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STORM CHASE SUMMARY FOR JEFF & TJ SMITH

OCTOBER 17, 2007

MILES DRIVEN=300

TIME IN VEHICLE=APPROX. 10 HOURS

TORNADOES SEEN=0

SIGNIGICANT SEVERE WEATHER SEEN=HIGH WIND (60-80MPH), HAIL (PENNY TO NICKEL SIZE), FLOODING (CLAREMORE), SEVERAL POWER LINE FLASHES (OWASSO AREA)

DAMAGE OBSERVED=TREES DOWN, 3 SEMI TRUCKS BLOWN OFF HWY 69 SOUTH OF CHOUTEAU (AT LEAST 1 INJURED),

SUMMARY:

   T.J. and Jeff Smith began our journey in Claremore around 2:30pm. We decided to head towards Inola to intercept an elevated squall line that was in Tulsa producing severe wind gusts at the time. We arrived at the Doppler radar site just west of Inola and observed 50-60mph wind gusts. We then decided to head west to intercept a broken line of supercells firing off the dry line in central Oklahoma. We raced through Tulsa, where the skies cleared & I observed an interesting OFB that curved around Tulsa, from the northeast to just west of downtown curving off to the southeast probably around Broken Arrow. I suppose it was this boundary that possibly could have enhanced the storm that later brought down the tent at Oktoberfest.

  We headed west on 412, we decided to go towards Pawnee. Quickly realizing that the storm was really cruising, we headed north on Hwy 99 towards Hominy. We drove 2 miles north of Hominy and observed 60mph gusts, power lines swaying, and a beautiful gust front. Realizing this storm had virtually zero potential of dropping a tornado, we headed east on Hwy 20 towards Skiatook. This was the storm that went tornado warned in Washington CountyL….

 We arrived in Skiatook (finally had internet again) and took a quick look at radar. We drove north to Bartlesville & watched the storm awhile & decided it was too linear in nature & there were new sups just southwest of Tulsa in the juice. South we go, towards Tulsa. We made a quick decision to scoot towards Owasso on 116^th St North because the storm we had an eye on was in Tulsa at the time & we wanted to get ahead of it to intercept. As we roll through Owasso, we got into the core of the strengthening storm. We observed multiple power flashes in Owasso (apparently due to very strong winds-not a tornado).

 At about 56^th St North, we saw cars diving to the shoulder & we knew what that meant--hail! We pulled off for a moment, being pounded by pennies & nickels driven by 60mph gusts, but then decided to continue south to 46^th St North and go east towards Verdigris. That way we could get out in front of the storm. We drove through torrential rains, water flowing across the roadway causing us to hydroplane just a bit, and very high winds. I highly suggest not core-punching, especially after dark, but I thought that my home town of Verdigris might be in danger and wanted to get there just in case….

   The storm raced off to the NE, and we saw another sup coming up out of Okmulgee County. We decided to go to Pryor and wait for that one after shooting a bit of video of flooded streets in Claremore. Man, were these babies flying! We arrived in Pryor just behind the storm and started hearing damage reports south of Pryor. We drove south towards Chouteau listening to damage reports come in over the ham radio. When we arrived in Chouteau it was pitch black-not a light on anywhere. We had experienced winds around 60-70 mph between Pryor and Chouteau so we weren’t surprised to hear reports of semi trucks blown off of highway 69 south if Chouteau. We drove south on 69 and saw the three trucks that were blown off the highway, two of them on were their side, apparently injuring at least one driver. This area had to have experienced 80-90 mph straight line winds over a swath of about 5 miles, judging from the trucks blown over and several large trees that were blocking part of the highway. This area was approximately 7-10 miles north of Wagoner. At this time, we met up with my brother Dave, who was heading home from Wagoner. He reported 60-70mph winds in Wagoner and very heavy rain.

   Well this was the end of our chase. All in all, I would call it a successful chase and here’s why; today could have been a day that would be remembered like May 3, 1999, or April 24,1993, or an April 1974 Super Outbreak in terms of strong and long-lived tornadoes but it wasn’t. I know there was significant damage, and folks were injured, but it could have been much worse. Why it wasn’t as bad as forecasters had thought, I do not know, I suppose this day will be analyzed by many, but my thoughts are that God was looking out for us.    

Thank you

Jeff Smith

KJRH storm spotter

Stormrider1970@sbcglobal.net

NICE recap.

I love reading the stories of fellow chasers.

I honestly feel we didn't have enough moisture, and was surprised by the MDT risk being posted on SPC.

When I read that there was too much uncertainty to post a HIGH risk that day, then I knew that it may be a wind/hail event or a total bust.

In Sapulpa, I stayed home and observed pea sized hail, gusts to 40 mph, and an amazing downpour.

We also had some wind damage on my block, with split trees, that I sent in to the station via camera phone because the lightning was bad enough it took out my cable, which means my phone and internet went out, too, being I use Cox...so I couldn't use my digital camera for better photos.

Kristi