This is the one year anniversary of the Dora, New Mexico tornado last May 26, 2019.

It is without a doubt the best storm chase day I've had, and rivals the total solar eclipse of 2017 and the northern lights as the coolest things I've ever experienced.

I'll recount it as best I can, and by using pics.

(Now before my #wxtwitter fam trolls me, do understand I missed: Dodge City, Chapman, Pilger, Bennington (all of them), Campo, Dimmitt, Wynnewood, Pampa, Canadian, pretty much every other cool event ever. :P)

After table flipping in Colorado on Saturday, watching John Wick 3 on Sunday morning, seeing early initiating storms with no EML and Mexican smoke **AGAIN** by 1pm, I started reassessing my last chase day of 2019.

1pm MST Observation, experience, and, well, a lot of luck needed.

Dryline chasers know to shoot for Tail End Charlie when a setup goes linear to maximize LLJ and moisture. With SPC Mesoanalysis showing a small area of backed winds in SE NM, this was really the only choice.

5pm MST Driving into glorious Morton, Texas! I planned on dropping to Lovington/Hobbs area, but satellite indicated CU bit north of that.

As it turned out, so did @CameronJNixon and @beanCenteno, who both have their own tales of adventure from that day.

553pm MST After driving west directly into the sun, I finally roll under an anvil. Egads! It looks like there's already circulation!

Scud bomb? A funnel? Was it on the ground? I can't be sure... you be the judge.

610pm MST I reposition a bit, and after cycling, a new mesocyclone forms.

It's at this point I realize I left my SD cards in Lubbock, a fact I will always lament.

You guys can insert your favorite sad_pikachu.gif here.

618pm MST The storm is already rotating quickly as the low level jet has kicked in, and quickly produces a landspout that spins for ten minutes.

629pm MST At this point, the event has already become a sight to see, and you quickly run out of superlatives.

The chasecation has been made as the storm is becoming sculpted. This is why we chase.

640pm MST The updraft has now taken effect, pulling in dust in its inflow and pushing up through several layers.

757pm MST An RFD cut develops on the backend. Quickly realizing I am about to be out of position, I move east.

825pm MST After two cycles and attempts, a new groundscraping wall cloud forms, obsucring cell towers. A multivortex tornado forms.

At some point during this, you wonder if 1) time will stop or 2) your heart is actually going to explode. You question the universe around you as well as the energy drink you had an hour ago.

838pm MST The tornado has been on the ground for five minutes. I continue to drift east to reposition.

843pm MST The tornado has been spinning for ten minutes and begins to take a cone shape for another 15 minutes. The RFD cut, the inflow, the tornado, the entire scene is mesmerizing... and there seems to be a completely balanced maintenance of the storm.

853pm MST The tornado continues, now clocking in at 25 minutes on the ground. Obviously by now, I know this is easily the coolest single storm I have personally ever witnessed.

856pm MST Ropeout. Whew. Take a breather.

921pm MST What a day.

But, #2019ing could not leave without playing one last cosmic joke on me: The entire behind-the-storm timelapse I have been taking for 30 minutes now was OUT OF FOCUS.

Lmao FFS.

The combination of self-forecasting, seeing literally no one else around the entire time, and watching the coolest storm made this a Best Day Ever.

Thanks for indulging me in my memory. Time to get ready to chase in Texas tomorrow. Yeehaw, y'all.