| CHASE 2003 [ 2003 ] [ 2004 ] [ 2005 ] [2008] |
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| MAY 15 2003 |
We had high hopes for today, as it was considered a ‘high risk’ for the opportunity of severe weather. We headed north from Childress with Cloud 9 tours as we chased with Mike Theiss towards the Amarillo area, and soon began to see a storm developing to our NW, which we decided was our best target area. We soon noticed towers beginning to form as we headed NE along 54 towards STRATFORD.. |
| We arrived at our target area just in time to see a tornado developing to our west and from it’s structure that it was clearly becoming a ‘wedge’. It looked almost stationary which allowed us to leave the vehicles to observe it. Within seconds another tornado was forming along side the wedge tornado. This was an elephant trunk shaped funnel that was only on the ground momentarily before roping out. However it back built and came down again briefly before dissipating completely. However we were able to witness the two tornadoes on the ground at the same time – spectacular!. |  |
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The ‘wedge tornado was now completely formed and the strong winds from our vantage position were so intense that it was difficult to hold a camera steady. |
 | Jim Leonard and Mike wanted to deploy ‘Dillo cam’ and ‘Theiss Device’ in the path of the tornado so we scrambled north to try to intercept it. However it became rain wrapped and the visibility became poor. We began to get struck by large hail as we entered known the ‘bear’s cage’. Jim reported over the radio that his windscreen had been cracked by hail, Mike took some strong hits but we survived, however we decided to abort the attempt and head south. |
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As we met up with Charles Edwards and the rest of Cloud 9 we saw a third tornado to the west of our position, a brief rain wrapped white cone. |
We realized there was development to our south just NE of SUNRAY, We witnessed some great lightning at sunset before another brief rain wrapped tornado came down in front of us that was illuminated by lightning. It was getting late and we were about to finish the chase before a fifth tornado was spotted by Jim just north of STINNET. |  |
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Five tornadoes…what a day! |
