As some of you know I've been out storm chasing for the last 10 days. My group has chased in 6 different states (Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, Missouri, Arkansas, and Tennessee), seen 11 tornadoes, and logged 4993.6 miles over 10 days. We were chasing near Joplin the day they were devestated. We had given up on the storm that was moving north of the city and dropped south into town to refuel. When we get to the gas station, they wouldn't let us refuel or come in to get snacks because they had been in a tornado warning from the northern storm. So we all get back in the vans and realize a storm has blown up on the outflow boundary from the storm to the north and is headed straight for the city. We haul south but got caught up in rush hour traffic. By this time the radar is showing 160 knots of shear and we realize we're in big trouble. Then we start seeing power flashes and watch them grow closer and closer. The tornado itself was rain wrapped so we had no visual on the actual tornado. We were getting caught at every red light down Range Line Road but as the tornado grew closer the power went out so we were able to get through redlights much quicker. Even still it was starting to get dangerously close and we considered taking shelter at the Home Depot (yes, the one that got leveled. The last I heard they have not found any survivors in the Home Depot.) We're now just half a mile from the Interstate that will get us to saftey, But the rain curtains started to wrap around us and we began to be blasted by very strong winds. It was at this point that I realized this might really be the end, that the Interstate was going to be to far for us to get to in time. I look to out right and see power flashes only 2 or 3 blocks away and the wind had gotten even stronger. We make it the half mile to the interstate and book it out of there once we get on it.I got one last look at the beast and could still see a large number of power flashes. In the end we beat the tornado by about 30-45 seconds and we believe it came within about 1/8th of a mile from us.
An event like that really takes the fun out of storm chasing. Thats by no means what we're out there to see. I do NOT wish injury/death or loss of property on anyone. It was as devestating to me and everyone with us as it was to the city of Joplin. The day went from being fun to sheer terror to shock to regret and compassion for the people of Joplin. My prayers go out to everyone there who was affected.
