980622 - VORTEX crews were mobilized to intercept storms that were forecast
to form on an old outflow boundary (from the previous nights' MCS
activity).  It was hoped that these storms would move northeast and into
both better shear and better moisture.  As is often the case, the
atmosphere had other ideas.  Convection formed on the foothills and moved
very slowly to the east.  This air was considerably drier than was
necessary for supercells.  VORTEX played a waiting game until the storms
moved farther east.  By late afternoon, one cell had begun to acquire
supercell characteristics and intercepts began.  A lack of good westbound
roads limited our options but numerous north-south transects were completed
in the inflow region.  The storm diminished in strength during the early
evening hours and operations were terminated at sunset.  Shortly
thereafter, the cell moved into better moisture and became severe once
again with large hail and significant rotation.