Date: May 8, 2015
Time: 1:45 - 5:00 PM CDT
Place: Paducah, Crowell, Vernon, TX
Distance: 368 mi (57 positioning, 145 chasing, 166 to hotel)
Camera: T3i, GoPro3 Silver
Warnings: SVR, TOR
Rating: S5

The Chase

9:23 AM: Wakin up late cause we're already in position - my favorite way to start a chase day!!! Not to mention, SPC put out a Moderate Risk! The main system that was on the California coast yesterday is now centered over Las Vegas, NV. A piece of energy will be rounding the big trough and ejecting out into the southern plains today. Looks like we have great parameters on tap!

11:42 PM: Late breakfast at Jimmy's Egg. Haven't eaten here on a chase since the morning after our dangerous Wichita debacle.

12:05 PM: An old guy next to us asked the waitress what he should order and was incredulous when she suggested the Garbage Breakfast.

12:38 PM: Heading west out of Wichita Falls now. SPC put out a mesoscale discussion about 15 minutes ago right over us. Morning convection is the theme of 2015, and today is no different :/

1:00 PM: We are sitting at this classic creepy intersection called Kathy's Corner - broken down pump jack equipment everywhere. Some elevated supercells are moving north of us into Oklahoma, but I'm betting new cells will fire to our southwest.

1:34 PM: Heading towards Vernon on Hwy 287. It looks like the best parameters are just a little further west. New target: Paducah, TX (we were there exactly two years ago today!)

1:51 PM: New cells popping southwest of Paducah!! We can definitely intercept!

2:10 PM: Gassing up in Crowell to start the chase! Cells are still maturing near Paducah 35 miles to our west. Only problem: I don't like how thick this low cloud base is. Could really hurt visibility.

2:34 PM: Well, I guess this will be our intercept spot. We are currently 13 miles east of Paducah on Hwy 70. Perfect intercept position for a strengthening supercell, except we can't see a thing with these low clouds.

2:40 PM: Edge of a developing hook is just about 5 miles to our west and I still can't see it!!

2:46 PM: Finally the edge of the RFD gust front is coming into view. It's only a couple miles to our west now. I can definitely see some little pockets of differential motion - rotation!!

2:54 PM: Bailing east to stay in front of this storm. I'm really happy about how early we intercepted - learning from earlier chases this year. We should be able to get into position again north of Crowell.

3:11 PM: Just tried to take a shortcut north on a little road west of Crowell, but hit a washed out section from all the flooding earlier this week. Sticking to the highways from here on. The supercell is REALLY wrapping up now on radar.

3:17 PM: Tornado warning!!

3:23 PM: Found our next intercept position north of Crowell on Hwy 6. The low clouds have cleared out better now and I can see some structure. Unfortunately this is becoming a BEAST of an HP storm. I'm not gonna get up in the notch with no east escape.

3:38 PM: Got some footage and a nice panorama of the RFD gust front, but the rain is totally obscuring the tornado area and we are just a little too far south to see it. Dropping a mile south now to stay out of the hook.

3:43 PM: These TX roads are NOT cooperating. Next intercept point from here would be all the way back in Vernon. Eyeing the southwest flank of the HP for possible new development.

3:53 PM: We abandoned the HP cell and opted to head south of Crowell to watch a couple new cells mature. Unfortunately they are interfering with each other PLUS the HP RFD is punching south too. These might get undercut soon.

4:10 PM: One of the young cells took over. It's trying but the structure looks anemic. The original HP cell is barreling into Vernon soon - very worried about the town.

4:15 PM: There's another huge HP cell way to our southwest. We could definitely intercept, but dang I just think it'd be like the last. And I'm already thinking about our drive to get into Kansas for tomorrow.

4:20 PM: Ugh I think I'm calling the chase. Heading back into Crowell and then towards Vernon. I'm gonna keep an eye on this little SW flank cell, but it's not looking good.

4:41 PM: Velocity on the original HP looks like a tornado is very near Vernon now. We are on our way there as well.

5:10 PM: We've arrived at the Vernon Walmart on the west side of town. Power is out but everything seems ok. We saw some probable low-end damage back near Lockett a few minutes ago.

5:25 PM: More probable tornado damage at the 287/283 interchange. Lots of sheet metal and power poles down. Also a semi was flipped on 287. Could have been a lot worse though.

5:44 PM: Heading north now to Woodward for the night. We are ending the chase pretty early, but I kinda need an early night to get ready for tomorrow. So long north Texas. I am so over chasing here!

6:49 PM: This stretch of highway between Granite and Elk City, OK makes me so nostalgic for or first ever storm chase on April 13, 2012. Beautiful skies this evening as the sun lights the storms to our east. Nice end to an otherwise tough day.

8:40 PM: Getting into Woodward now. Staying at the Hampton Inn and walking across the street to Ramiro's Mexican Restaurant for dinner and Dos Equis. Can't beat that.

Recap, Filmmaking Notes, and Lessons Learned