Bill Tabor
EF5
**2nd Update - Here is a link to some video and some more notes:
Looks like I'm on a roll with this video thing as now I have the 25th uploaded too.
Here's the link:
http://www.tornadoxtreme.com/2005_Chases/A..._05/4-25-05.wmv
A bit long - like 3 minutes, but what the heck you don't have anything better to do right? I mean we're talking storms here. This isn't all that great I just wanted to give everyone an idea what this southern storm near Maypearl looked like. Sadly for some bizarre reason I didn't shoot video or take a picture of the large block wallcloud ~ 3/4 to ground near Maypearl. This video takes place after it dissipated and I am just south of town.
**End 2nd Update
**Update: Here's a link to a couple of pictures of the storm I posted
http://www.tornadoxtreme.com/2005_Chases/A...il_25th_05.html
*** Original Post
Well this is an odd chase, and a somewhat disappointing chase. Disappointing because at first I was concerned there wouldn't be enough moisture and then when there was moisture the storms were not very widespread and didn't last long.
Basically I messed around Austin a little longer than I intended. I had a few errands / tasks I had to do before departure. The night before the 0Z ETA run had me thinking College Station so initially I was in no hurry to shoot north to DFW. However sometime around 12 or 1pm I began checking current obs through the SPC Mesoanalysis page. It became obvious to me long before the MSD or torn watch was issued that the area west of DFW was bubbling and ripe. Still I didn't get out the door until right after the watch was issued so I was later than I wished. I intended earlier to go to Waco and monitor from there.
Anyway I left and literally shot north from Austin all the way north of Waco and Hillsboro with Threatnet running along with Delorme. All the while the storms were growing with severe warnings on each. I knew it probably wouldn't be long. I pondered the road network between I35E and I35W which splits just north of Hillsboro. Initially I thought of going I35W directly to the mouth of the beast and that would be the fastest route; however I knew the storms forward momentum would probably put me a bit behind. I thought of going all the way up I35E all the way to Waxahachie because that was where the storm was headed - but I was afraid it would be a bit stale by then and I wanted to hit it as soon as possible. Instead I chose FM308 to MayPearl because it was a somewhat direct route and would put me closest to the potentially tornadic portion of the storm fastest. Then again roads didn't look that great between Maypearl and back over to Waxahachie and I35E, but they looked good enough to try.
I quickly found out that two bridges were out right at I35 and there were no exits off I35 for FM308. So I went a couple of miles further north and caught another farm road and Gps'd my way back to 308. Along the way 1/4 of the way to MayPearl I got out of the vehicle and took an ob. I could already see the dark core, and the rainfree inflow area trailing in with some lowerings faintly visible. The inflow was very stiff and intense and immediately reminded me of other tornadic days and big storms. That made me ponder what I was dealing with and raised my hopes. I got back in and continued to close the distance to MayPearl. Almost immediately I began to see at first a very large dark block wallcloud shape probably about 3/4 of the way to ground! I started rolling the dashcam but not sure how much I caught of it as the road was continually turning. I got right up next to the meso indicated shear area on threatnet just a couple of miles from MayPearl and watched the lowerings while I was under the base as well. Already the storm was getting a bit ahead of me east. Also unfortunately the storm which looked like it was about to drop a big tornado never did. I saw lots of motion and wallcloud attempts, but it never did it while I was watching. Now there was a very large dark rain core nearby. I wondered if possibly there was a rain wrapped tornado in there... Anyway, I knew I was getting behind. Rather than driving under the meso the whole way to get back in front (it was reporting a TVS the whole time) - I took 308 back the way I came in. I then crossed east of I35 at Italy and on over to Avalon. For awhile it looked pretty good and I thought I would chase it for a long time. The precip area also still looked like it could have a potentially wrapped circulation, but no way to tell from where I was. At Avalon I pulled over to watch. It seemed the storm was becoming less organized. I checked Wxworx and the whole thing had practically disappeared! Now I was really disappointed.
There was a new cell just west of Hillsboro which appeared to be severe warned. I had hopes it was not in the earlier rain cooled air and would be unstable and tornadic. Then the storm near Avalon had a regeneration. For awhile I watched a new pseudo large rectangular shaped black wallcloud which was almost on the ground. It started with a elongated black tube shape that wrapped around and formed the rectangle. I saw a lot of up and down movement but not a lot of side to side rotational movement. There was also another larger more traditional looking wallcloud due northeast of the rectangle shape but it looked more ragged. For a while this rectangle shape showed promise and I watched it as it writhed around hoping it would touch down. It never did. Then it dissipated too. I broke off and shot south and southeast to get in front of the Hillsboro storm which was reporting fairly large hail. I curved around in front of the heaviest part of the core and examined it as I passed through it. Once I was mostly out that other side I stopped and turned around to see that the storm was splitting into two cores and both were weakening. Chase over - nothing intense enough to chase. I headed home.
Interesting side note I see now looking at the SPC Storm Reports that there is a tornado logged for MayPearl in Ellis county. I find this very odd. Certainly it is the cruelest of fates to miss something by only minutes, or to overlook something. However I had been attentive and saw the large wallcloud and noted the intense inflow. I don't think I would have missed a tornado there had there been one. I'd love to see a picture of this tornado if there was one. On the other hand it is possible it was rain wrapped. I didn't go into the deep, dark, rain wrapped core. If I had been in position in the notch - maybe (LOL - I know others have stories about that). 3 options here: 1) It was right before I got there in which case it really wasn't MayPearl because I was there when the tornadic portion was there and have dashcam footage to prove it; 2) It was the dark rain wrapped circulation; 3) or there really was no tornado there - false report. With all the chasers about surely there are enough to figure this out.
Anyway, I saw some cool stuff, and for a few moments thought I was possibly going to see a very large tornado - but then it all fell apart and ended way to quick...oh well.
Looks like I'm on a roll with this video thing as now I have the 25th uploaded too.
Here's the link:
http://www.tornadoxtreme.com/2005_Chases/A..._05/4-25-05.wmv
A bit long - like 3 minutes, but what the heck you don't have anything better to do right? I mean we're talking storms here. This isn't all that great I just wanted to give everyone an idea what this southern storm near Maypearl looked like. Sadly for some bizarre reason I didn't shoot video or take a picture of the large block wallcloud ~ 3/4 to ground near Maypearl. This video takes place after it dissipated and I am just south of town.
**End 2nd Update
**Update: Here's a link to a couple of pictures of the storm I posted
http://www.tornadoxtreme.com/2005_Chases/A...il_25th_05.html
*** Original Post
Well this is an odd chase, and a somewhat disappointing chase. Disappointing because at first I was concerned there wouldn't be enough moisture and then when there was moisture the storms were not very widespread and didn't last long.
Basically I messed around Austin a little longer than I intended. I had a few errands / tasks I had to do before departure. The night before the 0Z ETA run had me thinking College Station so initially I was in no hurry to shoot north to DFW. However sometime around 12 or 1pm I began checking current obs through the SPC Mesoanalysis page. It became obvious to me long before the MSD or torn watch was issued that the area west of DFW was bubbling and ripe. Still I didn't get out the door until right after the watch was issued so I was later than I wished. I intended earlier to go to Waco and monitor from there.
Anyway I left and literally shot north from Austin all the way north of Waco and Hillsboro with Threatnet running along with Delorme. All the while the storms were growing with severe warnings on each. I knew it probably wouldn't be long. I pondered the road network between I35E and I35W which splits just north of Hillsboro. Initially I thought of going I35W directly to the mouth of the beast and that would be the fastest route; however I knew the storms forward momentum would probably put me a bit behind. I thought of going all the way up I35E all the way to Waxahachie because that was where the storm was headed - but I was afraid it would be a bit stale by then and I wanted to hit it as soon as possible. Instead I chose FM308 to MayPearl because it was a somewhat direct route and would put me closest to the potentially tornadic portion of the storm fastest. Then again roads didn't look that great between Maypearl and back over to Waxahachie and I35E, but they looked good enough to try.
I quickly found out that two bridges were out right at I35 and there were no exits off I35 for FM308. So I went a couple of miles further north and caught another farm road and Gps'd my way back to 308. Along the way 1/4 of the way to MayPearl I got out of the vehicle and took an ob. I could already see the dark core, and the rainfree inflow area trailing in with some lowerings faintly visible. The inflow was very stiff and intense and immediately reminded me of other tornadic days and big storms. That made me ponder what I was dealing with and raised my hopes. I got back in and continued to close the distance to MayPearl. Almost immediately I began to see at first a very large dark block wallcloud shape probably about 3/4 of the way to ground! I started rolling the dashcam but not sure how much I caught of it as the road was continually turning. I got right up next to the meso indicated shear area on threatnet just a couple of miles from MayPearl and watched the lowerings while I was under the base as well. Already the storm was getting a bit ahead of me east. Also unfortunately the storm which looked like it was about to drop a big tornado never did. I saw lots of motion and wallcloud attempts, but it never did it while I was watching. Now there was a very large dark rain core nearby. I wondered if possibly there was a rain wrapped tornado in there... Anyway, I knew I was getting behind. Rather than driving under the meso the whole way to get back in front (it was reporting a TVS the whole time) - I took 308 back the way I came in. I then crossed east of I35 at Italy and on over to Avalon. For awhile it looked pretty good and I thought I would chase it for a long time. The precip area also still looked like it could have a potentially wrapped circulation, but no way to tell from where I was. At Avalon I pulled over to watch. It seemed the storm was becoming less organized. I checked Wxworx and the whole thing had practically disappeared! Now I was really disappointed.
There was a new cell just west of Hillsboro which appeared to be severe warned. I had hopes it was not in the earlier rain cooled air and would be unstable and tornadic. Then the storm near Avalon had a regeneration. For awhile I watched a new pseudo large rectangular shaped black wallcloud which was almost on the ground. It started with a elongated black tube shape that wrapped around and formed the rectangle. I saw a lot of up and down movement but not a lot of side to side rotational movement. There was also another larger more traditional looking wallcloud due northeast of the rectangle shape but it looked more ragged. For a while this rectangle shape showed promise and I watched it as it writhed around hoping it would touch down. It never did. Then it dissipated too. I broke off and shot south and southeast to get in front of the Hillsboro storm which was reporting fairly large hail. I curved around in front of the heaviest part of the core and examined it as I passed through it. Once I was mostly out that other side I stopped and turned around to see that the storm was splitting into two cores and both were weakening. Chase over - nothing intense enough to chase. I headed home.
Interesting side note I see now looking at the SPC Storm Reports that there is a tornado logged for MayPearl in Ellis county. I find this very odd. Certainly it is the cruelest of fates to miss something by only minutes, or to overlook something. However I had been attentive and saw the large wallcloud and noted the intense inflow. I don't think I would have missed a tornado there had there been one. I'd love to see a picture of this tornado if there was one. On the other hand it is possible it was rain wrapped. I didn't go into the deep, dark, rain wrapped core. If I had been in position in the notch - maybe (LOL - I know others have stories about that). 3 options here: 1) It was right before I got there in which case it really wasn't MayPearl because I was there when the tornadic portion was there and have dashcam footage to prove it; 2) It was the dark rain wrapped circulation; 3) or there really was no tornado there - false report. With all the chasers about surely there are enough to figure this out.
Anyway, I saw some cool stuff, and for a few moments thought I was possibly going to see a very large tornado - but then it all fell apart and ended way to quick...oh well.
