Another Chase Case! #9

[David Wolfson]

I can't believe I didn't recognize this case, but my excuse is I was with a group and didn't do any forecasting. Obviously that was a good thing, because the only tornadic storms I had a good shot at were the early ones that entered the north KC area.

In RL our group also started out west of the action and had to thread and core-punch our way into position. Saw the Girard tornado (with satellite tube) from about ten miles west. Then joined up with the Pierce City/Springfield wedge as it ripped into Monett In RL we were at the junction of US60 and NE37 ast the tornado crossed NE37 just north of the downtown and sometimes within a mile of it between Monett and Aurora.

Upper-air forcing rather than triple-point surface advection and convergence seemed to rule the day. Thanks for setting this up, Marc! These cases are very educational.

 

[Ted Keller]

Thanks Matt,

I have lots of stills too which I simply haven't gotten around to posting on the site. Perhaps tonight?

I think these virtual chases are great, keep them going!

 

[Verne Carlson]

From Stillwater, OK I would have been actively chasing the tail end of the line which did produce in the ne corner of OK. So I'm saying steak dinner on this one!

These are fun - keep 'em going!

 

[Ted Keller]

A few images here:

http://ceaselesswind.com/may4/tornadoes050403_images.html

 

[Bob Hartig]

A few images here:

http://ceaselesswind.com/may4/tornadoes050403_images.html

A couple of the multi-vortex shots remind me of the Xenia, Ohio, tornado--particularly the one with the two skinny "legs."

 

[Ted Keller]

Yes, Xenia was a classic, it does look a bit like that storm. He really snapped the photo at the right time.

 

[Matt Gingery]

Well. . .any ideas for a chase case #10. I wanna keep this rolling so the winter months just fly by.

 

[Jason Branz]

I have a case in mind...just have to take the dates off the maps. Should be posted shortly.

 

[Matt Gingery]

Thats what im talkin about Jason!!! Make it a good one buddy. . .

 

[Dann Cianca]

After initiation right near Topeka, I'm going to follow the storms east and pick the best, closest one. Not too happy about getting into the Kansas City metro area, but not a lot of options at this point.

Steak for me! ... if I didn't get stuck in traffic, but this is fantasy chasing so no problems there!

 

[Brandon Ivey]

A few images here:

http://ceaselesswind.com/may4/tornadoes050403_images.html

Wow, thanks for posting those images. Those are great. That first one almost reminds me of the Hesston, KS tornado, only the tornado is not as wide. Just the slop of the tornado and the way it was shot behind the building it what stands out to me. The Multiple vortex shot is also great!

Thanks again!

 

[Brandon Ivey]

I would also like to give the NWS and local TV mets a BIG pat on the back for issuing warnings on these storms well in advance during this fast moving outbreak. If it wasn't for you guys issuing warnings well ahead of the storms, more lives would have been lost in this mega event. People can replace property, it may be sobering, but that is what we spend hundreds of dollars a month for. Live's cannot be replaced and if it wasn't for thier timely warnings and staying "ahead of the event" I know for certain, more lives would have been lost. All of us chasers love these events, but a western Kansas set up would have been better for May 4, 2003. Once again, I want to say thank you for doing the best you could have done in this situation. Even the radio coverage was top notch on this date! Thanks for saving the lives you did. My friends Matt Hughes and Aaron Thompson had to witness a dead body in the ditch on this date and I know the scars still remain for them. Mother nature can be awesome, but sometimes she just pisses me off!

 

[Andrew Revering]

Well I feel like a real arse. I chased this day, didn't recognize it and ended up way in Nebraska when on the real chase day I was in kansas city with my crew and we saw the F4 cross Kansas Speedway.

I guess that just goes to show you how much I depend on model data.

 

[Leah Robertson]

^ I recognize this image as it was posted on KC's NWS site: Link. I watched the tornado move north of the Kansas Speedway, Cabelas, and near the Woodlands racetrack. It was terribly challenging to keep up with this storm due to it moving through a populated area, the debris on the roadways, and north KC is very hilly with a ton of trees...there was so much insulation which was caked onto everything. May 4th was definitely a very eerie and surreal experience.

Actually, that whole week was just crazy in the severe weather department. I have never seen so many high-risk days issued for any given week like the first week of May in 2003.