Rough Terrain & Rain-Wrapped Tornadoes

Published on May 7, 2019

HP storm mode & the Palo Duro Canyon make for a challenging chase in the Texas Panhandle

This was my second chase day out with Alex Goldstein and John Homenuk, and there was tremendous potential for this to be a high-impact tornado event. SPC issued a moderate risk for the entire Panhandle and out target was the area east of Amarillo, near Groom. This was the area that we anticipated would have the best combination of shear, instability and wind profiles. By the early evening hours the 0-1km storm relative helicity was forecast to be greater than 200m² s^-2. In this environment, strong tornadoes would be possible.

Potential for strong tornadoes today in the Texas Panhandle, I think specifically near or south/east of Amarillo. Very impressive instability aligns with favorable bulk shear for storm organization, plus a notable low level jet after 22z. Could be a big one. #txwx pic.twitter.com/05ePJvPLbl

— John Homenuk (@jhomenuk) May 7, 2019

Area near or just to the southwest of Amarillo seems like a good starting point later today based on the latest analysis and short term guidance. Favorable positioning near the bulging dry line and near the best alignment of instability and increasingly notable shear. #txwx pic.twitter.com/ome86JuHfy

— John Homenuk (@jhomenuk) May 7, 2019

Today is shaping up to be one of the more active severe wx days in recent years.

NWS Amarillo

We initially set out toward the town of Canyon on the south side of Amarillo, but popped west en route to intercept a tornado-warned storm near Dimmitt. We stayed with this storm for only a short time before deciding to continue south toward our target and a developing storm to the northeast of Lubbock.

We raced south toward this isolated supercell that was moving northeast toward our target area from Plainview. This storm became tornado warned as we made our approach. We watched a distant tornado – the first of many it would produce – as we moved to get into position. We arrived at Kress just as the storm cycled. As it did it took an unexpected jog to the north, meaning we were out of position for the next tornado it produced to our north near Tulia.

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Thing Get Hairy: Violent Rotation & Roads into Canyons

We chased the storm to the northeast, however conditions made things extremely challenging. The storm was HP and the multiple tornadoes that it produced were heavily-wrapped in rain. In addition, the storm was moving right for the Palo Duro Canyon.

Due to concerns over chaser traffic, flash flooding and the strong rain-wrapped circulation, we decided to abandon the storm to the south and east. As we made our exit, literally dozens of chase vehicles shot past us in the opposite direction, heading north into the storm! We later heard of a dangerous traffic jam in a risky environment, and we felt our decision to evacuate was validated. We positioned ahead of the supercell at Clarendon but the storm still was not making for decent chasing, viewing or photography. In addition, the road options ahead of the storm remained limited. So, we called off the chase after a good but long and hard day!