March 27, 2010 LP Supercell's

A year ago to this day, I went on my first storm chase with Don Wheeler and Dr. Bon Mills in northeast Texas. While that day looked promising initially, it turned out to be a bust. A year later, March 27 once again shaped up to be a potentially good day for severe storms including isolated supercells across central Arkansas. This would give me an opportunity to see how much I’ve learned over the past year.

I departed Monroe, LA around 12:30 PM for my initial target spot in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. On this particular day, I anticipated that there would be isolated severe thunderstorms forming around central Arkansas later in the afternoon. These cells were elevated and of the low precipitation variety due to surface dewpoints only reaching the upper 40’s in central Arkansas. The primary severe threat for these cells would be hail due to the cold pocket of air aloft that helped the atmosphere to destabilize. This threat would eventually shift to damaging winds as these cells congealed into a squall line as the evening progressed.

After staging in Pine Bluff, I decided to shift my target area northward toward Little Rock, as convection was ongoing at this time in northwest Arkansas along and north of the I-40 corridor. As I arrived in Little Rock, these cells began to go severe. After assessing the situation, I decided to move west on I-40 toward these storms.

As I moved west, I targeted several developing cells south of I-40 with potential to go severe moving northeast toward Conway County at 40 mph. I positioned myself just outside of the town of Menifee to intercept the southernmost of 2 LP supercells. These cells merged just to the north of my location and became prolific hail producers. I intercepted the southern edge of the storm and experienced pea sized hail, rain and several positive CG lightning strikes.

I then decided to charge east on I-40 as I targeted another LP supercell that formed southwest of my location in Garland County. This cell also moved northeast at 40 mph. I managed to outrun the core of the storm before pulling over on the Interstate to document it crossing the road in the town of Mayflower. I was treated with a nice sunset in the process.

Once the sun set, I decided to drive east into the delta area to get ahead of these storms as they began to go linear. I managed to do so before driving south on Hwy 63. I intercepted the squall line about 4 miles outside of Stuttgart, AR just as it began to bow out. I experienced severe straight line winds in excess of 60+ mph. However, I did not witness any damage around my intercept location. Once the line passed through, I enjoyed some of the anvil lightning before heading back to Monroe.

-JP

December 24, 2009 SW Louisiana Tornado Outbreak

I departed New Iberia, LA around 4:30 AM for my initial target spot at Iowa, LA targeting the leading edge of a rapidly developing squall line that was located just to the west of the Texas/Louisiana border. I anticipated discrete low topped HP supercells with the potential to produce tornadoes along the I-10 corridor as the line moved east.

After a short time accessing the developing situation in Iowa, I decided to take Hwy 165 NE to Kinder where I got on Hwy 190 to go back east. At 7 AM, things began to take shape with three HP supercells developing ahead of the main squall line; one to the northeast of Eunice and two south of I-10 between the towns of Welsh and Crowley. Being out of position for the cell northeast of Eunice, I targeted the cell south of Crowley.

Around this time, I went through multiple data gaps, which caused me to adjust my strategy and move north toward Ville Platte in order to reposition myself about three miles northeast of Ville Platte to allow the storm to come to me rather than going south after it. At approximately 8:22 AM the NWS (LCH) issued a tornado warning right on top of my location.

A few minutes later, the heavy precipitation associated with the core of the cell decreased; and, I spotted the rotating wall cloud associated with the storm. I quickly chased the wall cloud northeast and watched as it became rain wrapped once again. Shortly after, I experienced strong RFD winds about nine miles Southwest of Bunkie.

I then traveled south on Hwy 71 dissecting the squall line before moving east again on Hwy 190 to get ahead of the it for another chance at intercepting any discrete cells; but, mother nature failed to produce any. My chase ended shortly after noon as I intercepted the squall line in the parking lot of a gas station in Hammond, LA.

In all, there were 12 confirmed tornadoes across southwest Louisiana, including three EF2’s, thus making this event the largest tornado outbreak since May 15, 2008. There were numerous reports of damage across the region and only four injuries. Sadly, there was one fatality in Scott, LA due to a tree falling onto a house. Special thanks to Don Wheeler (LA Delta CC) for his excellent nowcasting during my periods of data gaps and to Matt Clay (NWS SCEP) for handling my reports. This helped make my first planned chase on my own a success.

My location relative to the area of interest on radar at the time of the wall cloud sighting. Photo courtesy of Don Wheeler (LDCC).

-JP