June 12, 2005
This delayed account will likely
be missing a number of details. I am sorry but due to various
problems I haven't really been able to update the weather pages in more
than two years. At least I'll try to get some accounts up.
Our spotter team was called out early for storms forming just north or
northwest of the Lubbock metro area. By the time anyone reached
the storms they'd decreased considerably after racing northeast to the
Caprock. I chased them until I found myself on FM 651 southeast
of Floydada. After visiting with another team member I started
slowly drifting back to Lubbock stopping to shot pictures of various
wildflowers, Historical Markers, etc. By the time I was south of
Cone on US 62 a new cell was becoming interesting to the south of
Ralls. I moved south on FM 207, then back east on FM 40 and came
up to the southeast of the intake area on FM 651. The base was
just southwest of Crosbyton and was starting to lower a bit and act
like it wanted to rotate in the tower. I followed along with it
until I hit the canyon east of Crosbyton on US 82. A nice wall
cloud (Image #1) descended as the storm passed over the
edge of the Caprock possible due to the increased orographic
lift.
#1 Wall cloud northeast of Crosbyton as the base reached the
Caprock.
I dropped down into the canyon as rapidly as possible but didn't get
back in time to see any real development before the storm managed to
cross the canyon and the lowering dissipated. I do think it tried
to produce a funnel but I didn't get a decent shot of it. This
seemed to be the pattern for the early parts of the day.
Again I hung around the area as several storms were firing up near the
Caprock. At this point the team member at the NWS left for other
activities. After some time I started watching a decent base
coming east across northern Crosby county along FM 193. I started
moving east to keep ahead of it. As I reached the intersection of
FM 193 and southbound FM 28 I ran into the MIC from the Norman
office. We talked about the developing situation. He was
concerned about the collision of a boundary coming from the northeast
with the storm I'd been observing. After a bit it was decided
that the collision would be directly overhead and we rapidly relocated
east to approximately the Crosby/Dickens county line still on FM
193. We then watched it tighten its rotation then form a funnel
(Image # 2). I missed a shot of the tornado when the debris
cloud appreared as I was on the cell phone to the NWS. I did get
a picture of the well
developed funnel (Image #3) as it moved east southeast.
#2 Funnel developing to the west along FM 193. Pretty
well observed by spotters and chasers.
Including spotters from McAdoo just to the southeast.
#3 Funnel or possible tornado moving to the east southeast.
Others said that a debris cloud was still apparent but I was unable to
see it at the moment. I had just finished reporting the tornado.
Shortly after this, hail up to golfball size arrived and the small
convergence of observers fled to the east along FM 193, which
unfortunately is not particularly straight as it goes to McAdoo.
Most continued east and then south on TX 70 to try to get ahead of the
cell or to move further south to new, stronger developing storms in the
Spur area moving into Kent county. These would produce a few very
large, photogenic tornadoes that did limited damage to agricultural
equipment. Some were well observed by research teams, some of the
DOWs and an approach was made by the TIV (Tornado Intercept Vehicle) as
can be seen on a National Geographic Explorer episode.
I eventually followed this storm to the east, then went south to
Dickens and east on US 82. I saw some new development but missed
a second brief tornado. I did see a weak shear funnel up high on
the side of the tower. The storm lost out on the inflow due to
the stronger storms to the south. Being tired, low on gas, and
out of position I headed west to Lubbock, calling it a day.
Celebrating with a barbecue sandwich from the Ponderosa
restaurant/station in Dickens.
