Tour 1, 2003 Summary
Tour synopsis: 2003 Tour 1 happened to occur during one of the most active severe weather patterns in recent memory. In multiple corridor outbreaks associated with strong mobile upper-tropospheric storm systems interacting with tropical lower-tropospheric moisture, a record-setting barrage of tornadoes ravaged the plains and adjacent portions of the mid-Mississippi River Valley during the second half of this trip. Despite the onslaught of tornadoes, intercept was not easy! Very fast storm motions (attributable to ludicrously strong mid-tropospheric wind speeds), Mexican smoke/tropical haze (resulting in atrocious visibility - the worst since 1998) and hilly, tree-dotted terrain all made for very difficult intercepts on most of these days. These issues were further compounded by the fact that so many of the tornadoes scored direct hits on towns and farmsteads, leading to road blocks and jittery/erratically driving locals and storm chasers. Nonetheless, our group experienced rousing intercept success, especially on May 4. The joy experienced by the participants was tempered by the sobering reality that so many lost their lives and homes to these storms.
Chase Days: April 30 - May 9
Group leaders: David Gold and Roger Hill
Days on which storms and/or tornadoes were observed: April 30, May 3, May 4, May 5, May 6, May 8, May 9
Day 1 - April 30: Three supercells observed: (1) Classic to HP supercell evolution observed from north of Oregon, Missouri (MO) to Bethany, MO. (2) LP sodacan storm observed at Lathrop, MO and (3) HP supercell to convective line evolution observed near Cameron, MO at and just after sunset. Complete meteorological synopsis, chase summary and pictures are posted here.
Day 4 - May 3: Severe multicell to classic supercell evolution witnessed over Hall County, Texas (TX); left-mover split associated with right-moving classic supercell over Haskell County, TX raced northward, killing our storm just as it was about to enter a tornadic phase! Complete synopsis, summary and pictures to be posted here.
Day 5 - May 4: Three classic tornadic supercells observed: (1) Classic supercell that moved from north of Parsons, KS to Camdenton, MO, producing several strong to occassionally violent tornadoes; we witnessed the early stages of the Girard, KS tornado from the distant west. (2) Classic supercell that produced a significant tornado near Baxter Springs, KS; we witnessed one stovepipe tornado to our distant west over extreme southern Labette County, KS. (3) Classic supercell that produced two weak tornadoes near Miami, OK and then one strong to occasionally very strong tornado that moved from 3 miles WSW of Pierce City, MO to Springfield, MO. We witnessed nearly the entire evolution over a span of 35 minutes. Complete synopsis, summary and pictures to be posted. Digital images of the Pierce City devastation will also be posted.
Day 6 - May 5: One short-lived thunderstorm exhibiting classic supercell structure for about 25 minutes near Walnut Ridge, Arkansas (AR). Summary will be posted here.
Day 7 - May 6: Several outflow-dominant supercell thunderstorms near Nevada, MO, Fort Scott, KS and Lockwood-Greenwood, MO.
Day 9 - May 8: Tough day! Two supercell storms in eastern Kansas; one storm struggled against the shear and ultimately died despite being in an area initially diagnosed as being favorable for tornadic storms; another storm was the tail-end of the storm that produced a large tornado near Osage City, KS. After our original target storm got shredded by the environmental shear we dropped down to intercept this storm, eventually intercepting near Lawrence. I've never seen a storm die a more rapid death. Summary and synopsis to be posted here.
Day 10 - May 9: Crazy day! It culminated with our intercept of a beautiful classic, striated barberpole supercell over northwestern Logan County, OK and then we had a very interesting encounter with the nocturnal Oklahoma City tornado.
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