***2005 Tour 3 Updates***

This group experienced 8 out of 10 possible chase days and, despite a weather pattern that was decidedly less than optimal for tornadoes, managed to witness many impressive supercell storms and other amazing sights. A smattering of images from this eventful trip are slowly being added below.

Vital stats:

Tour leader: David Gold            Tour guides: Dr. Rick Toracinta, Rich Hamel and Brian Barnes

Dates: May 24 - June 2

Tornadoes witnessed: 2

    1. weak multiple-vortex tornado near Amherst, TX on May 31, 2005

    2. weak, brief pencil-shaped "stab down" south of Vona, Colorado on June 2, 2005.

Note: over the next few days, more detailed meteorological synopses will be provided for some of the noteworthy cases.

A potpourri of Tour 3 images

Figures and Pictures:

It took several days but on May 30 we finally got a well-structured supercell storm over southeastern Colorado, north of Kim, Colorado.	Other selected images to be posted here and in the following table cells. Meanwhile, see the links below.

A few notable days from 2005 Tour 3 (images taken and generously provided by tour guide Rich Hamel):

1. May 30, 2005 - north of the Raton Mesa in southeastern Colorado.

    A fairly intense, compact upper-level mobile trough moved across the southern high plains this day, establishing a highly sheared, moderately buoyant environment over the Raton Mesa this day. This was one of those set ups where convective initiation was virtually assured as strengthening moist upslope flow impinged on the sharp topographic ridge comprising the Mesa - a feature that is oriented east-west along the New Mexico - Colorado border and stretches from the Johnson's Mesa east of the Raton pass eastward to north of Kenton, Oklahoma (in the far northwestern OK Panhandle). Expected surface temp/dewpoint combinations of 72-78/55-60F along the south face of the ridge yielded forecast afternoon surface-based CAPE of 2500+ J/KG, while west-southwesterly mid-tropospheric flow within the base of the approaching upper-level trough superposed increasing southeasterly surface winds by late afternoon, yielding very strong deep-layer shear. The strong CAPE/shear combinations resulted in the formation of numerous supercell storms by late afternoon, including a couple of tornadic supercells on both sides of the Mesa. While we weren't fortunate enough to intercept any storm during a tornadic phase, we did see impressive low-level rotation, great structure and intense lightning, making the day more than worthwhile.

2. May 31, 2005 - central to south-central Texas panhandle.

    In the wake of the previous day's departing upper-tropospheric trough, moderate southwesterly flow aloft was established over the southern high plains, including the Texas panhandle. The presence of rich/deep low-level moisture and rapid afternoon heating produced large CAPE which coupled with strong deep-layer shear to produce another supercell environment, this time over the central Texas panhandle. Once again, it was close but no cigar as the storms came close to producing solid tornadoes but only managed one visible (albeit weak) dust-whirl multiple-vortex tornado near Amherst.

3. June 2, 2005 - eastern Colorado.

    This was the 10th and final chase day of Tour 3 and we had a decision to make. After a lengthy and detailed forecast and group briefing in which I developed the forecast from scratch (as I usually do) with most of the group watching and asking questions, we determined that there were two main scenarios: (1) chase the dry line across western/southwestern Kansas, east of which the atmosphere was moist and likely to become very unstable with strong surface-based heating (albeit quite "capped" due to the ever-present elevated mixed layer and associated strong low-mid-tropospheric temperature inversion) or (2) chase the ever-reliable high plains upslope regime over eastern Colorado where rapid late afternoon moistening/destabilization seemed quite likely. A careful analysis of morning soundings (the cornerstone of our daily forecast procedure) revealed that the strong cap evident on the 12Z DDC sounding was going to become a lot stronger, no thanks to the advection of an even warmer lid analyzed on the 12Z AMA sounding, which was upstream of DDC this day. Therefore, there was a real possibility that despite the prognosticated strong low-level convergence along the dry line, the cap would prevail and no storms would be able to take root down there. This left scenario (2): eastern Colorado. The problem was, during the mid-morning the regions east and northeast of the Palmer Divide were experiencing a dry/stable low-level flow from the northeast and it wasn't clear that this area would destabilize sufficiently to support significant severe storm development. Furthermore, chasing deep in eastern Colorado meant a very long all-night drive back to Oklahoma City after the chase was over. We sat in Goodland analyzing data and, by early afternoon, had to admit that the only good chance of severe storms would be eastern Colorado. So we targeted the area just east of Limon, forgoing the first big elevated hailstorm that rolled off the Palmer Divide. At some point, I began having second thoughts about the wisdom of hanging around eastern Colorado on Day 10 and began making tracks for the dry line target closer to our base city. However, I came to my senses, turned the group around and headed toward Limon on Hwy 24. We were in time to witness a pretty spectacular show east of town.