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16 May 2017: Texas-Oklahoma tornadoes

Storm chasing|Oklahoma, photography, severe storm, storm chasing, Texas, tornado, Tornado Alley, travel|May 16, 2017
Home » blog » Storm chasing » 16 May 2017: Texas-Oklahoma tornadoes

An elephant-trunk tornado near McLean, Texas.

This was almost the chase that didn’t happen. My car needed a crucial part after overheating, and it wasn’t available anywhere near where I was staying in Perryton, Texas, so I paid a courier to have it delivered – and the wrong part arrived, killing our chance to chase a day with solid tornado potential. Fortunately, saving the day for Kathy Velasquez and myself, our friends Matt Crowther, Betsy Abrams and Chuck Fallis saw our stranded status and picked us up. The chase was on, and we saw a smorgasbord of storms – a tornado, hail, supercells, and sadly, tornado damage.

Roll over an image below to see its caption, and click on any photo below to start a slide show of larger images.

051617-01
We headed south out of Perryton, aiming for cells forming near and south of I-40. Here's our first look at the anvil of our target cell.
051617-02
We worked our way southeast of McLean and moved northwest toward the storm as a wall cloud formed.
An initial funnel and possible tornado formed.
An initial funnel and possible tornado formed.
It really looked like there might be circulation on the ground at this point.
It really looked like there might be circulation on the ground at this point.
The second funnel/new tornado followed at 4:40 p.m.
The second funnel/new tornado followed at 4:40 p.m.
It had a nice shape.
It had a nice shape.
The tornado became an elephant trunk.
The tornado became an elephant trunk.
Another shot of the elephant trunk tornado.
Another shot of the elephant trunk tornado.
The tornado vanished into the rain, almost a cone at this point.
The tornado vanished into the rain, almost a cone at this point.
051617-10
Choices, choices. The northern cell produced the tornado we just saw, but visibility wasn't great.
We opted to head for the southern cell.
We opted to head for the southern cell.
Betsy and Matt, pilot and co-pilot.
Betsy and Matt, pilot and co-pilot.
Wow, this one was a beauty! Gorgeous supercell structure and obvious rotation.
Wow, this one was a beauty! Gorgeous supercell structure and obvious rotation.
This is the cell that would eventually spawn the Elk City tornado.
This is the cell that would eventually spawn the Elk City tornado.
Another look at the structure.
Another look at the structure.
Visibility was becoming obscured as it moved northeast.
Visibility was becoming obscured as it moved northeast.
We encountered many chasers, including Jack Corso and Steve Sponsler.
We encountered many chasers, including Jack Corso and Steve Sponsler.
Another look into the grunge. We avoided the big hail.
Another look into the grunge. We avoided the big hail.
Betsy and Matt pick up spiky hail.
Betsy and Matt pick up spiky hail.
Betsy holds some of the hail, up to three inches wide, for inspection.
Betsy holds some of the hail, up to three inches wide, for inspection.
051617-21
Spiky hail.
Flooding on the back roads slowed us as we followed the cell into Oklahoma.
Flooding on the back roads slowed us as we followed the cell into Oklahoma.
051617-23
On its way to producing a monster wedge tornado at Elk City, the storm was still pretty, but we couldn't get a good look into the rain.
051617-24
Our first look at the tornado damage at Elk City, Oklahoma, was just snapped trees.
Power lines were downed and metal buildings especially hard hit.
Power lines were downed and metal buildings especially hard hit.
A trailer was tossed into the road.
A trailer was tossed into the road.
Many homes were damaged in Elk City.
Many homes were damaged in Elk City.
The industrial area was ripped apart.
The industrial area was ripped apart.
We gave up the chase and watched the storms retreat.
We gave up the chase and watched the storms retreat.
051617-30
Convection continued to bubble as the storms moved east and we headed back to our hotel.
April 10, 2021 Chris Kridler

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← Video rounds up 2016 twisters, supercells of Tornado Alley
18 May 2017: Oklahoma tornado and beautiful storms →
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  • 9 January 2023: A SpaceX launch and photography fiasco
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Lake Washington #sunset. #flwx #floridawinter #ref Lake Washington #sunset. #flwx #floridawinter #reflections
And what were you doing at 3 a.m.? #SpaceX was lau And what were you doing at 3 a.m.? #SpaceX was launching another rocket. Feels like #groundhogday. 🚀 #spacecoast
Sun dog alert. #flwx Sun dog alert. #flwx
Moody #floridawinter sky this morning over the Ind Moody #floridawinter sky this morning over the Indian River Lagoon. #flwx #spacecoast #ducks
I dug into the archives to find my favorite photos I dug into the archives to find my favorite photos of 2022. See them on the blog. Link in bio. #stormchasing #space #launch #photography #spacecoast #flwx @aletheakontis
Happy New Year, and may you find the weather you s Happy New Year, and may you find the weather you seek! ⚡️
Florida winter sky. #flwx #sunset Florida winter sky. #flwx #sunset
Don't miss this one-day book giveaway, no strings Don't miss this one-day book giveaway, no strings attached. Happy Boxing Day! #freebooks #amreading
The day got away from me, but we got sleet here in The day got away from me, but we got sleet here in Florida Christmas morning. I'm ready for our usual balmy winter to return! #flwx #cold #xmasweather #merrychristmas
Hoping the tropicals survive the next couple of ni Hoping the tropicals survive the next couple of nights. #flwx #floridafreeze
#SpaceX launch Sunday of two lunar spacecraft, boo #SpaceX launch Sunday of two lunar spacecraft, booster separation and booster return to Cape Canaveral as shot from the Indian River Lagoon in Rockledge, Florida. This is an image stack. #spacecoast #space #nasa #hakuto #moon #rocket
Gorgeous rocket launch Thursday. More pix and vide Gorgeous rocket launch Thursday. More pix and video on the Sky Diary blog. Link in bio. #spacex #skydiary #lookup #spacecoast
Green orchid bee feeding on a bromeliad on a beaut Green orchid bee feeding on a bromeliad on a beautiful day in east-central Florida. #bees #naturephotography #flwx #orchidbee
Fabulous sunset tonight. #flwx #floridafall #iphon Fabulous sunset tonight. #flwx #floridafall #iphoneontherun
Check out my storm photography and other beautiful Check out my storm photography and other beautiful work at the @stolenbutter gallery! Get 10% off with code holiday10. 

#holidaysale #realart #photography #stormchasing #lookup
New photos of #hurricanenicole beach damage on the New photos of #hurricanenicole beach damage on the blog. Link in bio. #flwx #erosion #stormchasing
The first #Artemis mission launches to the moon, a The first #Artemis mission launches to the moon, as seen from the Indian River Lagoon in Rockledge, Florida. #space #launch #floridaspacecoast #tothemoon
Beautiful #lichen on a branch knocked down by Hurr Beautiful #lichen on a branch knocked down by Hurricane #Nicole. #flwx #symbiosis #floridanature
Florida blues. #posthurricane #nopower #flwx #look Florida blues. #posthurricane #nopower #flwx #lookup
Gnarly surf at Cocoa Beach Pier from Tropical Stor Gnarly surf at Cocoa Beach Pier from Tropical Storm #Nicole. #flwx #waves #stormchasing #florida
The Indian River Lagoon in Rockledge has waves and The Indian River Lagoon in Rockledge has waves and gusty winds as #Nicole takes aim for the Space Coast. #flwx #hurricane #tropicalstorm
Great view of the #SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket this Great view of the #SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket this morning - after it lifted out of the fog at Cape Canaveral. #space #rocket #launch #spacecoast #flwx
Gorgeous morning on the Indian River Lagoon. #flwx Gorgeous morning on the Indian River Lagoon. #flwx #floridaspacecoast #sunrise
Creation of my latest profile pic with #wombodream Creation of my latest profile pic with #wombodream #aiart. #sunflowers #books #peace
Pretty Gulf Coast morning, with sun dogs #flwx #be Pretty Gulf Coast morning, with sun dogs #flwx #beachlife #floridagulfcoast #cloudchasing
Quilted morning sky. #clouds #flwx #floridafall #s Quilted morning sky. #clouds #flwx #floridafall #skychasing #lookup
A few showers brewing on this beautiful day on Flo A few showers brewing on this beautiful day on Florida’s #spacecoast. #flwx #subtropics #clouds
Pretty twilight tonight as we waited for the launc Pretty twilight tonight as we waited for the launch that didn’t go. #floridaspacecoast #flwx
Quick phone pic from my #SpaceCoast neighborhood - Quick phone pic from my #SpaceCoast neighborhood - the #SpaceX Falcon 9 with Dragon Endurance and a multinational crew lifts off, heading for the International Space Station. #space #launchlife
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A pretty Space Coast sunrise greeted a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch on January 18, 2023. Video (c) 2023 by Chris Kridler, ChrisKridler.com; music licensed from Pond5.
18 January 2023: Sunrise and SpaceX launch
A SpaceX Heavy rocket lifts off from Kennedy Space Center during a beautiful Florida twilight, then its boosters separate, fire and return to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on January 15, 2023. Timelapse and photos tell the story. Video/images ©2023 Chris Kridler, ChrisKridler.com. Music licensed from Pond5.
15 January 2023: Twilight SpaceX Heavy rocket launch and booster landing
A beautiful sunset provided the backdrop for a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch with OneWeb satellites and a booster landing at Cape Canaveral, Florida, on December 9, 2022. Video and images (c) 2022 by Chris Kridler, ChrisKridler.com. Music licensed from Pond5.
8 December 2022: SpaceX sunset rocket launch & booster landing
Tropical Storm Nicole produced wild waves and attracted kiteboarders at Cocoa Beach, Florida, on November 9, 2022. Video (c) 2022 by Chris Kridler, ChrisKridler.com. Not for broadcast. 4K video available for licensing.
9 November 2022: Big waves in Tropical Storm Nicole, Cocoa Beach, Florida
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Lake Washington #sunset. #flwx #floridawinter #ref Lake Washington #sunset. #flwx #floridawinter #reflections
And what were you doing at 3 a.m.? #SpaceX was lau And what were you doing at 3 a.m.? #SpaceX was launching another rocket. Feels like #groundhogday. 🚀 #spacecoast
Sun dog alert. #flwx Sun dog alert. #flwx
Moody #floridawinter sky this morning over the Ind Moody #floridawinter sky this morning over the Indian River Lagoon. #flwx #spacecoast #ducks
I dug into the archives to find my favorite photos I dug into the archives to find my favorite photos of 2022. See them on the blog. Link in bio. #stormchasing #space #launch #photography #spacecoast #flwx @aletheakontis
Happy New Year, and may you find the weather you s Happy New Year, and may you find the weather you seek! ⚡️
Florida winter sky. #flwx #sunset Florida winter sky. #flwx #sunset
Don't miss this one-day book giveaway, no strings Don't miss this one-day book giveaway, no strings attached. Happy Boxing Day! #freebooks #amreading
The day got away from me, but we got sleet here in The day got away from me, but we got sleet here in Florida Christmas morning. I'm ready for our usual balmy winter to return! #flwx #cold #xmasweather #merrychristmas
Hoping the tropicals survive the next couple of ni Hoping the tropicals survive the next couple of nights. #flwx #floridafreeze
#SpaceX launch Sunday of two lunar spacecraft, boo #SpaceX launch Sunday of two lunar spacecraft, booster separation and booster return to Cape Canaveral as shot from the Indian River Lagoon in Rockledge, Florida. This is an image stack. #spacecoast #space #nasa #hakuto #moon #rocket
Gorgeous rocket launch Thursday. More pix and vide Gorgeous rocket launch Thursday. More pix and video on the Sky Diary blog. Link in bio. #spacex #skydiary #lookup #spacecoast
Green orchid bee feeding on a bromeliad on a beaut Green orchid bee feeding on a bromeliad on a beautiful day in east-central Florida. #bees #naturephotography #flwx #orchidbee
Fabulous sunset tonight. #flwx #floridafall #iphon Fabulous sunset tonight. #flwx #floridafall #iphoneontherun
Check out my storm photography and other beautiful Check out my storm photography and other beautiful work at the @stolenbutter gallery! Get 10% off with code holiday10. 

#holidaysale #realart #photography #stormchasing #lookup
New photos of #hurricanenicole beach damage on the New photos of #hurricanenicole beach damage on the blog. Link in bio. #flwx #erosion #stormchasing
The first #Artemis mission launches to the moon, a The first #Artemis mission launches to the moon, as seen from the Indian River Lagoon in Rockledge, Florida. #space #launch #floridaspacecoast #tothemoon
Beautiful #lichen on a branch knocked down by Hurr Beautiful #lichen on a branch knocked down by Hurricane #Nicole. #flwx #symbiosis #floridanature
Florida blues. #posthurricane #nopower #flwx #look Florida blues. #posthurricane #nopower #flwx #lookup
Gnarly surf at Cocoa Beach Pier from Tropical Stor Gnarly surf at Cocoa Beach Pier from Tropical Storm #Nicole. #flwx #waves #stormchasing #florida
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Recent posts

  • 18 January 2023: Sunrise and SpaceX launch
  • 15 January 2023: Twilight SpaceX Heavy rocket launch and booster landing
  • 9 January 2023: A SpaceX launch and photography fiasco
  • Finding the most memorable photos of 2022
  • 8 December 2022: SpaceX sunset launch and booster landing at Cape Canaveral

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