May 8
May 8,1998
North Texas Monster Supercell
For the third time this spring, I was
able to chase in the southern plains! Strong mid and upper level winds forced most of the
severe weather action to the east
this spring. Most of the severe weather storm systems energized after passing the
Texas/Oklahoma/Kansas area while parts of the Southeast region reported above
normal to record tornado activity.Today was a typical southern plains situation for
May. The dry line was firmly established from east of Lubbock to west of Abilene
Texas. A developing surface low was located between Lubbock and Childress Tx
while a fairly strong warm front extended from nw of Abilene to n of Dallas. Later
in the day, a strong mid level wave was to approach the area from the w-sw. This
wave would cool the mid-levels substantially and allow for explosive severe storm
development. A strong cap prevailed over much of W.Texas during the afternoon
hours, although a few elevated severe storms formed around Abilene. The Storm
Prediction Center outlooked the N.Texas for a moderate risk of severe storms and
tornadoes. Lifted index values of -10 to -12 and CAPES over 3000 j-kg were fore-
cast over N.Texas by early evening as the wave approached.. The ingredients for
a regional severe weather outbreak were in place. I targeted the area near Jones
Co. Tx as my target area. The warm front - dry line intersection was nearby and the
area was in a favorable thermodynamic and jet stream location for severe storm/
tornado development. The cap would limit the convection for much of the day in
this area as well.As the day progressed, the cap remained strong allowing only
a few brief severe storms to develop late in the afternoon.
This storm chase officially commenced
around 5:30pm near the town of Stamford
Tx. An isolated and large supercell erupted over the Tx Big Country in Stonewall
Co., just one of many favored supercell birthplaces in the state of Texas!! I was by
myself today so this was going to be one of those stressful days! The storm was
25 miles to my nw at this time and was tracking east towards the town of Sagerton
in Haskell Co. Haze (from the thick moisture pooled along and south of the warm
front) reduced visibility to the supercell's location to my northwest. Prominent and
very thick inflow bands arced into the updraft region of the supercell. Blowing dust
(inflow) was also prevalent on the south and east sides of this large supercell. The
structure looked like this storm was LP to Classic in nature but I was unable to get
a good view of the updraft. At 5:50 pm CDT, the days first tornado was reported to
the ne of Sagerton in W.Haskell Co. This was 10-15 miles to my northwest but I
still was unable to see even the base. I planned an easy intercept(or so I thought)
north on U.S. 277 near Haskell. The large supercell was approaching U.S. 277
quickly . Unfortunately, I was soon pounded with golfball sized hail on the south
side of the city of Haskell. The only road option I had available was U.S. 380 but
with one large problem-the highway paralleled the track of the storm. This would
place me within the core in Throckmorton Co.. Radar verified my problem as the
most intense part of the core was (as feared) tracking right down U.S.380!!
With no other road options east, I decided to catch up with the storm by continuing
east on U.S.380. Torrential rain and occasional quarter to golfball sized hail fell
along the way east towards the town of Throckmorton. The heavy rain abruptly
ended, but I had a new and potentially damaging problem. I was now in the main
hail core. Between 6:25 and 6:40 pm, I was bombarded with various sizes and
shapes of hail- some of which I have yet been unable to classify!! Baseball to at
times larger hail pounded the area west of Throckmorton. The hailfall subsided
slightly and now I could make out a large lowering to my southeast. Wrapping rain
curtains and a well developed funnel cloud could now be seen under the wall
cloud.Violent circulation soon separated the rain curtains , and a tornado was on
the ground in open country 3-4 miles sw of Throckmorton at 6:40pm. The viewing of the
tornado was short-lived as rain curtains completely encircled the tornado from my vantage
point on U.S.380. The rain wrapped circulation passed just south of Throckmorton as I
followed it east . Storm structure at this point was becoming
primarily HP, as the updraft region was completely imbedded in rain and hail.
The supercell continued on a due east
course into Young Co., and the circulation
remained rain wrapped. Very large hail continued to fall at times on the north and
northwest sides of the circulation. Radar indicated a very pronounced hook echo
with this storm since shortly after 5pm. I tracked the storm through Young Co. and
watched a rain wrapped , violently rotating wall cloud pass just north of the town
of Graham . A very close call for that town!! The supercell continued east into Jack
Co. and I followed it until I reached Jacksboro. The daylight was fading fast at this
time and I was ready to call it a day. My windshield was now cracked in numerous
locations from the earlier beating near Throckmorton. I decided to head into the
Dallas Metroplex for the night, and as fate would have it, other supercells formed
east of Abilene and headed right into the Metroplex. Tornado warnings were in
effect for Tarrant , Wise, and Denton counties as I checked into the hotel!! What a
day to say the least. Brian Stertz called and said that there was a chance that he
was going to chase in Arkansas tomorrow. I told him that I was not sure that I was
ready to join him but you never know.....
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