The following entries are all storm chases and interceptions performed in the Midwest United States from May 13, 2002 to May 27, 2002. This log is based on a joint effort of a storm chasing team. Members were myself - Chris Collura (Florida Skywarn storm spotter code B036 - KG4PJN), Jeff Gammons (Florida - KG4PJA), and Jason Foster (Maryland - N3PRZ) for the main chase team. This is jointly with the Weather Information Network or "Weathervine". The main chase vehicle was a 2002 Chevy Blazer SUV. Total mileage was over 6,200 miles!

Communications employed were HF and VHF HAM radio, FRS hand-held radios, and cellular phones and / or modems. Extensive camera and video equipment was also on board along with GPS and a laptop computer for navigation. The main chase duties were shifts in navigation using the GPS, radio communications, driving many miles, and preparing forecast data. A portable weather station also was developed by myself to be used in this chase trip. I flew into Dallas, Texas on May 13, 2002 to pick up my SUV rental and meet with Jeff. Jason flew in on May 16 to join us. The chase involved large expanses of the US Great Plains sometimes in the worst driving conditions imaginable, in very remote regions.

All chases and observations are in chronological order and a chase number is assigned to each entry. Please bear in mind that all observations adhere to modern storm analysis standards and do not include all storms that occurred in a given area for a particular chase period. The chase log is also augmented with a small chart at the conclusion the log showing types of observations.

Any kind of storm such as a thunderstorm, tornado, waterspout, tropical cyclone, and extratropical storm can be chased or observed. I have tried to keep this log of any storms that I have observed as accurate as possible, while using terms and expressions to abide by those used by most meteorologists and storm spotters today.

Storm chasing and observation can be extremely dangerous and may result in serious injury or death. I have received intermediate and advanced training for storm spotting in 1996. I strongly urge anyone who is to try their hand at storm spotting to get training before doing so. You must also have a good understanding of meteorology and storm dynamics. "If you don't know what you're doing, Don't do it!" Contact your local National Weather Service office for information on storm spotting and about training to become a Skywarn storm Spotter. It is also advised that chasing in the Great Plains is to be done only be experienced people as a group.

May 13 - Off day. Arrived in Dallas, Texas and spent the day in Denton, Texas. The portable weather station and all equipment was set up on the 2002 Chevy Blazer chase vehicle.

May 14 - Off day. Left Denton, Texas for Amarillo in late afternoon with possible target in Liberal, Kansas. Met with Amos Magliocco, Rob Hall, Scott Blair, and Eric Nguyen who will join us for chasing the next day.

May 15 - This day had two major thunderstorm intercepts, the first was an elevated multicell cluster of strong thunderstorms near Meade, Kansas. The second was a much more severe LP / Classic supercell type storm about 10 miles west of Pratt, Kansas. This storm developed after sunset but was illuminated by lightning to reveal an impressive structure. Hail 2.5 inches in diameter was found in this storm!

May 16 - Three thunderstorms, all supercells, and one producing a tornado were intercepted today. The chase track left Pratt, Kansas and passed through Springfield, Colorado with a primary target in Trinidad. Midway between Springfield and Trinidad, elevated convection was encountered with dropping dewpoints. This convection was in conjunction with a powerful shortwave trough coming out of the Rocky Mountains. The chase turned back to the east then south, and the first supercell was encountered near Campo, Colorado. The second supercell was farther south near Guymon, Oklahoma and produced prolific amounts of large hail and a weak tornado. The third supercell was intercepted in extreme northern Texas after dark, but was in its weakening phase.

May 17 - Off day. Front passed all the way through Texas and scoured out our unstable airmass. We went back to Denton, Texas and joined up with Jason Foster. He dropped his rental car off in DFW (after arriving May 16) and will join us until May 27. We decided to go caving in Carlesbad Caverns and positioned ourselves in Big Spring, Texas shortly after midnight.

May 18 - Off day. Moisture has not rebounded yet so we went spelunking in Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico. We left Big Spring, Texas for Carlsbad, New Mexico and arrived there at 2:30 PM MST. After a day of caving and photography of the New Nexico desert, we headed back into Texas after dark. We stayed the night in Plainview, Texas and are anticipating a target area soon to our north.

May 19 - Off day. Things got pretty scary with a nast high-pressure ridge setting up over the central United States, not a good thing for storm chasers. We managed to pass through Amarillo, Texas after making some quick repairs on a power cable for the weather station. We stayed in Clayton, New Mexico for some photography in Canyon Country. Our target was very uncertain for this day.

May 20 - Yet another off day. We left Clayton and headed north to Cheyenne Wyoming anticipating some convection the next day ahead of a vigorous low pressure system moving in from the Pacific Northwest.

May 21 - Squall line / multicell type elevated severe thunderstorms encountered in Eastern Wyoming from Casper to Torrington. This long chase started in Cheyenne and traveled up and down Interstate 25 to near Casper. Storms were followed southward from their point of origin down I 25 to highway 26, then eastward into Nebraska.

May 22 - Three thunderstorms, two of which supercells, were encountered today in North Central Kansas. The first storm was encountered near Lebanon, Kansas and the second supercell further south past Osborne, Kansas. Both storms were well-developed HP supercells with rapid rotation. The third thunderstorm was a multicell type storm that approached severe limits. This chase day ended nearly running out of gas until a gas station owner in Natoma, Kansas was kind enough to open and let us fuel up. We ended the day in Hays, Kansas.

May 23 - Three supercells were encountered today, all of which produced tornadoes. Two tornadoes from two supercell thunderstorms were observed. The chase began leaving Hays, Kansas southward to get ahead of a stalled frontal boundary. Initiation began in the warm sector of the system near Gage, Oklahoma. We drove west into Texas Panhandle on highway 15 to intercept our first thunderstorm, which became a supercell and produced a small tornado near Lipscomb, Texas. The second supercell was encountered further southwest near Spearman, Texas and dropped another brief, rain-wrapped tornado. The third supercell was an HP monster north of Pampa, Texas and was VIOLENTLY rotating. This storm had inflow over 50 knots and produced another tornado that was not intercepted. This same storm dropped "gorilla" hail. The chase ended after midnight and we stayed in Elk City, Oklahoma.

May 25 - Off Day. Convection possibilities were confined to far southern and central Texas, and with nearly non-existant mid-level winds and a poorly defined dryline, we decided to position for possible convection in the Texas Panhandle area for May 26. We stayed in Amarillo, Texas anticipating a possible dryline setup the following day.

May 26 - Severe elevated multicell thundetstorms were encountered today in SW Kansas near Hugoton and Liberal. These storms were multicell un nature and did not develop into true supercells. After completing our chase, we headed back into Texas and spent the night in Denton, Texas. Equipment was disassembled from the rental SUV and packup completed for tomorrows travel day./

May 27 - Off Day. This day was a travel day and included turning in the rental vehicle and leaving from DFW.

1). May 15, 3:30 PM - Penetration and observation of strong thunderstorms near Santana, Kansas along highway 56. These storms were an elevated multicell cluster of thunderstorms, and produced winds near 40 MPH, small hail, heavy rains, and frequent lightning. Jeff Gammons and myself conducted the chase in a 2002 Chevy Blazer SUV. The storms were caused by an upper-air disturbance and surface heating. Documentation was still photos and a camcorder.

2). May 15, 9:00 PM - Direct penetration and observation of an extremely severe thunderstorm to the west and northwest of Pratt, Kansas along and north of highway 54. The storm was a well developed LP supercell which actually evolved to the classic mode for some time. The storm occurred after night but contained frequent lightning which revealed a "stack of saucers" structure to the storm. North of this well-developed mesocyclone, hail up to 2.5 inches was found! This storm also produced some small funnel clouds and a large wall cloud. Only light to moderate rains was found with this storm. The storm also produced winds up to 60 MPH and frequent lightning with some close hits. Jeff Gammons and I conducted the chase in a 2002 Chevy Blazer SUV. Scott Blair and myself sampled the hail core in his 1996 Ford Taurus, which got a cracked windshield from the core punch. Documentation was still photos and video. A strong upper-air disturbance, surface heating, and approaching dryline caused the storms in an atmosphere of directional mid-level shear. A severe thunderstorm watch was also issued for this area.

3). May 16, 7:00 PM - Direct penetration of an extremely severe thunderstorm near Campo, Colorado. This storm had winds over 50 MPH but hail to 2 inches in diameter. Frequent lightning with heavy rains were also encountered with this storm. A region of rotation was noted on the SW side of this supercell storm with copious amounts of dust being picked up. Jeff Gammons and myself chase the storms in a 2002 Chevy Blazer SUV. Documentation was still photos and a camcorder. The storm was caused by surface heating, a stalled front to the north with a triple point on the dryline to the southwest. A vigorous shortwave trough provided the upper air support and shear for the supercell storm. Scott Blair, Eric Nguyen, Robert Hall, and Jeff Lawson also chased with us on this storm in separate vehicles.

4). May 16, 8:30 PM - Direct penetration of an extremely severe thunderstorm near Guymon, Oklahoma. This storm was a cyclic supercell that evolved through HP and classic supercell modes during its journey from the Oklahoma panhandle into far northern Texas. The storm was first encountered from the rear near guymon, and 2 inch hail was found (larger than golfballs). Hail left an accumulation in some areas, turning the ground white. South of Guymon, the same storm wen through an updraft cycle and produced a brief F1 tornado marked by a tornadic dust whirl under a rotating wall cloud. The storm cycled once more after that and began drawing in tremendous amounts of air from the east and southeast. Inflow was measured at over 55 MPH. The dust kicked up reduced visibility and even obscured the storm base entirely. The chase team and myself immediately went south to get out of the "bears cage" of this storm. Again, between Guymon and Spearman, Texas, hail was encountered, this time as large as tennis balls (2.5 inches). This caused damage to the chase vehicles involved. The storm also produced torrential rains, frequent lightning, and winds over 60 MPH. Jeff Gammons and myself chase the storms in a 2002 Chevy Blazer SUV. Documentation was still photos and a camcorder. The storm was caused by surface heating, a stalled front to the north with a triple point on the dryline to the southwest. A vigorous shortwave trough provided the upper air support and shear for the supercell storm. Scott Blair, Eric Nguyen, Robert Hall, and Jeff Lawson also chased with us on this storm in separate vehicles. A severe thunderstorm watch was also issued for this area.

5). May 16, 10:30 PM - Direct penetration of a severe thunderstorm in northern Texas well east of Texahoma, Texas. This storm was a supercell thunderstorm and was intercepted during its gust-out or weakening stages. Hail up to dime / nickel size was encountered with extremely heavy rains and winds near 50 MPH. This storm was another giant hail producer, and produced grapefruit sized hail earlier near Texahoma. The storm weakened considerable at time of interception. Jeff Gammons and myself chase the storms in a 2002 Chevy Blazer SUV. Documentation was still photos and a camcorder. The storm was caused by surface heating, a stalled front to the north with a triple point on the dryline to the southwest. A vigorous shortwave trough provided the upper air support and shear for the supercell storm. Scott Blair, Eric Nguyen, Robert Hall, and Jeff Lawson also chased with us on this storm in separate vehicles.

6). May 21, 8:00 PM - Observation and penetration of severe thunderstorms in Eastern Wyoming. The storms developed east of the Rocky Mountains front range near Casper as elevated multicell thunderstorms. There were some bow line segments observed with some of these cells initially. The storms then evolved into a rather strong squall line along a very strong cold front. Precipitation was rather light to moderate with this line, but severe winds were observed. One 73 MPH gust was measured as a gustnado type vortex passed right across highway 26 near Torrington, Wyoming. These storms were caused by surface heating in very low dewpoints forced by a strong cold front. A 2002 Chevy Blazer SUV was used to chase the storms. Documentation was still photos and a camcorder. A severe thunderstorm watch was also in effect for this area.

7). May 22, 6:00 PM - Observation of a severe thunderstorm and funnel cloud near Lebanon, Kansas west of highway 24. The storm was an HP supercell that developed in a line of severe thunderstorms. The storm was observed from its southestern side and produced a large rotating wall cloud after some time. The storm weakened before a tornado could develop. Light rains and 40 MPH inflow winds were observed this region away from the storm core. A 2002 Chevy Blazer was used to observe the storms. Eric Nguyen, Amos Magliocco, and Scott Blair also were chasing with us in a caravan for the storms. Documentation was still photos and a camcorder. A weak frontal boundary, surface heating, and advancing dryline produced the storms under strong shearing winds aloft. A severe thunderstorm watch was also in effect for the area.

8). May 22, 8:00 PM - Direct penetration of a large severe thunderstorm southwest of Osborne, Kansas west of highway 24. The storm was an HP supercell thunderstorm and the chase track passed through the southern core of the storm. The RFD winds blasted out of the west during the core punch at over 65 MPH with torrential rains. The storm also had frequent lightning. A 2002 Chevy Blazer was used to observe the storms. Eric Nguyen and Scott Blair also were chasing with us in a caravan for the storms. Documentation was still photos, audio, and a camcorder. A weak frontal boundary, surface heating, and advancing dryline produced the storms under strong shearing winds aloft. A severe thunderstorm watch was also in effect for the area.

9). May 22, 9:00 PM - Penetration of a very strong to possible severe thunderstorm neat Alton, Kansas west of highway 24. This storm had 40 MPH winds and hail at least dime sized. The thunderstorm was along a line of strong and severe thunderstorms. A 2002 Chevy Blazer was used to observe the storms. Eric Nguyen, Amos Magliocco, and Scott Blair also were chasing with us in a caravan for the storms. Documentation was still photos and a camcorder. A weak frontal boundary, surface heating, and advancing dryline produced the storms under strong shearing winds aloft. A severe thunderstorm watch was also in effect for the area.

10). May 23, 5:00 PM - Observation of a severe and tornadic thunderstorm near Lipscomb, Texas near Highway 15 and Highway 305. The storm was a classic supercell and produced frequent lightning and large hail (up to quarter sized) in the areas observed. The storm produced a brief tornado and was followed for 2 hours before the supercell dissipated. After the tornado, the storm still produced several large wall clouds and funnels. Documentation was still photos and a camcorder. A 2002 Chevy Blazer was used to chase the storms, which were caused by surface heating, an upper air disturbance / jet stream, stalled frontal boundary, and advancing dryline. A severe thunderstorm watch was also in effect for this area.

11). May 23, 8:00 PM - Observation of a very severe and tornadic thunderstorm near Spearman, Texas near Highway 70. The storm was a classic supercell and produced frequent lightning and a very large wall cloud. Hail up to nickel sized with strong winds to 50 MPH and heavy rains were also observed with these storms. The storm produced a brief rain-wrapped tornado before its powerful mesocyclone occluded. Documentation was still photos and a camcorder. A 2002 Chevy Blazer was used to chase the storms, which were caused by surface heating, an upper air disturbance / jet stream, stalled frontal boundary, and advancing dryline. A severe thunderstorm watch was also in effect for this area.

12). May 23, 9:30 PM - Observation and direct penetration of an extremely severe thunderstorm north of Pampa, Texas near highway 70. This storm was a violently rotating HP supercell with one of the most incredible and defined mesocyclones I ever seen. Lightning was continuous, and viewing the storm structure was no problem because of it. The storm was onserved from Pampa to Miami, Texas during its very long lifecycle. On its southeast side, inflow winds 50 to 60 MPH were observed. The storm had a well developed vault region, wall cloud, hail core, and beavers tails extending out to the NE, SE and flaking to the SW. The entire updraft base was "liberty bell" shaped with many "stacked plates" in the mid-levels. The storm may have produced a large tornado, but it was not observed. A 2002 Chevy Blazer was used to chase the storm. At 10:30 PM, I rode with Scott Blair in a 1996 Ford Taurus into the hail core on this cell. Frequent lightning with numerous close hits, torrential rains, baseball sized hail, and 80 MPH winds were found in the core. The car was knocked off the road and had its front windshield shattered by hail 3 inches, or more, in diameter! The Ford Taurus suffered numerous cratering to its body panels from the hail. This storm was caused by surface heating, an upper air disturbance / jet stream, stalled frontal boundary, and retreating dryline. A severe thunderstorm watch was also in effect for this area.

13). May 24, 5:00 PM - Observation of a severe thunderstorm northeast of Childress, Texas. The storm was one of the first cells to initiate after 3:30 PM. The storm rapidly developed and became a supercell storm with inflow tails, notch, precipitiation core, and vault. The storm persisted for a while as it was observed from a distance of a few miles. Only 20 MPH inflow winds and light rain with lightning was observed with this storm from its vantage point. As other weaker cells developed around the supercell, it evolved to LP mode and gradually dissipated. The supercell updraft did have a stacked plate striated appearance for a while before the storm dissipated. A 2002 Chevy Blazer SUV was used to chase the storm, which was caused by surface heating, an upper air disturbance, Gulf moisture, and a triple point of a dryline and cold front to the north. Documentation was still photos and a camcorder. A tornado watch was also issued for the area.

14). May 24, 6:00 PM - Penetration of a severe thunderstorm west of Quanah, Texas along highway 62. This storm was part a multicell portion of thunderstorms ahead of the advancing dryline. While passing through the storm, torrential rains, 45 MPH winds, frequent lightning, and dime to nickel sized hail was encountered. A 2002 Chevy Blazer SUV was used to chase the storm, which was caused by surface heating, an upper air disturbance, Gulf moisture, and a triple point of a dryline and cold front to the north. Documentation was still photos and a camcorder. A tornado watch was also issued for the area.

15). May 24, 8:00 PM - Observation of an extremely severe thunderstorm northeast of Benjamin, Texas in King County from along highway 82. The chase track approached the storm from the west and passed just south of a very severe hail core under the rain-free base. 30 to 40 MPH inflow and outflow winds were encountered with this storm. The hail core had hail to grapefruit size but was not penetrated. This storm showed a TVS on radar, and visually had an RFD "slot" that quickly wrapped around the mesocyclone core and occluded the storm. The radar also indicated 79 VIL and 74 DBz base reflectivity with this cell! The storm was not penetrated, and gusted out to a linear feature north of Seymour, Texas. A 2002 Chevy Blazer SUV was used to chase the storm, which was caused by surface heating, an upper air disturbance, Gulf moisture, and a triple point of a dryline and cold front to the north. Documentation was still photos and a camcorder. A tornado watch was also issued for the area.

16). May 26, 7:00 PM - Penetration of severe thunderstorms near Hugoton and Liberal, Kansas. These storms were part of a multicell cluster of elevated (high based) strong and severe thunderstorms. When penetrating the storms near Liberal and Hugoton, moderate to heavy rains, 50 to 60 MPH winds, and nickel sized hail were encountered along with frequent lightning. The storms were caused by a region of convergence ahead of a weak dryline, an upper air disturbance, and surface heating. A 2002 Chevy Blazer SUV was used to chase these storms. Documentation was still photos and a camcorder. A severe thunderstorm watch was also issued for the area.

This concludes the Midwestern United States Chase Log. The summary includes a total of 15 severe thunderstorms and 3 well-documented tornadoes. The main chase vehicle conducting all chases was a 2002 Chevy Blazer. Three other vehicles were used in some chases, a 1998 Toyota 4-Runner (Amos Magliocco), a 1996 Ford Taurus (Scott Blair), and a 1999 Dodge Regency van (Eric Nguyen). All vehicles received hail damage during this expedition, the most severe being to the 1996 Ford Taurus owned by Scott Blair. The tornadoes observed ranged from F0 to F1 on the Fujita scale. This information was prepared exclusively for the National Weather service and the team of Skywarn storm spotters.