2012--Day 6

Day 6

After briefing in Tulsa in which the Day 1 outlook shrunk in the north-south direction but expanded in the east-west direction, we came to the conclusion that the leftovers from last night’s MCS (clouds and a mesoscale convective vortex) would potentially squelch any action over Kansas and Missouri, we headed east.  We took our time leaving as we were waiting to see what developed.  We spent quite some time in the Big K Mart parking lot setting up the equipment (during which I watched a pair of Nobel laureates shake a gas can around a lit cigarette).  Not seeing a fireball, we went for a long lunch, and found a great idea for my dynamics class.

Our path took us into northwestern Arkansas, where we chased a cell for quite some time.  It produced some significant lightning and driving rain, so much so that we had to pull over on I40 for a time to let it subside.  The cells did show some interesting structures (wall clouds, mammatus, rain shafts, beaver’s tail), but never produced any real rotation.  We made it as far east as Morrilton before it got too dark to see, so we called off the chase and headed back west on I40 toward Clarksville (missed the last train, sadly).  We stopped in Russellville for dinner, and on our way out the lightning was incredible.  Fortunately (or not), we were on the road for about five minutes before we corepunched a discrete cell that produced some small hail.  Ironic, frankly.

Arkansas was quite striking; it reminded me of the Berkshires, with its twisty tree-lined roads that moved through rolling hills.  There were at least two sharp turns on Arkansas 23 that required a 10-mph speed limit.  While chasing the storms we came upon a huge outdoor gathering (Hickstock?  Hillbilly Jam?), which had to be in the path of some very strong storms.  One of these days there is going to be a big disaster at one of these events.

According to the reports, there were three tornadoes in northeastern Arkansas (we were in NW AR), and there were several wind and hail reports all over the northern third of the state.  Any of those tornadoes were likely rain-wrapped, one of the hazards of chasing in the South.  Long day, relatively short drive (351 miles), and it ends in Clarksville, Arkansas.  Unless things change dramatically, it looks like the weather is going to be uncooperative (big ridge), so we’ll likely be traveling back to the north and west.  Long days ahead.