May 15,2009 Pampa Tornadoes

The kids and I were out chasing storms just NE and E of Pampa. Initially I did not like the set up for the day. I was concerned about the veering surface winds, weak upper level support, and a pushing cold front. Being so close, we went ahead and went out. I was surprised at the strength of the storm. The first tornadoes were just N and W of RR282 and 2381. Then the wall cloud moved SSE and produced more significant tornadoes (wrapped in rain) and some damage just East of Pampa. Photos with locations here
http://picasaweb.google.com/baryNusz/May152009#

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• May 15
• Storms
• Tornadoes
• Nusz

[livininthevalley]

I added you as a friend on facebook. I sold my video of that storm to TWC. They would love your video. Dr. Forbes is doing a segment this week on chaser video because it is so slow. He would like this. You have a wedge on the ground from 6:05 on in your video. We start our MSU storm chase class in a few weeks, and if we are in your area i'd like to have your contact info. Google MSU storm chase class and check it out!!

Matt

[nusz]

I would not say that that was a wedge tornado. It is true that the damage path was far greater than the condensation funnel, but it did not extend to the outer edge of the rain curtains so it's hard to say. My buddy Chuck Robertson was MUCH closer (shock) on HW60 at this point. He said that the condensation funnel had wisps of condensation that would form around the funnel in the rain. Examining my original, I can confirm that. The condensation was very close to filling in a much larger area.

[nusz]

The first tornado was at about 4:35PM, we were just N and then just W of the RR282 and RR2391 intersection.

The second set were at about 4:50PM, we were about 1.5 miles N of Hoover on RR2391.

The rain wrapped one was about 4:00PM, we were about 0.6 miles N of RR2391 and HW60 intersection.

[nusz]

Not 4:00PM, I meant 5:00PM

[milestails1509]

I live near Pampa Jr. High, So I was so far from it but the thunder was loud!

[Yarndt]

The camera work was just fine. Nice storm. Nothing like the Texas Panhandle!!

[TommyJoebowers1tycoo]

I was approaching home (pampa) and had watched this storm on radar from 130 miles out (quanah to childress). The sirens sounded just as we approached the city.  The supercell on radar tumbled like a dryer, presented a host of overshooting domes ( which I noticed just above the crisp anvil) from my view in Childress (about 100 miles SE of pampa. Also, I noticed the most vivid supercellular radar images seemed to form simultaneously with the tornados formation, rather than prior to.

[keefer2111]

I worked with a guy who went to a wedding in town and he saw this, it was the first time in his life. he said his guts were shaking from the rumble he was about 500 yards from it.

[TwistedHorseLover]

I was home by myself when this happened. It is bad enough I don't like tornado's, let alone being by myself. Great video thou. I am just glad that no one was killed.

[Jazzgirl8888]

Amazing footage !

[dragonfist35]

dude i was at south west of pampa and it did not come near my house

[jasonauslander]

Awesome footage. This is actually I have been able to see the tornadoes from that day. I was on CO RD EE in front of Halliburton about 10 prior to the tornado (When I shot the video), so everything I got to see was severely rain wrapped. I was able to get a good shot of the wall cloud before hand. Good Vid!