I headed out of Wichita Falls Texas about 11am heading towards my initial target area from the previous day of Sherman Texas. I was tempted to head towards Central Oklahoma and hang out in OKC (which I should have done) but I wanted to show a little discipline and keep to my original target. It didnt look too bad either but the slower than anticipated movement of the dryline would actually be my undoing. I was a little glad the dryline had slowed actually because I was afraid any storms that formed would race NE at up to 40.
I heard over the scanner that A tornado watch had been issued until 7pm but was a bit perplexed that the entire watch was North of the Red River. I figured things would just be expected to fire a little later (perhaps mid-afteroon) and stopped in Sherman my target area and was able to obtain some net access and also using my XM WX WORX was able to see a small storm develope just E of DFW. I was about to head toward Denison and then into Okie land but this new storm was much closer than anything else so I figured the show was about to begin.
I caught this small cell just South of Whitewright and took alot of timelapse of the cell build then die and build then die and also watched as marble size hail pelted me for about 5 minutes then turn to more slush than hail. Just as the cell was to my East about a mile It seemed to gain alot of strength with an overshooting top and somewhat corkscrewing updraft but yet again soon weakened. I also watched as a few new cells developed to my SW towards Rockwall. I decided this little cell wasnt ging to do anything so I headed towards Greenville as the cell near Rockwall was getting stronger and headed that way. Each cell exchanged intensity and the Greenville cell even began to form a bit of a wallcloud but soon once again weakened. The time lapse of these storms was incredible and I was in awe at the motion of the clouds.
knowing i had to be back to Wichita Falls for some sleep for class at 7am I headed back home about 6pm. To a little of my disapointment I later learned the original cell I had been on eventually did form a tornado Just South of Paris Texas at about 6:49pm or so. I probably should have stayed on the cell till total darkness but oh well. Better luck next time. It was jsut good to get back to chasing once againand be able to get away for a day just going where the storms lead me.
Ill try to have some pics up at
http://www.texhomastormchasers.com in a couple weeks as the whole website needs a major makeover.
Congrats to those who saw the naders today and glad to ehar everyone stayed safe.
Hopefully another chase day is not too far on the Horizon?
thanks to Jeff Papak & Kenneth McCallister for nowcasting even tho my cell phone crapped out and I need to get a new one.
Total chase miles 457.7
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