May 23-24, 2000

	The 23rd was another totally down day, where we checked vehicles, ate 
some good food, and watched some totally mindless flicks (that were totally
hilarious).
	After a night of forecasting on the 23rd, we decided to take a trek 
northwest into Woodward OK on the 24th, as our forecasters determined that a 
combination of moderately high CAPE, low LIs and good helicity, as well as 
adequate diurnal heating and the approaching front made it a good bet.
	We had just gotten settled in to the hotel, when a few cells started 
popping up near Amarillo TX, and in a matter of minutes, one shot to 50,000 
feet.  We went mobile in moments, and took off to Texas.
	There were cells popping up all over in the TX panhandle, and a 
number looked tempting, but we chose one tracking through Pampa.  It seemed 
the most organized of the three big ones we could go for, and looked to be 
developing a classic footed wall cloud.
	To get to the point of the storm we wanted to, we had to punch in a 
little close to the hail shaft, but a slight risk in the afternoon light 
seemed better than being in a potential larger risk after dusk. 
	This storm was a lot larger than the one we caught in Arkansas on 
Monday, and though quite impressive, not as well-lit or easy to chase. It was 
a high precipitation supercell, as opposed to Monday's low precipitation 
supercell.  It was a tough one to chase safely, as it grew increasingly 
difficult to locate and identify the various parts of the storm.  We found 
that the radar on McWAR worked really well in this type of storm, and we were 
able to navigate around questionable areas of these storms with a measure of 
security absent in previous years, even while blinded by torrential rain.  
We were able to resolve hooks, mesocyclones, and other significant features... 
and being able to navigate through and around the cell cores was critical for 
our safe passage.  Despite all the severe thunderstorm warnings and tornado 
warnings, there were no reported tornadoes (as of our current knowledge).
	It's important to mention that as lovely and straight and view-filled 
as this area is, it is of paramount importance that before you take off on 
one of these terrific roads after a storm, you keep constantly aware of 
available crossroads.  A crossroad may well become an escape route, and we 
are always cautious that where ever we go... or stop... is close to good 
roads that offer north, south, east, and west escape routes.  Also, some of 
these attractive little "Bob's Road" byways are very enticing.  They seem to 
go places the good roads don't, and are awfully attractive when you're 
looking for a quick way northeast, for example, and all the major roads go 
N-S or E-W. HOWEVER, rain can quickly turn these roads into mud wallows.  
BEWARE.  

Nancy Bose
Brian McNoldy

MESO     (www.mcwar.org)