7/18/09 REPORT

I headed towards Dalhart after looking at radar data at Hartley. I noticed a T-storm warned cell east of Dalhart and headed that way. The cell looked ok, but I was beginning to get interested in the LP supercell to the north. I watched this beauty for a while, and it petered out after about an hour and a half or so. I then headed down 385 to catch the initial cell I had targeted. As I got to Channing, I saw a very small and brief landspout tornado about 10 miles to the southeast of Channing. I got what video I could while trying to drive because I knew I wouldn't have time to pull over. It was shaky video, but it was still a tornado, and it was on video. I then continued Se on 385 and ran into golfball hail that had already fallen. I got video of that and continued on. I then began getting pennies to an occasional ping pong hail falling as I made my way south. It let up after a few minutes, and I made my way into Vega where I met up with Steve Miller (TX). We chatted, as I handed him a bag of Dill Pickle sunflower seeds to munch on. By the way, these are addicitve. Anyway, we made our way west towards the TX-NM border to look at another nice looking LP supercell. Steve went on, and I pulled over near Adrian and watched it for a while before heading back to the station to get my video edited for the 10 news. What another great chase in July! Maybe today, I can make it 3 for 3 in July!

7/17/09 REPORT

Myself and KAMR Meteorologist Chris Martin headed north from Amarillo towards Dumas. Got gas in Dumas and headed west to get to the convection near the TX-NM state line. As I was driving west out of Dumas I looked over my shoulder to the north and saw a base of an LP supercell starting to develop. I quickly pulled over at a gas plant and watched it from there for a while. We streamed video back to the station for a while and moved north about 3 or 4 miles to get a better look at the now mature and gorgeous LP supercell. The cell evenutally died near Channing so we headed back home and got some damage from either a small tornado or straight line wind about 6 miles south of Vega. Again, a T-storm watch does it for me. I didn't get a tornado, but I saw one of the best LP cell's I have seen in a long time, and it's July!!!

AMARILLO IDOL

I spent most of the day today at the All Star Ford dealership south of Amarillo. They were hosting the Amarillo Idol contest. FOX 14 was responsible for making it all happen. I think there were 40 contestants in all, and only 1 was chosen to go audition in front of the American Idol judges. The winner flies out Monday, and its all paid for by FOX 14 news here in Amarillo.

Most of the singers were actually pretty good, and I would have hated to have been one of the 3 judges. One singer was terrible right off the bat, and he pretty much knew that he sucked.

Anyway, I had it narrowed down to 2 guys and 2 girls. Boy, that would have been a tough call to make. All 4 contestants were really great singers, but only 1 would go to the real American Idol. The winner happened to be Anthony Johnson. I don't remember where he was from, but he sure did have a great voice. I think the American Idol judges will have nothing but great things to say about him.

Other than the scorching heat of 106 in the shade, it was a pretty nice evening to get out and hear some great singing.

Andy Justus and John Harris doing the news live from the event

I really thought she was going to win it. She had a great voice

The finalists nervously waiting for the results

The All Star Ford Amarillo Idol sign

Anthony Johnson singing his final song

Anthony Johnson is going to American Idol

THE HEAT IS ON!

Summer is definitely in full swing around the TX panhandle. We broke the old record yesterday of 100 degrees. We officially hit 102 in Amarillo. High temps in Amarillo for Thursday may get up to 105 or so. Definitely not the time for the AC to conk out, that's for sure.

FINAL CHASE FOR A WHILE

Due to the death ridge establishing itself over the area, Tuesday may very well be my final chase for a long while.

I'm going to target an area around Hugoton, KS for Tuesday. Td in the mid 50's along with strong heating should yield CAPE values around 1500-2000. The cap will be a major factor in determining if anything forms or not. The latest NAM forecasts around 10-12 degrees Celsius at 700mb. Strong daytime heating along with the moisture should eat away at the cap, but it may not. The NAM does not break out any precip for the area, so we'll just have to wait and see. Hopefully enough lift and daytime heating will be able to possibly form an LP supercell or two. It would be nice, considering it may very well be the last chase for a long time.

6/14/09 REPORT

Myself and Chris Martin met up with Steve Miller(TX) east of Happy, TX. We sat a few minutes and then proceeded to go south towards the storms that formed in the SW panhandle. Steve went SE and myself and Chris went to investigate storms near the Dimmitt-Arney area. They never got going, so we ditched them and made our way to Silverton where better storms were ongoing. We went south of town near South Plains and played in some rain, wind and small hail for a while. We then called it a day. Not much else to see.

STEVE MILLER (IN BLUE VEHICLE) AND CHRIS MARTIN GO OVER DATA

EXPLOSIVE UPDRAFTS LOOKING EAST

CLOSE VIEW OF UPDRAFT

STORM NEAR SOUTH PLAINS, TX

6/13/09 REPORT

Got on the storm that formed near Tulia, TX and stayed in front of it until it got to Quitaque and died out. It displayed numerous wall clouds and 1 funnel, but I never confirmed a tornado. Lots of wall clouds would form with decent rotation, and then it would get wrapped in rain. I'm really surprised this cell was never tornado warned.

Met fellow chaser and friend Jay McCoy in Quitaque and we headed back to Amarillo after a bite to eat in Tulia. All in all, it was a pretty good chase, but I was expecting a couple of tornadoes today. Maybe next time...

STORM NEAR TULIA, TX

ANOTHER PHOTO OF STORM NEAR TULIA

STRANGE CLOUD FORMATION NEAR QUITAQUE, TX

EXPLOSIVE STORM NEAR PLAINVIEW, TX

PARTING SHOT BEFORE TULIA STORM DIED