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Thunderbolt Tours USA 2003 - Day 1 | Page 1 | Page 2 |

May 9. Confronted with a 8-hour transit at Narita we decide to pass time, and whet our appetites, by taking a peek at the meteorological goings-on some 11,000 km to our east. In the previous week, two tornado outbreaks occurred, firstly on the 4th and again on the 8th. Model data indicated that the 9th could again be potent. Well, upon logging in, there is a collective drop of our jaws - a monster supercell thunderstorm skirts the NW suburbs of Oklahoma City during the late evening. (We later watch incredible vision shot by US storm chaser Tim Marshall of the tornado moving through Oklahoma City during the late evening). So near yet.........

We arrive in Dallas on the 11th. Fortunately, we have only four days to wait for another significant severe weather episode. High risk on the Texas Panhandle - the holy grail of storm chasing. The day is May 15.

We rise to a dense fog in Childress - moisture advection is well underway. Strong and possibly violent tornadoes" are in the regional forecast. Winds at the surface are warm and moist out of the south east and continually strengthen during the day in response to an intensifying surface low pressure system. The world's most majestic severe weather stage is set.

By mid-afternoon, the volatile atmosphere is rapidly revealing itself as strong storms explode to our NW in western New Mexico. As these storm move east into deeper moisture, tornado forecasts will be verified.

Positioned further south we play the waiting game. The potential for long-lived violent tornadoes is even greater here. Surface (SFC) winds out of the south east are sustained in excess of 35 miles per hour. Incredible!!

The CAP breaks just west of Clarendon although by now daylight is our main enemy. The storm intensification before our eyes is simply breathtaking. The birth of a 'Pampa Storm'!

Inflow band develops, signifying the beginning of rapid intensification of a supercell thunderstorm near Clarendon, TX

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