Day 3 - Texas Panhandle

WED 27 MAY

Left San Antonio TX at 09:00 for a long (6 hour) drive back north to the Texas Panhandle. Stopped briefly for lunch at San Angelo TX, and arrived in Plainview mid-afternoon. Remnant MCV over the Panhandle to the north, near I-40 and northwards, was creating a favourable environment with low-level shear / vorticity ideal for funnel clouds / low-level rotation. Indeed a couple of funnel clouds were reported, but the depth of convection was limited, with a lack of strong winds aloft to aid deep layer shear, so nothing ever became particularly organised.

Eventually some cells started gaining more strength near Clarendon TX, so we hopped onto these at Estelline and followed them for a few hours down Highway 285 to Childress TX and Quanah TX, stopping several times to take photos. Some blowing dust was evident at times, and we let the outflow hit us each time before sliding a little farther southeast each time. A few chasers on this storm, but all-in-all quite a pleasant evening chase with relatively quiet roads.

Once darkness fell, given they were sub-severe, we decided to let them pass to the south after giving us some heavy rain and lightning - that's when the fun and games began trying to find a hotel room. Most hotels within a 90 minute drive from us were fully booked, with only one offering a single room (not enough for the three of us) for an extortionate $250! We decided to book something cheaper in Wichita Falls TX and headed that way instead, arriving around 22:30.

Sub-severe thunderstorm near Childress TX

Sub-severe thunderstorm at sunset near Quanah TX