vortexse93

I just looked at the upcoming days for late April into early May, and it appears that there could be some decent chase days before we get into late May. However, I do not see a great sequence as of this moment unless you live or planning to travel towards CO in that time frame. MJO should be in Phase 2/3 by mid-May which should help enhance the sub-tropical jet by then, but time will only tell. Unfortunately for me, I will not be able to chase until early May at the very earliest so really need decent sequence sometime in early May to mid-May. Ideally, would like to target TX as I am only 6 hours so driving back will not be too difficult for myself. Will continue to see how the rest of this month goes and make a decision from there. Ideally, any chasing towards Tornado Alley will be with someone and not solo as there are to many distractions and hazards to keep up with for a solo chase. Locally, there is not anything that screams chase day within the next couple of weeks, so any chasing in Dixie is more than likely done for me until hurricane season. Models do show a couple of potential days towards next week that could work, but confidence in those days remain low as upper level pattern does not scream severe weather at this time. I am keeping my eyes open for any potential low risk days as those days could be more beneficial for myself. In the past, I have some success in the lower risk days (i.e. Marginal and Slight days) than some of the Enhance and Moderate days as we head into the months of May and June.

I am hoping to get an early May chase in this year if schedule allows. Late April will have to be local for me unfortunately.

Don’t mind me if you see me in the golf course or driving range practicing my back swing lol

So is Hattiesburg lol

This will be way outside of my chase zone. I am in Jackson, MS so will need something in Greenville, MS at the very least

It has been a crazy for me, as I am sure it has been for a lot of people within this group. I do want to get a quick post out before things get a little more crazy this afternoon and evening. For chasing, I have two options in mind to target and these two options are more than doable given my close proximity. Option 1). First option and most ideal, will be head towards Vicksburg, MS this afternoon as it gives me the best option to either head north or continue west into Louisiana. Model guidance shows the potential for discrete cells out ahead of the mainline and in the open warm sector. Secondly, this option allows me to head north into the Mississippi Delta in the event storms decide to track more northward and will still give me plenty of time for a potential intercept. Option 2) This option is a little more aggressive as it leans more towards the RRFS model run and will require a more northward positioning for myself (please take this option with a grain of salt). This option will take me straight into Yazoo City before going into Mississippi Delta. While drive time overall will not change, however, the RRFS is more aggressive with showing the potential for discrete cells further north into Greenville, MS. This northern route will allow me to be closer to Greenville, MS vs Option 1. I do want to point this out, Option 1 still allows me to go northward if needed. However, with Option 2, I am more set on staying north and not as likely to have a viable west option into Louisiana if storms develop before crossing the river. With this being said, I am monitoring the current weather conditions and really waiting on to see if SPC puts another MESO Discussion over Central MS anytime soon. I am close enough to where I can wait and see what happens before making a drive towards either option this afternoon. It is a waiting a game at this point.

I have other obligations and plus the model guidance showing a linear model for much of the day. In also decided that Saturday will likely be my next best day to chase since I will be available for much of the day to chase and it will be closer to me so a win win for Saturday.

I will not be chasing tomorrow unless something just happens to develop really close to me. I will be saving my energy for Saturday potentially as I will be free all day to chase. Virtual Chase Target: My chase target will initially be focused on the isolated storm cell that the HRRR has developing all by itself in an very favorable environment which makes my key player as of now. My secondary target will be tail end of storms in southeastern AR in the event the lone cell fails to develop in MS. The spacing between the first line and the secondary line in South-Central Arkansas should be sufficient for storms to take advantage of the environment. If I wanted to be more aggressive, I would target the secondary line, but that is near some unfavorable terrain, but could still worth attempting as it approaches the MS RVR.

I do not share photos on here often but this was a beauty in NE AR and MO Bootheel region. While I did some minor edits on this picture, the sky was so green it is impossible to describe. Also, one of the only times that I have ever seen the inflow band so clear out in this area also. In all, a successful chase. Warning!!!! If you want to share the photo on other social media platforms or websites, come to me first before sharing! This is a teaser of what I have on camera but wanted to share with the group on here at least since I have been busy the last few days.

HRRR decided it will not give me sups to chase this evening. Will make an attempt to gather lightning photos and go from there. Will see how model data changes throughout the day, but if trends in the model data continues then any hopes of chasing will be doubtful.

Model guidance suggest that storm development will be close to sunset. Will stay within the JAN area in hopes of getting some lightning or storm photography. Discrete cells look to remain few and far between out ahead of the line, this cloud be a result of some sort of boundary that the models are indicating for these discrete storms to develop off of. Other than that, majority of the storms will be associated with the cold front. Any discrete storms that do develop, will either merge within or into some sort of linear system as cold front front begins drifting southward during the late evening into the over night hours. Synoptic forcing will be weak, but there will be enough directional shear present from the sfc to the mid-levels to support tornadic cells. Given the weak synoptic forcing, the tornado threat should be low for the most part.

Adding to what @nrgjeff had posted, while it is way to early to determine exact details for Sunday, the 18z GFS and NAM forecast soundings do show some glimmer of hope for a potential chase in the MS Delta into North AL. One concern that stands out to me is the mid-level capping inversion that is very apparent in the NAM sounding, not so much on the GFS sounding. If that cap does not erode, then it could be cause for concern for storm development during the afternoon/evening hours. Outside of that one issue, veering wind profile, with about 700 J/kg to 1,000 J/kg of CAPE, SRH values well into the triple digits, looping hodographs and even steep lapse rates present within the atmosphere is a good sign. All that needs to be watched are boundaries, as mentioned before, and for myself at least storm mode.

Wednesday, had little hope for anyways, if things do get interesting, I have to Res in Jackson, MS that can hopefully be of some use in the attempt to get structure at the bare min if not lightning photos. Sunday might be one of those if you are close take the gamble anyways pending storm mode, which is what I might end up doing. If I do go out, then it will but for the sole purpose of getting structure and landscape photography nothing more across the Delta.

I have done some analysis for AMJ and I think April will continue to be active. As for May and June, it looks bleak will save that discussion for another time.

I have sups