Total Miles Today: 256[ Updated @ 0130AM ] Paul expects much of the same tomorrow but probably better. Based on the morning analysis we shouldn't have to move more than 1 or 2 hours away from Lubbuck to pick up the storms. Looks like we'll be chasing until the weekend which is great for the first trip in 2006. Already beats all of the 2005 so I hear. [ Updated @ 1130AM ] Target: Midland, TX Storms should be better than yesterday but still a lucky shot if we get a tornado. Storms should be more photogenic though. Will be last update until tonight probably as we are heading back into the Verizon dead zone out in the south plains of texas. [ Updated @ 1230PM ] Lunch in Lamesa, TX at Pizza Hut. Paul thinks we crossed a front somewhere in the last 20 miles. [ Updated @ 0200PM ] Break for kickball in Lamesa, TX. We have several hours to wait and we need more surface data to refine the exact location. [ Updated @ 0330PM ] After multiple kickball injuries...yes..kickball...we pack up and head to Dairy Queen. [ Updated @ 0345PM ] Paul has the data he needs. We are off to Big Springs, TX [ Updated @ 0420PM ] We are in Big Springs for another data refresh and analysis. I know Paul and Matt have been talking to our now-casters back at CoD and getting good information. [ Updated @ 0515PM ] More data points us toward Sterling City to our south to push past the early storms starting to fire. [ Updated @ 0520PM ] Van One is showing signs of breakdown. (Note Van 2 was the broken one from earlier in the week) I'm never buying a Dodge! [ Updated @ 0600PM ] In Sterling City and Kent and Paul agree that we can continue on in crippled mode. We can't go above 70mph so no risk taking. We are just waiting for the cap to break. We can see pulses going up but nothing is busting through. [ Updated @ 0715PM ] Heading toward Broome, TX. Paul says these storms are crap but it's the best in the area. [ Updated @ 0740PM ] Paul is pushing us south east to get us south of the big storm forming so we can be in better position. [ Updated @ 0850PM ] Wow...now were chasing. We've jumped out and back in to reposition three times now. Storm is doing really well with great structure! It is just outside Mertzon, TX as we pass through town. [ Updated @ 0900PM ] We can hear hail in the distance pounding Mertzon. Weirdest thing I've ever heard. Sounds like someone is throwing rocks on a tin roof. We can see a light shaft coming up from the ground that we think is reflection of the city lights in the hail shaft. [ Updated @ 0910PM ] 4 inch hail is reported in Mertzon, TX. Paul wants us out of the way so we reposition away from town to watch the lightning show. [ Updated @ 0945PM ] Grapefruit size hail is now being reported in Mertzon, TX. Paul decides to take us back into town to check out the remains of the hail. [ Updated @ 1000PM ] Matt measures 3.9inch by 3.1inch hail stone that was found in the front yard of one of the residents. With nearly an hour of melting we suspect the hail was nearly 4.25 inches or better. Biggest hail any of us have seen..including the veteran chasers. [ Updated @ 1040PM ] In San Angilo at a Fair Field Inn for the night. Very late dinner at Cheddar's and a 0930AM map analysis in the morning. SPC says tomorrow should be even better than today. We've seen practically everything BUT a tornado. Pretty darn good trip for what looked like what could be a 10 day bust just 11 days ago. |
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