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27 May 2015: Canadian, Texas, tornadoes

Storm chasing|bridge, Canadian, photography, storm chasing, Texas, tornado, video|May 27, 2015
Home » blog » Storm chasing » 27 May 2015: Canadian, Texas, tornadoes


 

I separated from the group, hoping to escape the rain, and stopped on the bridge to check out the circulation. Whoa! A huge cone on the ground!

On May 27, 2015, I chased with Brad and Dayna Rousseau, Matt Grinter, Dave Lewison, Scott McPartland and Stephen Barabas. We targeted the northeast Texas Panhandle. In my mind, the town of Canadian seemed like a good target.

Incredibly, the storms not only went up there, but one tornado-producing storm there barely moved all day. At one point we just set up and watched it spin out one funnel after another.

But the main show was the large tornado, which we all filmed from different angles. I watched it from the highway bridge over the river, filming the tornado as it churned beyond the wagon bridge that had always captivated my imagination in spite of its sometimes gloomy history. Unfortunately, the twister reportedly caused injuries.

Roll over each image to see the caption, or click on one to see a slide show with larger photos.

052715-01
On May 27, while heading for our target of the northwestern Texas Panhandle, I stopped to get photos of the wildflowers. They're spectacular this year thanks to all the rain.
We paused to shoot the cumulus clouds building north of us, over Canadian.
We paused to shoot the cumulus clouds building north of us, over Canadian.
The boys let the prognosticating wind blow the dirt, "Twister" style.
The boys let the prognosticating wind blow the dirt, "Twister" style.
The cows were curious about our photographic efforts.
The cows were curious about our photographic efforts.
It was time to go - we drove toward the exploding cells at Canadian, Texas.
It was time to go - we drove toward the exploding cells at Canadian, Texas.
From a perch on a hill northwest of town, we watched the storm.
From a perch on a hill northwest of town, we watched the storm.
A series of wall clouds and funnel clouds ensued.
A series of wall clouds and funnel clouds ensued.
Love the big swirl in the storm's structure!
Love the big swirl in the storm's structure!
052715-09
I wouldn't be surprised if one of the funnels briefly made contact with the ground.
Persistent funnel.
Persistent funnel.
The storm was still rotating.
The storm was still rotating.
It funneled -
It funneled -
and it funneled again.
and it funneled again.
The storm seemed to be reorganizing.
The storm seemed to be reorganizing.
Was it creating a new wall cloud?
Was it creating a new wall cloud?
It seemed to be trying to make a new meso.
It seemed to be trying to make a new meso.
We moved slightly east to another hill to watch.
We moved slightly east to another hill to watch.
Great green color indicated there was hail. There was also rotation.
Great green color indicated there was hail. There was also rotation.
052715-19
I separated from the group, hoping to escape the rain, and stopped on the bridge to check out the circulation. Whoa! A huge cone on the ground!
A large tornado then spun in almost the same location for several minutes.
A large tornado then spun in almost the same location for several minutes.
This is the view over Canadian's railroad bridge.
This is the view over Canadian's wagon bridge.
The dark specks are birds in front of the tornado.
The dark specks are birds in front of the tornado.
The tornado unfortunately hit a gas plant, seriously injuring three people.
The tornado unfortunately hit a gas plant, seriously injuring three people.
It began to weaken.
It began to weaken.
The tornado entered the rope-out stage.
The tornado entered the rope-out stage.
052715-26
The old mesocyclone still looked interesting, while a new one formed (at right).
Wow, this meso was pretty, and it was spinning, too.
Wow, this meso was pretty, and it was spinning, too.
A group from the University of Illinois stopped behind me on the bridge.
A group from the University of Illinois stopped behind me on the bridge.
This nice wall cloud did not do anything at the time.
This nice wall cloud did not do anything at the time.
052715-30
I retreated to the south of town, where sirens were blaring, and gained another hill with Brad, Dayna and Matt to see more short-lived tornadoes.
This storm kept spinning up wall clouds and brief tornadoes.
This storm kept spinning up wall clouds and brief tornadoes.
It started to die as another storm collided with it.
It started to die as another storm collided with it.
The last great meso.
The last great meso.
Farther north, we caught some lightning near Darrouzett, Texas.
Farther north, we caught some lightning near Darrouzett, Texas.
Another shot of lightning with the windmill.
Another shot of lightning with the windmill.
And a parting shot shows lightning illuminating the storm behind the windmill.
And a parting shot shows lightning illuminating the storm behind the windmill.
April 19, 2021 Chris Kridler

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