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From Dodge City, we headed south towards the SPC “enhanced slight risk” from I-40 in W OK southward to the Midland and Big Spring area of TX. \u00a0Though the better risk looked to be south of I-40, I was not convinced that we needed to go so far south. \u00a0And, it was nice to see SPC extend the enhanced risk and 5% tornado risk areas northward into NW OK on their 1630Z outlook. \u00a0There was a boundary heading westward towards the dry line in extreme western OK, and that would aid in initiation and perhaps low-level vorticity for increased tornado potential in NW OK later in the afternoon. \u00a0The high-resolution models were helpful as they indicated a decent storm or two in NW OK by evening. \u00a0Shear and instability were more than adequate for strong supercells, and dew points were also very good. \u00a0(High dew points = lower storm bases and much better tornado odds!)<\/p>\n
At lunch time we were near Laverne, which has a very small selection of eateries. \u00a0One place that we were interested in was closed for the day. \u00a0Chris made reservations for us at the Mexican Restaurant —\u00a0Cocina De Lucia. \u00a0We got there and thought about it some. \u00a0It probably was not a good idea to sit a group of 16 people down to eat on what might be a big chase day, and it was probably already after noon. \u00a0And, this was especially the case if we indeed needed to drive another four or five hours south — ugh — hopefully that would not be required today. \u00a0We cancelled the reservations (in person!) and continued south to Shattuck. \u00a0We found some junky fast food there, and continued south another 15-20 miles to Highway 60. \u00a0This was the critical decision point of the day. \u00a0We stopped for several minutes and wondered what other chasers were thinking as they passed by heading south, or north. \u00a0I was not certain whether we should continue south or not, but it looked like, if we did, it would be another 2-3 hours to get into position. \u00a0We were already in good shape if we stuck with the northwest OK target. \u00a0The look of the sky was not helping too much yet. \u00a0Chris was a little nervous about chasing south of I-40 in the eastern TX PH, where there had been flooding problems the previous evening. \u00a0I elected to stick with the NW OK target. \u00a0We were there, and on paper it was looking about as good as the southern play. \u00a0We went back north to Shattuck…and north to Laverne. \u00a0Deja vu! \u00a0Eventually some towers developed…yes!<\/p>\n
From Laverne we headed east and northeast to Buffalo to monitor some new cumulonimbus clouds near the OK\/KS border. \u00a0These moved to the east, and dragged us about 40 miles east to Freedom, OK. \u00a0These looked somewhat promising, and were probably dropping a little hail. \u00a0But, they were sputtering. \u00a0Another storm tower to our south was worth monitoring closely. \u00a0We had a decent view of that one. \u00a0Nothing was strong enough to commit to. \u00a0Finally, a good-sized cell developed back to our southwest, on the dry line, not too far from Woodward. \u00a0Time to move! \u00a0We blasted down 50 from Freedom to Mooreland, which put us due east of the updraft. \u00a0It was looking very healthy. \u00a0It was moving little, so we closed in on it via 50B and 34C, just north of the North Canadian River. \u00a0I was fretting some —- would I have to chase this thing in the dumb trees and hills near the river? \u00a0Would I have to go through the traffic and stop lights of Woodward to stay in position? \u00a0Why can’t this storm be above perfectly flat and treeless terrain? \u00a0We stopped to set up shop for a bit a mile or two northeast of Woodward, and soon the tornado sirens were sounding in Woodward! \u00a0(This was about 7:40 p.m. CDT.) \u00a0 We may as well get closer to the base if it is going to tornado, right? \u00a0We drove the one mile to 34 and north a little. \u00a0A tornado did not appear imminent. \u00a0I did not like that location due to hills and trees, so we went another couple of miles north to a slightly better spot with a decent view of the base to the west. \u00a0I managed a few wide-angle shots of the storm structure, which was getting better and better. \u00a0As the sun dipped towards the horizon beneath the base, a funnel cloud dipped towards the ground from the base! \u00a0Tornado time!<\/p>\n
A photogenic tornado played “pat-a-cake” with the ground for a couple of minutes and then decided to stay down for a good 6 to 8 minutes. \u00a0The sun was setting right behind it! \u00a0The tornado drifted a little to the left, and then the right, and then away from us to the northwest. \u00a0I guess we won’t have to move. \u00a0Towards the end of its lifespan, it became rain-wrapped, ropier and uglier as the nice light faded away. \u00a0The time frame of the tornado was about 8:25 to 8:35 p.m. CDT, and it first touched down approximately five miles NNW of Woodward.<\/p>\n
The storm was not moving much at all, but it seemed to be getting slightly farther away by drifting to the N or NW. \u00a0We went north several miles and stopped to pick up some large hail stones. \u00a0A few of these were about 3 inches in diameter, and one measured in at 3.25 inches. \u00a0 This was about nine miles north of Woodward. \u00a0As it got dark we were treated to a decent lightning display, and another tornado, around 9:30 p.m., was photographed by Chris Gullikson.<\/p>\n
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![\"woodward-chrisg\"](\"http:\/\/stormbruiser.com\/chase\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Woodward-ChrisG-300x115.jpg\")
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It certainly was nice that the target area worked out perfectly on this day, and the short 10-minute drive to Pizza Hut and the motel in Woodward was welcome, too! \u00a0Down in the eastern TX Panhandle, chasers were treated to an impressive tornadic supercell near Turkey and Northfield, but the main show was well “after dark.”<\/p>\n
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![\"160523_2379cr_woodward\"](\"http:\/\/stormbruiser.com\/chase\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/160523_2379cr_Woodward.jpg\")
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