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

With scant road options and daylight fading rapidly, we decide to race north under the visual vault of the storm. From there we will head east and ahead of the storm to ensure our safety. We pass through golf ball sized hail and then heavy rain as we clear the vault. CG lightning is now very frequent. Finally after some 15 minutes we emerge from the tempest.

Well, what a difference 15 minutes can make. The storm tracking behind us is now a large, powerful, striated 'mothership' supercell with strong rotation.

Daylight has unfortunately run out so we gradually head east to the town of Shamrock. Another powerful supercell has developed to our west. The Texas Panhandle has been set alight by a spectacular lightning show stretching along the western horizon. A tornado warning is in effect to our immediate west and SE flow has intensified to 40 knots. The potent upper level disturbance is at peak intensity, and conditions are now genuinely treacherous. We abandon the chase and head to Weatherford for the night.

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