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Last Updated on Monday, 04 January 2010 22:13 Written by Roger Hill

2006

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May 9th took us into southeast Oklahoma for what ended up being an exercise in futility. Storms tried to form but as they became organized they entrained too much dry air. We ended up heading south towards Atoka, OK as the southern Oklahoma cell hit our position with high winds, small hail and heavy rain. We took a break and ate dinner, and that decision ultimately would cost us a view of the Westminster, TX tornado in the dark. As we approached the supercell, we decided to stop the chase and not try to get in front of it as it was at its max intensity and would soon decrease and become nontornadic. Check out the photos below of the updraft structure illuminated by lightning and then the aftermath of this unfortunate killer tornado.

The Westminster, TX tornadic supercell at its peak.                  Another shot of it as you can make out the structure.

Scoured field where the tornado formed.                                      Unfortunate site of a fatality from this destructive tornado.

House collapsed as family escaped tornado.                            Weird balls of mud formed like a snowball does.

Family goes through ruins to find belongings.                             What was a car and a collapsed house.