Flight ID:
- 950507I
Flight Track:
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Chief Scientist: Watson/Ziegler Flight Director: Parrish Doppler Radar: Shepherd/Lewis Pilots: Tenneson/Kennedy Cloud Physics: --- Data Technician: McMillan Radiometer: Westwater Systems Engineer: Lynch Observers: Curl Navigator: Strong Takeoff Time: 1900 UTC Landing Time: 0123 UTC Official Mission Duration: 6.7 hrs Mission Breakdown VORTEX: 6.7 hrs ARM: 0.0 hrs Number of Data Tapes Used: Radar: 1 Cloud Physics: 1 Video: 3Data Systems Log
Radar Data System Log Time On(UTC) Time Off(UTC) Comments Tape #1 2022 Begin TA 1931 Replaced LF transmitter/receiver Begin LF 0123 Stop recording Cloud Physics Log Time On(UTC) Time Off(UTC) Comments 1855 0125 ETL Radiometer Log Time On (UTC) Time Off (UTC) Comments 1850 0125
The forecast was for supercells to develop on the dryline. The
best wind profiles would exist ahead and north of the dryline bulge which
was expected to pass through LBB-AMA this afternoon.
The P-3 departed OKC at 1900 UTC with the Electra following at
1930 UTC. Following our tail radar calibration leg over Frederick, we
headed westward toward a large cell near Paducah, TX, south of Childress.
We remained at FL100 to maintain repeater coverage for the ground teams.
The Electra followed and began Doppler legs below cloud base. The P-3
executed 15 Doppler legs on a strong cell which developed an inflow notch,
and later bowed out with a strong gustfront. The last 3 legs were low-
level coordinated tracks with the Electra.
As the cell along the squall line began to deteriorate, we departed
for an isolated tornadic cell near Ardmore, OK. We performed our first leg
along the south end of the storm and then set up a NE-SW leg with the
Electra in tow. We could see a wall cloud on the first track to the NE,
and then a weak tornado on the ground near Sulphur, OK on the second track.
The cell rapidly collapsed after 4 Doppler legs.
We then headed west to coordinate activities with the ground teams
again who were barely staying ahead of the rapidly approaching squall line.
We made passes on 3 additional cells which were gobbled up by the squall
line. Activities were cancelled at 0015 UTC.
Since the squall line was practically solid and also had past
OKC, we had to cross to the back side. Reminiscent of past MCS studies, we
penetrated the line south of the Red River, and approached OKC in the
MCS transition zone. The MCS rear inflow jet was quite strong with observed
winds of 60kts at FL060. We landed at 0123 UTC consuming 6.7 flight hours.
Irv Watson