May 13, 1994

Vortex Aircraft Mission #1

Flight ID:

940513I

Flight Track:


Click image for full resolution.

Flight Crew:

Chief Scientist: Watson/Ziegler         Flight Director:  Damiano
Doppler Radar:   Shepherd/Bartels       Pilots:           Tichnor/Tennesen
Cloud Physics:   Jacobs                 Data Technician:  Pradas
Observer:        Wakimoto               Systems Engineer: Lynch
Observer:        Atkins
Observer:        Skaggs
Media:           Austrian TV (2)


Takeoff Time: 1917 UTC                  Landing Time: 0059 UTC
Official Mission Duration: 6.0 hrs
Number of Data Tapes Used:  Radar: 1    Cloud Physics: 1        Video: 2

Data Systems Log
Radar Data       Time On(UTC)    Time Off(UTC)   Comments
Lower Fuselage          1941            0028
Tail Radar              2008            0028     at 2157 Stuck in
                                                 forward mode...restarted

Cloud Physics           2211            0008

Summary:

Upper-level low over Arizona and New Mexico has shown signs of sweeping out to the east due to the advancing trough from the west. A slight chance of severe weather was expected to develop late in the vicinity of Childress, Texas. Ground teams and the P-3 were to be deployed in this vicinity.

The P-3 departed OKC at 1917 UTC. Within a few minutes contact was made with the FC and the ground armada west of Altus, Oklahoma. Since no convection was developing, we executed a preconvective low-level survey pattern west from Hollis, Oklahoma to the caprock incline at 1000'. Moisture was relatively flat throughout the leg. Two Cumulus fields were encountered; one just west of Hollis and the other, with CBs, to the north on the caprock incline. Cloud bases were at 757 mb on the reverse track as we flew between 5500' and 8500'

Several east-west tracks were made between Hollis and 101W. At 2100 UTC, a couple of CBs began to develop mainly south of our track near Memphis, Texas in the original Cu area. At 2138 UTC, we headed south to fly north-south Doppler tracks on 3 echoes. Cells rapidly developed and rapidly died. The radar team performed several all 'fores' and all 'afts' during this period.

At 2225 UTC, the FC suggested a survey pattern toward the west to Hedley, Texas. Nothing much to the south and west. We went northbound torward some moderate convection west of Clarendon, Texas on the caprock. We executed several North-south Doppler legs on this activity. Encountered an interesting microburst and moderate electrical activity. A small funnel cloud was observed on the southbound leg at approximately 2300 UTC. Activity remained weak and the FC became increasingly pessimistic. It appeared from visual observations, from both the ground and in the air, that the upper winds had switched to northwesterly and northerly. At 0000 UTC, the VORTEX intercept activity was cancelled. Landing was at 0059 UTC.

Irv Watson

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