May 28, 2021 Let’s Try Eastern New Mexico Again

This entry covers May 27 and May 28. The chase for the 27th was disappointing, as there was an enhanced slight risk and a large 5% tornado area for much of OK and NW TX…

May 27/Start: Hays, KS/lunch: Chases BBQ in Woodward/End: Chickasha, OK/470 miles

From Woodward we continued south and wound up waiting around Altus. A few perky cumulus tried to break through the cap, and failed. Rather late in the afternoon, a storm or two developed a little southwest of Altus and moved ENE. These were absolute junk. Unfortunately, we were dragged all of the way east to Chickasha.

May 28/Start: Chickasha, OK/lunch: Ponderosa BBQ at Dickens, TX/End: Brownfield, TX/628 miles

The Severe Weather Logistics Gods were not kind to us Tour 4 folks once again. As on the first day of the tour, the last chase day of Tour 4 was nowhere near the base of Oklahoma City. Again, we were headed west into New Mexico for the severe storm chance. We lunched at Dickens, where a strong storm passed overhead (first pic below). On the way from the NM/TX border to nearly Roswell, we had our eyes on a big supercell that was northwest of Roswell. It dropped a tornado 9 miles from Arabella, wherever that is (WNW of Roswell). Nearer still, east of Roswell, the storm outflow was kicking up plenty of dust and the supercell was in HP mode. At sunset, another big CB glowed orange to our southeast.