Storm Chasing day 5
Today started in Amarillo with storms predicted late afternoon across the Panhandle, and conditions looked pretty god for some serious storm action, there were two possible storm systems to chase one North of Amarillo and one South both likely to fire up in the afternoon. We left Amarillo at 9 heading
south for the town of Clarendon, located between the possible storm systems, the plan was to wait and see how the models developed before we committed to a storm.
A cheery message to start any day!
After a couple of hours in Clarendon we decided to head North of Amarillo for the storm system developing out there which had the potential to develop without interference from surrounding weather systems providing the best possibility of a Tornadic storm. On the way North of Amarillo we made a short stop to check the radar and observe the clouds building over the panhandle, Bendy Dave took the opportunity for a Texas take on Zorbing.
Bendy Dave enjoys a tumble down a Texas highway.
The next stop was a small gas station just outside of Amarillo where we waited again to decide on which storm to set our sights on, whilst waiting there were some text book examples of tower clouds building into the classic Anvil shape that’s the precursor to all supercells.
Tower clouds over Texas
After around 30 minutes the weather changed dramatically with cloud cover increasing quickly and the wind picking up to around 20-30 mph almost instantly, the result was a pretty dramatic dust storm which signalled that it was time for us to leave and chase down our storm.
A large dust storm roles across the plains
Back on the road we closed in on the storm we’d committed to and had some great views across Texas of the developing storm, unfortunately it just didn’t organise into a full supercell and after a few lightning strikes and thunder it had all but dissipated.
Supercells building over Texas
We finished the day at a slightly classier restaurant than last night, where I ate yet more fantastic steak, I think I’ve almost eaten an entire cow on this trip so far.
Saltgrass steakhouse, a very good steak indeed
Its the last day of chasing tomorrow before I’m back on the road to the West Coast, and hopefully they’ll be one last storm before its over. Although I’m looking forward to getting back on the road I’ll be sad to say goodbye to the great people I’ve met on the trip and hope to keep in touch.
Hi Sean,
Still enjoying the blog/geography lessons although I haven’t posted for a couple of days. Enjoyed the visit to the volcano very much and those steaks sound delicious! Have to say that I was amazed to discover that a school in the world epicentre of tornado activity did not have a shelter! Tragic doesn’t even begin to describe it.I then thought back to my summer in Kansas in 1972. There I was in the middle of the tornado belt staying with a nice family in their comfortable two bed-roomed, wooden (like most houses in America away from the city centres) bungalow – I have absolutely no idea what we would have done in the event of a twister.
Well, talking of extreme weather we are having some here in Europe. Yesterday afternoon, as I was lying in my dentist’s chair, she suddenly said “Good grief, it’s snowing” – and it did for a while but in Scotland some roads were closed. The “Tour Of Italy” cycle race had to abandon todays racing due to snow blocked roads. Today we have winter type temps/wind/rain – so strong are the winds that part of my fence has blown down between our garden and Tom next door.
Are you having a look at the news in the UK at all? It is too awful to comment on the events in Woolwich but kudos to those brave women who confronted the nutters straight after the event and to the Met. Police Armed Response who had to take action before they even got out of their car. Today there is dramatic footage of a BA 319 coming into Heathrow with one engine on fire and the cowling missing from the other – very strange! Luckily everyone safe! More news about Richard III’s burial in Leicester – it seems it he still had his hands tied and was buried in a very hasty fashion. The main thing about this story – and I’m amazed the press don’t comment on it – is that he was buried underneath a car park! Nobody seems to find it astounding that we had car parks in the 16th century!
Oh well, take care. Gino sends his love. No news on visiting the second biggest ball of twine in the world I take it?
Best wishes, Andy.