Start: Shamrock, TX
Lunch: Amarillo/Dyers BBQ
End: Borger, TX
400 miles
SPC Mesoscale Discussion 971 SPC Mesoscale Discussion 973
SPC Mesoscale Discussion 975 SPC Mesoscale Discussion 976
22Z Surface Map
Another chase day, another slight risk on the High Plains, with little or no tornado risk. ..
That has been the story this season, as low-level moisture has been inadequate almost each and every day to provide the conditions necessary for tornadoes. The 22Z surface map shows 30-to-40 degree dew point depressions in the western Panhandles. So, high-based storms and relatively quick transitions to undercut storm bases were expected. That is what we got.
From our Amarillo lunch stop, we headed NNW to Dalhart. Storms were developing in extreme northeastern New Mexico, and plenty of chasers tried their luck with those. I did not like that idea, as dew points were just WAY too low that far west. I held out for development farther east. We killed time at Boise City, and navigated the road construction in town to the museum and the Tin Man.
A nice new updraft materialized not too far to our northeast. That is what we wanted! We headed east and looked up at its west side.
The storm strengthened rather quickly. It started to spin and to move almost due south. We had to scoot around its east side to Texhoma, and then WSW a bit to get south of the base. Yes, the base was high, and cool outflow had already undercut the storm.
The storm forced us southward from U.S. 54, along a decent unpaved road, county road 15 in Sherman County. The storm base and action area lowered a bit now and then and showed some rotation. A dusty gustnado or two would get our hopes up, but the storm was hopelessly undercut.
The storm continued to chase us to the south, towards areas just east of Cactus. Meanwhile, the storms in northeastern NM, to our west, were congealing into a vicious squall line. The squall was taking aim on Cactus and Dumas. I elected to head into Dumas and then east of there to try to stay in front of everything. Large hail appeared likely in Dumas, and we cut east in front of the supercell with just a few minutes to spare. We stopped after several miles and looked back to the west at a green sky and some blurry and partially obscured storm structure. The road network was rather grim, and we had to continue to the east a bit, and then south to Borger. A squally gust front was passing over the town. It was dusk now, and time for food and rest.
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