2003-05-08

People: Myself, and Thomas James, my father

Miles: 55

I caught this storm near Newcastle with my father, who is 54 and has never seen a tornado before today, being in town this weekend for graduation. He says his experience was very exciting, though the damage witnessed was humbling. Near the I-44 junction north of Newcastle on 177, we videotaped the tornado far to the east. As it moved out of view, we followed the damage from I-44 to I-35 on HW 37 through Moore, seeing damage to telephone poles, aluminum siding, trees, and fences. This was light damage compared to that witnessed near I-240, Tinker AFB and the GM plant, according to TV news reports. Reaching Sooner Road on HW 37 we called it a day after driving in heavy traffic for too long. My mother and grandmother, who just arrived in Oklahoma this morning for my OU graduation, had a memorable first day as they watched the tornado pass to the south of them near I-35 and I-240 at their hotel. We drove through the damage path on May 10, through Moore on I-35 and on Sooner Road near I-240. The old man now says he's experienced a tornado to go along with a hurricane, earthquakes, floods, and a volcano. Lucky him. Data KOUN sounding, 2003-05-09 00z Preliminary tornado path