May 3, 1999 - Storm Chase
Team 1: Marc Foster,
Rob Ferguson, and Putnam Reiter
Target Area: Lawton, Oklahoma
Departure Time: 14:15
Return Time: 21:30
Miles Driven: 300
Left Oklahoma City and headed for Lawton. Decided to stage at KSWO-TV,
until more data could be retrieved. Initial thought was that western
Oklahoma was a good place. Dryline was near Childress and many people were
focusing on this location. All of us failed to key in on the convergence
area near Lawton and Oklahoma City. Storm developed southwest of Lawton
around 16:30. We wrote this one off as a primer, but watched it. Rotation
was reported via RADAR and we decided to follow it. Sat near I-44 and
Highway 49 for about ten minutes watching the storm organize and drop hail.
Measured several hail stones, with the largest being 2.0 inches. Move
north/east on I-44 to Highway 62. Storm produced its first tornado just
north of I-44 on Highway 62, about 8 miles north of Lawton. We sat with
this storm for another 20 minutes, watching it cycle.
Decided to leave storm around 17:15 and go to a storm near Altus.
Followed highway 49 through the Wichita Mountains, which seemingly took
forever. We took highway 54 north towards Cooperton and then turned east on
Highway 19. Storm was very well organized with strong wall cloud rotation
and periodic funnels. Rear-flank downdraft (RFD) came around and was able
to video this process and the anti-cyclonic rotation on the southwest side
of the punch. Followed storm around Highway 19 towards Boone, turned north
just past Boone on a section line road. Storm produced first tornado near
E1380 Road and N2550 Road. Crossed the damage path while heading east on
E1380. Mainly trees and some structural damage. Sat just west of Highway
62, south of Apache Wye for 10-15 minutes watching the tornado. Tornado
eventually dissipated around 19:20, time not accurate.
Turned north on Highway 62 through Apache Wye and then into Anadarko.
Went east out of Anadarko towards Verden and then north on N2760. Several
reports of tornadoes, but no confirmation from this crew. Got near Highway
37, just east of Cogar and had another tornado. This was short lived, maybe
2-3 minutes. RFD came around and choked off the circulation. New
circulation area formed just southeast of the previous one, such that the
area was now south of Highway 37. Tornado formed 3-4 miles northwest of
Minco and lasted about 1-2 minutes. Traveling about 1 mile, just enough to
pass over Highway 37 about quarter mile in front of the crew.
Continued east on Highway 37 to Highway 81, turned north towards Union
City. Storm continued with strong rotation as it moved just north of Union
City. Monitored it for a few minutes as it passed north of Union City and
then went east on Highway 152. Traveled that for a few miles and decided to
turn north on a section line road. Initial travel was fine, with few
problems. Eventually road turned to mud and got stuck. Managed to get out
with 4WD and kept going north. Storm got away from us, due to slow driving
in the mud pit. Finally got to solid ground and decided to head home. Did
not know about the Oklahoma City tornado at that point, though had heard
reports of it.
Our first storm would eventually produce the Oklahoma City F5 tornado.
We sat for several minutes talking about whether we should go back to the
storm. We knew it had a tornado and conditions were favorable. For some
reason none of us wanted to return, this violated several of our "storm
rules." Without regret we left the storm. Time would further enforce that
feeling as we learned just how close to home the tornado hit.
Observations:
Engaged Storm: Yes
1. Lawton, Oklahoma
2. Boone, Oklahoma
Funnel: Yes, storms 1 and 2.
Hail (larger than 0.75 inches): Yes,
1. 2 inch hail measured at I-44 and Highway 49.
Tornado: Yes, storms 1 and 2.
Wall Cloud: Yes, storms 1 and 2.
Wind above 58mph: No
Lessons Learned:
Left Storm One after first tornado dissipated. Headed towards Altus storm,
which would become Storm Two. Group agreed on this decision and still do
after the fact. Storm One did major damage in Oklahoma City and we are not
out for that aspect. Avoid traveling on Oklahoma section line roads. While
this did not cause us to miss anything, it did result in the vehicle
becoming caked with red clay. Have to avoid giving false reports, called in
a tornado about one minute too early. Maybe nit picky, but important for
accurate reports.
Credits:
Thanks to Brad Stanley for data support..
Pictures:
Photos May 3 1999