Photography By Ben Jacobi: 5/19/10 Chase...

Hazardous Weather Outlook (5/19) from Norman, OK. Another "High Risk" for OK.

Another successful chase day! This time we were in northwestern OK. We chased some cells from Watonga to Guthrie. Saw some beautiful structure, a few funnel clouds, and even some storm chasing celebrities. Read the whole report below.

Thanks for the support.

-Ben

SPC Day 1 Convective outlook

SPC Day 1 hail graphic

SPC Day 1 Tornado graphic

SPC Day 1 Wind graphic

5/19/10:

Oklahoma has had it fair share of severe weather this year. Dozens of tornado reports, an incredible hail storm, and flash flooding. They did have a late start to the season, but it sure made up for it. Jason Brock and I chased up in northwestern OK. Our original target was Altus, OK just ahead of the dryline bulge, but we shifted to Fredrick, OK. I left work around 1:00pm and met up with Jason in Iowa Park. We left Iowa Park around 1:20. A cu field was surrounding us and several towers struggled to break the cap. We drove through to Fredrick, OK and decided to move north. Altus was out and now we were targeting Clinton, OK. The satellite showed some towers in Roger Mills co struggling to develop. Our hope was that something was going to form on our way up there. Unfortunately, nothing did. About 30miles south of Clinton the storms finally break the cap and start to explode. The storms started to head to Taloga, OK. By the time we reach Clinton a tornado warning is issued for the storm and a tornado reported a few moments later.

Cells finally fire up in Roger Mills Co.

Right before the tornado warning was issued.

A view from Clinton, OK. The storm looks very healthy with a nice backsheared anvil and a base with visible wall cloud (blocked by the trees).

Tornado Warning and report issued. Time to head NE, Watonga here we come!

Outside of Watonga, OK we start to see an amazing inflow band. (The mountain-like, low clouds in the background). No time to stop and take photos, we've got to get there.

Vortex 2 was out on these storms.

Radar scan before we reach Watonga.

We have an opportunity to stop and take some stills and video. This is the inflow band that was going into the mesocyclone.

Wider view of the inflow.

On our way to Watonga a new meso starts to develop.

Radar scan. Storm is showing a nice inflow notch and hook echo.

Velocity scan reveal a strong couplet, this storm was about to go nuts!

We had to stop to capture this wall cloud/meso structure.

Closer up using my 50mm lens.

A new area of rotation starts to move our way.

Interesting structure, possible funnel cloud there. We decide to move and get closer to the storm.

Radar Scan. Beautiful supercell to our NE.

Close enough for ya? Rapidly rotating wall cloud.

Quick velocity scan. Nice strong rotation.

The wall cloud dies out, but we are still greeted with some nice structure.

These horses didn't seem to be worried.

3 image panoramic with my 10mm lens. Excellent structure on this storm. New meso forming right in front of us.

I walked through a foot of mud to get close enough to these hay bales.

It was worth it! We have to get moving now.

Driving back We spot another possible funnel coming out of one of the lowering.

Radar scan shows a hook echo, but it is occluding itself. Shortly after we pull over to shoot another amazing sight.

White wall cloud and a white funnel! Amazing!

This storm was going crazy! I can't believe it did not produce here.

Radar with nice hook echo.

Velocity scans with a strong couplet.

The RFD (Rear Flank Downdraft) catches up to the storm and blows out the funnel.

And soon after, the wall cloud....

Another radar scan. We've got to keep moving east.

Amazing wall cloud and some scary rotation right above us! Too bad there were some many chasers on this storm. We get stuck in traffic behind a parade of lights, attenas, and tornado bumper stickers.

Our position isn't the best, but we were still able to see some structure.

The couplet is just behind us.

Rotating lowering and another possible funnel.

Traffic is really bad now. This storm is starting to turn HP (high precipitation). These storms are particularly dangerous to chase. Heavy rain block visibility and tornadoes become wrapped in rain making them nearly impossible to see.

Heavy rain! Extremely low visibilities here in addition, we also got some strong wind gusts. There were reports of a rain wrapped tornado at this time.

The TIV brakes for no man! Discovery Channel's: Sean Casey and his Tornado Intercept Vehicle pass us on SR 33.

With the insane traffic and precipitation we decide to get off the main highway and we go south and get out of the way. The storm was moving towards Guthrie, OK it still had a warning, but it started to weaken.