A very spectacular Mesocyclone (Classic SuperCell) was observed late afternoon on May 27th in southwestern Dawson and northwestern Martin counties near the townsite of Patricia, Texas. The author left Midland at approximately 0015Z and captured the first image from SH 349, one mile north of Loop 250 N, of the exploding Supercell, looking from south to north (storm motion is from west to east or left to right on image. The Supercell demonstrated a strong updraft Storm Tower by noting aloft extending upwind (west) anvil and an overshooting top which was higher aloft just moments prior to this image capture. The author proceeded north along SH 349 until arriving at the Seminole Pipeline Compressor (Patricia Station), approximately 10 miles south of the townsite of Patricia where the next series of images were taken. The first image of this series was taken at approximately 0040Z, looking northwest, at saucer shaped Rain Free Base with lowered Wall Cloud sloping toward the precipitation core with attendant Tail Cloud, center background, and Clear Slot, left background.
Panning toward the east of the previous picture the next image was taken to demonstrate two inflow"beaver's tail" bands transport-ing mois
ture into the updraft core. The next image is looking toward the western portion of the updraft base, in foreground of RFD Clear Slot, noting cooled humid condensed moisture vapor and dust being lifted (interaction between cool RFD and warm low level southeast inflow). The next image is a sepia of the previously discussed Wall Cloud and Clear Slot wide angle view, captured moments earlier of previous picture, to illustrate finer detail. Next is zoomed region of condensed water vapor and dust, left of image, being pulled from ground level into updraft from western side of rotating storm base and noting a sharp western escarpment, descending (Wall Cloud), right of image.
The rotating updraft base continued to advance southeastward and the next image (sepia) shows a hidden Tornado in swirling farm plowed fields just to the left of SH 137 and northwest of the intersection of SH 115 at 0105Z. Note the Tail Cloud on east (right) side of dust swirl and western escarpment of Wall Cloud on west (left) side of dust swirl. The tornado is hard to see but is the cone shaped dark image directly in the center of the dust
debris cloud. Another view of the hidden Tornado (color version), noting Clear Slot on left (west) and precipita-tion core on right (east). 
A radar capture was taken at this time in order to show positioning of observation.
Shortly after the passage of the Tornado across the SH 137 projection the author began to encounter strong RFD straight line winds estimated at 60-65 mph as noted on the next image, looking east across SH 349 at obscured oil field tank battery (moments later, once returning to the truck, a strong RFD gust, estimated at over 80 mph roared across limiting visibility to less than 50 feet and rocking the truck).
The author proceeded north along SH 349 taking a position approximately 5 miles south of Patricia along a eastern exiting oil field road in order to capture the next series of images. The next image is taken looking east from aforementioned locale at swirling red farm ploughed dirt being pulled into rotating Updraft Base, with lowered Wall Cloud just to the left background of red swirl.
The next image shows a horizontal Fractus condensa-tion trail wrapping into the updraft center from northwest with. 
The next image reveals, vividly, the lowered Wall Cloud, once dissipation of vortex, as viewed from the west at approximately 01
20Z. A radar capture was taken at this time to show positioning of photograph-er with respect to storm updraft circulation. 
The next several images are presented in sepia format to better define detail of descending Wall Cloud to almost ground level.
The final image is looking up at the Storm Tower's updraft as viewed from wes
t.
debris cloud. Another view of the hidden Tornado (color version), noting Clear Slot on left (west) and precipita-tion core on right (east). 
A radar capture was taken at this time in order to show positioning of observation.
Shortly after the passage of the Tornado across the SH 137 projection the author began to encounter strong RFD straight line winds estimated at 60-65 mph as noted on the next image, looking east across SH 349 at obscured oil field tank battery (moments later, once returning to the truck, a strong RFD gust, estimated at over 80 mph roared across limiting visibility to less than 50 feet and rocking the truck).
The author proceeded north along SH 349 taking a position approximately 5 miles south of Patricia along a eastern exiting oil field road in order to capture the next series of images. The next image is taken looking east from aforementioned locale at swirling red farm ploughed dirt being pulled into rotating Updraft Base, with lowered Wall Cloud just to the left background of red swirl.
The next image shows a horizontal Fractus condensa-tion trail wrapping into the updraft center from northwest with. 
The next image reveals, vividly, the lowered Wall Cloud, once dissipation of vortex, as viewed from the west at approximately 01
20Z. A radar capture was taken at this time to show positioning of photograph-er with respect to storm updraft circulation. 
The next several images are presented in sepia format to better define detail of descending Wall Cloud to almost ground level.
The final image is looking up at the Storm Tower's updraft as viewed from wes
t. 
No comments:
Post a Comment