(Above). Believe it or not, I didn’t get out this chase day until 1pm from Austin, Tx. I am lucky to behold and photograph this image. This is the view to my northwest as I frantically (because I’m running late) approach. Moments before I was stuck in a field in the mud. The tornado has been in progress, is firmly planted, and almost appears to have a second “leg” - which kind of makes it appear similar to tornadoes fitting the ‘dead man walking’ appearance.

Getting nearer, the tornado has already changed shape.

Now it is pretty much a stove pipe shape. I’m pretty well freaking out as I drive because obviously I am not already in my seat at the “show” to savor this display.

Alas, already it is starting to take on the rope out stage.

More rope.

This is a great perspective shot which shows this incredibly long, snaky tornado roping out from a very high base at this time. Once the tornado started to rope out it’s been racing away to my north just as I was catching up. Darn!.

More roping.

And more roping....

Yes, it turns out this is some kind of super long rope out stage that seems to go on forever.

I took this shot as I recall off highway 70/256 near the town of Brice looking north. It shows a possible future area of development along this new flank of the old storm. Here it shows what appears to be a bit of clear slot cutting out the cloud by the rear flank downdraft (directly top center). Near this area there is a slight lowered conical area of possible future funnel / tornado formation. At this time there was very little rotation here. Off to the east and northeast (rightside) of this picture the old active part of the storm is still underway. Some chasers are taking the road near Brice to go up north (hwy 70) toward it, although this puts them on the backside of the future new development (assuming this clear slot area doesn’t produce). There is also a big chaser convergence on the highway to the right and what appears to be a roadblock which ends shortly after I arrive. I see where the storm is headed and what it is doing and race after it on hwy 256 east to Memphis where I hit hwy 287 to the northwest which is about the only road following the storm this way. Along the way I am caught in tow by many, many chase vehicles in a long line. At Memphis I see other roads connect to hwy 287 (and I know they are all turning there). Sorry guys, I ripped a turn through town and broke out in front of all of you. LOL! When I exited on 287 I nearly ran into fellow chase friend Gene Moore as he was passing by. [Funny how Gene and I often run into each other just out of the blue.] .I stay ahead of almost all the chasers on the storm at this point until I decide to continue following 287 a little further northwest past Hedley and run into a traffic jam of semi trailers and cops. I believe one was turned over from the high winds or tornado. I finally turned around and took 203 to 273 from Hedley - onward into the storm.

I continue along with lots of other chasers down this narrow 2 lane road. On the side of the road there are very few places to pull off because of the large amount of mud, and absolutely no shoulder. Many chasers have these very bright amber strobe lights blinding me as I drive.. There is a large area to the left of the road (west /northwest) where there is tornadic activity occurring but during daylight hours most of this is rain wrapped and pretty impossible to make out detail such as individual tornadoes. I do see some stuff that appeared to be likely tornadoes. Many funnels formed along the way not quite making it down. Finally as it is dark, and I am nearing interstate 40 / McLean one large lowering continues coming down very near the road as I continue north and makes this fairly large tornado. It later becomes a stove pipe shape before crossing I40. I was close in to this tornado (I believe within the rain curtains / Bear’s Cage) and backed off a couple of times. Mobile Threatnet was showing me actually inside the shear markers the whole time often registering as much as 138 mph! I eventually let it go on into the dark.

All in all this was a great chase even though I came late.This is a good reminder for leaving early as even an hour likely would have provided much more quality photography from up close as many other chasers got this time. Actually I had intended to leave at 12pm but somehow with various delays didn’t get on the road until 1pm. Oh well. Ha Ha. This experience also reminds me that I need to practice more with the camera and video camera for night and low light shooting because during the frenzy there is no time to figure that stuff out.

© All images on this site Copyright  Bill Tabor unless otherwise noted