Began in OKC, targeting the boundary near Childress. I didn't have much time to look at data in the A.M., so Vince Miller filled me in on the details via his home dial-up connection. Chase partnerless, Brian Morganti, Bill Reid, and I departed west on I-40 shortly around noon in separate vehicles. Made our way through convection near Shamrock before dropping S on HW83. The most intense shocker of the day was the shift in surface T/Td N and S of the boundary. Brain measured a 20 degree temperature increase (from 72 near Quail to 92 N of Childress). Wow! Brian's Threat net was showing convection going up along the dryline E of Lubbock. Pulled in sporadic wx. radio and data near Childress before deciding to commit southward. TOR warning went up for the Crosby/Dickens Co. region as per reports on AM/FM radio. Thus, we cut south on HW83 as quickly as possible.
Matt Crowther phoned to report a large tornado with the southern Dickens Co. storm, which quickly upped the ante to get south. Somewhere between 5:50-6:00pm CT; Bill, Brian, and I became separated and lost radio contact. I was now reliant on AM/FM radio, poor wx. radio coverage, and visual/gut instinct. Made my way to HW380 and headed towards Jayton. Zigzagged on local roads through town, making my way to the W/NW horizon. A large, low-contrast tornado (from my view) was apparent to my NW, coupled with great structure at 6:38pm CT. Finally tripoded W of Jayton at 6:44pm CT, with the meso just 7 miles to my NW. Frequent CG's made for some concern, but no more so than in typical observing situations. The first tornado observed (for me) was apparent to my NW in rain at 6:47pm CT. It appeared to have a large bowl shape to it, yet quickly lost visual on it a minute later.
At 6:52pm CT; I was focused on the new area of rotation just to my SW, when a large tornado emerged from the rain to my NW. Ping-pong ball size hail started falling; thus I retreated briefly to my hatchback, obtained my orthopedic back pillow, and resumed tripoded video with the pillow now on my head. Must have provided a good laugh for chasers passing by my location (only saw one other chaser at this time). Pity I have no video of myself at this point. The tornado translated into a beautiful elongated elephant-trunk rope lasting from 6:52-6:59pm CT. Shot slides of the entire event, before retreating back east towards Jayton; orthopedic back pillow now removed.
I headed back through Jayton, skirting south of the hail core N of Peacock on FM 2211. Thank you Roads of Texas! Made my way to Aspermont, topped off my tank (the rapid-scan DOW pulled in next to me at this time to do the same), and proceeded S on 83 towards Hamlin. Made my way W on HW92, tripoding again for the wondrous structure before me. Roger Hill parked in my foreground shot, thus my standard Hill-mimicry ensued, hoping it would trigger additional tornadoes. Ran into friends Tony Laubach and Chris Nuttall (whom I last chased with on 29-May-2004), and headed back E for some Allsups. Milked the storm structure, anvil crawlers, and dust plumes along HW83 NW of Anson before Tony and I headed to dinner in Abilene. Nearly missed hitting large chunks of a cow, which was obliterated on HW83 NW of ABL. Yikes! Met up with Jim L, Mike U, Jay A, and Matt C for dinner at the Skillet, ogling over each others tornado video like kids in a candy store. Ran into Al P. there as well, before I departed northward to OUN.
This was a wonderful conclusion to my chase-cation in the Plains. Made it back to Norman around 3am; following nearly hitting a cop and fleeing suspect running directly at me in the dark on I-44 NW of SPS. Now back in Kalamazoo (as per Tuesday at 2am ET). Finally catching up on sleep and summaries. Time to develop the seven rolls of slides!
..Blake..
