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SE Oklahoma Chasing Territory

Brendon Lindsey

Brendon Lindsey

EF3
Joined
Apr 10, 2008
Messages
206
Location
Enid, Oklahoma
Well if This upcoming Tuesday plays out as the GFS says it might, I wouldnt mind heading down towards Dennison-McAlester(OK) line on HWY 69 Has anyone had an experiences they would like to share with the terrain and roads. Or any storm pictures with the landscape in it, down towards those parts of the state... I have chased down by Ardmore it was do-able. But seeing as this is February and I havent chased in a while i'm willing to a take on a few trees and hills... just not mountains. I usually try not to go east of Stillwater, but with my recent move to Tahlequah,OK from Enid I have to do some adjustments.
 
Brendon Lindsey said:
Well if This upcoming Tuesday plays out as the GFS says it might, I wouldnt mind heading down towards Dennison-McAlester(OK) line on HWY 69 Has anyone had an experiences they would like to share with the terrain and roads. Or any storm pictures with the landscape in it, down towards those parts of the state... I have chased down by Ardmore it was do-able. But seeing as this is February and I havent chased in a while i'm willing to a take on a few trees and hills... just not mountains. I usually try not to go east of Stillwater, but with my recent move to Tahlequah,OK from Enid I have to do some adjustments.
Click to expand...
Most of my chases through there were not fun. Unfortunately I am in there a lot! The most important things to keep in mind is how to get around Lake Eufaula and then north or south of the Arkansas River. Once you get down towards Talihina its gets pretty much impossible to see anything unless you get on one of the mountains. Some of the roads follow the bottom of long east/west valleys. Of course the trees will still be a problem in many areas even in winter and the general ruggedness of the terrain just makes it a lot of fun. Poteau to Wilburton to Antlers north and west is workable. Here is from SE of Talihina last year:

05100807.jpg
 
Look at the photo on my website, http://www.twistertoursusa.com/. That was taken near McAlester, OK (Daisy, to be exact) on May 10, 2008. You see landscape in the photo - that's what everything looks like east of the Indian Nation Turnpike, and south of I-40. I saw two tornadoes that day, and was lucky to get anything in that area. Trees, hills, and a poor road network - bill
 
SE Oklahoma is called the jungle for a reason, just saying. Road networks suck, very tall hills/mountains and tons upon tons of trees. There are some workable areas, but it's really not the greatest place to chase. Basically, the line you just described is marked by "ok" chase territory to the west and the Jack Fort Mountains to the east...once in those mountains you might as well call it quits, very unlikely you'll have much luck.

IMO, this is all for naught since I'm heavily favoring the NAM solution since it nailed this last system in terms of placement and it's doing the same thing with this system :D
 
The road network is terrible down there. Once you get SE of Ada it starts going downhill fast, but other than trees you can still see for the most part until you get east of the turnpike...then you're pretty much screwed and you're better off calling it a day.
 
Chasing in eastern Oklahoma is pointless. I have chased in eastern Oklahoma couple of times and after chasing there the last time on May 10th, 2008 I have vowed to never again chase in eastern Oklahoma. Even if eastern Oklahoma was placed in a high risk, I would rather sit in the comfort of my apartment than to chase in eastern Oklahoma. Between the terrible terrain and horrible road network, it is pointless and the frustration at the end of the day is simply not worth it. Tuesday and into Tuesday night, I would rather stay in extreme NE Oklahoma and SE Kansas and take my chances here than to head anywhere down into eastern Oklahoma.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Joey Ketcham said:
Chasing in eastern Oklahoma is pointless. I have chased in eastern Oklahoma couple of times and after chasing there the last time on May 10th, 2008 I have vowed to never again chase in eastern Oklahoma. Even if eastern Oklahoma was placed in a high risk, I would rather sit in the comfort of my apartment than to chase in eastern Oklahoma. Between the terrible terrain and horrible road network, it is pointless and the frustration at the end of the day is simply not worth it. Tuesday and into Tuesday night, I would rather stay in extreme NE Oklahoma and SE Kansas and take my chances here than to head anywhere down into eastern Oklahoma.
Click to expand...

I agree with what Joey has to say. It is very very frustrating to say the least. I would rather try my luck at a "less appealing" setup in NE OK and SE OK and take my chances close to home, however I am sure I will be suckered into chasing the SE OK at least once this year :)
 
I can also echo everyone's thoughts about how terrible chasing se OK is. My one and only time chasing there we had to get out of our cars and go over to a clear cut logging area to even see the sky!
 
I used to live in Antler's. And that is where I started chasing out of. There was a reason I always went to NW Oklahoma or up to Kansas. There are some good spots west and NW of Hugo, but like everyone else is said genrally not worth it.
 
Well I see. Stinks that I had to make the move to E. Oklahoma. Maybe I could start off in Ardmore Tomorrow. I'd get to chase between I-35 and Indian Turnpike.
 
Joey Ketcham said:
Chasing in eastern Oklahoma is pointless. I have chased in eastern Oklahoma couple of times and after chasing there the last time on May 10th, 2008 I have vowed to never again chase in eastern Oklahoma. Even if eastern Oklahoma was placed in a high risk, I would rather sit in the comfort of my apartment than to chase in eastern Oklahoma. Between the terrible terrain and horrible road network, it is pointless and the frustration at the end of the day is simply not worth it. Tuesday and into Tuesday night, I would rather stay in extreme NE Oklahoma and SE Kansas and take my chances here than to head anywhere down into eastern Oklahoma.
Click to expand...

Agreed apart from near and N of the Tulsa area.
 
Just stepping over the edge of I-35 on the east side is a horrific thing to do. It's absolutely terrible chasing. My advice is for all chasers to just avoid chasing the I-35 corridor to begin with. Not much happens here in OK anymore anyway.
 
My best advice.... DON'T DO IT!!! There is a reason that you don't hear any famous SE OK tornado intercept stories. The last time I chased there (2000), I spent half my time chasing ABOVE the LCL (LOL).
 
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