Well, let's post something!!!

Wow. Just looked at my last post and it was about the historic ice storm that couldn't..lol. Let's see, what have I been doing...new heater core in my truck, can't find my Ram laptop stand, bought a 2001 Tahoe 4X4 to chase in this year, recovering from bronchitis, been busy with Extreme Chase Tours, being a dad, husband, youth pastor, working, and whatever else I have forgot. Oh yeah, and been seriously trying to avoid all the chaser drama that is happening. Like every other year, chasers get a bad case of SDS and think they own the world, and get on each others' cases. You can always find good entertainment with the chasing community!!

Towers going up in Tulsa

Sorry about the powerlines. I shot this at lunch time today. a line of storms that is now currently severe were developing over Tulsa/Broken Arrow. I decided to shoot a little time lapse...enjoy!

Another race chase....

This view is of the Stillwater storm at approx 8:00pm. Driving west on the Cimarron Turnpike a couple of miles east of Hwy 18, looking southwest at a ragged wall cloud with rising scud and an occasional (possible) funnel. It was a race chase as I did not leave the house until 6:45PM. Things got a bit tense as I drove towards Hwy 18, watching this insane hail core heading towards me and trying like the dickens not to get in it!!!! We got to 18, blasted south and did get some marbles & occasional quarters, but missed the ping pong hail that later covered hwy 18! We watched with interest the wall cloud as we raced south but then the storm seemed to weaken a bit and turn back to a NE heading. It could've, should've, and would've....but it didn't put a tornado down. How's that for contractions?

Mission of Compassion 6: Lone Grove

Ok, details are starting to come together! Looks like the mission is a GO!

First let me start by stating the needs at this time. I have been in contact with several folks in the area and the common need is trash bags, work gloves, and workers. They have plenty of clothes, so no clothes are needed. I spoke with one of the coordinators at the Lone Grove Assembly of God and he told me that there will be a need for non-perishable foods (canned, etc.) and water. Diapers and baby formula could also be used. So, basically I would like to bring with us:
Large trash bags
Work gloves
Diapers
Formula
Large plastic totes with lids for storage
Cleaning materials for damaged homes (brooms, paper towels, etc.)
Water (I am working on securing some water or sports drink…details later)
Canned food items

I spoke with the pastor at the Church of Christ yesterday & he is making plans to distribute food & water to relief workers and residents on Sunday, and he mentioned that he could use some help. When we get there, we can help in this area after dropping off supplies.

I feel that we should also organize a toy drive for the kids that lost everything. Maybe we can collect new or almost new toys for a few weeks, and return to distribute them. I have an idea for distributing the toys, but I cannot share details yet but trust me, it will be unique and the kids will be blessed by this effort!!

As of now, plans are to leave Verdigris from New Life Baptist Church at noon Sunday, and return Sunday night. A Saturday trip would not be practical at this time.

If you feel that you can help by donating, or coming along, please let me know ASAP!

Lone Grove statistics:
Feb 10, 2009 an EF-4 devastating tornado tore through the community at 7:30pm. Sadly, 9 people lost their lives in this tragedy.
The official numbers for Lone Grove is 118 homes completely destroyed, 28 with major damage, 26 with minor damage, and 16 affected.

A very hard update to my earlier post...

...I had to edit my post from last night..I stated that there were no fatalities.....

As I went to bed last night, exhausted from a crazy race chase, I heard about fatalities in the community of Lone Grove. There were three at that time, and I said my prayers for the people in Lone Grove, and collapsed. I awoke this morning as my wife said that there were eight fatalities. Now I learn that there may be as many as 15. What a terrible night! I feel awful for the victims & their families. I need to get my thoughts together..a whole trailer park is gone!! I have already been asked if we are going on a Mission of Compassion.....

Sometimes I hate what I do....chase storms.....but I realize that my reporting of these monsters may save lives......or does it? Hopefully it does....I'm rambling, sorry.

6-5-08 bow echo/possible tornado event..and rant...

TO: stormrider1970@sbcglobal.netFM: NWS TULSA OPERATIONSRE: RE: TORNADO WARNING for ROGERS OK. CountyTORNADO WARNING Issued 1207 AM CDT FRI JUN 6 2008Area* TORNADO WARNING FOR... SOUTHERN ROGERS COUNTY IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA TULSA COUNTY IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA NORTHWESTERN WAGONER COUNTY IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMAExpire Time* UNTIL 1245 AM CDTDescription* AT 1203 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 3 MILES WEST OF BROKEN ARROW...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 66 MPH. NUMEROUS FUNNEL SIGHTINGS AND POWER FLASHES HAVE BEEN REPORTED.Cities and Calls to Action* SOME LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...TULSA... CATOOSA...VERDIGRIS...INOLA...TIAWAH AND CLAREMORE.IF YOU ARE NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM...TAKE COVER NOW! IF NO UNDERGROUND SHELTER IS AVAILABLE MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THELOWEST FLOOR. MOBILE HOMES AND VEHICLES SHOULD BE ABANDONED FOR MORESUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. AVOID WINDOWS!

This is the e-mail text I recieve of severe weather warnings issued by NWS TULSA from last night....

...notice the time on the tornado warning. I was out chasing in between Claremore & Verdigris at this time. I tried to raise the Rogers County EOC vis ham radio at 12:25am and nobody answered. As I approached the I-44 turnpike gate in Claremore at 12:38am, I heard the sirens sounding BUT THE STORM WAS WELL EAST OF CLAREMORE AT THAT TIME!! My brother, who lives in Claremore, called at 12:38am and asked what was up w/ the sirens. I informed him of the situation and the fact that Claremore was in the clear, and asked him how long the sirens had been going off and he said "ABOUT THREE MINUTES"!!

So, let me see, the tornado warning was issued at 12:07am, nobody in the Rogers County EOC at 12:25am, sirens sounded at 12:35am AFTER THE DANGER HAD PASSED!!!!!! What kind of public service is that??

I apologize for my tone, but I believe the EOC should be questioned about this because this has been an ongoing problem as long as I have been spotting.chasing. thankfully I don't think a tornado touched down as I didn't see much damage but what if there had been a tornado bearing down on Claremore?? How much warning would those folks have had??

Tulsa under the gun....so to speak...

Well, everyone be on your toes. it's looking like Tulsa will see some severe weather tonight! The main questions regarding storms firing off the dryline is the moisture and the cap strength. With dewpoint at 60f at 10:30am, I don't see dews being a problem unless they mix out in the afternoon. Then we have to worry about the cap, but with a little mid-level cooling, maybe a couple of storms can fire. If they fire off the dryline which should be at about I-35 this afternoon, they have a decent chance of producing all modes of severe weather, including tornadoes. More than likely, storms will also develop southward along the cold front/dryline late tonight and keep us all awake. These storms also will have significant severe weather potential. Time will tell. Regardless, everyone keep an eye on the sky....and also stay tuned to 2News. Dan and the whole crew will be there and be keeping us all safe!
Jeff

Lookin up!!

Well, I am feeling better. The Lord has lifted my spirits. It always seems to come with music. I love praise & worship music.
On to other news, I hope everyone will have their eyes on the sky Thursday afternoon & evening--it has potential to be a big tornado day here in NE Oklahoma. I will be out chasing after work. May 1st just may be a day to remember....hope not.

stormy couple of weeks...

well, it's been a busy storm season so far! I have logged approx 1,500 miles in the past two weeks! The next two days promise to be very stormy! The SPC has hoisted moderate severe weather risks for areas from Texas into Illinois! A moderate risk usually means that tornadoes, large hail, and strong winds will be seen in the risk area. There is talk about upgrading areas to a high risk for tomorrow in parts of Arkansas. I will be praying for Arkansas. They do not need any more severe weather. Heidi & gang--be on your toes!! Below are severe probabilities from NWS Tulsa for this evening, and tomorrow, respectively.

Meso lapse..

I sped this up to 8x. Near Colony, northwest of Cordell, Oklahoma. Time was approx. 7:30pm. We broke off these two sups just west of OKC around midnight thinking that we needed to get back towards Tulsa. I thought that they looked like junk at the time, little did we know that an hour later that storm would put down an EF-1 tornado in OKC!! I made a joke about going home to sleep a couple of hours, then get up early and intercept the same two supercells in our area! We all laughed at that, but you know what? That's EXACTLY what I did. I was on a tornado warned storm in NW Rogers County at 7:30am Monday morning!!! I'm pretty sure that this was the same storm that we were on west of OKC!! What a crazy couple of days.

On another note, I am heartbroken over the two year old child that died because of flood waters. I wish that folks would realize the dangers of driving over a flooded road. I know that child is with Jesus now, but the lady that was driving the car (not sure that she was the mother) will have to live with that decision for the rest of her life. PLEASE DO NOT DRIVE INTO A FLOODED ROADWAY!!!! YOU DON'T KNOW HOW DEEP THE WATER IS!!

Nice LP near Colony, Okla.

Well, 850 miles, no tornadoes, but a nice mesocyclone w/wall cloud trying to put down a tornado, but a storm just to the SW of this one was robbing the moisture.....maybe next time...