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Thunderbolt Tours USA 2003 - Day 2 |

Oklahoma - almost a synonym for violent tornadoes. When in this state, consider that you are standing on a piece of terra firma that is subject to Mother Nature's wrath probably more frequently than any other jurisdiction on earth.

Today, however, is marginal for tornadoes. By noon it is extremely muggy. The atmosphere is very unstable atmosphere ahead of an approaching cold front. Supercells are certainly possible if storms developed in isolation. Our main concern is that storms will line up along the cold front.

We monitor the development of convective towers during the early afternoon some 30 km west of Lawton. A breach of the cap is finally taking place to our east. In fact, in the time that it takes us to pack our gear, the storm has exploded. Dodging some of the ever present agri-dangers that are common place on the Plains' roads during harvest season, we eventually are in a position to intercept the storm.

Severe thunderstorm warnings are now in effect for nearby localities. Firstly warnings are for dime-sized hail, then nickels, onto golf balls and, finally, baseballs.

Radar reveals that the storm has split, the southern storm (right-mover) is our target. We opt on a track that will take us a little north then east, around the northern 'left-mover', and finally south to our target storm. The left-mover looks very impressive - very dark base with some CG big bolts.

Looking south at left moving supercell, north of Duncan, Ok.

Meanwhile, a tornado warning is issued for the left-mover just as a spectacular wall cloud comes into view. The slow moving storm approaches from due west creating dramatic contrast with the sun now low on the horizon.

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