June 2nd Oklahoma and Texas Panhandle Storm Chase - Downburst, Large Funnel, and Amazing Lightning Show
06-02-07 STORM CHASE: OK/TX To be honest, I do not know exactly where we chased this day but what I do know is that it was a successful chase in the OK and TX Panhandles, filming for the reality show "Twister Sisters". This was the last decent severe weather chase day before several down days were expected during the 2007 Chase Season. Our crew of myself, Peggy Willenberg, Melanie Metz, Karen Miller, Beau Gjerdingen and Eric Whitehill left Amarillo, TX in the morning and did not have to go far, as storms were expected to fire in this area by the early afternoon. It ended up being a very nice day with impressive supercells, the best downburst/microburst I have ever seen, as well as one of the more intense lightning shows that I have experienced. Unfortunately, typing this chase log three years later, I realized that I forgot exactly the route we took and where we ended up this day. So, on to the photos!
Storm towers first starting to go up.
Awesome downburst/microburst.
A pair of updraft condensation curls on the edge of downburst.
A large funnel cloud completely rain-wrapped, dropping out of the mesocyclone.
Interesting action area.
Incredible lightning strike with supercell on the left side of the image.
Impressive lightning show with this supercell!
More photos from this day can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/39991047@N02/sets/72157621673295841/