Tour 1, 2004 Summary
Tour synopsis: 2004 Tour 1 was the diametric counterpart to 2003 Tour 1. This year, the weather pattern was characterized by a pattern quite unfavorable for widespread severe weather. A vigorous upper-level trough and attendant lower tropospheric cold front swept through the plains on Day 1 (April 30), promoting the development of numerous (primarily non-tornadic) supercell thunderstorms over the southern plains. Thereafter, a cold Canadian air mass crashed into the Gulf of Mexico, wiping out the low-level moisture - and all hope for storms - for a week. Even when sufficient moisture did return by Day 9, it was fairly "diluted" and of poor quality. Nonetheless, enough juice was available for scattered supercell thunderstorms to develop over the Midwest on Days 9 and 10 and the group took full advantage.
Chase Days: April 30 - May 9
Group leaders: David Gold and Roger Hill
Fellow Guides: Alister Chapman and Terry Hill
Days on which severe storms were observed: April 30, May 8 and May 9.
Day 1 - April 30: Numerous supercell thunderstorms observed from the Red River near Ryan, Oklahoma southward to Brownwood, TX.
Day 9 - May 8: Supercells and severe convective lines observed over western and central Iowa.
Day 10 - May 9: Severe squall line observed west of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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