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APRIL 22
Central Oklahoma
SPC Risk: MODERATE
123 miles traveled
0 tornadoes observed
Left Norman in the afternoon; the SPC had issued Tornado Watch #104 for eastern Oklahoma. As we arrived in Seminole County on OK-9, we observed a rotating wall cloud (picture); no tornado formed. Encountered quarter-size hail near the junction of Hwy 377 & I-40.
APRIL 30
Southern/Southeastern Oklahoma
SPC Risk: SLIGHT
288 miles traveled
0 tornadoes observed
Left Norman in the afternoon; SPC issued Tornado Watch #132 for far southern Oklahoma and much of north Texas. Observed one funnel cloud (video still below) between Madill and Kingston, in Marshall County, OK, very near Lake Texoma. This day would prove to be a prolific hail producer, forcing me to seek shelter from baseball-size hail under an overpass in Bryan County, OK.
MAY 29
Western / Central Oklahoma
SPC Risk: HIGH
324 miles traveled
5 tornadoes observed
Left Norman early in the afternoon; took I-40 to Elk City, OK, and then north into Roger Mills County. Followed the dryline east as several tornadic supercells formed. SPC issued PDS Tornado Watch #322 for much of Oklahoma. Saw four tornadoes in Custer and Blaine Counties, and then got blown off the road south of Piedmont, in Canadian County. One of my closest calls ever. Also (luckily) stayed out of 5” hail that we could see on the ground near Hydro, OK. Please note on the video still below that the date on the camera is incorrect.
  
JUNE 12
Central/Southern Kansas
SPC Risk: MODERATE
521 miles traveled
1 tornado observed
Left Norman early AM with a target of Emporia, KS, in that day’s moderate risk area from SPC. Sat in Emporia for several hours with blue skies. Gave up and headed for home after what seemed like a bust day, but quite accidentally ran into the photogenic Mulvane tornado. Encountered golfball-size hail in the south Wichita metro along the Kansas turnpike, and then pulled off the highway when we observed a funnel cloud. This led to the tornado, complete with a double rainbow. Video clip below.
  
  
NOVEMBER 10
Central Oklahoma
SPC Risk: SLIGHT
53 miles traveled
1 tornado observed
SPC issued Severe Thunderstorm Watch #877 on this autumn afternoon; left Norman in a rush in anticipation of a radar-indicated tornado warning being issued for Oklahoma County, after a hook echo became present near Will Rogers World Airport. I briefly saw one of several weak tornado touchdowns near the intersection of I-35 and the Turner Turnpike, northeast of downtown Oklahoma City. Only minor tree damage was reported during this unusual late-season event. Sorry, no pictures available.
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