Flight ID:
- 950602I
Flight Track:
Click image for full resolution.
Chief Scientist: Watson/Ziegler Flight Director: Damiano
Doppler Radar: Shepherd Pilots: Omara/Kennedy/
Tenneson
Cloud Physics: --- Data Technician: McMillan
Radiometer: --- Systems Engineer: Barr
Observers: Butcher (REU) Navigator: Strong
Observers: Machalek (REU)
Observers: Robbins, Hondl, Edwards
Takeoff Time: 2000 UTC Landing Time: 0304 UTC
Official Mission Duration: 7.3 hrs
Mission Breakdown VORTEX: 7.3 hrs ARM: 0.0 hrs
Number of Data Tapes Used: Radar: 1 Cloud Physics: 1 Video: 3
Data Systems Log
Radar Data System Log Time On(UTC) Time Off(UTC) Comments
Tape #1 2013 Begin TA & LF
0252 Stop recording
Cloud Physics Log Time On(UTC) Time Off(UTC) Comments
2015 0250
ETL Radiometer Log Time On (UTC) Time Off (UTC) Comments
1945 0310
High moisture, good shear, and strong CAPE were predicted to
produce
supercells between Amarillo and Lubbock this afternoon. The ground teams
departed shortly after 1500 UTC for an overnight trip to west Texas. The
P-3
departed OKC at 2000 UTC and the Electra followed 15 minutes later.
Convection had developed early along a windshift boundary between
Dalhart and Childress, Texas. The FC correctly insisted that severe
convection would develop farther west behind the ridge axis. The P-3
arrived in the vicinity of Clovis, NM and set up radar patterns on a
nascent
CB at 2130 UTC. Since cells formed in a N-S pattern, it was impossible to
fly in the inflow region on the south or east sides. We were left to
operate on the western flank of each cell. The ground teams gradually
chased northeastward into Texas and we found ourselves too far from the
main action of the storms.
First tornado was reported near Friona, TX at 2342 UTC. The LF
was spectacular during this period as an eye appeared in the mesocyclone.
Soon the highest reflectivities wrapped completely around the eye (echo
weak hole) into the NE quadrant. At 0000 UTC, a new cell formed south
of the main core which quickly developed a mesocyclone northwest of
Dimmitt,
TX. A short-lived multiple vortex tornado was reported by the ground teams
at 0025 UTC.
This cycle continued with another cell (0030 UTC) forming SW of
Dimmitt which rapidly developed a hook and a large tornado touching down
at 0058 UTC, possibly doing F4 damage near Dimmitt. We were very close
to the mesocyclone in this case but due to dust we had no viibility to
see under the cloud bases. A large BWER and 19-km tops were observed on
the tail radar.
Again, a new mesocyclone was observed SW of Nazareth, TX at 0126
UTC.
This cell showed three bands spiraling into its center. However, we had to
depart this storm at 0150 UTC. As we exited the area to the east, we
visually observed a wall cloud nearly on the ground approximately 10 miles
west of Plainview, TX. We landed at OKC at 0304 UTC, consuming 7.3 hours.
Only 16.2 flight hours remain.
Irv Watson
Here are some examples of P-3 radar images for this mission.