May 8, 2003 Chase
Lawrence, Kansas F2 Tornado

Armed with only a weather radio, I made a drive after work from Overland Park to Lawrence after hearing reports of a supercell that dropped a wide tornado near the town of Lyndon, Kansas. As the storm progressed northeastward, it kept dropping tubes on its way to Lawrence, with reports at Ponoma Lake in Osage County, and the towns of Clinton and Lone Star in Douglas County. With only the weather radio tracking, there was an indication that the storm was heading towards Clinton Lake and southwestern Lawrence.

Driving through some moderate rain and no hail in Lawrence, I set up to intercept along Kansas Highway 10 and 23rd Street/ Clinton Parkway in western Lawrence by Clinton Lake. As I watched the wall cloud move away from Clinton Lake, a funnel started to form with a touchdown a short time later. The tornado moved to the northeast where it caused F2 damage in the city of Lawrence, significantly damaging or destroying a few structures, including a few at the Aberdeen South Apartment Complex. The storm rapidly weakened and was no longer on the radar map as it reached northeastern Lawrence and into Leavenworth County.

Pictures
(Click thumbnail for bigger picture)

	Setting up shop on K-10 at Clinton Parkway. 7:35PM
	Funnel moving northeast. 7:36PM
	Almost touchdown of funnel. 7:37PM
	We have touchdown in the Wakarusa River Valley. 7:37PM
	Moving towards Lawrence. 7:38PM
	Funnel moving into Lawrence. 7:39PM
	Damage at the Aberdeen South Apartment Complex. 7:44PM