Chase Log: May 01st, 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.

NO CHASE MAP EXISTS

Total Distance: 165 miles
Target Area: Broadly-defined (C through NE OK)
Chase Area: Guthrie to S of Pawnee, OK
Maximum SPC Risk category: Moderate
Watches:
Mesoscale Discussions (MCDs):

Howie B., Dan D., Robin T., Mike F. and I sat in Guthrie most of the afternoon as a hedge between an KS/OK border target and a central/southcentral OK play. By the time we saw convection go up SE of ICT, we determined that it was probably too late to try to catch up with it (figuring that the storms would be near Coffeyville by the time we got w/in view of it). So, we waited in hopes of initiation as much better low-level moisture (Tds 64-67F) worked northwestward across southern OK towards the OKC metro area. Convective initiation attempts first occurred right on the back side of the cirrus that moved through, and we jetted eastward from Guthrie to play the middle ground between the OKC supercell and the Stillwater supercell. Since the phased array truck takes a little while to setup during deployment, we knew we had to get as far ahead of the storms as possible. There seemed to be some left-splits, however, that played a little havoc on the Stillwater cell and the cell "middle" cell between OKC and SWO. At any rate, we jogged northward a tad since the Stillwater cell was looking very good on radar (larger than the OKC cell), and we quickly came into view of a rotating wall-cloud (this would be ENE of Stillwater). A few small needle funnels developed, and at least one of them touched down.... The condensation made it nearly half way to the ground, connected to a visible tube of dust rising from the surface. The low-level cloud structure was quite impressive at this time, but convection to the SW was creating problems. Shortly after the tornado and funnels, the low-level storm structure fell apart a bit as we found a spot to deploy S of 412 on Hwy 18 (S of Pawnee and E of Glencoe). A rather large wall-cloud spun away to our NNW, and at least one other somewhat organized lowering develop to its WSW (this W lowering had a funnel w/ it at one point). Darkness was setting in, and we let the storm slide away from us.

Overall, it was a pretty good day. I'll take any tornado in Oklahoma these days, so I can't complain too much. Congrats to those who played and won in KS.

For what it's worth, I think everyone should gaze at the 00z OUN sounding, which is quite impressive: 4200 j/kg MLCAPE, 55kts 0-6km shear, an impressively deep moist layer (considering the W winds at 500m AGL earlier today), and a "sickle"-shaped hodograph. Quite impressive!