Map showing our chase route (in blue). Most major photo stops (where most of the images below were shot) are shown as little black dots. Click on map to enlarge.

The beast supercell pulls dirt into its updraft  in 30-40 mph inflow. Note the midlevel banding, indicative of a strongly rotating updraft.

This wide-angle shot shows just how strongly the storm is rotating. Taken near Tampico Siding, TX.

Again, this marvelous storm is replete with banding, striations and a marvelous vault, the interface between updraft and rainy/hail-filled downdraft.

Another shot of this storm as seen looking back to the southwest along Hwy 86. Tour vans are visible in foreground.

The "mothership" storm moves towards us at 30 mph, all the while dumping sporadic golfball hail on us.

As dusk approaches, we set up just northeast of the updraft along Ranch 658 south of Estelline, TX. This affords us one of the most spectacular views I've seen of a supercell.

This is what we refer to as an "upside down wedding cake" updraft. It is moving southeast, generally from right to left in this picture. We boogy south and then east on Ranch 2042 towards Childress...

As we head into Childress on Hwy 83, we look back to our southwest at the storm. It reminded me of scenes from "Close Encounters of the Third Kind"!

As we drive east on Hwy 287, we occassionally stop in front of the storm to grab lightning-illuminated video stills of the barrel-shaped updraft.

Near Chillicothe, we look back at the storm and note that it has classic HP (high-precipitation) structure with the low-level mesocyclone on the north side of the updraft. A damaging tornado was reported to be doing damage near Acme at this time (under the pronounced wall cloud).

Another look at the wall cloud. If you click on the picture and look carefully at the enlarged version underneath the wall cloud, you'll see a rainshaft, presumably wrapping cyclonically around the circulation. But no tornado is visible (not to say that one isn't occurring - we cannot see it).