05-26-2001 - Surface analysis shows effect of the some of the previous night's convection. Deeper moisture return in evidence advecting NW up the Concho Valley along with the weak upslope flow at the surface. My initial target was centered on Synder - along the warm front/outflow boundary intersection. This target region offered the best balance between the better moisture and better deep-layer shear profile. Thus my hopes were higher than on the previous day. Many thanks to Brian Curran and staff at MAF for maps and updates!

05-26-2001 - Adjusted target N to Post after observing good cu field to my N and speaking with both Lon Curtis and Brian Curran. By the time I arrived in Post the cu were obscuring long range visibility (I was happy to see somewhat lower CCLs!). Brian Curran mentioned that initiation was occurring NW of LBB and Al Moller mentioned initiation to my N near Floydada (I could see neither). Got into chase mode (multi-tacking skills were back on track) and headed up TX 207 towards Ralls. When I got up on the Caprock (at Cap Rock, TX!) I could see both areas of convective development and assessed that I couldn't catch the storm W of LBB and had to commit to development to the N. The shot to the left of the weak developing cell (with a rather disappointing anvil) was taken just E of Ralls from US 82 (again time will be referenced when I am able to review video). The storm to the west of Lubbock was looking a lot better at this point in time (but was often obscured from view).

05-26-2001 - Headed N on US 82 on FR 28 then E on FR28/193 to extreme NE Crosby County where this image was taken (at the eastern junction of FR28 an FR 193). Looking north at an aesthetically appealing (to me) block' shaped non-rotating updraft. I had the storm to myself for a good seven minutes!

05-26-2001 - Roughly the same location and view as the image above, with precip core that had developed very rapidly! Soon the hordes descended, and included many familiar faces including Senior Meteorologists Matt Crowther and Betsy Abrams from the Weather Channel, my 1995 chase partner John Moore from Phoenix, AZ, and Steve Sponsler from Florida. We and the 40 or so other vehicles hop-scotched generally SE ahead of the weak and not overly organized multicellular convection.

05-26-2001 - Very small updraft on the N side of the multicellular complex that was N to my S/SE. Had some aesthetic appeal at the time with the streaky mamma-esque surrounding it (but looked better in person!)

05-26-2001 - Same as above. Proceeded S to US 380 and headed SE of Clairemont where I stopped to chat with Mike Umshied, Jay Antle and a few other chasers. Kent County Sheriff (young & educated, as opposed to the stereotype that may be conjured in some minds when imagining W TX Sheriffs). We discussed the potential (things were looking a little more supercellular with time) when a gustnado formed a few hundred yards to the NW. A nice tight circulation (backlit and about 30 meters high) formed, along with a dark dust plume. This impressed the Sheriff, and was pretty much the highlight of our day till that point (took us by surprise and I don't think anyone really caught the essence of this as an image, though Mike may have got a digital still, if I recall correctly - I put my dash mounted video camera on standby when I arrived, which of course was pointed right at the area where the gustnado formed - such is chasing)!

05-26-2001 - Stopped on my way back up TX 209, about halfway between Clairemont and Spur to speak with Greg Greg Breneman (who was with chasing earlier in the day with John Moore, Matt Crowther and Betsy Abrams, et al). It slowly became obvious that there was going to be a decent sunset photo op! I believe I captured the peak of color shining on the decaying mammatus and virga with these shots!

05-26-2001 - Same as above. A nice way to end the day and prepare for the 3 hour haul back to Amarillo. Ran to into Josh Wurman and the DOWs at the motel (they didn't have a reservation and had to find other lodgings - the guy driving DOW 2 was from Detroit, so we had a decent Great Lakes weather discussion).