Total Miles Today: 330[ Updated @ 1130 AM ] Morning analysis points us towards the cap rock in the west texas panhandle area . Unlike yesterday we have an obvious boundary but the storms yesterday have eat en up a lot of the available moisture. So much like yesterday but different. There may be something up in OK today as well but the winds are expected to be t oo veared to sustain quality storms, but if they fire it could be great. Too big of a gamble so we are sticking with the cap rock for the sure thing of large st orms. Target: Floydada or Tulia, TX for lunch Note: Cell data service was lost for nearly 12 hours is why these entries are late. If you are a Verizon customer with a data plan don't chase west texas. Cingular was a little better, but it too was spotty. Have a nowcaster if you are out here! [ Updated @ 0230 PM ] Playing softball again to kill time. I'm in Van one working on the wireless desktop sharing so Van 2 can see what the lead forecaster is doing up in Van 1. [ Updated @ 0415 PM ] Dairy Queen for ice cream. Early towers are going up now. Should be soon. [ Updated @ 0537 PM ] Driving through small hail 6 miles south of Ralls, TX. [ Updated @ 0545 PM ] Off the cap rock now heading south to Crosby County, TX near Post. [ Updated @ 0600 PM ] East out of Post [ Updated @ 0615 PM ] Now heading north to intercept the first cell of the day [ Updated @ 0630 PM ] Out of the vans to watch a high based storm that quickly goes outflow dominate. Cows in the pasture off the road are the main attaction. [ Updated @ 0645 PM ] Breaking off for another storm to our south that has intensified based on our now caster information. Cell data service has sucked all day. Paul announces it's Cagle's Steak House for dinner. A chear goes up from the rest of the crew. [ Updated @ 0653 PM ] Storm we are intercepting has gone tornado warned 11 miles SW of Spur, TX. Turns out to be very high based and outflow dominate as well. Suprisingly cold air in the outflow has Paul upset. Afterwards we think the TOR was because the Lubbuck radar couldn't see the lower parts of the storm and thus didn't know the base was that high. Looked impressive on radar, but ground truth wasn't there. [ Updated @ 0725 PM ] Repositioning north as storm has popped up behind and obscured the target storm with precip. [ Updated @ 0735 PM ] Break off again as the storms remain outflow dominate and very high based (4000 feet) We make a quick stop to take some really nice pictures of some saucers and outflow scuds. We pile back in the van and head to Cagel's. Unfortunately it happens to be on the other side of the storm so we push through a washing machine with visibility down to around 15 feet. Probably the scariest part of the trip so far. Finally out the other side and we can look back and see a mean looking dark storm as far as you can see. [ Updated @ 0900 PM ] Paul has called ahead and asked Cagel's to stay open for us. When we arrive they have a table for 19 set and nobody else in the place. Good steak if you like prime rib. They serve prime rib..and only prime rib. Well..you can get a salad..with prime rib. [ Updated @ 1100 PM ] Checked into the Ramada Inn in Lubbock, TX and everyone is heading to the bar. Paul says he expects the same thing as today but better due to the synoptic improvements. |
