Author: David Drummond

  • 05/24/08 Chase Summary

    I’m sorry I don’t have time to get a pic ready for post. I wasn’t able to get a motel room until 5 a.m. and slept in, and now in northern OK in the middle of a tornado watch, so I need to get out the door. I will update this later when things slow down with a pic…

    Short of it was, saw 2 tornadoes in western KS yesterday. A HUGE massive rotating mass that had rotation to the ground but not condensed all the way. How it never turned into a wedge I will never know. Got a long, stretched out elephant truck on the same storm a bit later.

    Tornado #3 I never actually saw. It was after dark and I was behind the storm east of Greensburg, KS. I was right behind the hook, was pretty sure from the radar velocities there was a tornado in there, but couldn’t see it. Shortly thereafter I crossed a 3/4 mile wide damage path on the highway where a semi was blown way off the road. Another pickup had been blown off the other side of the road and the guys in it hurt. Major large tree damage either side of the road and a trimatic type irrigation system was laying mangled in the road where myself and a couple of other guys hooked it up to their pickup and drug it off the hwy. Power lines all over the place of course.

    Couldn’t find an available room anywhere, ended up dropping into northern OK, where I am at now and finally got a room at 5 a.m. Quick forecast here shortly and out the door…again!

  • 05/23/08 Chase Forecast Update

    Currently fueling up in Dodge City, KS. (Sometime I would like time to do some site seeing around here!) SPC has issued a PDS (Particularly Dangerous Situation) tornado watch a little while ago.

    Conditions across this area are becoming increasingly potent for another major severe weather outbreak, complete with the possibility of long track, violent tornadoes well into the evening hours.  It’s going to be a long day.

    Dryline is still a couple counties west of here. I am going to grab some Arbys and get the hell out of Dodge (always wanted a valid reason to say that!) to the west a little I think.  LIVE ChaseCam should be active within the hour I think. I expect a long, busy day, so this may be the last chase update until the day is done…watch the cam to see what’s going on!