April 9th, 2004

SPC Risk: SLIGHT - VERIFICATION
Chasers: Dean S, Reed T, Harold P
Area Covered: SW OK and I40 corridor to OKC
Miles Logged: 223.3
Largest Hail:
Tornadoes:


Synopsis/Chase:
VERY complex setup today! Caveats included where the warm front would tighten and how far it'd move north, where outflow boundaries from predawn MCS activity would lie, how much instability could develop given modest upper 50 dewpoints, and where best low and deep layer shear would reside juxtaposed with best instability. Too many negative factors ensued as wind fields were not particularly strong. Dryline was diffuse at best over western OK with a large area of veered SWerly's SSE of NW OK surface low. Locally backed flow very near surface low combined with 1500 cape by mid afternoon for good potential provided storms could form in that tiny area, but none did. Almost all storms formed along the retreating warm front through mid afternoon, all of which were slightly elevated just north of warm front. A few larger severe storms developed over SE OK with one potential tornado producer, but remains to be seen.

We left for Lawton late morning, arrived by early afternoon to a growing cu field, but nothing impressive. Storms formed well to our north, thus we spent the next few hours jetting north to I40 as anvils teased us in the distant north and northeast sky. Stopped for data, threw a football around, then headed back home. So much for chase #3. Lots of chase season left! Bring it on!

data stop near Lawton

Harold's football skills

Reed's football skills

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