Date: April 23, 2015
Time: 4:30 - 6:00 PM CDT
Place: Anson, TX
Distance: 740 mi (555 positioning, 37 chasing, 148 to hotel)
Camera: T3i, GoPro3 Silver
Warnings: none
Rating: S1

The Chase

5:50 PM (Apr 22): We are doing the evening-before drive to Childress, TX for a couple days of chasing. Listening to the audiobook of Quicksilver by Neal Stephenson. This might be Toni's nerd limit.

12:42 AM: Quicksilver just went on an extended discussion of monetary policy and the origin of the term "color of money." Toni is not as excited by the topic at this hour as I am.

11:21 AM: Well it certainly doesn't feel like a storm chase day here in Childress. Heading south to Abilene to get in a (hopefully) better environment.

12:51 PM: These TX state highways are not ideal with a lack of side roads and moderately tall trees. Tough for chasing.

2:26 PM: Thankfully the air in Abilene feels better for storms, but there's still a ton of cloud cover. Eating at the Cotton Patch Cafe for lunch.

3:18 PM: Getting antsy, but sticking with Abilene as a target. We can head in any direction quickly from here. Toni found a good tea place called Tea2Go.

3:40 PM: Tea2Go is really nice, maybe too nice. Getting sleepy while awaiting initiation.

4:07 PM: Blips on radar to the west northwest.

4:26 PM: Blips getting stronger, backtracking north out of Abilene now.

5:02 PM: The storm isn't exactly exploding, but it's hanging in there. Heading west of Anson to get a view.

5:16 PM: We've got a good spot at the corner of FM 2746 and 126 to watch the cell. But man, it looks pitiful on radar. I can see some structure on the horizon, maybe a little inflow tail.

5:25 PM: Poor storm - I think it's north of the boundary and in the cool stable air. Falling apart.

5:30 PM: Well I will say this, there are hardly any radar returns anymore, but there is a fairly coherent structure to this updraft. It's trying so hard.

5:39 PM: Even a little RFD region! I can't believe how much structure there is for so little on radar.

6:03 PM: Well the little updraft is gone - choked by cool air under its base. Sadly nothing else really fired either. I think we're done for the day.

6:15 PM: Heading east to stay just near Dallas for the night. Weatherford here we come.

7:12 PM: Really neat bridge west of Breckenridge, TX - flew the drone a little so the day isn't a total bust. Well yea, it's pretty much a bust.

9:24 PM: Got the Weatherford Hampton Inn. Late dinner at On the Border, but they only had apps. Sorry Toni.

12:15 PM: Heading to bed, we are in great position for storms tomorrow!!

Recap, Filmmaking Notes, and Lessons Learned