Supercell Stunner in Southwest Oklahoma — Travis Farncombe

Published on May 8, 2019

Pretty structure & awesome lightning exceed the day’s expectations!

Leading up to Wednesday May 8, it looked as though this would be the most significant in a series of severe weather days that week. In fact, everything had been shaping up for this day to be a major outbreak, possibly even a tornado outbreak. However storms from the previous night evolved into a large MCS that swept across Oklahoma during the early morning hours, overturning the atmosphere and robbing the day of its higher-end potential. Nevertheless, we saw an opportunity for instability to rebound in an area around Childress.

Alex, John and I monitored surface obs and kept an eye on vis sat which showed an intersection of boundaries at Shamrock. Indeed, by 5:00 pm storms began to form. We positioned to watch as they pulsed in intensity until eventually the southernmost cell became dominant. For the remainder of the afternoon and evening, we were treated to pretty storm structure, attempts at tornadogenesis, and a breathtaking display of lightning.

Lets play this area today for a very marginal threat of a stronger storm in good chase terrain. Nice boundary intersection and marginal instability. Not much support for tornadoes but could see something go up here. Something tells me no chaser convergence issues today. #okwx pic.twitter.com/kGlNA0St50
— John Homenuk (@jhomenuk) May 8, 2019

Northwest of Mangum 6:15pm #okwx . Marginal pic.twitter.com/aDRKO3EHL6
— Travis Farncombe (@tjfarncombe) May 8, 2019

On a day when storms were anything but certain, a supercell organizes near Vinson OK

RFD surge & a beautiful clear slot as the storm attempts tornadogenesis on the north side of Mangum

pic.twitter.com/0wMc4Sigel
— Travis Farncombe (@tjfarncombe) May 9, 2019

The Wichita Mountains make for a breathtaking backdrop as the sun begins to set on our storm

Inflow ramped up & ping pong ball sized hail was reported not long after the sun set on our storm

Travis Farncombe

I am the founder Highways & Hailstones. I live with my family in Toronto, Ontario - about 2000 miles from Oklahoma City and the heart of Tornado Alley. Every spring and summer, I travel down there, to the American Midwest, to witness the most awe-inspiring weather on the planet.

The first time I chased was ten years ago; I signed up as a guest with a storm chase tour company, and joined that group for a week on the plains. I saw my first tornado on that trip. It was a silhouette on a dark Kansas night, betrayed by strobes of lightning flickering in the distance. While the rest of the tour guides and group scanned the storm to the south, a lingering flash drew my glance to the north, and there, unmistakable, was a backlit cone. It was serendipity. I yelled cone tornado!, and a storm chaser was born.

After chasing for a few years as a guest with Silver Lining Tours, I gradually began to spread my wings and chase on my own, having learned enough from Roger Hill and other veterans to chase safely and responsibly. I became a guide with SLT in 2015. Now, I am a certified spotter and chase locally in Southern Ontario, as well as down in Tornado Alley. I am always meeting new people, always learning, and always humbled by the power of nature.

Pretty structure & awesome lightning exceed the day’s expectations!

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