{"id":26827,"date":"2020-05-07T00:00:15","date_gmt":"2020-05-07T08:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stormbruiser.com\/chase\/?p=26827"},"modified":"2020-09-25T18:14:30","modified_gmt":"2020-09-26T02:14:30","slug":"may-7-2020-meade-county-ks-supercell","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stormbruiser.com\/chase\/2020\/05\/07\/may-7-2020-meade-county-ks-supercell\/","title":{"rendered":"May 7, 2020 Meade County, KS, supercell"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Start: \u00a0Canyon, TX<\/p>\n

Lunch: \u00a0Clarendon, TX\/Shonda’s Snack Shack<\/p>\n

End: \u00a0Woodward, OK<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

SPC Day One\/20Z<\/a><\/p>\n

SPC Mesoscale Discussion 547<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0SPC Mesoscale Discussion <\/a>548<\/a><\/p>\n

SPC Mesoscale Discussion 549<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0SPC Mesoscale Discussion 550<\/a><\/p>\n

SPC Mesoscale Discussion 551<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0SPC Mesoscale Discussion 552<\/a><\/p>\n

SPC Mesoscale Discussion 553<\/a> \u00a0 SPC Mesoscale Discussion 554<\/a><\/p>\n

Storm Reports<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

23Z Surface map<\/p>\n

Big-time springtime shear and abundant instability were teaming up in the southeastern Texas Panhandle this afternoon. \u00a0The chasers all knew where be! \u00a0SPC showed an enhanced slight risk and a not-too-bullish 2 percent tornado risk. \u00a0A 5-percent tornado risk was added for central OK for an anticipated strong line of nighttime storms, but we were not concerned with that. \u00a0Chris and I were hanging out near Clarendon during the mid-afternoon, where some cumulus were bubbling away. \u00a0The models were consistent in advertising a big and beastly supercell to track ESE from near Childress by late afternoon. \u00a0And, right on schedule, a storm developed very close to Hedley and Childress and the spot where we were hanging out with Chris’ drone. \u00a0I looked at models and looked at the very high base of this new storm, and I mulled over SPC’s thoughts on tornado prospects. \u00a0The dew point was only 61F at Childress, and was no better east of there. \u00a0Surface winds were mostly southerly in the path of the projected supercell. \u00a0So while mid-level rotation would be very strong and large hail appeared likely, a relatively high storm base and mediocre low-level turning with height were working against tornado development.<\/p>\n

There was no doubt that we would, or could, enjoy a very nice (and perhaps a very spectacular) supercell chase from about Childress to Quanah and beyond this day. \u00a0But there was another severe weather area to consider. \u00a0Storms were expected up north near the OK\/KS line (approximately N and NW of Woodward) by about sunset, and these would be spreading into northwestern Oklahoma. \u00a0(A little surface circulation was apparent between Liberal and Dodge City.). The instability was not as good compared to our nearby area, but temperature and dew point spreads would be a bit smaller. \u00a0Thus, storm bases would be lower, and perhaps a tornado threat would exist.<\/p>\n

I elected to blast north to the secondary target area. \u00a0I was just not that keen on chasing a high-based storm with every other non-COVID-fearing chaser in the region.<\/p>\n

So, as the nice and big supercell developed in our rear-view mirrors, Chris and I headed north on U.S. 83 into the northeastern Texas Panhandle…towards an area with nary a cloud. \u00a0We crossed all of our fingers that I had not made a bonehead decision.<\/p>\n

We could keep close tabs via radar and social media on the big Texas storm. \u00a0It started dropping large hail from Loco to Lockett and Archer City, as expected. \u00a0It sported a large and prominent wall cloud, with rotation, for a bit in northwest Texas. \u00a0No surprise there, either. \u00a0 I was kind of expecting tornado reports, but they never came. \u00a0The storm was outflowing and undercut at least a little, which was predictable. \u00a0Meanwhile, as we sped northward through the Oklahoma Panhandle, we had a Kansas supercell in our sight! \u00a0Dead ahead!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\t\t