![](https://stormbruiser.com/chase/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/230505_4665_San-Saba-1024x682.jpg)
Begin: Abilene, TX
Lunch: MA’S Crossroads Grill/Santa Anna
End: Killeen, TX/318 miles
![](https://stormbruiser.com/chase/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Sfc-map-1024x927.jpg)
Surface plot above, 4 p.m. CDT/the red S marks Marble Falls area with the supercell storm
SPC had slight risks outlined for central Texas and much of western Nebraska this chase day. We were starting in Abilene, and had an easy drive SSE to around San Saba and Llano to watch storms develop. Instability was excellent with CAPE values above 3000. Shear was adequate for supercells but not very good for tornadoes. Temperature was near 100F on the dry line near Llano by mid-afternoon, with dews near 70F east of the dry line.
We found ourselves a little north of Burnet as a supercell took shape to our west. This one was rather robust with good structure (pics 4 to 8 below). The storm base tried somewhat to wrap up, with a shallow lowering or two, but its attempts at making a tornado fell way short.
The storm seemed more content to move south than east. We continued south of Burnet on 281 to the north side of Marble Falls. Here, we found an old stone structure to include in our supercell photos. While here, the storm developed a nice hook echo shape on radar, with a corresponding RFD cut, atomized rain, and big-time lowering with the storm base (pics 9-12 below).
The supercell now looked to be trying hard to tornado! There was rotation in the lowering as it descended upon the north side of Marble Falls. Rain curtains associated with the hook echo raced through our location, and we watched a very active action area pass above us and to our northeast. No tornado was observed, but it was close (pics 13-17 below).
![](https://stormbruiser.com/chase/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/230505_4605-1024x682.jpg)
![](https://stormbruiser.com/chase/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/230505_4607-1024x682.jpg)
![](https://stormbruiser.com/chase/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/230505_4610-1024x682.jpg)
![](https://stormbruiser.com/chase/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/230505_4612_San-Saba-1024x682.jpg)
![](https://stormbruiser.com/chase/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/230505_4618_San-Saba-1024x682.jpg)
![](https://stormbruiser.com/chase/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/230505_4622_San-Saba-1024x682.jpg)
![](https://stormbruiser.com/chase/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/230505_4627_San-Saba-1024x682.jpg)
![](https://stormbruiser.com/chase/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/230505_4635_San-Saba-1024x682.jpg)
![](https://stormbruiser.com/chase/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/230505_4645_San-Saba-1024x682.jpg)
![](https://stormbruiser.com/chase/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/230505_4656_San-Saba-1024x682.jpg)
![](https://stormbruiser.com/chase/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/230505_4659_San-Saba-1024x682.jpg)
![](https://stormbruiser.com/chase/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/230505_4662_San-Saba-1024x682.jpg)
![](https://stormbruiser.com/chase/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/230505_4663_San-Saba-1024x602.jpg)
![](https://stormbruiser.com/chase/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/230505_4665_San-Saba-1024x682.jpg)
![](https://stormbruiser.com/chase/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/230505_4669_San-Saba-1024x682.jpg)
![](https://stormbruiser.com/chase/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/230505_4675_San-Saba-1024x682.jpg)
![](https://stormbruiser.com/chase/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/230505_4681_San-Saba-1024x682.jpg)
![](https://stormbruiser.com/chase/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/230505_9927_San-Saba-1024x682.jpg)
The images below are from the iPhone and are in chronological order. Note how well-formed the hook echo is near Marble Falls. I was surprised at the time that there was no tornado warning with the storm. We didn’t have a good, safe east-to-southeast option right out of Marble Falls to stay close on the backside of the storm. So, we had to head about six miles SSW to 71 to get back into position. By the time this was accomplished, the supercell looked to be sputtering. Apparently no chasers saw a tornado for certain with the storm. The follow-up supercell to the west provided a decent light show for us near Marble Falls prior to heading to Killeen for the night.
![](https://stormbruiser.com/chase/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IMG_1597.jpg)
![](https://stormbruiser.com/chase/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IMG_1599-473x1024.jpg)
![](https://stormbruiser.com/chase/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IMG_1600.jpg)
![](https://stormbruiser.com/chase/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IMG_1602-473x1024.jpg)
![](https://stormbruiser.com/chase/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IMG_1603.jpg)
![](https://stormbruiser.com/chase/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IMG_1604-473x1024.jpg)
![](https://stormbruiser.com/chase/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IMG_1605.jpg)
![](https://stormbruiser.com/chase/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IMG_1607.jpg)
![](https://stormbruiser.com/chase/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IMG_1608-473x1024.jpg)
![](https://stormbruiser.com/chase/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IMG_1609.jpg)
![](https://stormbruiser.com/chase/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IMG_1611.jpg)
![](https://stormbruiser.com/chase/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IMG_1613-473x1024.jpg)
![](https://stormbruiser.com/chase/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IMG_1614.jpg)
![](https://stormbruiser.com/chase/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IMG_1615-473x1024.jpg)
![](https://stormbruiser.com/chase/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IMG_1617.jpg)
![](https://stormbruiser.com/chase/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IMG_1619.jpg)
![](https://stormbruiser.com/chase/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IMG_1620-473x1024.jpg)
![](https://stormbruiser.com/chase/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IMG_1621-473x1024.jpg)
![](https://stormbruiser.com/chase/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IMG_1622-473x1024.jpg)
![](https://stormbruiser.com/chase/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IMG_1623-473x1024.jpg)
![](https://stormbruiser.com/chase/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IMG_1624-473x1024.jpg)
![](https://stormbruiser.com/chase/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IMG_1625-473x1024.jpg)
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.