March 15, 2025 Long-Track Tornado Event // Southern MS and Adjacent LA

 A long-lived long-track tornado moved northeast across southeast MS during the early afternoon of March 15, 2025. The EF4 tornado had a pathlength of 109 km and lifespan of 82 minutes. An 18 UTC HRRR proximity sounding was captured for Hattiesburg, MS, which was located a few 10's of km east of the tornado track. That sounding profile was used to test a tornado pathlength and duration algorithm, and the predicted values were an 85 km pathlength and 74 minute duration, which was in error of 24 km and 8 minutes, respectively.

 The large-scale environment was fairly typical of a tornado-producing synoptic-scale storm system. Mid and upper flow was enhanced around a trough moving across the middle United States. Embedded speed maxima were present at 250 mb, with one impulse rotating out of the trough and across the region of tornado production. In the low-levels, southeast flow ushered low 70s dewpoints into southern MS by midday. Midlevel lapse rates were also fairly steep above the moist boundary layer, around 7 C/km, and this aided in MLCAPE values near 2000 J/kg. Tornado longevity was likely enhanced by 20 m/s of bulk-wind difference from the surface to around 1 km AGL. And convective mode was initially favorable for tornadic supercells, though trended toward QLCS later in the day.

All in all, a fairly standard long-lived long-track tornado environment. Nothing stood out in particular. The environment supported the observed tornado attributes and the environment produced as expected.

Thanks to Kathy Kanak for sharing ideas and providing much of the data used in this post.

18 UTC HRRR proximity sounding located several ten's of km east of a long-track tornado.

Damage survey tornado track for the long-lived long-pathlength event in southern MS.

MRMS rotational tracks.

Tornado pathlength and duration prediction algorithms for the long-track event in southern MS.

Subjective surface analysis valid 18 UTC for the long-track tornado event in southern MS.

250 mb objective analysis valid 00 UTC 16 March 2025.

 

Buckskin Gulch and Paria River via Wire Pass // Utah

I hiked from Wire Pass through Buckskin Gulch to the Paria River as a day hike during late March. Total mileage was 30 miles, which I finished in about 13 hours. I began the hike around 7:45 AM, entered the Wire Pass slot canyon, climbed up/down a few obstacles, including an 8 foot ladder, and soon reached the intersection with Buckskin Gulch. I quickly took a few pictures of the petroglyphs located at the intersection and then began the trek through Buckskin. The walls of the canyon quickly became narrow and deep, several hundred feet deep at times, followed by occasional wide openings that were always followed by another section of deep narrow canyon. Several hours into the hike (around late morning) the sun angle became favorable for robust coloration of the canyon walls, and that was the time I obtained my best pictures. I eventually reached a section of large boulders that could be climbed down via notched rock assisted by a rope, or down through a hole/gap in the slickrock. I picked the gap-hole. Shallow water soon began to cover the trail as I got closer to the Paria River, but was not very deep. In fact, most of the hike was dry with the exception of a pool of knee deep water, and another section of ankle deep freakishly thick mud. 

Once I reached the Paria River, I took a quick break, soaked in the silent tranquility of this wild section of America, and then began the journey back to the trailhead. I estimated I would get back to my truck by 9 PM. I encountered several other hiking parties, but otherwise I was completely alone in the canyon. One hour would pass, then another, then another...I trudged through one section of canyon after another, everything looked the same, the pattern of walking on sand then round stones then sand then stones repeated over and over. A lot of thoughts run through your head as afternoon turns to evening, then dusk, and then night. There were plenty of bats to keep me company as the last golden hues faded away along the canyon rim. Finally I reached the intersection with Wire Pass, which at that point required my headlamp to navigate. I then exited the canyon and was greeted by a dark desert landscape. Mountain lions were on my mind at this point, and I constantly scanned side to side with my headlamp, hoping I didn't see a pair of yellow glowing eyes staring down at me from the surrounding cliffs. Thankfully no lions were encountered, and I reached my truck at 8:45 PM...exactly 13 hours after I started the trek. It was a great experience, awesome canyon, and longest distance I've hiked in my life.

Google map of Buckskin Gulch can be found here. 

High Spur Canyon // Utah

 High Spur Canyon, located northeast of Hanksville, Utah and on the western edge of Canyonlands, is a fantastic adventure that awaits those daring enough to tackle the connecting road between Hans Flat Ranger Station and Deadman's Trail Road. This road is doable, obviously, as I made it there and back, but high clearance and 4WD is a must, evidenced by the fact that the tail of my 2014 Tacoma actually bottomed out once on a steep slab of rock I had to drive across...that has never happened to me before. But otherwise, if you survive the nail-biting drive, the canyon is a blast...and keep a lookout for wild burros. I arrived during a late afternoon, and given there were a few hours of remaining daylight, I decided to descend into the canyon but got cliffed out. So I returned to my truck, spent an overnight listening to the howling wind, and in the morning, found a route into the canyon that by-passed my previous cliff. I then trekked through deep narrow slots that occasionally opened up. My goal was to reach a section of the canyon near the end where the colors and shapes rival Antelope Canyon near Page, AZ. However, I reached a dry waterfall, and I determined I could definitely get down this feature, but I wasn't sure if I could climb back up due to slick rock and a lack of hand/foot holds. I was seriously sad I had to stop as the epic canyon section was so near. I actually managed to climb out of the canyon and look for side routes that would bypass the cliff section, but an hour or two of searching ended in failure...I thus hiked across a mile of desert to Windy Peak Road and then made my way down the road back to my truck. Perhaps if I come back I'll bring a rope to descend and ascend this last section. 

Check out these other sites for better beta on High Spur Canyon (Ropewiki // RoadTripRyan).

Here is a Google Map of High Spur Canyon. 

Lower Calf Creek Falls // Utah

 I enjoyed a low pain/high reward kind of hike during mid March, tackling several miles of mostly flat sandy trail that followed Calf Creek to a spectacular waterfall. The route is surrounded by towering sandstone canyon walls, and I bet the photography would be extraordinary when the trees and ground-vegetation green-out. After capturing obligatory pictures and video of the falls, I hiked back to the trailhead and drove into Escalante for pizza at Escalante Outfitters.

Google map location for Lower Calf Creek Falls can be found here. 

Kanarra Falls - Utah

 I hiked an easy couple of miles out to Kanarra Falls in Utah during early march. It was a nice hike, although slightly muddy in sections due to early spring snow melt. In addition, ankle deep wading was required, and the water was frigid. Otherwise, I got some epic video and pictures of the waterfall and short but deep slot canyon. Great hike but be prepared to pay $17 to access this natural wonder (see the link here).

 Google map of Kanarra Falls can be found here. 

Zebra Slot Canyon // Utah

 Another cold night spent at a trailhead, this time for Zebra Slot Canyon located near Escalante, Utah. I emerged out of my sleeping bag shortly after sunrise and started trekking across easy terrain toward Zebra. After a few miles, I entered a wash, and then entered the narrow chasm. I encountered knee deep water that I cautiously waded through, checking every next step so as to avoid plunging into a deep pot hole. After the water, I had to stem over several canyon sections that were too narrow for me to fit through. I then reached the most interesting part of the canyon filled with smooth streamlined rock walls and wavy formations, all of which could indeed be interpreted as zebra-like...thus the name of the canyon was appropriate. I then exited upwards and ran into a deep pot hole with smooth side walls that I was not at all confident I could climb out of. Not wanting to turn an epically awesome canyon experience into a tragedy, I turned around and retraced my steps back to the original entrance. Zebra slot canyon is pretty awesome, though short, and it offered a brief introduction into slot canyon stemming technique.

 Google map of Zebra Slot Canyon can be found here.