just have a passing interest in storm chasing, we hope you enjoy this site and share your thoughts as well. As befitting this year's chase, as I write this, the first thunderstorm of the year is rolling through the Bashakill.