5/16/02

We left Medicine Lodge and headed south to Alva, OK, which is where our
forecasters determined we should position ourselves today.  When we
arrived, we found that OTHER forecasters must have made the same call.
There were two commercial storm chase tour groups here at the hotel
(rather large ones).  We made ourselves at home, a few of us took a swim
and a dip in the hot tub, and we waited for the storms to start popping.
The tours went barreling out of here at about 3pm. We made the call that
since the storms (which were just beginning to develop in the western
TX/OK panhandles) were moving our way that we would wait a bit.  

At around 6pm, when the storms were maturing a bit and had established
their own "personality" and track, we decided to move out to the west.
The storms at that time were tracking east at a meager 15mph, so we had
time to catch up with them in the Arnett, OK area.

Shortly after 8pm, we passed through Shattuck and continued south to the
obscure intersection of E0610 and N1750 six miles west of Arnett in Ellis
County.

It was pretty difficult determining the structure of the storms, but with
the assistance of radar images we determined we were in the right place at
approximately the right time. all we had to do was sit and wait. 
Our efforts were not in vain.  Within a half an hour, things kicked up
marvelously, and we were treated to some of the best lightning we've seen
this year.  The thunder and strong wind added to the splendor of the
night.  With the exception of a few droplets, we also managed to avoid the
rain and hail for the duration of our photo shoot, and we were quite happy
that we were able to avoid the straight-line windstorm that swept on a ESE
track through the state.  We did manage to catch up to the rain on the way
back to Alva, and it persisted through the night.  

Obviously, we aren't catching the huge tornadic supercells this part of
the country is known for, but we are catching the best of what the weather
has to offer, and making the most of it.  Our team chase each year is
designed to be a learning experience, and by setting that as a benchmark,
we are never disappointed.  In light of some upcoming sunny days, we might
head toward Wellington/Witchita just for something to do.

Thanks for all the letters from everyone, and apologies for not having
more of a picture selection on the web page.  Connections are painfully
slow in most of the places we have been, and we're shooting with a lot of
film this year, which must wait to be developed and then scanned (opposed
to digital which is available immediately).  We promise that once the
shots are prepared, you won't be disappointed.

Live from northwest Oklahoma,
Brian, Nancy, Chris, Allan, Josh, and Grizz
www.mcwar.org