COVER: F-5 tornado that struck Oakfield, WI on July 18, 1996. Photo by Don Lloyd.

Storm Track is a non-profit publication intended for the scientist and amateur alike whoshare an avid interest in the acquisition and advancement of knowledge concerning severe orunusual weather phenomena. It is published bi-monthly in Lewisville, Texas. David Hoadleyfounded the publication in 1977 and STORMTRACK has continued to grow and improve ever since.Gene Rhoden designed the current cover. David Hoadley still contributes drawns and sketches.Current, we have about 650 subscribers!

Anyone can submit an article or letter to STORMTRACK. Articles should be single-spaced andcontain proper english. Right justified margins are preferred or the editor can retype thetext. High contrast photographs reproduce best. Diagrams should be clear and legible,subject to photo-reduction. All articles will be edited.

Subscription rates are: U.S. First Class mail $14/year, Canada $14/year, and England/Japan$20/year. Each November issue will have a color cover and one issue will contain additionalpages of text. Individual issues are $2.35/copy. Back issues are available by year, or thecomplete 18 year set (1978-1995) can be purchased for $125. To subscribe or renew, send acheck or money order PAYABLE ONLY to Tim Marshall, 4041 Bordeaux Circle, Flower Mound, Texas75028.

STORM TRACK CLASSIFIEDS

Sell or swap your wares. Only 25c per word (20 word minimum = $5, 160 word maximum = $40). Sendyour request for the next issue by October 15, 1996.

StormWatch, Winner: National Weather Association Media Award. StormWatch, the new, officialNational Weather Service Advanced Storm Spotting Training Video is now available from the TexasSevere Storms Association (TESSA). StormWatch introduces the storm spotter and reveals the uniquecharacteristics of the severe thunderstorm they must know. StormWatch highlights storms whichproduce deadly lightning, ravaging flash flood.s, damaging hail and destructive tornadoes. Send$24.95 plus $2.95 S/H to: TESSA, P.O. Box 122020, Arlington, TX 76012. Allow 3-5 weeks fordelivery. Checks payable to TESSA. No purchase orders please. (1/97)

NEW RELEASE! THE CHASERS OF TORNADO ALLEY. This is it! The long-awaited sequel to the award-winning 1991 Public Television documentary CHASING THE WIND. THE CHASERS OF TORNADO ALLEY tellsthe true story about storm chasers and how they pursue Nature's most violent atmosphericphenomenon, the tornado. A unique tale about the storm chaser's love for storms and the GreatPlains. Hosted and narrated by TWISTER's Dean Lindsay. Produced and Directed by Martin Lisius.Send check or money order for $19.95 plus $3.95 S/H to: Prairie Pictures, P.O. Box 122020,Arlington, Texas, 76012. Please allow 3-5 weeks for delivery. No purchase orders please. (3/97)

Chasing the Mind...SPECIAL RELEASE! Since its Public Television premier in 1992, CHASING THE WINDhas become an American favorite. This award-winning documentary, produced and directed by MartinLisius, is now available on home video through this special release. Ride along with stormchasers as they track the deadly but elusive tornado across the America's Great Plains. Theirstrategy and dedication pays off as they intercept one of the most spectral tornado outbreaks inrecent history. CHASING THE WIND is the original storm chase adventure! Send check or money orderfor $17.95 plus $3.95 S/H to: Prairie Pictures, P.O. Box 122020, Arlington, Texas 76012. Pleaseallow 3-5 weeks for delivery (3/97).

STORMTRACKER T-SHIRTS are still available. This 100% cotton white T-shirt features a large printof the Warren, Oklahoma tornado. The words STORM TRACKER (in red) borders the ropy grey tornadoand is enclosed in a blue frame with two persons running towards the vortex. The logo is 9" x12". $15 post paid (in U.S.) for a limited time. Canadians $17, overseas $25. Please indicatesize: small, medium, large, or extra- large. Remit to: Tim Marshall, 4041 Bordeaux Circle, FlowerMound., Texas 75028.

TWISTER: A MISSION IMPOSSIBLE!I. COMMENTARY

As expected, there was a tremendous response to the movie TWISTER and I am glad the hype iswinding down. The movie created an intense interest in the subject of tornado chasing, especiallyamong children. Hundreds of kids have written me and asked many questions. Typical questionswere: What is it like to be a storm chaser? Is it dangerous? How close do you get? Astute kidsasked: How much does it pay? What college do I go to -to become a storm chaser? Do I have to takescience classes? Humorous questions were: "Where do you go to the bathroom? Do you ever eat orsleep? Have you ever run out of gas? Disturbing questions were: Is it possible to be inside atornado without being killed? Is it possible to drive a tank into a tornado and survive? Manykids stated they wanted to he storm chasers when they grow up. "Tornadoes are cool", they said.

Although Hollywood portrayed chasers as reckless, thrillseeking individuals, kids looked pastthat and found storm chasing as fun and interesting as dinosaurs. It is clear, however, that mostkids did not understand where reality ended and fantasy began in the movie -most grown ups didn'teither. This has left me with some concern that a few more vigilantes have been born -which youmay see stopping on the road next spring. I was surprised to find that about 80% of the kids whoresponded were girls -I think to Helen Hunt being a role model.

Dear Tim,

If there was a big storm that started atornado, and the tornado went over our house,hit a telephone pole with electricity in it,and it fell onto our house and started afire, what would I do? Would my family and Ihave to stay inside and die? How could I getout if there was a tornado outside and a fireinside? -Allison Dawes

II. CHASER NEWS

STORMTRACK HAS MOVED TO A NEW ADDRESS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY: 4041 Bordeaux Circle, Flower Mound,Texas 75028. New phone number is: 817-430-0517.

Announcement: The new Storm Chaser Homepage Canada (SCH CANADA) is accessible through theInternet via the World Wide Web (WWW) client software, such as Netscape and many others throughprivate vendors. To access the page, the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) is:http://taiga.geog.niu.edu/chaser/canada/ SCH CANADA contains a wealth of information for seriousstorm chasers who chase in Canada including weather data such as soundings and CanadianMeteorological Centre model forecasts. We are attempting in the near future to have both Englishand French versions online. -- Gilbert Sebenste. To contact Gilbert online, his email address is:sebenste@taiga.geog.niu.edu

IN THE SHADOW OF THE TORNADO is a new paperback book by freelance writer Richard Bedard. It'sgeneral nonfiction, 170 pages with 22 black and white photographs. To order write: GilcoPublishing, P.O. Box 2175, Norman, OK 73070-2175, ph: 405-447-3005.

III. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Mark Muzekari shares with us his experience with Tropical Storm Bertha. "Bertha passed overAtlantic City, NJ around 10:30 am on July 13, 1996. I reached the town of Brigantine around6:00am. It was a little windy with steady rain. I sat up on the bulkhead facing the ocean andtook some still photographs and video. Around 10:30 am, things got a little out of hand -literally! I was shooting video when a wave of about 15 feet high hit the bulkhead knocked medown sending my camcorder into the four foot storm surge. I got off the bulkhead as fast as Icould -my camcorder was destroyed. At my house in Egg Harbor, I clocked a gust of 65 mph withone minute speeds of between 40 and 45 mph. My rain gauge recorded five inches."

Todd Atchison from Fargo, ND writes: "Last year around July 10, we had a powerful downburstthat at first was thought to be a tornado. It began at 0300 hours just southwest of Fargo andcontinued about 130 miles northeast to Cass Lake, MN ripping a narrow path through the lakecountry and Itasca State Park leveling hundreds of acres of forest and farmland. It blew theroof off a furniture superstore in Lake Park, MN in addition to many barns, sheds, and mosttrees over 50 years old. They found stuffed animals from the fair all over the Fargo-Moorehead area. Winds were recorded in Fargo at 80+ mph, and estimated around 100 mph in LakePark and Itasca State Park. This is the storm that really got me interested in severeweather. At the time, I was a delivery driver and my route followed the entire damage path. Isaw much of the damage first hand the next morning before cleanup efforts began. The stormblew down an apartment complex under construction just blocks from my home."

Bill Reid sent in his movie review: "TWISTER" was a ton of fun to watch. How could amegabucks flick about storm chasers and tornadoes fail to keep the interest of an avid chaserlike myself? However, I still can't decide if I'm disappointed or not with the film. I tendto look for flaws in any movie, so I had a field day with "TWISTER". But this movie wasn'tmade just for storm chasers, and we don't usually go to movies to get a dose of reality. Wego to get away from the real world and to suspend reality for two hours. So, even thoughtornadoes were spawned by stratocumulus clouds, (crushed) ice cubes were dumped onto chasevehicles as hail, the portrayal of storm chasers as goofy thrillseekers, and human fleshremained remarkably intact despite direct interaction with debris-filled 200 mph winds, I wasable to minimize my nit-picking and I enjoyed TWISTER. Oh yeah, the plot was really lametoo."

Steve Moles corrects some of the frequencies listed on the Storm Spotter Frequency Mappublished in the January-February 1996 issue of STORMTRACK: "The repeaters listed forCleveland, OK (145.11) and Skiatook, OK (147.045) are no longer in operation. Additionally,the main repeater for Osage County, OK was not listed. It is 146.985 MHz with a negative 600KHz offset. The 146.985 MHz repeater in Pawhuska, OK is used extensively for our Skywarnoperations within northern Oklahoma. We also have a back- up repeater also located inPawhuska, OK on 146.865 MHz with an access tone on 88.5 Hz and a negative offset of 600 KHz.The frequency listed for Oklahoma watches in the maps legend on 151.445 MHz is an excellentresource while storm spotting/chasing in central Oklahoma."

Rex Athey sent in his movie review: "At 4:10pm, Friday afternoon, TWISTER made its debut atthe Colonial Commons Mall in Harrisburg, PA. Both theatres showing the movie were sold outall night. The first tornado had some kind of digital generated look to it but it did havewhat seemed to be realistic movement. When the yellow truck was in the trench stuck under therailroad trestle, the ground shots were indeed very impressive. The destruction of the barnand silo had a computer graphic motion quality to it's destruction (most destruction has aseemingly endless variety of pieces moving in all different directions at all differentvelocities). The next scene with the splitting tornadoes was more impressive with the waterappearance to them. Although it was a great scene, it seemed to lack the excitement of thefirst scene. The last tornado was a great scene with the shot of it coming at them and ourtwo heroes later inside the vortex. Overall, this movie was a tornado admirer's

dream come true (an F-6!). The next day, May 11, I went back to see the movie a second time.Around 3pm, a REAL tornado struck Harrisburg and caused five million dollars in damages -- Ijust keep missing tornadoes!"

Rex Allen gave TWISTER an overall rating of F-2 on the movie scale: "Factually speaking, themovie probably achieved the goal of heightening awareness of tornadoes with the generalpublic; specifically, the opening scene where the father is "sucked" from the shelter or theresultant devastation in town. Personally being involved with emergency managementoperations, specifically SKYWARN, I noticed that any early warning activities were omittedfrom the film."

IV. ROSTER

The ST Roster lists names, addresses, and brief biographies of those persons who areinterested in or willing to correspond with others about storms and storm chasing.Ronnie Havran, 724 Hardeman St., Sealy, Texas 77474. I am 29 years old and have beeninterested in weather since I was very young. I have been making regular weather observationssince 1979 and have been tracking storms since 1976. My knowledge of meteorological conceptsand principles is self taught. I would like to correspond with meteorologists, researchscientists, and storm chasers who share a fascination with tornadoes and hurricanes.

Darin Wilson, 613 South Merchant, Apt C, Emporia, KS 66801, phone: 316-342-2998. I'm 26 andhave been chasing for five years. I've lived in Kansas all my life and have always beeninterested in weather. I would like to learn more about forecasting severe storms. Hp jobusually allows me to have Friday, Saturday, and Sundays off."Travis Timmerman, R.R. 3, Box 157, Marshall, Texas 56258, phone: 507-532-6675. I am 11 yearsold and have been into weather, especially tornadoes, since I was 8. I live on a farm andhave seen one tornado. I would like to talk about the weather in different states.

FUNNEL FUNNIES: Did You Chase on Independence Day?

STORM CHASE TERMS SEEK & FIND by Roger Edwards

1996 - THE OTHER REWARDS OF STORM CHASING by David Hoadley

1996 was a minimal year for this chaser. I was in seven tornado boxes over five days and in ideal locationon four -but only saw three weak tornadoes and a half dozen small funnels. I chased May 9-10, 23-26, andJune 16-28, looking for that elusive southwest flow aloft.

On the 9th, the first tornado was a broad but brief dust swirl beneath strong cloud-base rotation southwestof Concordia, Kansas. A second, spinup-tube, rose from a field a minute later -seen in the rear view mirrorwhile driving away for a better photographic location, but it was gone before I could stop. On May 10 (theBig Spring "grapefruit hail" day) I chased the first severe storm in southwest,Texas, south of Headland. Itlater triggered several doppler tornado warnings near San Angelo, however, darkness prevented visualconfirmation.

The next chase took me to Russell, Kansas, late on the afternoon of the 22nd, after an almost non- stop 23hour drive from Virginia but too late to catch the Benkelman storm. The next day I chased central Kansas,but my forecast was wrong despite strong surface dynamics (the previous day's also didn't verify), On the24th, I decided to play it smart. Tornadoes were reported the previous day in northeast Colorado, and thatmorning the Storm Prediction Center called for more there. I did the usual forecast but then, since theprevious two had busted, ignored it and drove into southeast Colorado to await the big show. Only atSpringfield, did I first hear the tornado watch from the panhandle to central Kansas, The tops of reportedsevere storms were already visible far to the southeast! A quick calculation suggested it was too far tocatch, so I sat patiently near LaJunta, grinding my teeth and waiting for storms that never fired. Aftertwo busts, how did my 10AH forecast do that day? Smaller than the NWS box, it was right through the middleof it and included every reported tornado!! Sometimes, there just is no justice.

Chastised at that poor judgement, I closely followed my forecast the next day and chased several cellsnorth of Clovis, New Mexico -but to no avail. Convection occurred over a wide area but with little apparentorganization, while the dry line lay to the west. I saw the backside of one cell go up east of Clovis, butit appeared no different from the others. However, within an hour and less than 40 miles east, severalchasers caught a brief tornado near Friona! What was more galling, it was only 5 miles (!) from the deadcenter of my forecast! Again, no justice.

The last chase was June 16 through the 28th from Coloradoand the Dakotas to montana, where I saw a weak tornadonorthwest of Miles City on the 24th. The one mishap -and awarning to chasers- was with a rather large buzzard nearBenkelman, Nebraska. While driving to Goodland, throughlight rain, I approached this ponderous fowl, dining bythe side of the road. I hardly slowed, since most usuallyflap away. Not this time. Before I knew it, he took off -right into the windshield- and hit hard, squarely in frontof my face! The wiper snapped off in a thump and flurry offeathers -but the window held. The wiper was replaced, anda - few more grey hairs were counted. This driver nowslows when approaching such wildlife. You should too.

However, my 40th year of storm chasing was about more than just the twisting clouds from an angry sky. Twomemorable non-severe days stand out with some of the best tornadoes I have seen. One was during the earlyafternoon, while driving into southeast Montana from Belle Fourche. There are stretches where US 212 ridesa ridge-line and mostly looks down on gently rolling, green hills and wooded valleys with widely scatteredfarms and cattle. That particular day, the deep blue sky was filled with small cumulus, which scattered acheckerboard of shadows across the freshly green and wind-swept fields. Classical music soon filled thecar, and for the next hour I forgot about storms and tedium and even where I was. Time stood still, as thechanging patterns of prairie and cloud passed in a pageant of color, light and shadow - as if revealingsome grand plan.

Another day, while driving through western Nebraska, the evening sun caught an anvil almost overhead -froma storm to the southwest. No manmade light marred the darkening horizon as this cloud deck began to flarein yellow and pink against the deepening blue sky. A program of organ music was just beginning on PBSradio. The sky seemed to catch fire and begin to burn with color. as the anvil draped itself in brilliantgold and volcanic red. The car filled to the music of royalty and acclamation, while open windows swept itclean with the night air - and stars began to gather. I didn't want it to end.

- - - some of the other rewards of storm chasing.

DO YOU HAVE YOUR HAM LICENSE YET? By Warren Faidley

Over the years, there have been numerous discussions concerning the ethics of chasersrelaying severe weather information to the authorities. During the 1993 chase season, Iutilized a ham radio (and cellular phone) to relay information to the National WeatherService and spotter networks. I found it easy to do and quite rewarding.

On May 5, 1993, many chasers converged on the supercells which produced numerous tornadoes inthe Texas and Oklahoma panhandles as well as southwest Kansas. Fortunately, these gargantuansized twisters miraculously missed populated areas. I was able to relay confirmation data tothe National Weather Service in Amarillo. Many chasers feel that most storms are beingwatched by others and there is no need to relay additional information. This is usually thecase,' however, I have encountered some storms where chasers are few and far between and/orfound chasers that do not have communication equipment.

On July 6, 1993, a storm produced a long-lived rotating wall cloud south of Alva, Oklahoma.Given the time of year and slight risk environment, spotter information was limited to mostlylaw enforcement who arrived late on the scene. There were funnel clouds and a brief tornado.However, I was not able to relay the critical wall cloud report to the National WeatherService in Norman due in part to their closed door policy and therefore relayed my report tothe 911 operator. However, I have found other Weather Offices eager to receive bonafide andaccurate reports from responsible chasers and some offices even have 800 numbers.

A number of chasers have told me that the costs of operating ham radio do not justify itsusage. This is understandable, as chasing can he expensive. But many quality ham radios canbe found for about the same price of a new CB radio or scanner. It is also enlightening tonote that an investment in a ham radio (or scanner) could vastly improve your ability totrack tornadoes. You can receive critical weather information outside the range of NOAAweather radio. Other excuses I hear for not getting a ham radio or cell phone is that achaser will lose valuable footage or photographs. I can understand this concern if you travelby yourself but if you are with a group, only one person needs to relay information.There has been some concern over the legal ramifications of relaying storm information. Butas long as the data you transmit is legal and executed in a responsible manner, no one isgoing to he held responsible for attempting to save lives. There is the possibility that yourfailure to report an event could cost many lives.

Recent changes in regulations governing ham radio usage have made it easier for persons tobecome ham radio operators. The test is easy, consisting of multiple choice questions andcosts about five dollars. The answers to the test are actually found in many study guides.There is no longer a Morse code test for the Technician license (the license you need). Evenif you flunk the test, you can take it again. I do suggest that you complete your test andhave the paperwork forwarded to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as soon aspossible, as it can take months to receive your license, which you must have before you canbroadcast.

In addition to ham radios, many chasers are now using cellular phones which can be usedalmost anywhere in tornado alley. Although the costs of such phones is high, the advantagesof accessing "on the road" data, reserving motel rooms in the middle of nowhere, and thesecurity they offer, may justify their usage beyond relaying information. The ultimatedecision to become involved in spotting is a personal one and not everyone will want tobecome involved. I feel it is necessary that many of us communicate with the National WeatherService. It is not only good for you, but good for chasing in general in these days when somepeople are beginning to question the legitimate purpose of chasing. For more information onobtaining a ham license, contact your local ham radio group, radio supply store, or Skywarnspotter group.

HURRICANE HAILER by Marty Feely

It was just another sultry summer afternoon with no chance of rain in the forecast. I checkedthe weather radio to see how hot it was. They said skies were clear over Oklahoma except foran isolated severe thunderstorm moving south into Grant County crossing the Kansas border. Asevere thunderstorm watch had been issued at 2:30pm for western and central Oklahoma. Idecided to go after the storm -after all it was moving my way. Before I could get out of thehouse, the National Weather Service had issued a tornado warning west of Enid, Oklahoma. Onthe scanner, I heard the radar operator say, "No doubt about it. We have a strong indicationof a tornado..."

On my way north on I-35 towards Oklahoma City, I was listening to LIVE spotter reports out ofKingfisher County. "I'm getting golfball-size hail... no, it's bigger... I just lost mywindshield." A perfect pancake anvil loomed overhead. Lightning ripped through the black skyto my northwest. And still local radio stations were airing forecasts of mostly sunny I metthe storm as it crossed I-40 west of Oklahoma City. The large hail core was shoveling up alot of dust, it was all outflow. I had missed the show, unfortunately.

Damage reports were filtering in. One of the towns worst hit was Lahoma. Between 500 and 800homes were damaged substantially by large hail driven by high northerly winds. Hail enteredhouses through broken windows and walls in some instances. Windows on vehicles wereshattered. In many cases there was no glass left on the vehicle. Antennas, windshield wipers,and hood ornaments were broken off. Damage to trees and shrubs was extensive. Virtually everytree within miles was stripped of leaves. There were places where no green vegetation couldbe seen in any direction, resulting in a surreal, almost winter-like landscape. Lawns andfields were beaten into a brown-green mulch. Craters and divots were left in the ground.

Eyewitnesses said the storm struck Lahoma between 2:45 and 3pm. The storm appeared as a largecloud of dust approaching rapidly from the north. The Oklahoma Mesonet site 2 miles west oftown recorded a peak wind gust of 113 mph before becoming disabled. A 37 degree temperaturedrop occurred in 15 minutes, from 91 at 2:40pm to 54 degrees F at 2:55pm.

Several people suffered minor injuries from broken glass, and bruises from hail impact. Twopeople were treated for hypothermia after hail smashed through their car windows andaccumulated inside their car. One citizen reported a chunk of ice that measured 4 inches by 6inches. (Hail up to three inches deep stayed in some shady areas 24 hours after the storm).

Visual reports and a concentration of damage indicated that a tornado touched down at about3:33pm about 2.5 miles west-southwest of Kingfisher, OK and moved south- southeast for abouttwo miles. A 40-foot aluminum trailer was lifted and dropped on it's side about 40 to 50 feetto the south. A pickup truck was rolled about 20 feet to the south and ended up on a pile ofbricks and farm accessories. Several power poles were bent over or snapped along a one milestretch of east-west road. There was no strong evidence of rotation in the damage; perhapsthis was a gustnado.

Midway between Kingfisher and Okarche, a local resident drove his pickup truck into the hailat about 3:48pm, and suffered extreme hail damage to his vehicle. When the driver stopped toexamine the vehicle, he found a hailstone lying in the bed of the truck that wasapproximately 6 inches long and four inches wide. The windshield and back window were brokenout, and the vehicle body metal looked like a moonscape.

Roger Edwards of the National Severe Storms Forecast Center explained that the storm formedin a very unusual way. Overnight convection above the boundary layer in Nebraska had movedsouth into Kansas during the morning. The resulting rain-cooled air weakened the otherwiseunbreakable cap from above. Deep convection began near Russell, Kansas around 10 am and movedsouth into an even more unstable environment.

THE SPOT INDEX by Tim Marshall

The Surface POTential (SPOT) index was introduced by Col. Robert Miller in the mid- 1970's toforecast severe storm potential. It is based on hourly surface data and is a measure ofinstability with some enhancement for moisture convergence. I have had some luck over theyears in using this index. The advantages in using the SPOT index are: 1) it is easy to use,2) it is based off surface stations which have more dense spacing than upper air stations,thus has better resolution, and 3) it can he updated hourly unlike upper air data which isonly made twice a day. Disadvantages are that it does not consider upper air information soit will not be able to identify regions where the atmosphere is capped. You can have the mostunstable air in the world, but if it doesn't overcome the cap, no storms result.

The SPOT index = (T-60) + (Td-55) + 100 (30.00 -- P) + F(v)

where T = the surface air temperature in degrees F, Td is the surface temperature in degreesF, P is the altimeter pressure in inches, f (v) with the win6 contibution where WS is thewind speed in mph. (see the table below).

Wind direction...........0-40...40-70...70-130...130-210...210-230...230-250...250-360.... Dewpoint Td > 60 -WS 0 WS 2WS WS WS -2WS 55 to 60 -WS 0 WS 2WS WS/2 -WS -2WS Td < 55 -2WS 0 WS/2 WS 0 -2WS -2WS

I have experimented with changing the various above values and categories. The analysis ismore clear if you delete all stations west of the dryline. Skill is improved if you inputcorrectly forecasted values of temperature, dewpoint and wind. Also, watch for consistency tosee if the same station maintains the HIGHEST SPOT VALUE from hour-to-hour. I call such astation the Most Unstable STation or MUST. Severe storms (if they break the cap) usuallybegin near the MUST location and propagate downwind.

EXAMPLE #1: If the temperature is 84, dewpoint is 70, altimeter is 29.92 and the wind issouth at 15 mph, calculate the SPOT INDEX value. Answer: 77.

EXAMPLE #2: If the temperature is 90, dewpoint is 64, altimeter is 30.12 and the wind issouthwest (220) at 9 mph, calculate the SPOT INDEX value. Answer: 36.

SUMMER VACATION by Richard Conn

After uneventful chasing in June 1995, I planned a vacation to see my grandchildren inFlorida over the July 4th holidays. Starting from southern Utah on July 1st, I reachedAlbuquerque, NM by midday and encountered 40 mph west tailwinds with dewpoints in the 30's(degrees F). When I approached Tucumcari, NM, a large dry cumulus formed to my distantnortheast. It became an interesting 150 miles from first sight until I stood under a hugesupercell at the end of the day.

My Micronta thermohygrometer (don't leave home without it -even on vacation) helped. me mapout the dewpoint distribution quite accurately as I drove through Amarillo. As I approachedthe western city limits, the winds went calm. Dewpoint temperatures rose into the 50's. Bythe time I reached the eastern city limits, the dewpoints rose to 76 degrees on east-southeast winds around 30 mph. I kept heading east to Conway until I noticed a supercelldeveloping to my northwest, so I headed north to Panhandle, Texas. There stood a huge wallcloud, perfectly circular, about two miles in diameter. Fracto-cumulus gathered underneaththe updraft center but darkness soon obscured the wall cloud from view. However, I foundmyself in an open field under a pink sunlit anvil with horizontal streamers of lightning -itscontinuous growl in surround sound. What an enjoyable side trip along the way to Florida.

THE OAKFIELD, WISCONSIN TORNADO by Don Lloyd

On July 18, 1996, weather conditions were evolving into a severe storm situation. A markedthermal and moist ridge fed by a strong low level jet (LLJ) were present near a mesolow (1004mb) in west, south-central Wisconsin. The convective available potential energies (CAPES)were about 4500-5000 j/kg with lifted indices (LI's) between -8 and -11 degrees centigrade.The 500 mb winds were west-northwesterly and increased to 65 knots during the afternoon as ashort wave rotated through the region around an upper-level low situated over northernWisconsin. Dewpoint temperatures were between 74 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit, and airtemperatures were between 84 and 88 degrees Fahrenheit in the target area.

Based on existing conditions, I predicted the area around Tomah seemed ripe for severedevelopment. The only factor which might have inhibited convection was the persistent low-level cloud cover. The stratocumulus cloud deck broke about five miles west of Fond-du-Lacrevealing a moderate mid-level mixture of building altocumulus and altocumulus castellanus(ACCAS) . Surface winds were brisk from the south-southwest. A broad anvil was visible to thenorth-northwest associated with storms in the Stevens Point area. I headed west (I took mysons and daughter too) to an area of persistent convective development. Several towers, ledby exploding turkey towers, quickly glaciated before dissipating (orphan turkeys) . When thehot spot became more organized, we stopped in Montello and used my laptop computer todownload a composite next generation radar (NEXRAD) image from La Crosse. There was a small,intense area of precipitation on our storm associated with the forward flank downdraft (FFD).

We drove north and quickly encountered the rain free base (RFB) . The storm moved east-southeast and developed an area of weak rotation consistent with an embedded mesocyclone nearPrinceton. An organized flanking line was NOT visible from our position. At this point, theNational Weather Service issued a tornado warning for our storm. By the time we reachedRipon, the rotation became well organized. We drove into heavy rain with embedded dime toquarter-size hail as the storm briefly veered more to the south. We followed. the RFB andmesocyclone east-southeast, noting a gradual darkening of the base with increasing turbulentpieces of scud around the base periphery. About five miles west-northwest of Lamartine, thesky suddenly grew significantly lighter and featureless; still, the entire cloud base aboveour heads was rotating. No wall cloud was visible; surface winds were light and variable. Wedrove through Lamartine, and again encountered heavy rain and hail before turning south, justnortheast of the mesocyclone.

By now, a significant lowering had developed with marked rotation. Within moments, a plume ofdust swirled about on the ground, the first of many brief touchdowns, before a delicateneedle funnel descended from center of cloud hase rotation. This feature rapidly evolved intoa beautiful cone-shaped tornado. The tornado moved southeast, then swung east through thetown of Oakfield, spinning out huge plumes of debris, at one point appearing to dissipateinto the rope stage before strengthening into a stout hour-glass funnel several hundred yardswide at its base with a prominent low-hanging wall cloud. Just minutes later, the funneldissipated to a graceful light-grey cone. Numerous subvortices raced around the hase of thetornado while pronounced. bands of scud rotated around the upper third of the funnel.

We expected the tornado to dissipate at any moment. But again it thickened and becameenshrouded in clouds of debris as it intensified to F-5 strength (according to the NWS). Thetornado crossed U.S. Highway 41 and acquired a significant dust sheath as the funnel becamewhitish and bulb-shaped. The tornado veered north as the inflow collapsed and elongated intothe rope stage, finally dissipating into wispy tendrils. The supercell was still veryimpressive and as it moved east, becoming backlit by the setting sun. The backsheared anvil,sharp like cut glass, was illuminated. The amber colored flanking line trailed to thesouthwest in a seemingly unending line.

The tornado was on the ground for about 25 minutes, traveled 15 miles, and caused $40- 50million dollars in property and crop damage. Fortunately, due to prompt warnings and highvisibility, there were only minor injuries. This tornado was the strongest in Wisconsin sincean F-5 devastated the community of Barneveld in 1984. This was a rare chase experience forWisconsin and ironic as well since I clocked over 11,000 miles this year driving around thehigh plains in search of a successful chase only to find it ten miles from my house!

A SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT by Bill Reid

A SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT (Humor)By Bill Reid

BULLETIN -- IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED TORNADO MOVIE REVIEW NUMBER 800 NATIONAL WEATHER MOVIE SERVICE, HOLLYWOOD, CA 920 PM PDT WED JUN 12 1996

A...THE STORM CHASER MOVIE REVIEW CENTER HAS ISSUED TORNADO MOVIE REVIEWS FOR

THE MOVIE "TWISTER."

EFFECTIVE THIS SPRING AND SUMMER.

LARGE METEOROLOGICAL INCONSISTENCIES...DANGEROUS STORM CHASING TECHNIQUES AND DAMAGING PORTRAYALS TO THE CHARACTER OF REAL STORM CHASERS ARE RAMPANT IN THIS MOVIE.

THE TORNADO MOVIE REVIEW AREA IS ALONG AND 3000 STATUTE MILES EAST, WEST, NORTH, AND SOUTH OF A MESOCYCLONE OVER WAKITA, OKLAHOMA.

REMEMBER...A TORNADO MOVIE REVIEW MEANS CONDITIONS MAY BE FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE CRITICISMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE REVIEW AREA. PERSONS READING THE REVIEWS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR BIASED AND UNSOLICITED REMARKS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE OUTBURSTS.

B..OTHER REVIEW INFORMATION.. THIS TORNADO MOVIE REVIEW REPLACES TORNADO MOVIE REVIEW NUMBERS 798 AND 799, FOR FOX'S "TORNADO" AND FAMILY CHANNEL'S "NIGHT OF THE TWISTERS." THESE REVIEWS WERE DEEMED TOO INTENSE FOR YOUNGSTERS AND SUMMARILY DELETED.

C...THIS MOVIE CONTAINS GOOD AND BAD TORNADOES AND A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH FAKE HAIL SFC ONLY TO 1 1/8 INCHES. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE WIND GUSTS TO 70 KNOTS, ESPECIALLY IN THE OPENING SCENE. A FEW AUTHENTIC VIDEO CLIPS OF CBs WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO 50,000 FEET ARE SHOWN, BUT ARE IGNORED BY THE CHASERS. MEAN VECTOR TO POPCORN 18003.

D...STRONG LOW LEVEL CONVERGENCES OF HUMANITY HAVE DEVELOPED AT THEATRES FEATURING THE SUMMER BLOCKBUSTER "TWISTER." LINES OF STORM-CHASERS-FOR-A-DAY CONTINUE MOVING SCREENWARD AND EATING UNSTABLE HOT DOGS AND MILK DUDS WITH CALORIES FROM 2000 TO 3000. MOVIE-GOERS HAVE A HISTORY OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL AND STRONG WINDS. INCREASING HYPE IN THE MEDIA REGARDING TORNADO CHASING INDICATES THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE CHASER REVIEW BACKLASH.

...REID

Oakfield, WI tornado (all photos by Don Lloyd)

Beginning stage Beginning stage

Tornado intensifies as it moves to the left Reflection in window

Tornado crosses road Nice reflection!

Tornado churns through Oakfield The tornado continues intensifying

Tornado at maximum size An F5!

Tornado ropes out... in sunlight!