Mike McMahon
Target:
McLean, TX
Distance:
562.7 miles
Duration:
11 hrs. 18 min.
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Partners: Mike McMahon Target: McLean, TX Distance: 562.7 miles Duration: 11 hrs. 18 min. |
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We departed from Mike's house at 12:45 CDT and drove to McLean, TX to wait. The low-level shear was phenomenal! Strong SE sfc. winds were clearly visible in the waving wheat of nearby fields. Cumulus cloud movement indicated a strong SW wind above the boundary layer. We drove 20 miles to west as the cap broke on three separate storms. I called Kris White to get a radar update. After consulting with Kris, we decided to take the southern storm, even though it was nearly 75 miles to the southwest. The decision paid off!
As we drove, word came in that a tor warning had been issued on the storm. I picked up the pace, and we made 50 miles in about 30 minutes. We could make out the rain-free shaft of the storm over the Caprock. A beautiful wall cloud was visible, even though we were still about 10 miles away from the storm. A tornado formed on the horizon, which was on the ground near Silverton. We watched the first tornado for about 10 minutes and drove toward Silverton over the caprock. As we approached Silverton, we could make out another rain-wrapped tornado about 5 miles north. Pictures of the first two tornados did not come out. The first due to the distance involved, and the second because it was rain- wrapped. The storm decreased in intensity, and moved over an area of the caprock without paved roads. A decision was made to wait on a new storm that had formed to the south.
A tornado formed on the new storm, about 5 miles east of the caprock and 2 miles north of St. Hwy. 256. The NE direction of the road allowed us to follow Hwy.256 for the duration of the event. This made for the easiest navigation of any storm I have ever chased. Ironic since we were so close to the caprock. Our patience was also rewarded with the most photogenic tornado I have ever seen. At times, about half of the tornado was sunlit, which made for incredible color constrasts. The tornado was on the ground for about 20 minutes and came up. The storm then dropped another brief tornado SW of Clarendon, which quickly roped out.
At this point, it began to get dark(it was still March after all) so we made our way home. As we did, we followed another storm toward I-40. We saw another brief touchdown NW of Jericho, and North of I-40. However, it was too dark for pics by this time. One last funnel cloud, which was well over halfway to the ground, was spotted at a rest area on I-40 at MM 130. The evening was not over though, as cops shut down the interstate for yet another tornado, which crossed the highway at McLean (our original target). The absence of sunlight and data kept us from picking up the chase on this storm though.
This was the best personal chase day I have ever had. The tornados were strong, long-lived, photogenic, and traveled over unpopulated areas. In all, we spotted 5 tornados. Two of the tornadoes were large wedge-shaped beasts, and despite chasing around the caprock, the road network did not interfere with our chase at all. I was also supposed to be at work that evening, but cleared it with my boss to come in and work the late shift. I did make it back around midnight, which is when my workday began. Overall, a great chase day. In fact, my favorite thus far.
 Rainbow in the wake of exiting first supercell. Near Silverton, TX. |
 Tornado touchdown. About 10 NE of Silverton, TX. |
 Tornado intensifies NE of Silverton. |
 Broad view of the tornado. |
 Tornado starts to become sunlit. |
 Sunlit tornado intensifies NE of Silverton. |
 Sunlit tornado with red debris cloud. |
Stove-pipe tornado with red debris cloud. |
 Large, wedge tornado NE of Silverton. |
 Tornado begins to decrease in intensity. |
 Tornado ropes out near Red River on Hwy. 256. |
 What's left of the condensation funnel. |