05-20-2001 - E OK struggle!

This image was taken around 23z from just east of Springer, OK, looking NE at the nearest cell 'up the line', This multi-cell was quite attractive to watch through its various and repeated pulses (it never took on any clearly evident supercellular characteristics). I also enjoyed watching the lone Longhorn (very small in this image) in the field between me and the cell - this was a very nice little respite after the long drive to the Southern Plains - a nice quiet appreciation of the scene at hand (and a contrast to the difficult chase that would soon begin)!

Sunday began in Wichita Falls. Had some time to visit and review data with Dr. Arnold (formerly of MSU) and the students of the Ball State University Chase Team. Left SPS and headed E to Gainesville, Denton, and then to sit in Marietta, OK. Chatted with chaser Ron Granville, and later a Marietta, OK police officer (who saw the highly visible Springer tornado three weeks earlier - to the day). Watched the linear SW-NE cu development to my NW. Moved up to a high vantage point just east of Springer and watched pulse storm move (shown above) to NW until ~23Z hoping for later development over me.

At ~2315z, towers started to go up just west and north of me, but the ones 10 miles N quickly became dominant and took off rapidly ENE (at maybe 30 kts.). Erred and took 53 E and 177 N (should have taken I-35 N!). I was quickly trapped in a detour just S of Sulphur that forced me through the Chickesaw Nat'l Rec. Area at 25 mph on a very windy ascent/decent with no opportunity to turn off and cars in front and behind. While I am ascending the mountain I heard a radar indicated TOR warning for the cell just to my NW at Roff. After that unpleasant experience, I traversed E in the worst territory I have ever chased in, and the bad dirt roads made the catch up/intercept attempt seem impossible.

I did see scud rising up and moments later an impressive, cone shaped - albeit apparently non-rotating - wall cloud about halfway to the apparent ground for about one or two seconds before dropping into a valley. I estimate this feature was N-NE of Tupelo and I would have to guess the approximate time as between 0015 and 0045z as I was focused on driving and trying to figure out road options. Next glimpse (about five minutes later) revealed only a slight lowering. Thanks to the chasers operating very professionally on 146.52, that gave me the road option to Tupelo, OK just after I witnessed the cone shaped wall cloud event.

I later learned that I was speaking to Bill Reid of Tempest Tours (thanks for the guidance Bill!). I had intended to pick up a new "Roads of OK" upon arrival, but was literally attempting to get into chase mode within an hour of crossing the Red River into Texas. More bad roads meant the day was soon over (although I would occasionally catch a glimpse of rock hard convection just to my east). A very tough chase day that produced very little even though I worked *very* hard at keeping/catching up.