Brandon Goforth
Well, you'll see that will be difficult in itself as you have the river south, lake Murray, and Texoma to get around!
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SE Oklahoma Chasing Territory
- Thread starter Brendon Lindsey
- Start date
Well, you'll see that will be difficult in itself as you have the river south, lake Murray, and Texoma to get around!
Jeff Richardson
EF2
Basically this is another "DON'T DO IT!" vote. For the most part, if any storm gets to within 30 miles west of Hwy 75 in OK, I let it go. There are a handful of places in northeastern OK where you can sit and watch something go by, but it's often a one shot deal on gathering photos/video/data. "Little Dixie" as it is called, is strictly off limits in my book. Great for fall foliage views in the autumn, but lousy for chasing. Not even the most ideal setup and dynamics could get me down there. I'm riding this one out on an "armchair" chase...cool drink in one hand and my laptop buzzing away.
Seriously, for safety's sake...stay away from that terrain.
Seriously, for safety's sake...stay away from that terrain.
Steve Bottkol
Well let me add a +4, +5 etc on how bad it is to chase anything in SE OKlahoma. The roads are horrible, tree's, tree's and more tree's. I've have chased this area for the last time, last year, no more period! North/South, East/West roads are very few, seems like you go in circles too get anywhere. Allright I'll get off the soapbox. Just DON'T DO IT!!
Bobby Prentice
Most eastern Oklahoma is marginal to bad chase country due to trees and hills. The Ouchita and Kiamichi Mountains in southeast Oklahoma and the Boston Mountains and Ozarks in far northeast Oklahoma are virtually unchaseable.
However, one good thing about chasing in February is that the deciduous trees have lost their leaves!
This map highlights those areas of eastern Oklahoma which are acceptable chase areas.
However, one good thing about chasing in February is that the deciduous trees have lost their leaves!
This map highlights those areas of eastern Oklahoma which are acceptable chase areas.
Dan Robinson
I guess I'm conditioned to having to chase in terrain like that all my life over here at home. Would I drive more than a couple of hours to do it? No way - but if I lived there, I might as well. I would never say never.
The only thing left on my lifetime 'tornado' wish list is to get one in my home state. It's going to be along an interstate for about 30 seconds at best, but that's gonna be a moment worth dealing with the hills and trees for.
The only thing left on my lifetime 'tornado' wish list is to get one in my home state. It's going to be along an interstate for about 30 seconds at best, but that's gonna be a moment worth dealing with the hills and trees for.
David Schuttler
EF5
It can suck but it's better than sitting at home kicking yourself wondering during an event.
Jason Young
EF2
Well I will say it is hard to chase this area , but it is hard to pass them up when they fire. I have tried the area north of Paris Tx. and north of Bolixi Ms. also and I will never do that agian.
Bryce Stone
EF4
Just agreeing with everyone else. Chased in SE OK several times last year, in spite of knowing how it would turn out. I found that (surprise) I still hate it. If you live close on a high risk day it is undoubtedly tempting, but my suggestion is to resist the temptation.
I was within a couple of miles of two different tornadoes in SE OK last year and couldn't see a damn thing. Very frustrating, quite pointless. Actually, depending upon (and sometimes in spite of) your level of experience and/or technological capability, chasing in parts of SE OK can be downright dangerous.
I was within a couple of miles of two different tornadoes in SE OK last year and couldn't see a damn thing. Very frustrating, quite pointless. Actually, depending upon (and sometimes in spite of) your level of experience and/or technological capability, chasing in parts of SE OK can be downright dangerous.
Joey Ketcham
I disagree. Each time I have chased in eastern Oklahoma was no different than the time before, ended with a lot of frustration and headaches. I would much rather be sitting at home than sitting in between hills surrounded by tree's with reports of a tornado nearby which I cannot see due to the hills and tree's.
No thanks, I'll take my chances here in SE Kansas where I at least have a chance to actually see something if severe storms do fire up.
Shane Adams
After today I'll likely be pissed off, but not as much if I hadn't at least tried. It's the lottery philosophy: go out, maybe...stay home, definitely not.
Besides, I've seen tornadoes in E OK before, so I know it can be done
Besides, I've seen tornadoes in E OK before, so I know it can be done
Brian Emfinger
EF4
Ok so maybe we should put a poll out? How many of us will end up or be in SE OK today???
Count me in on the hypocrisy!
Count me in on the hypocrisy!
Angie Norris
EF5
I guess I'm conditioned to having to chase in terrain like that all my life over here at home. Would I drive more than a couple of hours to do it? No way - but if I lived there, I might as well. I would never say never.
I agree with Dan. If you want a challenging chase, try just about anywhere east of Nashville. Chasing out here is a piece of cake, and the jungle isn't that big a deal. I'd be out today, but my poor car is in the shop for an indefinite stay. Anybody that heads out good luck and keep safe
!!
Tony Laubach
EF5
I find the terrain is more of an excuse for me to justify why I'm not out on days where I would rather be out. I think I've proven to myself that I'll chase anything and anywhere, but in cases like this where I cannot be out, its easy to say "bah, the terrain sucks, I'm glad I'm at home." Not 100% true often enough, but it at least eases some of the pain.
Like Shane, its a lottery for me, knowing I won't score squat if I'm at home, so I'd prefer to take my chances. More times than not, it does end in frustration, but I'll make due. Always have, likely always will.
Like Shane, its a lottery for me, knowing I won't score squat if I'm at home, so I'd prefer to take my chances. More times than not, it does end in frustration, but I'll make due. Always have, likely always will.
Paul Austin
I think a person's position on the issue sometimes boils down to where you're coming from. Would I hop on a plane from JAX (FL) to DFW for a MOD risk day in se OK/ne TX in Feb? Probably not 9 out of 10 times. I can't afford it, for one thing. Would I drive 600 miles for such a setup. Not likely. But for a setup in my backyard? I'll take a frustrating chase over sitting at home watching nice sups explode via radar/sat while coping with SDS (and sulking over how lucky chasers who live in the area are) any day, especially with gas priced where it is now. The terrain in my "backyard" is no better than se OK (the roads are a little better), but that doesn't stop me from chasing every "chaseable" system from c FL to srn GA if I'm not working. A setup like this in Feb?..a gift from my perspective.
But I can see how living in the middle of the action hotspot would tend to make one choosier. Not to say you plainsmen are spoiled or anything, but I know even the most passionate chasers can't afford to chase every day. Other obligations must be met sometime. So I guess I can understand passing up a particular setup due to unfavorable terrain, since there likely will be many other days to choose from. But it's sometimes hard for me to wrap my head around, because if it were me today, and I lived within a few hours drive, I'd likely be heading down to the Red River Valley this afternoon, and certainly not because of the MOD issued. I just happen to like the setup a bit too much to pass on it.
Of course, I can understand a decision to target a climatalogically less favorable area due to terrain or roads. Even I take that into consideration.
Those of you who are out, have fun and be safe. Wish I could join you!
But I can see how living in the middle of the action hotspot would tend to make one choosier. Not to say you plainsmen are spoiled or anything
, but I know even the most passionate chasers can't afford to chase every day. Other obligations must be met sometime. So I guess I can understand passing up a particular setup due to unfavorable terrain, since there likely will be many other days to choose from. But it's sometimes hard for me to wrap my head around, because if it were me today, and I lived within a few hours drive, I'd likely be heading down to the Red River Valley this afternoon, and certainly not because of the MOD issued. I just happen to like the setup a bit too much to pass on it.Of course, I can understand a decision to target a climatalogically less favorable area due to terrain or roads. Even I take that into consideration.
Those of you who are out, have fun and be safe. Wish I could join you!
Joey Ketcham
Not me. I'll take my chances in SE KS than to chase in eastern OK.
