4/13/07 DISC: TX

[Tony Laubach]

Sorry for the late chime in... just got back from my 2100 miles in 4 days and am rejoining normal civilization...

My GPS log was not saved due to a computer reset, thus I would rely on Amos's location data for any distance and time. I was giving an estimate of the tornado based upon what I hda in front of me as I was running GRLevel3 over my GPS and wasn't looking back at GPS til navigating through Seymour (looking for alternative roads out of town due to flooding and traffic).

I gave a rough estimate based upon the last location I knew of as I became more concerned with the weather around me as opposed to what was on my computer. But as Amos stated, we weren't more than a few dozen feet apart during the entire stint, so unless you want to start talking inches, consider his position my position. When the tornado crossed the road, I was behind him; when we stoppde to film it in the field, I went around Amos and was in front of him.

A side note, Amos, I don't know if you recall the blue car that was with us at the time of the tornado. It was a chick with Florida plates. In my video, you see her pass you when you pull off, then slam the breaks and go into reverse when I think she realized why we were stopped.

I think her mother left a note on my blog saying how she was caught in the middle of it. I'm trying to get in touch with her to see if perhaps it was the same chick! LOL

 

[Brian Stertz]

Wondering when/where the NWS OUN will be posting their survey of this tornado. I would think they would be all over this as probably one of the stronger and largest tornadoes in the CWA in the past few years. The video shows some pretty violent rotation so it looked capable of being a damaging tornado (F2-ish).

 

[Bill Tabor]

I've added some video links to my REPORTS post regarding the chase. Hopefully this will give the desk chasers the feeling of being out there, plus give chasers in other parts of the storm an idea of what it looked like further west.
http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?t=11974

 

[Gene Moore]

Yeah, when I was playing around with Delorme and routing at home at one point it created a route from Bomarton over to hwy 183. I'd say with the hail melting and all there was probably a pretty good chance it was flooded. Plus being a secondary road and covered under hail it might have been a bit slow going mostly in 4wd. Also looking at radar and Delorme it appears to be pretty lined up to pass directly into the developing wedge. Gene's a wild man though he may have been able to pull it off. Most likely he's pulled off something similar numerous times before.

Well, I have to respond to my chase partners comments.....

The next time I'll drive, I'll also bring you a blindfold and earplugs (so you won't hear the pitter-patter of the little hailstones).

Just have your camera ready.

Gene Moore

 

[Bill Tabor]

I have finally updated my website for this day. I pretty well did a case study on options for getting to the wedge. Maybe I went overboard, for a tornado I didn't catch, but it's the ones that get away that intrigue you most in my opinion. It's good to try and learn from any mistakes that were made, etc.

http://www.tornadoxtreme.com/Chases_By_Year/2007_Chases/April_13_07/april_13_07.html

 

[Alex Lamers]

Did the Norman office ever publish any findings or an official rating for the Seymour tornado? I couldn't find anything when I was looking and I was curious. Thanks!

AJL

 

[Tony Laubach]

Did the Norman office ever publish any findings or an official rating for the Seymour tornado? I couldn't find anything when I was looking and I was curious. Thanks!

AJL

From what I've been told, OUN did not do a damage survey of the Seymour wedge and are relying on reports from Emergency managers and other sources to get an idea of what went on. Not sure when/if any findings/ratings will be officially published.