Supercells | 31 May 2023 | Melnesand to Kenna, Texas

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This day held better odds of supercells than the previous couple days and we headed into eastern New Mexico, targeting near Dora where I thought I had identified a boundary for any storms to take advantage of. The chase started out pretty tough, with windblown haze and dust filming the view and storms going up everywhere. A base finally came into view about 15 miles west of Milnesand. A lowering peeked through the haze before getting obscured behind RFD. No tornado reports on that cell, although it was over a mess of sketchy, unpaved roads and probably very few others were in position to have a closer look.

Base of a distant cell 15 miles west of Milnesand. 2230Z
Lowering through the haze to the west of Milnesand. 2256Z

Flooded roads helped keep me in check and not follow garbage into the Texas Panhandle.

Flooded roads near Causey, aiding the decision not to continue chasing things eastward. 2350Z

I wasn’t sure whether anything would manage to stay sustained in the all the backwash to the west, but another smaller, inbound cell did sport some elevated terrace structure. We checked it out for a bit, near an abandoned house, and then looked for some more vantages on an unpaved road that didn’t seem to be completely soaked.

Elevated structure on cell 19 miles west of Pep. 0020Z
Sampling unpaved options for better views. 0032Z
Stopping at the end of the passable unpaved option. 0045Z.

It eventually crossed to our north, casting a bizarre backdrop across a contemporary homestead. We followed it a bit more before it lost any semblance of interesting structure

Elevated structure drifting by a homestead south of Dora. 0057Z

Further southwest in the direction of Roswell, another cell was hanging in there and looking a lot healthier. We headed that way on Highway 70, hoping for a shot before it fell apart. On the drive there, the updraft tower and anvil lightning was spectacular. But Hwy 70 was terrible for pull off options with a clear view over all the mesquite. I kept hunting for a spot as we got closer to the beautiful rotating storm, but didn’t find a decent spot in time to capture any of the awesome clear air bolts. It was really frustrating. It still offered up some decent shots as it thinned out and moved off.

Best structure of the day, interrupted by trees between Kenna and Acme. 0213Z
Finally a spot with a decent horizon, but clear air lightning has stopped arcing out. 0222Z
Cell moving off to the east as it shrivels. 0233Z

After that one, another congealed line moved by to the north with some terraced shelfiness and signed off the chase for the day.

Terraced shelf north of Elida. 0428Z
Headlights from passing cars giving the foreground a bizarre look. 0434Z


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