Flight ID:
- 950522I
Flight Track:
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Chief Scientist: Watson/Ziegler Flight Director: Damiano Doppler Radar: Shepherd/L. Rasmussen Pilots: Tenneson/Kennedy Cloud Physics: --- Data Technician: McMillan Radiometer: --- Systems Engineer: Barr Observers: Golden Navigator: Strong Observers: Kemp (REU), Pflasterer (REU) Observers: Janish, Setvak Takeoff Time: 2004 UTC Landing Time: 0244 UTC Official Mission Duration: 6.9 hrs Mission Breakdown VORTEX: 6.9 hrs ARM: 0.0 hrs Number of Data Tapes Used: Radar: 1 Cloud Physics: 0 Video: 3Data Systems Log
Radar Data System Log Time On(UTC) Time Off(UTC) Comments Tape #1 2016 Begin TA & LF 0229 Stop recording Cloud Physics Log Time On(UTC) Time Off(UTC) Comments 2015 0230 Tape drive problem Data saved on disk ETL Radiometer Log Time On (UTC) Time Off (UTC) Comments 1950 0250
Adequate CAPE, moisture, and shear set the stage for possible
supercell development in the Texas panhandle. The P-3 crew was slated
to standby until Cu were developing before launching.
The Electra departed OKC at 1930 UTC and the P-3 was airborne at
2004 UTC. As soon as the LF was activated, we observed echoes just west
of Pampa, TX. The Electra began collecting Doppler data on the most
intense cell in a N-S group of echoes. Upon arriving, we began collecting
radar data at 2049 UTC on the same cell, which had a bell-shaped base. The
ground teams also deployed on this cell. Due to anvil and precipitation
cores extendng eastward, and convection on the south side of the principal
cell, we were unable to execute good radar tracks. A tornado was reported
by RAD 1 at 2111 UTC, and was also observed by the Electra as they made one
pass on this echo to the north of the storm the VORTEX ground teams were
deployed on.
Due to our inability to setup proper radar tracks, we shot the gap
between storms and made several passes on the west side of the activity.
Even on the west side, the main cell the ground teams were concentrating on
was very inconvenient due flanking convection. Gradually, the ground teams
made their way southward to the 'tail-end Charlie' storm.
We began Doppler legs on this storm at 2246 UTC, and initiated
coordinated legs with the Electra, at 2252 UTC. We stayed with the storm
until 0213 UTC. This storm was spectacular, even though it never tornadoed
as far as we know. For much of its lifetime, it had a bell-shaped inflow
skirt. The evolution of its mesocyclone structure, as observed by the LF
radar, was almost as interesting as it was visually. The mesocyclones were
anticyclonic as well as cyclonic. Twenty-eight passes were executed on this
storm; 40 total. We arrived back at OKC at 0244 UTC, consuming 6.9 flight
hours.
Irv Watson