March 12th, 2006

SPC Risk: HIGH - VERIFICATION
Chasers: (Dean S, Stardust W, Ken C)
Target: Sapulpa, OK
Miles Logged: 242.6
Largest Hail: N/A
Tornadoes: N/A


Synopsis/Chase:
Was stirred out of bed by Ken's frantic doorbell and knock attack at about 1:30pm which actually stirred Star before it stirred me, but same difference. All I heard was "PDS!...Ken's here!", so in a sleepy daze I notice Cleveland County included in a newly issued PDS Tornado Watch for parts of Central OK northeastward into far SW Missouri and far NW Arkansas. I suspected the dryline would be further west than forecast by early afternoon and I was right! So, after mad scramble to gather equipment and look over data we (Star, myself, and Ken) ran out the door and headed towards Tulsa, OK via I44 turnpike. Brian McKibben nowcasted, meanwhile Reed and Joel confronted baseball size hail in a separate chase effort in SW Missouri, though I won't speak of what happened to their windshield only to say...its not what it used to be.

We decided to setup shop in Sapulpa, OK and observe an expansive cumulus field ahead of the dryline to our west. Incoming data from various sources indicated extreme shear, CAPE and a weakening CAP with strongly worded threats of soon-to-develop severe tornadic supercells. The wait began and lasted several hours as we watched cumulus towers to our west cycle up and down with no clear storm initiation. Sunset was near and our hopes low, so we prepared to depart. Meantime a large storm-like tower finally developed to our north along the dryline in a linear fashion while a separate cell quickly developed to our W. As we fired SW towards home on I44 we noticed a 3rd cell to our SW. We pulled off to observe both the nothern and southern cells in their pre-mature stages. Amazing organization ensued with flickers of lightning, though losing light fast we decided to call it off and head for home knowning darn well the last images of our newly formed shadow shrouded southern supercell friend would likely go on to become a monster tornadic supercell given environmental conditions. Ohhhhh were we right! We examined radar once we got home and found a monster hook echo and several reports of a large violent tornado confirmed and doing damage. A missed opportunity simply due to sunset, but a semi-successful chase as we found the correct storm, just at the most inconvenient of times. Radar images below show the massive hook on our southern supercell buddy that went on to travel thru south central Missouri and is still going as I type.

Kum n Go and Ken!	Tulsa News finds interest	nothern dryline evening towers
turkey tower sunset	Star and Ken	southern tornadic supercell early stages

southern supercell organizes

amazing hook (1)

amazing hook (2)

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