May 8th, 2003

SPC Risk: HIGH - VERIFICATION
Chasers: Dean, Brian M, Taylor
Area Covered: North Norman and areas east of OKC
Miles Logged: 164.2
Largest Hail: none
Tornadoes: 0


Synopsis/Chase:
Although we didn't actually see the tornado on this day, we arrived at its damage path only about 10 minutes after it passed. Needless to say, all paramters were in place with CAPES in the 5000-6000 J/KG range and high mid and low level shear. Tornadic supercell formed WSW of Moore, OK around 4:30PM and quickly intensified as it moved into far southern Moore and far northern Norman. Cone tornado developed just west of I35 and moved over the Sooner Rd I240 junction, then onward NE for a ways before dissipating all together.

Extensive damage was done to buildings near I35 and also on the I240/Sooner Rd junction. We traveled north on Sooner Rd and intercepted the damage path, then continued east on I240 to I40 but the parent storm had weakened and visibility was poor, plus I had to pickup a friend arriving at Will Rogers Airport from Australia who got a birdseye view of the massive barber pole updraft of the Moore, OK tornadic supercell, so we called off the chase. Additional severe storms, some tornadic, formed in North Central and Northeast Oklahoma on this day. Pretty damn active!!!

Couple of digital camera pics near Meeker, OK of some flanking line scud on a weakening cell

Videostill's from damage at I240 and Sooner Rd

back to 2003 chase page