We’re "on the road again", and this month we’re taking a very special trip, storm chasing across the south-central plains of these beautiful United States as part of our Sales Tax 'Trip' Tuesday series. This story depicts a 'trip of the author's imagination '; it does not reflect an actual storm chasing expedition. Attempting to chase severe storms and tornadoes as an amateur can not be strongly enough discouraged due to the significant dangers and potential negative consequences for yourself or others. Neither Insightful Accountant nor the sponsors of this feature encourage, recommend, or otherwise endorse storm chasing by amateurs.
We awoke around 4 AM to get into position and ready for the day's storm chasing. The Severe Storms Forecast Center in Norman, Oklahoma, had forecast that this would be one of the worst storm outbreaks of the season, with thunderstorms brewing from the south Texas Panhandle all the way to Lincoln, Nebraska, and beyond.
This 'storm chase vehicle' image was created by GenAI, it is not a real depiction.
Our Storm Team decided to set up in Woodward, Oklahoma, and then determine which way to go: southwest toward the Panhandle of Texas or north toward Dodge City, Kansas, and beyond. However, it is currently 5:45 AM in Oklahoma City, and our chase team is assembling at the OnCue Gas Station and Convenience Store, located at the intersection of Northwest Expressway and Interstate 344. Even at this time of morning, the clouds over us appear to be in turmoil.
OnCue Convenience Store and Phillips 66 Gas Station at 9801 Northwest Expressway, Oklahoma City (Yukon), OK 73099 (OnCue Marketing LLC, Stillwater, OK 7 4075) shown or education purposes only.
The price of diesel gasoline is $4.47 per gallon, and our Ford F-250 Super Duty Diesel has a 44-gallon gas tank, which is a thirsty beast, consuming 41.5 gallons, totaling $185.51. According to Avalara, there is a flat $0.19 per gallon excise tax on diesel in Oklahoma, which means that $7.89 of the total is Oklahoma's gas tax.
These large OnCue stations are a great place to stop on a chase. They have excellent awnings and even better food courts, offering a variety of options to grab on the go or take a short sit-down. This morning, we're gobbling down a quick breakfast of sausage, cheese, and egg biscuits. Buy one for $1.29 and get one free. Supposedly, they only give you one, but I guess they realize that our truck of chasers are just 'students on spring break' watching the weather rather than lying on a beach somewhere. So they sold us a dozen of these biscuits for $15.48 and gave us a dozen more (at no cost).
Couple that with 24 jumbo coffees at $ 0.88 each, and a gallon of milk at $1.98, and our total breakfast snack attack costs us $38.58. Now, Oklahoma City has a total of 8.63% sales tax that includes 4.5% Oklahoma (state) sales tax and 4.13% Oklahoma City sales tax; there is no county sales tax. That means our total sales tax is $3.33, for a total $41.91, and then we are "on the road again, chasing storms, on the road again."
There is a golden rule when you are chasing storms: 'fill up' every opportunity you get, especially if there is a gas station with (in this priority) diesel fuel, clean bathrooms, and snacks (at a minimum). You don't want to be out chasing storms and find out that you are running on fumes. Even worse, you don't want to be out, being chased by a storm, and find out that you are 'on empty.'
So, while this big old Super Duty gets an average of 22 miles per gallon for highway and rural roads combined, we don't dare go more than about half the 880-mile maximum capacity of our fuel status without stopping, if at all possible.
From the gas station, we head up State Highway 3 for about 20 minutes or so until we reach Okarche, home of Eischen's Fried Chicken.
Fried Chicken served at Eischen's 109 S. 2nd Street,, Okarche, Oklahoma 73762, depiction for illustrative purposes only. .
It's too bad it's only 6:45 in the morning; some of their chicken would be yummy, but you can't even get a 'to-go order' at this time of the morning. "I sure bet some of their chili would be good to top one of my biscuits with." By the way, Eischen's claims to be Oklahoma's 'oldest bar', first established in 1896. But we won't be spending any money or paying any sales tax there today.
En route, one of our team members is watching a radar feed on his laptop powered by his cell phone.
Radar image captured from National Weather Service Doppler Radar KFDR at Frederick, Oklahoma (graphics added for story emphasis). .
Another team member is monitoring the Texas and Oklahoma Automated Surface Observation Stations (ASOS). In Oklahoma, this mesonet is called the OKMesoNet, and in Texas, it's the TEXMesoNet. It's essential to stay constantly aware of the temperature, relative humidity, dew point, and wind conditions to determine the location of the fronts and dry lines.
Image captured from TEXMesoNet published public data; TEXMesoNet is part of the Texas Water Development Board and is based in Austin, Texas.i
This team member is also trying to keep track of various broadcast stations (primarily television) in the broad areas where we are heading, since many of them have their chase teams serving as a 'first line of warning' for their viewing areas.
In Oklahoma, weather is 'big business' for the television stations, especially those located in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. At times, you can see more than a dozen TV chase vehicles in the same vicinity trying to get 'first footage' of a developing tornado. Heck, you may even hear one or two helicopters overhead as each of the stations in these two cities has at least one chopper dedicated to covering severe weather.
Additionally, the National Severe Storms Laboratory, part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, conducts field research involving dozens of vehicles, including mobile Doppler radars. Many of these vehicles are manned by students from the University of Oklahoma School of Meteorology. They will position themselves in areas along a storm line in an attempt to gain measurement data while the Doppler on Wheels obtains radar data on developing storms.
Storm Chasers of the National Severe Storms Laboratory and University of Oklahoma School of Meteorology, NSSL - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration photo.
One of these teams, from Oklahoma University and NSSL, measured the fastest wind speed ever recorded on the planet, 302 mph, near Bridge Creek, Oklahoma, on May 3, 1999. Just a short time later, that same F5 tornado cut a destructive path of damage through my hometown of Moore.
Doppler-on-wheels of the National Severe Storms Laboratory and University of Oklahoma School of Meteorology, NSSL - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration photo.
But enough nostalgia, let's get back to this day's Storm Chase, of my imagination. Another member of our own on board team is monitoring the various Weather Service forecasts, watches, warnings, and special weather statements.
Severe Thunderstorm Outlook broadcast over AccuWeather (reproduced and published for educational purposes only).
This member is also reviewing the recent 'weather aloft' reports from sounding balloons, which NWS offices in places like Amarillo and Oklahoma City are reporting based on their most recent observations. He is pretty much 'our in-truck short-range forecaster' who is responsible for interpreting all of the data and guiding us to the best place he thinks we will get the opportunity for a 'good chase.'
Radar image captured from National Weather Service Doppler Radar KAMA at Amarillo, Texas (graphics modified for story emphasis).
Of course, we have a driver who is skilled in these chases, and I'm the navigator (on this trip of my imagination) who is responsible for getting us on the right roads to intercept storms on the move, while at the same time always providing a 'plan B' escape route in case a tornado cuts off our primary path of egress. I also have another job, which involves monitoring the various radio channels on our scanners and two-way radios.
This 'storm chase vehicle' (interior) image was created by GenAI, it is not a real depiction.
Our goal is always the same: to reach a location that allows us to witness and video 'tornado genesis', the birth of a tornado within a mature supercell thunderstorm; then, if we are lucky enough, to be able to follow alongside the tornado, to watch its continuing evolution and ultimately its collapse and demise.
And that goal remains unchanged this morning. As a result of a severe storm warning from the weather service for the Panhandle of Texas, our destination has now changed. Instead of traveling all the way to Woodward, we will change our route when we get to Seiling, Oklahoma. At Seiling, we will turn west onto Highway 60 and follow it to Arnett, Oklahoma, situated near the Oklahoma-Texas border. There, we will await the arrival of the storms that are building in Texas and then stay ahead of them by heading northeast to Woodward.
By the time we arrive in Arnett, we've traveled 176 miles, which means we've used about 8 gallons of fuel, roughly one-fifth of our tank, so we might as well top it off. Even though the storms are more than a hundred miles away, the sky here is starting to show signs of building cumulus clouds striving to turn into thunderstorms.
Due to its location, Arnett experiences a high volume of traffic and serves as a convenient place to stop for gas. It just so happens there is a Phillips 66, and since we started with Phillips Diesel, we will stick with it. Sure enough, 8.8 gallons at $4.52/gallon or $39.78 at the pump. Avalara reminds us that Oklahoma has a $0.19 gas tax, so we are paying $1.68 of the total to the state coffers.
We also have time for some snacks. We grab some Cokes and bottled waters to polish off our cooler. We pick up some bags of tortilla chips, potato chips, and pig skins, along with a handful of beef sticks, to hold us for at least the next three hours or so. Total pre-tax is $29.31. Avalara informs us that the total sales tax in Arnett is 10.5%, which is relatively high. There is 4.5% for the state of Oklahoma, 2% for Ellis County, where Arnett is located, and 4% for the City of Arnett. That brings our grand total to $32.39. Storm chasing 'junk food' is expensive.
Refueled and fed again, we are ready to "do battle" with the mighty storms, and just in time. Some of the storms have evolved into isolated supercells, developing rotation in the mid-to-lower levels of the storm. It looks like it won't be long before we have a funnel and then a tornado. While a tornado is a circulation of low pressure descending from a cloud to the ground, a funnel is the exact same circulation of low pressure that hasn't yet descended to the ground.
Because of the growing intensity and the distance remaining between us and the storms, we decide that we must get back on the move again and head closer to the storm rather than wait for it to arrive. We divert from our intended course to either the intersection of Highway 60 with Highway 83, near Canadian, Texas, or perhaps as far as where Highway 60 intersects with Highway 83 and Highway 33.
Nearing Canadian, Texas, we can see the storm ahead of us. To avoid vehicles heading south on the highway that would block our progress, we pull off onto the county service road, about a half mile west, which runs parallel to the main road. Since other storm chasers may want to drive around us, we pull to the far right to get our shot of this impressive tornado as it heads toward the highway we just got off of.
This 'storm chase vehicle' (interior shot) depicting a tornado was created by GenAI, it is not a real depiction.
The storm is moving along at a 45-degree angle to our roadway and is heading northeast across Highway 60; hopefully, the vehicles on the highway will see the storm in time to avoid it.
Giving the tornado time to move about 2 or 3 miles away from us, we head southwest on our county road, where we recognize the storm is starting to diminish in strength. Don't get me wrong, it is still a violent storm and causing damage, but it isn't 300 yards wide as it was when we first saw it. Thankfully, this storm is located in a rural area, where it is primarily impacting farmland.
Adapted from National Severe Storms Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration photo in the public domain for educational purposes only.
What an incredible first storm of the day; a great chase with a great reward. One tornado safely and successfully under our belt for today, hopefully many others to come.
Now my chase friends and I are debating about 'Nexus'. So, if we sell some of our pictures of this storm taken in Texas over the internet, and we are still in Texas when someone buys them from our website, does that create a Nexus relationship for us, even if we are all from Oklahoma and our Storm Chase business is registered there? Please share your thoughts, and we will have someone from Avalara answer this question live at an upcoming webinar hosted by Insightful Accountant.
As we make a U-turn back onto Highway 60, heading back to our 'fail-safe' point in Arnett, the regional radar shows signs of development well ahead of us. Some of the strongest storms have already reached southwest Kansas. So, "the chase is on" to catch up to the progressing line of storms and potentially intercept another tornado.
Radar image captured from National Weather Service Doppler Radar TLX (Twin Lakes), Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Our route will take us north from Arnett to Buffalo, Oklahoma, not far south of the Kansas border, then we will slide east on U.S. Highway 64 and turn left on Highway 34 till we pass the Kansas border just south of Buttermilk, Kansas, where the heaviest storms were producing large hail and damaging winds.
The storms are moving around 30 miles per hour. We are driving considerably faster than that, but many people on the highways in these areas are accustomed to seeing storm chasers, and they give way to allow us to pass on these two-lane roads.
It also appears that the northern end of the line, near Buttermilk, has stalled out. Storms come and die, followed by another developing storm that essentially collapses in the same area. There is a firm boundary of a cold front approaching from the north, and storms are firing off all along it as it moves south. At present, the approaching boundary seems to be gaining ground.
Radar image captured from National Weather Service Doppler Radar VNX (Vance Air Force Base), Enid, Oklahoma.
But suddenly, as we cross the Oklahoma-Kansas border, the possibility of tornado genesis appears imminent. Perhaps I should take this opportunity to tell you a little about how storms like this develop.
As warm, moist currents of air rise inside a cloud, the cooler temperatures aloft cause the moisture to condense, and water droplets begin falling within the cloud. If the density of the rain-cooled downdraft prevails, rain falls from the cloud. On the other hand, if the warm air currents rising into the cloud prevail, water droplets may be blown back aloft, and when the upper layers of the cloud are cold enough, ice pellets form. If these ice pellets get carried aloft often enough, they turn into hail. When they become so dense that the updraft within the cloud can no longer hold them aloft, hail falls from the cloud.
Adapted from National Severe Storms Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration photo in the public domain for educational purposes only.
In much the same fashion, the warm air rising and the cool air descending creates air currents that cause the currents to begin rotating on a horizontal axis within the cloud, however, as the spinning currents accelerate the shaft of air within the cloud begins to tilt on its axis with the column of spinning air is slowly pulled down further and further in the cloud.
Adapted from National Severe Storms Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration photo in the public domain for educational purposes only.
If the rotation becomes tight enough, the density of the air may cause the funnel-shaped column to extend from the cloud base. As the process continues, the funnel of air will ultimately reach the ground, and a tornado is born.
Although it may seem that we are experiencing more tornadoes than ever before, the reality is that tornadoes are pretty rare. Very few thunderstorms become Supercells, and very few Supercells develop rotation at the lower levels of the storm. Even fewer rotating Supercells spawn a tornado. The vast majority of such storms are F1 or F2 at most, with winds of 85 to 110 mph. An F5 tornado is the rarest of all and may only occur once every few years within the United States. However, every tornado is potentially destructive and can be deadly, especially when the public is ill-prepared for such storms or ignores alerts and disregards warnings.
So, even though you have greater odds of drowning in flood waters, or being struck by lightning, which more people die from than tornadoes each year, it's the phenomenal sight of a twister that both frightens and piques the curiosity of many. That is why, even with storm sirens blaring and debris swirling in the air from a nearby tornado, countless people leave the safety of their storm shelters to get a glimpse, record a cell phone video, or snap photographs with their cameras of one of nature's most destructive forces, the tornado.
This is a tornado-radar-signature and simulated warning which was created by GenAI, it is not a real depiction.
And on that perfect day, with perfect meteorological conditions and both supercell and tornado genesis at hand, a chase team, perhaps what should be called a 'chance team', gets to witness nature's most destructive force not once, but twice in one day.
Even though Buttermilk appears to be in the target zone, the twister went just a few miles to the northwest of town, sparing the community, while at the same time giving us an excellent opportunity to observe the storm.
This 'storm chase vehicle' (interior shot) depicting a tornado was created by GenAI, it is not a real depiction.
Just beyond Buttermilk, the tornado of my imagination roped out to a cyclic death, and just in the nick of time. As darkness sets in, our chase is over. Our imaginary team of chasers doesn't chase after dark.
We head north to the Coldwater, Kansas, Snappy Stop. We will fill up at $4.98 per gallon of diesel, which includes $0.2672 of state motor fuel tax, in addition to $0.1253 of other taxes, for a total of $ 0.3925 per gallon. We purchased 37 gallons of diesel, totaling 184.26. We paid a whopping $14.32 in fuel taxes, according to Avalara.
Best of all, something else to munch on… tornado tracking makes you hungry. How does four fried burritos, eight fried chicken tenders, and enough baked beans to sink a battleship, along with four jumbo soft drinks with ice, sound? The total damage came to $37.78 before tax. The Avalara App confirms that Coldwater has a total sales tax rate of 8.5%, comprising 6.5% Kansas state sales tax and 2.0% Coldwater sales tax. Notably, there is no sales tax for Comanche County, where Coldwater is located, resulting in a total sales tax of $3.22, which brings the total to $41.10.
I'm ready to head home and get myself prepared for another Sales Tax Trip Tuesday. Thanks to our friends at Avalara for making this series possible. If you have sales tax problems, need answers to sales and use tax issues, or want to find the best way to always remain accurate in your sales tax administration, whether you have 'Nexus' situations or not, reach out to Avalara… "Tax Compliance Done Right."
Remember, this story depicts a 'trip of the author's imagination'; it does not reflect an actual storm chasing expedition, and many of the graphical images shown in this article were artificially created by GenAI. Attempting to chase severe storms and tornadoes as an amateur can not be strongly enough discouraged due to the significant dangers and potential negative consequences for yourself or others. Neither Insightful Accountant nor the sponsors of this feature encourage, recommend, or otherwise endorse storm chasing by amateurs.
Public Service Message: Tornado Safety Precautions
Remember, severe weather, including tornadoes, can be hazardous. Lightning, severe winds, flooding, hail, and tornadoes kill or injure hundreds of people in the United States each year. A Tornado Warning is issued when National Weather Service Doppler Radar has detected a developing tornado or a reliable report of a tornado has been reported. A tornado warning is usually issued for portions of one or two counties for an hour or less. The storm could also produce large hail and destructive straight-line winds. If the tornado warning includes your neighborhood or workplace, you should seek safe shelter immediately. Tornadoes could be obscured by rainfall or come at night. Do not wait until you see or hear the tornado; it may be too late. Take tornado safety precautions as soon as a Tornado Warning is issued.
In the event of a tornado, the National Weather Service has issued these safety rules to keep you and your family safe:
- Get as low as you can. A basement below ground level or the lowest floor of a building offers the greatest safety. Put as many walls between yourself and the outside as possible. Avoid windows at all cost!
- In homes or public buildings: go to the basement or a small interior room, such as a closet, bathroom, or an interior hall on the lowest level. Close all doors to the hallway for greater protection. If possible, get under something sturdy like a heavy table. Protect yourself from flying debris with pillows, heavy coats, blankets, or quilts. Use bicycle or motorcycle helmets to protect your head.
- In mobile homes: leave well in advance of the approaching severe weather and go to a strong building. If there is no shelter nearby, seek refuge in the nearest ditch, low spot, or underground culvert. Lie flat, covering your head with your hands for protection.
- In vehicles or outdoors: when tornadoes are possible, limit your outdoor plans or finish them early. Stay close to a sturdy shelter. If caught outside, seek shelter in a ditch or remain in your vehicle, covering your head for protection. Do not take shelter under a highway overpass, where wind speeds can increase due to a tunneling effect. It is best not to put yourself or others in a situation where no sturdy shelter is available.
- Remember, stay away from doors, windows, and outside walls; always protect your head!
Special Acknowledgement
We would like to acknowledge, and extend our appreciation to the various professional storm chasers, storm spotters, local emergency managers,forecasters and meteorologists of (or cooperating with) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Weather Service, the National Severe Storms Laboratory, the National Severe Storms Forecast Center, the University of Oklahoma School of Meteorology, as well as the various Television Broadcast Stations across the United States, especially those in the 'Tornado belt', for their countless hours and dedication in issuing warnings and other advisories for severe weather, including tornadoes. Without you, countless numbers would be injured or killed as a result of some of natures most violent weather.
Disclosures:
Content published by Insightful Accountant is furnished for educational purposes only.Some content, including graphics may have been artificially generate by GenAi.
This story depicts a fictional 'trip; it does not reflect an actual trip (or storm chasing expedition).
Do not attempt any storm or tornado chasing activities as depicted in this fictional account. Amateurs can not be strongly enough discouraged against storm chasing due to the significant dangers and potential negative consequences for yourself or others. Neither Insightful Accountant nor the sponsors of this feature encourage, recommend, or otherwise endorse storm chasing by amateur. Neither Insightful Accountant, or the sponsor of this feature, assume any liability for any event that might arise out of any individuals' failing to head the warnings in this disclosure, or the article itself.
All 'Sales and related taxes' discussed herein were verified (or otherwise provided) from Avalara sources and were current at the time the story was composed. Tax rates and amounts may vary in some cases during different (seasonal) periods of the year and by location, and may have changed after publication.
Do not rely on 'any' amounts (for goods, products, services, or taxes) specified here when planning travel.
Content is a fictionalized account of persons, places, and activities used only for informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. Any similarity to actual persons is purely coincidental.
Trade names or references used herein (including those in bold italics) may refer to registered, trademarked, or copyrighted materials held by their respective owners and have been included herein for informational and educational purposes. URLs linking to those references are provided within the feature as a courtesy to our readers.
Note: Registered Trademark ® and other registration symbols (such as those used for copyrighted materials) have been eliminated from the articles within this publication for brevity due to the frequency or abundance with which they would otherwise appear or be repeated. We attempt to credit such trademarks or copyrights within our respective article footnotes and disclosures.