5-04-03 Kansas City, Missouri Chase

Our hearts and prayers go out to all those affected by the devastating events of this day

"I've always wondered how I'd feel after experiencing something like this as I know it could happen any time I chase. I do not fear the weather, but rather respect it. I marvel in it's beauty, but at the same time curse it for being unselective and uncontrollable." -Bill Doms 5-5-03

"I am grateful for all the hard work that SPC, NWS, and spotters did (and always do) to help warn and protect people from the devastation of severe weather that I sometimes forget about as I marvel at the storms." -Melanie Metz 5-5-03

"Nature has the power to create and destroy in equal measure. To accept the beauty of creation you must also accept unlimited destruction. Our hearts and minds are with all the people who lost loved ones and had their lives changed forever" -Peggy Willenberg 5-5-03

Chase log and photos by Melanie Metz and Peggy Willenberg, stormtours.com

WNW of Richmond, MO

Ironically, a peaceful end to the day

Cy Dodson from KSTP news crew ready to film and Bill Doms enjoying the ride

Peggy Willenberg loading the 16:30 outlook

Rob Koch, KSTP Meteorologist, and Melanie Metz on the way to Missouri from Minneapolis, MN

Watching Cu develop in NE Kansas

Towers go up along the dryline

We have to decide which area to head for

We drive into Kansas City from the North as a large tornado is, unforunately, passing through the city

We approach the tornado from the North as we watch scud rapidly wrapped into the tornado

Slowing down so we don't drive into the hook

We approach the main circulation as the tornado has briefly lifted

A ragged wall cloud becomes apparent on Hwy 169 near Gladstone (just North of Kansas City metro)

The wall cloud quickly becomes well defined and tightens

A tornado develops with a well defined condensation funnel near Gladstone, MO

A tornado touches down near Gladstone, MO and damage is reported at this time

The tornado begins to lift

Still very strong rotation, at times small pieces of debris fall near us

Just off of Hwy 169 near Gladstone we encounter damage from the touchdown

Luckily this occured on a Sunday so most people were not at work

Large wall cloud as the tornadic storm approaches Liberty, MO

Possibly touching down at this time

A tornado is now reported in Liberty, MO

Unfortunately, damage is also reported in Liberty, MO

We enter Liberty, MO

A gas station has been damaged

Trees are down in Liberty, MO

A large tree blocks the road so we turn around

Luckily this was not a live power line in the road

We continue following the cell East as it maintains strong rotation

We are very close to the meso that is rapidly rotating

As the cell moves away from us we notice a clear slot and then a large tornado develops a few miles WNW of Richmond, MO

A large tornado is reported on the ground

The cell gets away from us and we end the chase getting lost on a dirt road in the trees of Missouri

In light of all the horrific death and destruction today, it is difficult to be too jubilant about the results of a chase. We are just really grateful to be here, considering what we saw and how close we came to the extremely destructive Kansas City tornado.

Melanie, Bill Doms, Rob Koch (KSTP Meteorologist), Cy Dodson (KSTP videographer), and I (Peggy) left early Sunday morning with a target of NW Missouri. Everyone had reviewed the outlooks, and after looking at the 00Z model runs, we were not too shocked to see a "high risk" posted by SPC.

After reaching Missouri, we decided to head west a bit. Some severe cells went up but were moving into lower dewpoint air as they moved northeast. We let these go and started to work west toward the dryline. As we did, we noticed the dryline begin to surge east and a series of intense cells go up. We headed east in a hurry and were soon in a TOR warning at Richfield, MO. The cells to the south appeared more intense, and soon spotter reports were coming in of "large, multiple tornadoes". We hurried down I-29 to Kansas City. We could see the huge storm ahead. Just after passing the KC Airport, we exited I-29 and headed east into the northern suburbs on 152. The monster tornado was at this point about 1 mile south of us. It reminded Mel of the Siren, WI storm, but was larger and very rain-wrapped on the north flank. All we could see was low scud rapidly becoming wrapped into the tornado.

As soon as we dared, we turned south on 169 and soon encountered the main circulation, which had breifly lifted from the ground. As we watched, it consolidated and reformed a stovepipe funnel, then touched down and moved east in Gladstone, MO. We went a bit south and encountered damage from this touchdown while debris was still falling on the road near us. Sadly, there were buildings partially unroofed, power lines and lights down, shattered glass--it was a mess.

We got back on Hwy 169 north and quickly headed east on Hwy 152 again. We followed a large wall cloud amd watched it, partially hidden by the trees, develop a wedge type tornado and touch down in Liberty, MO. Here again we found downed trees and powerlines and a collapsed gas station canopy. We drove over some power lines before we could react, and then around some downed trees. At this point, debris and trees completely blocked the road. This area looked to be on the edge of the worst damage.

We then headed east on Hwy 69/Hwy 10 as the storm continued to cycle. Numerous tornadoes were reported, and we photographed a spotter reported "large tornado on the ground" wedge just WNW of Richmond, MO. At this point we ran out of road options and the storm slipped off to the east.

This was a difficult chase. The urban environment infinitely complicated matters--cars were stopped everywhere and people were reacting very unpredictably (who could blame them, their city was being devastated). The tornado was so large it was difficult to identify (or perhaps accept) as a tornado. It would have been easy to drive right into it with no real warning. Fortunately, that didn't happen.

We feel somewhat awed to have been present for this undoubtedly historic outbreak. Many lives were lost and incredible damage was done. Once again we see the power of Nature to create infinite beauty and unbelievable destruction.

Thanks to John Wetter, Andy Kula, and Tim Vasquez for valuable guidance. And thanks to our chase partners for keeping their heads and handling a difficult situation with composure (mostly!).

It was a chase we won't soon forget.