Tuscaloosa Alabama Storm Chase 04-27-11 Chase Log.

After getting off work at 745 am Tuesday morning I got home and began looking at weather models, forecast, the usual things you would look at on any given severe weather threat. This day was different in the fact that a outbreak of weather was forecasted across the South, potentially a "High Risk" day. I decided to take the next shift off and get together with some fellow chasers, Mike Wilhelm and John Brown, over in Alabama. After some quick phone calls Cullman Alabama would be the meeting and starting point. I left south Georgia around 630 pm and arrived in Cullman a little after midnight. Mike was snoozing in his vehicle as I pulled up and moments later we were discussing the next days chase. Not to long after John pulls up and after catching up and small talk we get to the business of where and when. We decided to head into Mississippi at Tupelo to intercept some storms that were firing during the overnight hours, several which had tornado warnings. I am not a big fan of nighttime events but I didn't come all this way to turn around. Safety has always been a issue when chasing and with the promise of good data flow and communications we ventured off into the night...

Our first encounter was near Hamilton Alabama as a severe thunderstorm rolled in and got the blood pumping rather quickly. On we traveled finally arriving in Tupelo MS around 5am. Setting up shop at a Waffle house i got about an hour nap before getting up and meeting John inside for breakfast. Mike was awake already going over models, forecasts and then the "High Risk" was broadcast. Not gonna be a good a day in Dixie. We intercepted a tornado warned storm near Corinth Ms and shot pics of the gust front but the rotation was rain wrapped and nothing could be seen. This storm would follow us back to Tupelo and we made the call to go ahead and make a run for Tuscaloosa as a starting point for the main event later that day.

Driving down to Tuscaloosa was uneventful, save the loss of cell service and data stream. Beautiful countryside, but I wondered what it would look like by the end of all this. With John and Mike leading the way we began to get cell service and data service once back in close enough to Tuscaloosa. The sun was beginning to shine and the temperature difference between Tupelo and Tuscaloosa was amazing. At least a 15 degree difference. Tupelo was almost chilly with the wind blowing and in Tuscaloosa we were actually beginning to sweat. We parked at a Burger King and grabbed some food, relaxed as best we could knowing that soon the storms would begin to initiate and things were gonna get rough..."How rough" was the question that was about to be answered with no doubts left whatsoever.

The storms began to fire and the one that got our attention was still in Mississippi but making its way towards the Alabama state line near Aliceville Alabama. We left our location traveling west on Hwy 82 to Reform and then headed south. Even at the distance you could see the huge anvil overhead. We set up at McMullen Alabama. We were there about 10 mins when the rotation began to come into view. Pics and video began to roll. The storm had weakened slightly as it approached us. We could hear an odd hissing roaring sound coming from the clouds as it passed over with the cloud deck no more than 500 feet above as it rotated by. We began our pursuit and after only a mile we came to a halt as it had brought trees and power lines down. We had no choice but to back up and go back the way we came. John and Mike got ahead of me as I made a wrong turn and had to turn around. I continued to follow this storm as it began to restrengthen. We didn't realize what was about to happen as we had grabbed a beast by the tail and it was about to show us it's true power as it set its eyes on the city of Tuscaloosa.

Still separated by about two miles John and Mike went on through town to set up as the storm came into the city. Mike called me as I was coming into town and asked my location. I had been able to get around and in front of the storm for the next shots. He gave me directions on where to turn and as I crossed the river he told me look to my west, that there is a huge tornado coming into town. I looked and will never forget the sight that met me there on the overpass of I-59/20. A monster had come to town. I set up and began shooting video , but due to intense lightning didn't get out of the truck just yet. The lowered cloud base had two areas of lowered rotation, one on each side of the interstate. the southern rotation looked impressive and I placed my bets on it as I taped. But in an instant the rotation vanished and the northern side began a quick and tight rotation with vortices working their way down........Tornado on the ground!

I jumped out of the truck and began shooting, heart racing the wind was blowing incredibly hard. I had to watch for people driving by me, giving me odd looks yet oblivious to the approaching tornado (Crazy guy on overpass with video camera call 911) It was hard to keep the camera on subject due to

1. The wind was blowing very hard

2. Drivers going by

3. It was moving right at me and I was thinking when is enough , enough.

A mental countdown began in my head as it got closer and closer. It began to move slightly to my right as it closed the distance between us. It was growing larger and larger with each passing second. For the first time in my life as storm chaser the fight or flight mode kicked in. I chose flight and drove further to the other side of the interstate overpass with an exit ramp to my back in case I needed an escape. I turned to look and I couldn't believe how fast it went from a small tornado to this roaring monster.

I could only tape from the inside of my truck as the winds began to roar and inflow to the tornado approached 80 mph. One foot on the break with the engine running, I continued to film, looking overhead to make sure no debris was inbound, only stopping long enough to snap pictures as it passed me. The sound is something I will never forget. At approx 800 yards it made its closest approach and began its rampage through the center of the city. It passed and I sat there, trying to control my emotions. John and Mike were up the interstate a couple miles filming it as it roars through town. It moved out of Tuscaloosa leaving death and destruction. Not weakening only getting warmed up and now...Birmingham Alabama was next in line.

I drove up I-59 looking at trees down all over the place as i drove on. Every now and then I would look to the north only to see this monster pacing my speed. Who would get to Birmingham first? It was a tie. I noticed the storm getting closer to me as i got closer to town. a quick look at the computer let me know it was gonna be another meeting and very soon. I found John and Mike shooting from the side of I-59/ I puled over and began shooting the tornado. At this point it was a boiling mass on the ground possible a mile wide as it churned up the northern section of Birmingham. I followed Mike and John for a ways but noticed I was very low on fuel , so I circled around I-459 to find somewhere that was still open and had power. The smell over natural gas was in the air from the destroyed neighborhoods on that side of town as they continued on filming the wrath that had been unleashed. Then looking at my computer to see if I was clear to the south I had another problem. Another tornado moving in behind me and cutting off my escape out of town.. At this point it was beginning to get dark and I wanted out of this mayhem. Too many tornadoes were touching down and Rick didn't want to play any more. Looking at the radar and seeing the rotation to my south I came sliding into a convenience store. When I say sliding I literally mean sliding. Jason Statham of "The Transporter" fame would be proud. (In all honesty it was an accident wet concrete is very slick) I glanced up and figured I had 6 maybe 8 mins tops before it go to me. A elderly gentleman in his new Cadillac looked at me and we had the following conversation.

Cadillac Man: "Well they say its gonna miss us".

Me: "Sir its coming right at this location".

Cadillac Man: "No, they say it will go south of us"

Me: "Sir, look at the radar right there...

Cadillac Man: "Naah, it aint gonna hit".

Me: Sir, you see that stuff falling out of the sky??? That's called debris..

Cadillac Man: "Where do I need to drive too..?

I gave a quick point to interstate and I left with a full tank and no time to spare. It passed over the station 2 mins after I left, but with no serious damage. I finally made it to 280 and my road to Auburn and home. At this point they had stopped all cell phone service. no calls out and not even texting. I could receive calls only for a second before it would drop. i could receive, but couldn't respond. they had locked the system for use by the local EMA and other emergency services. I could get a call out until i was 50 miles from Birmingham...I met a huge line of Alabama National Guard vehicles coming into town on 280. Eyes teared up at this sight and the thought of what they would be in for.....

Now the fun was to start all over again as I now had 6 tornado warned storms between me and Auburn Alabama. I began a night time cat an mouse game of speed up and slow down as i let each storm pass in front of me or would outrun it to get across and out of the way. At one point was squeezed between two as I had one in 8 miles in front and one 6 behind me. I was able to make it out of that and had only one left. Dadeville Alabama was the last city between me and a nice hot shower and sleep. At this point I was approaching 46 hours straight and already logged over 1000 miles on this chase. The closer I got to Dadeville it seemed to be matching my speed. I was already too close in and then I noticed something really bad. My software and GPS had locked up on my computer. I was looking at old data and not new. I also noticed that I was under the lightning core of this storm and that tornado was gonna be right behind it. I reset the software and the new radar shot showed me 2 miles from the tornado on a collision course at Dadeville. One thing you can do, only thing you can do.

I let the big girl eat some asphalt.

I floored the accelerator and Abby responded as if saying "bout time stupid"..Rain, intense lightning, high winds and rotation was starting to showing in the rain bands as they began to change direction on me. I figured I had no choice and no one was gonna argue the fact as I blew though town with tornado sirens wailing...As I left the outskirts of the small town, the tornado was coming into town. Close call....Too dang close for comfort.

A friend had gotten me a room in Auburn and I pulled up to my hotel, wind blowing, rain pouring but no tornadic storms near me. Soaking wet I hauled all my gear to my room. All was quiet save the rain hitting my window and the constant lighting. At this point i pull out my video camera and watch my footage. Removed from the scene and storm I realize I have videotaped the death and destruction of a beloved city of mine. I sat there for a while...numb...Thinking...Reliving the day. Praying for those in my home state. I was now safe but these beasts were still on the ground elsewhere and far from being though with their mayhem. John and Mike returned to shoot damage across the area the next day and both made it home safely as did I. John and Mikes video footage would eventually make it to Night Line on ABC with John being interviewed... I would do a call interview into CNN as they showed my footage....As I sit here tonight I hurt for my home state. In some way they are all my family..

Roll Tide....