On our second chase day, we head west / north in search of powerful storms.   We weren't in as much a hurry to leave Norman because Brad thought the storms would be close-by...and, well, they eventually were - blowing through Norman with 60+mph wind gusts around 3 a.m.   Brad now wishes that the group had left several hours before so we wouldn't have been so rushed.   We left Norman around 2:30 p.m.   Here is our story, in pictures:

We left Norman (START) at 2:30 p.m. and drove west to Clinton (1). From there, we headed north to Seiling (2) and then NW to Woodward (3) - not Watonga!   Upon leaving Woodward, we are able to see a developing supercell thunderstorm to our SW.   So we head to Slapout, OK, and turn due south into Texas.   Slapout is a quaint crossroads, and I wish that we had more time to stop & take a picture, but we were in a hurry.   From Slapout we entered Texas and passed through Follet (5), Glazier (6) and then Canadian (END).

After taking some awesome pictures of storms in the Texas panhandle east of Canadian (START), we drove back home.   We passed through Roll (1), Cheyenne (2) in the Black Kettle Nat'l Grasslands, and we ate supper at Carl's Junior in Elk City (3).   We then drove back to Norman (END), finally making it home around 12:30 a.m.   By the way, when we called Mary Beth and Dad (Jim), we were between Canadian, TX and Slapout, OK...way way out in the middle of nowhere; that's why we had a bad connection.   But thanks, you guys, for all your help!

On the way home from day 1, we encountered something interesting.   A plague of bugs!   It sounded like rain against the windshield, and visibility was reduced greatly, but we pushed through.  

On day 2 we traveled west on I-40 in hopes of turning north to find storms in north-west Oklahoma.   We stopped in Clinton to find a public library to access the internet and find out where our storms are heading.   Rebecca, not interested in looking at the numerous maps and discussions that Brad finds fascinating, decides to check out the 25 cent book sale.   (She quickly finds out why they are only 25 cents.)  We turned north hoping that storms would develop there.

"We got our kicks on Route 66."

South of Seiling headed north on US 183, Mike caught these picturesque altocumulus.  Not severe, but they are indicative of the boundry-layer moisture.  

After talking to Brads friend Chris on a payphone (NO CELLPHONE) in Seiling, we headed west into the panhandle chasing some developing supercells.  This is a developing supercell in the eastern most texas panhandle.  Notice the anvil silhoutted against the blue sky.  

Took a left at Slapout, OK to go south into Texas after an impressive supercell.   This was just a slow and go picture, because we were all in a hurry to get to this storm.  

Now we are closer to the supercell. 

We saw this supercell first, but were still headed after the one south of us.  Then Mike looked back and saw some neat cloud formations, and asked Brad, "What's that man?" He excitedly says "Wow, thats a lowered base." He whips the car around and heads back towards that one, so we can get a better look at it.  Its nearing nightfall now, and decide to let it go and just take some pictures from a hill.   It put on a spectacular lightening show for us the whole way back.   Once we get back to Brad's, we turn on the TV only to find that that storm had been traveling beside us on I-40, spitting out large hail, and high winds, and it even had possible tornado reported.  Glad we didn't have to drive through that one!

We were so tired coming home from Texas chasing the Supercell that Mike, confused by Brads instructions on how to open the door, forgot to take the keys out of the door.   Teeth up - turn right, or teeth down - turn left?? Brad found the keys there the next morning.