Day 3 - Actual Storms - May 12, 2019

     The calm start to the chase was about to end. The SPC had placed an area a few hours to our south in a Marginal risk for severe weather. Marginal indicates that some of the necessary ingredients for severe thunderstorms were coming together, but it wasn’t a significant threat. We interpreted the data to mean there was the potential for a supercell thunderstorm or two, but it wouldn’t produce much in the way of severe weather (NWS defines a severe thunderstorm as one that produces hail > 1” in diameter, wind gusts > 58 mph, a funnel cloud, or a tornado).

     In other words, we were prepared to drive quite a distance for a photogenic storm and maybe some small hail. Such is chasing; you play the cards you are dealt. And with a pattern expected to remain calm for the next five days, we threw our chips into the pile and drove south.

     As we drove south we noted some development. One particular storm started to exhibit severe characteristics on radar, but it fell apart on its approach to Hobbs, NM. This showed us that the potential was there but something was missing, possibly the necessary instability to sustain the storm.

     We stopped for lunch in Odessa, TX then moved south towards Ft. Stockton. Another storm formed to our southwest. This was enough for the SPC to upgrade a Slight Risk and issue a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for the area.

We moved into position to intercept the storm. The storm was not severe, but it was interesting to look at it. We found a place where we could view the bulk of the storm. It was an opportunity for the students to observe the mechanics of the storm and the parts which make it up. For example, we saw air rising and condensing as it moved into the updraft portion of the cloud.

Storm in the Sierra Madera astrobleme. Low clouds are rising into the main updraft. Photo: Hunter Reeves

Closer view of the storm. Lighter colors above the base might (might) have been some small hail. Maybe. Photo: Maddie Bernabei

Watching the storm.

But that was about it. We did manage to get rained on, which was an achievement in itself. After a few minutes of heavy rain, and with intensity trending downward on radar, we left the storm behind. We took a restroom break outside Odessa and made our way to Midland for dinner. Cracker Barrel was the choice for tonight. They think highly of their dumplings and will be more than happy to serve them to you in abundance. They also believe it is a vegetable....

The dumplings would turn out to be more plentiful than the storms for the next week.