Chase Log: May 09th, 2003

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: 200 miles
Target Area: El Reno to Guthrie, OK
Chase Area: Near or in Oklahoma City, OK
Maximum SPC Risk category: Moderate
Watches: Tornado Watches 320, 321, 327, and 330
Mesoscale Discussions (MCDs): 875, 879, 885, 888, 889, 891, 894, 895, 896, and 898

Potential so-so day as weaker flow aloft was expected to keep tornado potential to a little more limited level than what was seen in days past. Because my parents were in town, in addition to the less impressive situation than in previous days, I did not want to stray too far from OUN. By mid-afternoon, a tornado watch was posted and we (myself, Kim, Paul, and Jen) left OUN. At the time, there were cells soon-to-be tornado-warned just north of OKC and other cells down in southwestern Oklahoma. Dewpoints were much less that far west, so we decided to start heading in the general direction of the storms firing north of OKC. As we got into OKC, we noticed more cells firing to the west of us. So, we vectored west to intercept. A tornado warning was posted for the cell west southwest of Yukon. As we drove west on I-40 past Yukon, we got reports of baseball-sized hail heading towards Yukon. We turned south to get out of the way and try to get into position to see rotation. As the storm passed, we did noticed a wall cloud northwest of our position. We hauled northward to get closer. As we did so, it was becoming apparent that the wall cloud was becoming disconnected with the main updraft and was disappating rapidly. So, we meandered around a while trying to determine if it was worth trying to catch the tornado-warned cells near Perry/Orlando, OK. Because of the distance from there, the fact that the sun was setting, and the fact that I didn't want to stray too far from school, we decided to drop the chase and go to IHOP.

On the way to IHOP, we passed the tornado damage in Moore from the F3 that came through the previous night. We got off I-35 and were able to effectively get past the various police checkpoints. We snapped some pictures and video and Paul talked to some local police officers. At this time, I happened to overhear the radio from the police, and the word 'tornado' caught my attention. I turned on my radio and heard that a tornadic supercell was located west of Union City and heading towards the OKC metro area. We hauled westward to get closer to the cell. After some repositioning (we started going north but were afraid we were getting too close), I had to stop at a gas station off of I-44. It was here that the first reports of a tornado came across. We hauled northward on I-44 and soon became one in a herd of storm chasers.

To make this story short, we saw numerous power flashes and got a glimpse of the tornado once near I-44 and Northwest Expressway. By the time we approached I-35, we got caught up in wraparound precip on the backside of the hook and experienced strong RFD winds. Heading reports of a second tornado west and southwest of our position, we decided it was becoming quite unsafe and we dropped the chase by heading south on I-35.

I would just like to say how impressed I was with OUN's Weather Radio coverage. They provided live, wall-to-wall coverage throughout the duration of the event. In addition, the Skywarn/Spotter network is incredibly vital. It was this information that allowed us to feel slightly more safe when we felt most threatened (I-35 / I-44 exchange).

One last thing -- this was the most impressive supercell I have ever witnessed on radar. All I can say is WOW.
Click here for information on the May 9th, OKC tornado from the OUN NWS (including radar, damage pics, track, etc).