Channel 2 Storm Chaser Lanny Dean, Dan Lockhoff, and chase friends Jeff and TJ Smith joined me on my first storm chase of 2008. We travelled to western Oklahoma on a "slight" chance severe weather day. We didn't expect many storms to form, but what storms could get going had tornado and large hail potential.
We observed beautiful and classic storm structure of small, supercell thunderstorms. The storm photographed below did produce a tornado that night in Edmond, but due to safety issues I don't chase after dark. Enjoy the pictures below. Thanks, George Flickinger
Our preliminary chase target was between Enid and Woodward in western Oklahoma.
We stopped along Highway 412 at the Gloss/Glass Mountains for the beauty and to check the weather. Dan and I climbed up the small mountain for a view of the world. I measured the wind speed and visually monitored cloud development along the dryline.
In the top picture you can see our chase vehicles including Storm Chaser 2 as seen from atop the small mountain.
After we identified vertical cumulus development to our south we quickly drove that way.
We're located south of Weatherford arriving a severe thunderstorm warned storm. The dark area of rain on the right side under the cloud contains large hail-- driving there is frowned on by my insurance agent.
Here's the same storm up close. A moderately-defined mesocyclone exists; note the horizontal bands.
Tornadoes are smaller circulations which can develop within and under the meso.
This storm later produced a tornado near Edmond after sunset.
Here's Dan. Afterward he set a storm chase record by spending $27 on Dunkin' Donuts in Oklahoma City. His order included 18 donuts filled with some weird looking glaze substance.
His meal and donut tab are below:
The picture below is actually from the next day while chasing locally and reporting live during Channel 2's severe weather coverage.
I picked up this hailstone just east of Coweta along Highway 51 and the Muskogee Turnpike.
The hailstone is about two inches wide