Storm Chasing

[RabbitMPD]

Hey guys!

Just wondering if there are any storm chasers out here. I belong to SkyWarn through my local county RACES but travel all over the country to chase with a friend of mine (actually use vacation days to chase :rolleyes: I'm a nerd). Chase and spotter classes will be starting soon and I'm starting to get the storm itch.

Anybody have good pictures to share? I finally got myself a digital camera so I'll probably set up a webpage this summer if I have the time.

So, any other chasers out there???

[Photogrrlz]

But Rabbit that would involve me getting wet voulntarily...And I don't think I am up for that...Let alone chase tornados...sounds interesting though and I would like to see some pics when you get em....

[RabbitMPD]

But Rabbit that would involve me getting wet voulntarily...And I don't think I am up for that...Let alone chase tornados...sounds interesting though and I would like to see some pics when you get em....
:D

Well if you ever want to go you can stay in the car. And surprisingly people don

[Photogrrlz]

[QUOTE=RabbitMPD]:D

Well if you ever want to go you can stay in the car. And surprisingly people don

[BrickCop]

I love watching those tornado documentaries on TV. Maybe I'm fascinated because we don't get them much in MA. I haven't seen many clips that showed cars or other large discernable pieces of debris in the air.

I'd love to (safely) see a Tornado in person, it must be an adrenaline rush.

[RabbitMPD]

I love watching those tornado documentaries on TV. Maybe I'm fascinated because we don't get them much in MA. I haven't seen many clips that showed cars or other large discernable pieces of debris in the air.

I'd love to (safely) see a Tornado in person, it must be an adrenaline rush.
A rush like you wouldn't believe! It's quite a sight. What gets me is how something so destructive can be so beautiful at the same time (from a distance of course).

It is actually rare for storm chasers to see tornados. Storm chasing is much more then seeing a tornado. Hard to understand until you've actually done it. Some chasers who are employed by NOAA and other companies get trucks with radar mounted on them. Those of us who have an old minivan, CB radio, Ham radio, and scanners, must use our instincts and just watch the clouds. Without radar, it is EXTREAMLY hard to see a tornado. So when it happens, it's like GOD smiled upon you.

Even though it can be sad at first, it is incredible how towns (small towns especially) come together. All citizens set there differences aside and do some wonderful things. Strange how incredible disasters can bring people so close together.

Storm season is only a little over a month away. I'll try to post some pictures as soon as possible.

[Netopalis]

Yes I'm a storm chaser out of Southern Oklahoma. I been chasing for 4 years now. However I don't think I'll be doing much of this year since I just move to my college town. The local sky warn team guys aren't very bright. Use ONLY ham radios. I cant tell you how many times the guys with CB and Cell phones regreting useing them. Also if your local sky warm team is good they should have a Net Control that will rely information too you. Also you can set up radio in your truck if you have a laptop and a Ham radio.

However have you had any classes? I only seen 1 tornado on the ground and it was a cat tail. Spin downs and down brust is what is more comman and is more dangerous they can't be detected. Only about 1 tornado out of 10 warning we issuse ever really on the ground. Here a few pictures I taken of a wall cloud and rotating wall cloud last year. I don't have my aftermath picture loaded. I have one of a broom stick through a Stop Sign and the stop sign is still standing. My last chase we clock the wind speed at 156 MPH (STRIGHT LINE WINDS).

http://www.geocities.com/semper_fi_10/storm/Dsc00015.jpg

http://www.geocities.com/semper_fi_10/storm/Dsc00019.jpg

http://www.geocities.com/semper_fi_10/storm/Dsc00018.jpg

http://www.geocities.com/semper_fi_10/storm/Dsc00017.jpg

adrenaline rush yes. your as safe as you are working traffic. I had **** thrown at me. Hail will **** you off more then debris.

[RabbitMPD]

Thanks for the pics! Was there a lot of rotation in that cloud? Looks like it could have been rotating.

Luckly the skywarn team I deal with is VERY good. The best I've ever heard and I

[TXLady]

In May of 1995 we had an amazing hail storm. Hail the size of softballs. It totally demolished by brand new car. I had holes in the fenders! In 2001 we were hit with a tornado in the downtown area. The devestation was incredible. One of our tallest building is still being worked on. The weather is so volatile here in the spring we are always a little on edge. :(

[RabbitMPD]

In May of 1995 we had an amazing hail storm. Hail the size of softballs. It totally demolished by brand new car. I had holes in the fenders! In 2001 we were hit with a tornado in the downtown area. The devestation was incredible. One of our tallest building is still being worked on. The weather is so volatile here in the spring we are always a little on edge. :(
I am in Arlington, TX quite often so I know what your saying. That part of the country gets hit quite a bit with violent storms. It is a good idea to plan ahead. Check out http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/ on a daily basis in the spring. This will show you what the Storm Prediction Center has deemed as high risk areas for severe weather. If you are at moderate or higher level definitely take it seriously (eg. Move light objects inside, park your car in the garage, etc.). I know people hate weather men/women on the news but the Storm Prediction Center is extremely accurate. Don't wait for a Weather Watch or Warning before you prepare.

Also, have you invested in a NOAA weather radio? This is a great investment. For about 20 bucks, give or take a few, you can get a radio with an alarm on it which will notify you of any severe weather heading for your area. I recommend everyone gets one. Radio Shack sells them for a decent price and you can also get them online. Good investment if you live in "storm country."

[Netopalis]

Ya that was rotation. There another pick where you can see the hail in the clouds. Those are great pics Rabbit. I hope to get some good pics this year Im gonna do some free lance chasing because there no way Im working with this sky warn team in my college town.

If you start a website let me know I'll be happy to help ya out. We need more good storm chaser sites.

[TXLady]

I do have a NOAA weather radio. On bad nights, I wouldn't go to bed without one. It will set off an alarm if dangerous weather is iminent.

[Netopalis]

In May of 1995 we had an amazing hail storm. Hail the size of softballs. It totally demolished by brand new car. I had holes in the fenders! In 2001 we were hit with a tornado in the downtown area. The devestation was incredible. One of our tallest building is still being worked on. The weather is so volatile here in the spring we are always a little on edge. :(


Ya I agree with what rabbit said. I just want to add you might want to consider getting a scanner or ham radio licences. Usually our information is current over it. listening to the spotters with your weather radio like rabbit mention. The information that on TV and the radio is usualy about 5 mins old at the least. Our sky warn unit is set up like this.

Spotter ---> Net Control(Local Storm Spotter Command) ---> NWS (National Weather Service) ---> TV/Radio.

Its always good if you sirings means we got good reason and have spotted good rotation. Unless NWS thinks the sirings need to alarm they wont unless a spotter has comfirm it. I think the nation avg warning time is appox. 12 mins. You can get another 2 or so mins if your listening on spotter channels. If your like our area Civil Defense and our Sky Warn hate each other so its a pain getting the sirings sounded. We usually just call the police and no him :D

[RabbitMPD]

By the way, check out the fire department in the link i provided. The building across the street completely collapsed and killed 4 people. I think there was 10 people trapped all togeather, including young kids. Isn't it amazing how one building will collapse while the building across the street sustains minimal damage? Most tornados have mini tornados within the large one, that is why this happens. Still very amazing. The death of those people is very tragic. One was a 14 year old boy and another was a lady who figured it was better to be in a sturdy brick building then her mobile home. Her mobile home wasn't even touched. Very sad.

[RabbitMPD]

Ya I agree with what rabbit said. I just want to add you might want to consider getting a scanner or ham radio licences. Usually our information is current over it. listening to the spotters with your weather radio like rabbit mention. The information that on TV and the radio is usualy about 5 mins old at the least. Our sky warn unit is set up like this.

Spotter ---> Net Control(Local Storm Spotter Command) ---> NWS (National Weather Service) ---> TV/Radio.

Its always good if you sirings means we got good reason and have spotted good rotation. Unless NWS thinks the sirings need to alarm they wont unless a spotter has comfirm it. I think the nation avg warning time is appox. 12 mins. You can get another 2 or so mins if your listening on spotter channels. If your like our area Civil Defense and our Sky Warn hate each other so its a pain getting the sirings sounded. We usually just call the police and no him :D

Good point. Most ham nets are in the frequencies of 144.00 to 148.00 if you have a scanner. If you want a frequency in which nets are held in your area either PM me or tell me on the thread where you live and I can find it for you.

[Netopalis]

ya I saw that pics. Thats really some amazing stuff. I haven't really seen nothing that bad yet. I only got to chase once last year I had to work when the other happen. I was working for wal-mart at the time they wouldnt let me off even though they had the store shut down. Ya I think the 156 MPH winds was a state record or what someone said. Only lasted 2.6 secs acording to the logs.

[RabbitMPD]

Ya I think the 156 MPH winds was a state record
I sure hope so!!! That is incredible! I bet the power company wasn't to happy about that record huh? :D

[Netopalis]

I wish I had the recording of the radio traffic. It was so funny. It goes
something like

Spotter1 to netcontrol: I have clock 130 MPH WINDS at this location.
Netcontrol to Spotter1: Are you sure your wind gage is working right?
Spotter2: HOLY FKN HELL NETCONTROL!!!!! IM BEHIDE SPOTTER1 I have 156 MPH WINDS MY TRUCK (this is also a 1 ton dodge too) I THINK IS GOING TO FLIP!

Our netcontrol has GPS with all the main spotters hams. It also sends back information of speed and location of the spotter but also like wind speed and stuff. They didn't believe it until they went back and reviewed the records at net control. It did rip a barn apart and push over some good size trees. Oh the power company just loved it hehehehehe. It was in a real rural area so not alot of damage was done. I personally believe it was a mico brust that happen when there was stright line winds happening. We did have a 90 MPH winds clock eariler in the chase.

[RabbitMPD]

I wish I had the recording of the radio traffic. It was so funny. It goes
something like

Spotter1 to netcontrol: I have clock 130 MPH WINDS at this location.
Netcontrol to Spotter1: Are you sure your wind gage is working right?
Spotter2: HOLY FKN HELL NETCONTROL!!!!! IM BEHIDE SPOTTER1 I have 156 MPH WINDS MY TRUCK (this is also a 1 ton dodge too) I THINK IS GOING TO FLIP!

Our netcontrol has GPS with all the main spotters hams. It also sends back information of speed and location of the spotter but also like wind speed and stuff. They didn't believe it until they went back and reviewed the records at net control. It did rip a barn apart and push over some good size trees. Oh the power company just loved it hehehehehe. It was in a real rural area so not alot of damage was done. I personally believe it was a mico brust that happen when there was stright line winds happening. We did have a 90 MPH winds clock eariler in the chase.
I agree with you. That HAD to have been outflow from a microburst or downburst. Don't get me wrong, it could have been straight line but sheesh. That it increadible. That ham radio communication is funny. I wouldn't have believed it either if I was net control. Thats insane.

[Netopalis]

Ya well I wasn't the spotter who call it in. I dont even have a wind gage. I was 1/4 of a mile from his location and I was getting some slamming winds. I have to go by what other spotters in my team say. But you cant tell the spotter who called it in that asspecially when we have 2 gages that said the samething. Its 156 strightline but I can't say hes wrong bc I was a quarter of a mile away. They give me I'm the newbie talk when I try to argu with them because I had only been chasing for 4 years. I will say it was strightline winds bc I was getting that. But I don't think it was just strightline.

[RabbitMPD]

Ya well I wasn't the spotter who call it in. I dont even have a wind gage. I was 1/4 of a mile from his location and I was getting some slamming winds. I have to go by what other spotters in my team say. But you cant tell the spotter who called it in that asspecially when we have 2 gages that said the samething. Its 156 strightline but I can't say hes wrong bc I was a quarter of a mile away. They give me I'm the newbie talk when I try to argu with them because I had only been chasing for 4 years. I will say it was strightline winds bc I was getting that. But I don't think it was just strightline.
The problem with the SkyWarn guys and other spotters is they tend to exaggerate things. I had a guy call in 2 inch hail once and I was down the street from him. Funny how he had 2 inch when the hail I was getting was around the size of a pea. That doesn't even constitute severe limits. Thankfully that report was not sent into the NWS.

Here are some quick pictures you might enjoy. They are satellite photos of the May 3, 1999 tornado outbreak in Oklahoma. Sorry they aren

[Netopalis]

[QUOTE=RabbitMPD]The problem with the SkyWarn guys and other spotters is they tend to exaggerate things. I had a guy call in 2 inch hail once and I was down the street from him. Funny how he had 2 inch when the hail I was getting was around the size of a pea. That doesn't even constitute severe limits. Thankfully that report was not sent into the NWS.

Here are some quick pictures you might enjoy. They are satellite photos of the May 3, 1999 tornado outbreak in Oklahoma. Sorry they aren

[Netopalis]

Also this website is good for anyone wanting more information about tornados or spotting. I don't reconmend using this to go spot with. Chase classes are the best. However if you live in tornado alley it might be worth a look.

http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/

[RabbitMPD]

Severe weather awareness will be starting soon so I'll quickly do some preaching :D

Lets also not forget that severe weather CAN and DOES occur even during the winter months. Check this web page (http://www.spc.noaa.gov/exper/archive/events/050113/index.html) and you'll see that on January 13th, 11 tornadoes were reported with at least 2 fatalities. On top of that 100 damaging wind reports and 3 hail reports came in. This was in January! Those of you in the south and east need to be especially aware of the weather at all times of the year.

On top of that, nobody is safe from tornadoes. California has had at least 3 touchdowns since the beginning of 2005. Nobody is safe from severe weather!

Before the season hits, everyone needs to understand the difference between WATCHES and WARNINGS. A few years ago there was a small town in Illinois that was very trigger happy with the sirens. They were sounding the siren if a cloud turned wrong. Well, people got used to it and started to ignore the sirens. Needless to say, eventually they were hit and nobody expected it to be real. Keep in mind that most towns only activate the alarms during certain situations. Either very advanced radar has detected a storm with heavy rotation (last step until a tornado forms) or a trained weather spotter / chaser like Netopalis and I and/or law enforcement call it in. Generally, towns do not activate alarms if private citizens call 9-1-1 due to false alarms. If the sirens are sounding, it is serious.

A few videos have come out that has gotten many people killed. A video shows some people seeking shelter under a bridge as a tornado approached. This was an F-1 tornado (the weakest of all tornadoes) and these people were very lucky. If you are on an expressway or road when a tornado is approaching and no shelter is in sight, DO NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER A BRIDGE! Besides staying in your car, this is the worst spot you can be. It's a crappy situation but you need to get into a ditch, lay face down, and don't let any air underneath you (I know easier said then done). Believe it or not, this is much safer then being under a bridge or overpass.

Now if any of you took the time to read even half of that preach then I thank you
:p

[Netopalis]

of
were very lucky. If you are on an expressway or road when a tornado is approaching and no shelter is in sight, DO NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER A BRIDGE! Besides staying in your car, this is the worst spot you can be. It's a crappy situation but you need to get into a ditch, lay face down, and don't let any air underneath you (I know easier said then done). Believe it or not, this is much safer then being under a bridge or overpass.


I be rich and wouldn't be in college right now if I had a dollar for everytime I came up to people in a bridge. The video of the storm chasers getting under that bridge is KS has alot of people mislead. That tornado was a weak F-2 (113-157 MPH WINDS/Considerable damage). And the chasers got really lucky. Also KS design there bridges a special way that no other state does and does withstand the force of a tornado a lil more but I wouldn't trust it though.

There is so many stories of this happening one has happen on one of my chases happen in 2003. We had a tornado hit a over pass and suck a woman out. The woman body was found about mile away. Also its like being in a gun barral in under the bridge. The force of the wind will shoot debris like bullets through a underpass.

There is several reports of it happening on the OKC May 3rd 1999 tornado.

[Bearcatz06]

What kind of cameras do you use to take pics of storms??
I had two twisters roll through my town last year and all I had on me was my Sony digital camera w/ 3.2 mega pix. The pics sucked.....I had one spinning right above my damn head as I was trying to hide out in one of the fire stations after being pummeled by baseball size hail and it came out very dark and you couldn't see much even when I used some editing software to lightent things up.

[south]

"Retired" Met here. Ended my career with a NWS job heavy in damage surveying. Must have done about 60 or so in the last three years including one outbreak that blew the Super Outbreak into the weeds. I'm still tired. :rolleyes: We got a Commerce Gold Medal though :cool:

We tend to be pretty wary of spotters. GOOD ones are a godsend. BAD ones are dangerous in more ways than I can easily explain. We got to know ours pretty well - some of them were so reliable we took it right to the bank.

[Netopalis]

What kind of cameras do you use to take pics of storms??
I had two twisters roll through my town last year and all I had on me was my Sony digital camera w/ 3.2 mega pix. The pics sucked.....I had one spinning right above my damn head as I was trying to hide out in one of the fire stations after being pummeled by baseball size hail and it came out very dark and you couldn't see much even when I used some editing software to lightent things up.


I use a HP Digial Camra I bought at staples, when I first started chasing. It got a auto focus and brightness. It does what I needs it to do. It took those pics of the rotating walls clouds I posted. Editing software I have PhotoShop 6 but I never use it unless I need too. Some guys get really high dollar camras that a news crew would use. Rabbit will probably be able to give you more on this because camras aren't my thing. Rabbit correct me if I'm wrong but when it gets really dark if you need to have a slower shutter.

LOL ya I hate hail. The largest hail I seen was baseball when i was 10. I've been lucky with hail so far and knock on wood. The largest I've been hit with since I started chasing is quartersize. I have drove through some areas that was hit right after with golf-baseball size.

"Retired" Met here. Ended my career with a NWS job heavy in damage surveying. Must have done about 60 or so in the last three years including one outbreak that blew the Super Outbreak into the weeds. I'm still tired. We got a Commerce Gold Medal though

We tend to be pretty wary of spotters. GOOD ones are a godsend. BAD ones are dangerous in more ways than I can easily explain. We got to know ours pretty well - some of them were so reliable we took it right to the bank.

I agree with you south. I refuse to chase with this group in college town that I just move too. I'm going to do a little freelance stuff on my own but not like I use too, unless I'm at home with my old group. I went, the class and it was awful. They was teaching now to land evacs in without getting help from fire or police. Witch in my opinion Hams/or spotters shouldn't be doing unless its a MUST. Never talk about chasing. Hes got to have a another class because he didn't. Then these guys got all mad because they wouldn't tell them the channels the heilochopper operated on. I was totally discussed on how the group acted. And the type of questions that was being ask. Alot of the question was really dumb questions like. "If I had long/Lat on my GPS will that be better?" or "How deadly is a tornado?" I really wanted to answer that with its not deadly if your good a dodge ball and can resist the force of 100+WINDS hitting you like a train.

BTW Awsome with your medal.

[RabbitMPD]

You guys ever been to these "training classes" for the ham radio guys? Don't get me wrong, I'm a ham myself but these classes are a joke. It's about two hours long and has you "certified" for 2 years. Basically they just show pictures of clouds and tell you what kind of clouds they are / what they mean. Not any kind of "training" in my opinion. But, where I'm from, if you want to be taken seriously you need to be "certified." :rolleyes:

As for the photography this is something I'm new at and will need to experiment with. I picked up a used Nikon Coolpix 5700 from a friend of mine who also chases. His pictures look very nice. The Coolpix is a really pricy camera though. The only reason I was able to afford it is because I got it used through a friend. I've had it for a couple months now just playing around with it but he is going to give me a rundown on how to use it when chasing.

I asked him to send me a few pictures and have attached them. Pretty impressive. Not too sure where these were taken at but I think it was somewhere in Oklahoma. The mamatus clouds in the first picture are amazing. Mamatus clouds are one of my favorites. The tornado pictures are all from the same storm. I had to scale them down but you get the idea. Hopefully I can figure out how to use this camera and get pictures as good as him.

[Netopalis]

You guys ever been to these "training classes" for the ham radio guys? Don't get me wrong, I'm a ham myself but these classes are a joke. It's about two hours long and has you "certified" for 2 years. Basically they just show pictures of clouds and tell you what kind of clouds they are / what they mean. Not any kind of "training" in my opinion. But, where I'm from, if you want to be taken seriously you need to be "certified." :rolleyes:

As for the photography this is something I'm new at and will need to experiment with. I picked up a used Nikon Coolpix 5700 from a friend of mine who also chases. His pictures look very nice. The Coolpix is a really pricy camera though. The only reason I was able to afford it is because I got it used through a friend. I've had it for a couple months now just playing around with it but he is going to give me a rundown on how to use it when chasing.

I asked him to send me a few pictures and have attached them. Pretty impressive. Not too sure where these were taken at but I think it was somewhere in Oklahoma. The mamatus clouds in the first picture are amazing. Mamatus clouds are one of my favorites. The tornado pictures are all from the same storm. I had to scale them down but you get the idea. Hopefully I can figure out how to use this camera and get pictures as good as him.

Nice Pics Rabbit. Ya the classes are the most boring 2 hours of my life. I geuss there ok if you never been around it in your life. Mamatus clouds are always cool. What type of cloud is that in the 2nd picture? Its too small on my comp to tell.

[Bearcatz06]

[QUOTE=RabbitMPD] As for the photography this is something I'm new at and will need to experiment with. I picked up a used Nikon Coolpix 5700 from a friend of mine who also chases. His pictures look very nice. The Coolpix is a really pricy camera though. The only reason I was able to afford it is because I got it used through a friend. I've had it for a couple months now just playing around with it but he is going to give me a rundown on how to use it when chasing.[QUOTE]

I am looking at a 5.0 or bigger Sony digital for this season. I am hoping to be able to find one that is small enough that I can keep it in my patrol car but good enough so that I can mess with the setting some and get it to take pictures like you have posted.......those are awesome. Like I said, the ones I took came out crappy.

[code3_K9]

Have fun...

http://www.big-boys.com/pictures/picture0697.html

[BaseballBabe]

Have fun...

http://www.big-boys.com/pictures/picture0697.html


Good god is that huge..

I rather be in an earthquake then have to deal with that.

[BaseballBabe]

You guys ever been to these "training classes" for the ham radio guys? Don't get me wrong, I'm a ham myself but these classes are a joke. It's about two hours long and has you "certified" for 2 years. Basically they just show pictures of clouds and tell you what kind of clouds they are / what they mean. Not any kind of "training" in my opinion. But, where I'm from, if you want to be taken seriously you need to be "certified." :rolleyes:

As for the photography this is something I'm new at and will need to experiment with. I picked up a used Nikon Coolpix 5700 from a friend of mine who also chases. His pictures look very nice. The Coolpix is a really pricy camera though. The only reason I was able to afford it is because I got it used through a friend. I've had it for a couple months now just playing around with it but he is going to give me a rundown on how to use it when chasing.

I asked him to send me a few pictures and have attached them. Pretty impressive. Not too sure where these were taken at but I think it was somewhere in Oklahoma. The mamatus clouds in the first picture are amazing. Mamatus clouds are one of my favorites. The tornado pictures are all from the same storm. I had to scale them down but you get the idea. Hopefully I can figure out how to use this camera and get pictures as good as him.

Cool pictures Rabbit

[Netopalis]

Good god is that huge..

I rather be in an earthquake then have to deal with that.

That cloud is just a wall cloud. Thats the type of cloud you got to look for in spotting tornados. Its harmless unless it spawns a tornado or down brust. I personally would take on a twister then a eathquake, at least we have warning. :D Thats just my 2 cents.

[RabbitMPD]

Have fun...

http://www.big-boys.com/pictures/picture0697.html
That is a nice wall cloud. Too bad there isn't video of that cloud. Definately looks like it has rotation. I wonder if it spawned a tornado.

[RabbitMPD]

Slight risk of severe weather for some of you today. Stay safe!

The main threat with these storms will be large hail and damaging winds but a few isolated tornadoes will also be possible in Eastern Tennessee, far Southern Illinois, and Central and North East Arkansas.

Probability is pretty low but it's always good to be prepared!

[RabbitMPD]

Ok third post in a row now :rolleyes:

Just wanted to let you guys know that 4 tornados hit California yesterday.

Stay safe!

[RabbitMPD]

Have you Rabbit MPD ever been in a Tornado,I see your location is the midwest :cool:
Never been IN a tornado. I've seen quite a few while chasing but none have ever come through my town.

They say for the average person living in the US to actually have their property struck by a tornado they would need to live 25 lifetimes. Of course the stats vary from state to state but this is a general average.

[Netopalis]

I noticed your quote about 2 hr weather course,I attened one by chance at the boat show in Jackson,Tn yesterday,it was informative maybe the NWS will have a advanced course some day,I have been in 2 tornadoes just F-1 seen several funnels aloft not touching the ground,and experienced 2 downburst and 2 straight line wind events not all in the same area though,it seems to me that the weather at least around SW Tn is turning more turbulent than years passed.Do you have a theroy about this,what is the weather generally like in your area,during severe weather months?

Your probably noticing more tornados and turbulent latey is because your more aware. TN is right on the line of tornado alley. However every state in the union has been hit by a tornado at one time or another.

I have been 2 tornados. When I was 9 years old I had a spin out jump my house part of my roof and chimey. The other happen when I was about 12 I was at my dads company when it got hit and took out the wall. We found the roof of his shop 2 blocks away.

[RabbitMPD]

My research has shown there has been an increase in severe weather all across the country. Keep in mind however, weather, severe or not, runs in cycles. A lot of people blame the recent spike in severe weather or abnormal weather to Global Warming yet I disagree. Don't get me wrong, I do believe we are harming the environment and something needs to be done. However, people are to quick to jump up and scream "global warming!" The weather is all about cycles. Also keep in mind, 2004 and 2005 are el nino years. El Nino is pretty much done now though. It should have little to no effect on the upcoming severe weather season.

Furthermore, as a general rule, if one place is receiving one extreme, another part of the world is experiencing the opposite extreme. California, as we all know, has been dealing with floods all year. I'm willing to bet another part of the world is experiencing extreme doubt. I don't have any stats to back that up but I'd bet it's happening.

Based on past cycles, the upcoming spring and summer is expected to be warmer and dryer then usual in the Midwest. Only time will tell what will happen but it could be a slow season for us in the Midwest.

TN is right on the line of tornado alley. However every state in the union has been hit by a tornado at one time or another.

This is one of the most disputed topics among storm chasers. I do not consider TN to be included in tornado alley. If you look up maps of tornado alley on google you will probably find 50 different maps. All chasers have their own definition of tornado alley. Here is the rankings of number of tornadoes by state from 1950-1994:

1 TX 5490
2 OK 2300
3 KS 2110
4 FL 2009
5 NE 1673
6 IA 1374
7 MO 1166
8 SD 1139
9 IL 1137
10 CO 1113
11 LA 1086
12 MS 1039
13 GA 888
14 AL 886
15 IN 886
16 AR 854
17 WI 844
18 MN 832
19 ND 799
20 MI 712
21 OH 648
22 NC 590
23 TN 502
24 PA 451
25 WY 434
26 SC 423
27 NM 390
28 KY 373
29 VA 279
30 NY 249
31 MT 238
32 CA 214
33 AZ 155
34 MD 145
35 MA 134
36 ID 115
37 NJ 112
38 WV 83
39 ME 82
40 UT 76
41 NH 72
42 CT 61
43 WA 55
44 DE 52
45 NV 48
46 OR 44
47 VT 32
48 HI 28
49 RI 8
50 AK 1

As you can see TN is 23rd on the list of 50 states. Granted, it is bit smaller then most states but still wouldn't consider it to be "tornado alley." Also keep in mind, tornado alley is a general area. Although Florida is #4 on the list, I would not consider them to be in Tornado alley either. Tornado alley is simply a steady stream of states which receive a large number of tornadoes. Also considered to be "chasers heaven." I've attached what I believe to be an accurate map of tornado alley. Again however, if you ask 10 chasers what tornado alley is you'll probably get 10 different answers.

What is interesting about Illinois is severe weather seems to hit the same locations over and over again. Not necessarily tornadoes but just severe weather in general. For example, the Joliet area South and West of Chicago is constantly hit with severe storms. Anytime a Watch is issued, you can bet the farm Will County will have a warning that day. Joliet is very close to the well known town of Plainfield which had a devastating tornado not too far back. I find that quite interesting. I've been trying to figure out why this area seems to be hit more often then any other part of the state and just can't put my finger on it.

[Netopalis]

I figture since I live in the Middle of Chaser Heaven. I might well learn to enjoy it. Reason I give people why I chase. Because most people think your crazy and have a death wish because your a chaser.

[Netopalis]

Most bad storms move north of city limits or south toward PickWick Lake.

I forgot the theory behind this but. For some reason storms will move towards water. Most storms that hit Oklahoma follow the North and South Canadian rivers and will move towards Lake Eufalua that in eastern oklahoma. If not they follow the Arkansa River.

[south]

Good for you Don. Nothing beats NOAA Weather Radio - it's the fastest way to get it out, hands down, often beating the other ways to get it out by a minute or more. It's totally automated and doesn't go out until it's final and sent.

That TV Met "F5 on Radar" thing irks me severely, as you might expect. Fujita numbers are assigned after an examination of damage on the ground - and no other way. I have seen undetectable F4's, and F1's that were hundreds of yards wide.

Another thing to be careful of is the wives' tales (fork of two rivers, tornadoes are attracted to trailer parks, etc.). Remember what happens near the ground is the result of action of a storm that is 60,000 feet tall and several miles wide.

Having said that...some of these are true. I am thinking of Dunkiln and Pemiscot counties in SE Missouri, which drives the Memphis and Paducah offices nuts. When storms hit the Mark Twain National Forest, they tend to just explode (did several F3-F4 surveys near Poplar Bluff). No one knows why. And then at the St. Louis office, they have the "arch effect", where storms tend to split. Again, no one knows why.

I got pretty burned out, but I could get back into it if the cop thing gets old.

[Netopalis]

My favorite wise tale was. Open the windows in your house to balance the air pressure and the tornado wont hurt your house.

[code3_K9]

http://www.big-boys.com/articles/twisterchaser.html

[RabbitMPD]

intentionally left blank. Sorry

[RabbitMPD]

http://www.big-boys.com/articles/twisterchaser.html
Wow! A little close for comfort.

I figture since I live in the Middle of Chaser Heaven. I might well learn to enjoy it. Reason I give people why I chase. Because most people think your crazy and have a death wish because your a chaser.

I found this excerpt online and thought it might give people here a little understanding about why we chase. It's a little cheesy but at the same time its so true:

----------

What is the appeal of storm chasing? Storm chasing is most accurately compared to a memorable vacation. Take all the photographs you want, but there is simply no way to convey the fun, adventure, and challenge of intercepting storms through photographs. Yes, seeing a photogenic tornado can be the ultimate treasure find, the highlight of a season. But there is so much more! Storm chasing is the conquering feeling of a successful forecast, and the challenge of figuring out why a forecast went wrong when the skies stay blue. Chasing is a deep allure, a singular connection with nature's power, something not completely describable with words. It's manifest in fleeting moments of sensory magic, snapshots of time remembered for life: standing in the middle of nowhere under the full moon, entranced by a sparkling storm tower while a haunting rock ballad plays through the car stereo. It's losing the view of a spectacular storm immersed in a sea of dust...driving the 300 miles home to the sound of a distant radio station...seeing "anvil crawler" lightning streak overhead in the rainy night sky and cast a silver glow across the landscape...feeling a tingle of anticipation while refueling the car...seeing small cumulus erupt into a giant thunderhead nearby in less than 20 minutes...basking in the flaming orange light of a sunset sky filled with mammatus clouds...relaxing in a local restaurant far off the beaten path...hearing the tone alarm go off on the weather radio while cruising toward the ominous, lightning-sliced pall of dark sky looming in the southwest...seeing newly planted green wheat fields, dappled with drifting cloud shadows, and rippling from horizon to horizon in the warm southerly winds...the cameraderie of friendships forged through many hours of conversation while cruising open Great Plains roadways...the bonds renewed through meeting old friends and fellow storm enthusiasts in a small-town pizza house, hundreds of miles from anyplace in particular. And all that is just the beginning of the experience...

----------

It is so true. The movie "Twister" really gave storm chasers the wrong image. Kind of like the show "COPS" and that show is even reality. Storm chasing is not all about seeing a tornado. Yes, that is the ultimate goal but rarely happens.

Right now, myself as well as many other storm chasers are experiencing what we call Supercell Deprivation Syndrome or SDS :p Check out this syndrome at http://texastailchaser.com/SDS/

This week we have had a small glimpse into the storm season and were getting the itch. A couple Severe Thunderstorm Watch boxes were issued yesterday, a Tornado Watch has been issued for Southern California today and the SPC is calling for possible severe weather in Texas as well as the Southeast. In fact, right now it is 3:00 CST and I'm predicting within the next couple hours the SPC will issue a Watch box for Southwest Texas and maybe even the DFW area. Large hail and winds are a big possibility right now and there could even be an isolated tornado or two. Furthermore, tomorrow Texas should see another round in the DFW area. It could go South of DFW but it's too early to tell. The season is coming people. Be prepared and stay safe!

[RabbitMPD]

In fact, right now it is 3:00 CST and I'm predicting within the next couple hours the SPC will issue a Watch box for Southwest Texas and maybe even the DFW area.

I love it when I'm right! :D

Don't worry DFW. Your still getting your watch. Give it time.

[RabbitMPD]

True that. Those poor folks have had enough.

Not too sure what to expect this storm season. A lot of the people I chase with say it will be a good season but I

[Netopalis]

http://www.big-boys.com/articles/twisterchaser.html


With my luck that will be what my first tornado on the ground will be like. That storm below through last was nothign more then a nice light show. Im not sure what kind of season to expect. I think we may get a couple of good super cells in may and apirl but I don't know if it will be real active or not.

[south]

Wow, that's too bad. You're talking about Dr. William Gray from Colorado State, considered to be the world's foremost expert on hurricane season forecasting. I've never seen anyone else even come close, so Joe Bastardi from AccuWeather notwithstanding, no one even tries to do it. Joe just takes Dr. Gray's forecast and claims he made it himself even though any idiot can look at the press releases and see he changes his story. Every year, Ol' Joe he barely escapes jail for plagarism and libel, but I digress...

I've done my share of Tropical forecasting, and it about drove me bat****. Long Range Tropical is even worse, because you're forecasting the strength of one corner of the Bermuda High, a semipermanent pressure system, with almost no data to go on. I don't envy them this task. :o

[Netopalis]

I heared about this tonight on the news. This is the only website I could find the story on. I thought it was pretty interesting.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

What if a satellite could shift the path of an approaching hurricane? What if a plane could divert a tornado? The ability of humans to influence weather has never been tested in such dramatic ways. But theoretically, some scientists say, these scenarios are completely possible. It's only a matter of developing the necessary technology

[south]

That comes up from time to time. But you are talking about something that would take a degree of precision and technology that we will never come within several orders of magnitude of. Or if you like, you are talking about influencing the movements of millions of cubic miles of air. Notice there is no science, and no ideas on how that might be done.

A question we get from time to time...What if we nuked a big hurricane? Answer: you'd have a large radioactive hurricane. Hurricanes produce more energy in one second than all the nukes in the world combined.

Interesting that the AMS Bulletin would even print that.

[Netopalis]

I know that land bearing tornado are rated on the Fugitia scale,What is the rating of a waterspout over open water,are they able to reach the same wind violecity(speed) as a land bearing tornado?I know that the Gulf Coast states,and along the Atlantic East Coast are the ones who experience these waterspouts.Do the Greatlakes during the summermonths experience them also?

Waterspout are just tornados that hit water. They are rated on the same scale as land tornados. I don't believe water slows tornados down.

[RabbitMPD]

Do the Greatlakes during the summermonths experience them also?
It can and does happen, although they usually occur over smaller lakes. Lake Michigan, for example, is very cold even during the summer months so if one does form, it will not last long.

Waterspouts are generally much weaker then tornadoes but can definitely be killers. Even though they are weak, you better believe if your in a boat it can kill you.

I've heard stories before of tornadoes traveling over lakes and then droping fish all over the place. I've never seen it, but have heard the story many times.

[south]

That is one of the more bizarre and annoying weather questions. But I'm feeling bizarre and annoying today anyway :D

Waterspouts are both things...tornadoes that happen to move over water, and what I call "true" waterspouts. "True" waterspouts are usually very weak and harmless to all but small craft, sailboats and such (which they'd capsize but only contain winds of 40-45MPH). And they can form in non-convective clouds, or even from the surface up (a "proximal vortex" or dust devil type of thing).

They aren't, however, classified any differently than tornadoes. From a warning perspective there is no difference, which can be pretty frustrating. This is why offices like Tallahassee and San Diego (and the UK Met Office for the southeastern coast of England) issue local Tornado Watches over the water only for days on end.

Just don't ask me about cold air funnels... :mad: :D

[south]

Oh, yeah. Fire Weather is the new thing now in the NWS, especially in Western Region. I never was into it though.

What happens is that a fire can create it's own atmosphere. It's got air currents because of all that heat pulling air in from the sides (anyone who's been close to a wildfire can tell you how windy it gets). You get air funneling through valleys and up against mountains, or set up some kind of weak rotation, and damn near anything can happen. What you are describing is like a dust devil writ large, that's been set on fire. I've seen it in films...super scary stuff, mano.

[RabbitMPD]

Just don't ask me about cold air funnels...
Nothing like a thousand reports of frantic citizens calling in Tornadoes and Funnel Clouds huh? :D

I attached a photo.
:cool:

[Netopalis]

Chasing cold air funnerals clouds are as fun as chasing ghost :D

[Netopalis]

What part of the country are you likely to see cold air funnels,thats a new one on me never heard of it before.On another note,I have seen it thunder & lightning in a snow storm,besides hail has it ever sleeted or snowed in a regular severe thunderstorm in the US :confused:

Cold Air tornados you can probably find in any state. I would geuss they are more comman in northern and more colder states (Never really check in to it). Thunder is really the sound of lighting. Lighting is created like static electricity; positive and negatively buildup. Lighting can also strike several miles away from a thunderstorm. Lighting is a very cool thing and I love watching it. But its so deadly. Sheet is more comman in Oklahoma falling late fall early spring. Hail is comman asspecially in super cells. Hails is always a good inication that there is a stong up draft in the clouds. Bigger the hail stronger the up draft. Bigger the hail means more energy in the storm. Usually and I don't know if this is scientific proven or not. But in my experience hail will be near a wall cloud. (If the storm is forming one) witch is the avil part of the storm.

[Netopalis]

Heres a picture of avail of a storm. Looks just like a black smith avail. Also were the most power of the storm is usually at.

http://bricker.met.psu.edu/~marko/meteo414/intro/ordphoto.jpg

[Netopalis]

Thanks for reply another storm ? What is the largest hail stone to fall out of a severe thunderstorm,and what part of the country did that occur? :cool:

Largest Hailstone in US. Recorded by NOAA

http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories/s2008.htm

[RabbitMPD]

Heres a picture of avail of a storm. Looks just like a black smith avail. Also were the most power of the storm is usually at.

http://bricker.met.psu.edu/~marko/meteo414/intro/ordphoto.jpg
Nice pic ;) I love anvil clouds. Most chasers would call their day a "bust" if they only saw and anvil cloud but seeing a supercell like that makes my day worth while even if it doesn't really produce.

[RabbitMPD]

By the way, do you have any details on that storm you posted? Looking at the nearest cloud it doesn't appear that one would do much, the storm in back lookes more favorable. Just curious if you had any details.

[tk0727]

I love watching those tornado documentaries on TV. Maybe I'm fascinated because we don't get them much in MA. I haven't seen many clips that showed cars or other large discernable pieces of debris in the air.

I'd love to (safely) see a Tornado in person, it must be an adrenaline rush.


It's extremely scary. I knew a lady that got killed here in KC with our last big one. It was an ex boyfriend's mom, but man, it sucked her out of her window and they found her in the creek under her washing machine. She didn't die til a few months later. Kept going in and out of a coma and having a heart attacks

I've seen them from a distance, and I LIKE being a good distance away! Especially after it hit close to home.

http://ljworld.com/section/severeweather/story/148616

[tk0727]

here's another link with a video of the May 4, 2003 storm
We had like 8 tornadoes in the area in one day. YOu could have definitely seen one up close!

http://www.channeloklahoma.com/weather/3362673/detail.html

[tk0727]

here's another link with a video of the May 4, 2003 storm
We had like 8 tornadoes in the area in one day. YOu could have definitely seen one up close!

http://www.channeloklahoma.com/weather/3362673/detail.html

http://www.tornadochaser.com/tornews.html

and another link that will give you all kinds of pics and videos!

[Netopalis]

By the way, do you have any details on that storm you posted? Looking at the nearest cloud it doesn't appear that one would do much, the storm in back lookes more favorable. Just curious if you had any details.


Nope sorry. I did a search on yahoo and found them to show what a avail and give and idea of what I was talking about. I thought maybe 2 super cells merging. I think avail are pretty cool too. When I was flying from Tulsa, Okla to Orlando, FL we flew over a storm. The avail from the air was awsome. I wish I had the camra with me right then.

[Netopalis]

OH man that was huge,I would hate to have it hit me in thehead,the largest hail storm I was in was golfball size in 1998 it did $2,500.00 damage to my honda accord :eek:


Golfball is the biggest you probably see in a life time. Baseball and grapefurit are very rare. I've seen Golfball once in my life and I was 10 when that happen.

[Netopalis]

It's extremely scary. I knew a lady that got killed here in KC with our last big one. It was an ex boyfriend's mom, but man, it sucked her out of her window and they found her in the creek under her washing machine. She didn't die til a few months later. Kept going in and out of a coma and having a heart attacks

I've seen them from a distance, and I LIKE being a good distance away! Especially after it hit close to home.

http://ljworld.com/section/severeweather/story/148616


Tornados are trutly the finger of god. asspecially a F-5, what draws me to tornados is they are almost limitless. If you ever been in the debris field of a strong tornado it is really mind blogging of the damage. The tornado that hit Witchta Falls Texas in 1978 I think is one of the most talk about among chasers.

One story I heared once about that tornado was. Two Witchta Falls Police Officers got sent to a warehouse for a alarm. As they arrive to the warehouse a tornado had touchdown on the other side of this warehouse. This warehouse is suppost to be one of thise MAGAhouses like a 1/2 mile big or something like that. The tornado hit the warehouse with the 2 officers inside. The officers had no time to take cover so they grab each other with a post between them. After the tornado had past there was no scratch on either officer. But the tornado had stripe all there clothing off and they was only wearing their duty belts.

[tk0727]

Dang, isn't it funny how some people can be 'in' them and never get a scratch?
that's a true miracle......
Any kind of natural disaster, actually.

[Netopalis]

Belive me once was enough for me,I was driving in that storm the sky was a yellow/orange it was during a tornado warning,in the SW sky was a blue/green color I was headed due east when the hail came down it appeared in sheets covering the ground took me a 1 and half hours to drive 15miles. :eek:


I've always been told this and is been true for me. I'm wondering if the other spotters on here notice this too. They even told us this in spotter class.

Yellow/Orange Clouds = Tornado
Blueish/Green Clouds = Hail

In my exerience Yellow Orange clouds and sky with cold blast of air for a few secs then it goes still hot air you better start looking tornado pretty close to ya.

[Netopalis]

Dang, isn't it funny how some people can be 'in' them and never get a scratch?
that's a true miracle......
Any kind of natural disaster, actually.

Very true. There is a video out of a Oklahoma City Police Officer finding a baby in a mud puddle after a tornado had thrown it from its home. I don't remember if it was after the OKC May 3rd 1999 tornado or not. The baby was not harm. If I can find the video I'll post it. Its a really awsome video.

[RabbitMPD]

I've always been told this and is been true for me. I'm wondering if the other spotters on here notice this too. They even told us this in spotter class.

Yellow/Orange Clouds = Tornado
Blueish/Green Clouds = Hail

In my exerience Yellow Orange clouds and sky with cold blast of air for a few secs then it goes still hot air you better start looking tornado pretty close to ya.
I can tell you for sure green cloud = hail. If your ever driving in a thunderstorm and see green (normally to the west or south west) that indicates a hail storm. The sunlight reflects off of the hail and that is why it appears to be green. Last summer one of our cruisers had its lightbar completely ripped off due to hail.

Not sure about yellow/orange. I've never really noticed a certain color when a tornado is approaching. Keep in mind though, hail often times forms in front of a tornado. So, if a tornado is approaching, you will probably see green. Check this diagram (http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/guides/mtr/svr/type/spr/lp/gifs/chr1.gif) for where different precip occurs in a supercell. The "updraft" would be the tornado.

[south]

Whoa, go away for a couple of days and the thread goes all outta control :D

Most thunderstorms have a specific structure, and most (if not all) contain hail, at least aloft. Whether or not the hail reaches the ground intact is a function of not only updraft strength but prevailing and internal storm-specific windflow. These are known to Mets as "conveyor belts" for the ease of visualization.

Whether or not you would see a green/yellow sky is a function of refraction of specific parts of the storm, like a rainbow. A guy a few miles away could see nothing and have big hail, and you get the creepy sky and nothing. Or vice versa. Or it could be night time :D

[RabbitMPD]

Night chasing is one of my pet peeves. This is perhaps one of the stupidest things I see among chasers (aside from news crews driving like idiots). In my opinion, night chasing is worse then core punching. Once the sun goes down, meet up with other chasers in the area, have a nice meal, and call it a day. I advise that even "spotters" stay in their homes if it is night time.

EDIT: Hey south, just in case you got the wrong impression, I'm not saying that YOU night chase. You just reminded me about the problem. ;)

[tk0727]

Very true. There is a video out of a Oklahoma City Police Officer finding a baby in a mud puddle after a tornado had thrown it from its home. I don't remember if it was after the OKC May 3rd 1999 tornado or not. The baby was not harm. If I can find the video I'll post it. Its a really awsome video.


that would be awesome to see.
You know they also found that 2 month old baby in the mud after the tsunami..And later on..........they found the parents. That's a pretty big miracle.

[south]

oh yeah, we had that video as part of our spotter training stuff one year. Man, it's funny to see these big tough firefighters and such trying not to shed any tears when that cop picks up that baby :D

I've never chased, and only spotted professionally. I was interested, but by the time I knew what I was doing I realized what the hit rate for stuff like that is. No way do I have even half that much patience. :p

[Netopalis]

oh yeah, we had that video as part of our spotter training stuff one year. Man, it's funny to see these big tough firefighters and such trying not to shed any tears when that cop picks up that baby :D

I've never chased, and only spotted professionally. I was interested, but by the time I knew what I was doing I realized what the hit rate for stuff like that is. No way do I have even half that much patience. :p
Well I can't say I didn't shed a tear or two. That video is really touching. To me what made it even more unbelievebale that the kid wasn't harm she wasn't crying either. I think the cop was more shook up then the kid was.

[squad51]

Almost been killed by a couple of tornados so, but you are right there is nothing like a good storm.

[Netopalis]

Almost been killed by a couple of tornados so, but you are right there is nothing like a good storm.
Oh care to share some war stories? :D

[Netopalis]

The weather channel reported that California has been hit by (13) tornadoes since january 2005,I was not aware that California ever had tornadoes in years passed.My question is have tornadoes ever hit Alaska or Hawaii or Puerto Rico?
Yes tornados have hit every state if not every country in the world. Some areas see more tornados then others. There some information on tornados. I was looking at a site last night that I can't find now that had the number for each state since 1950.

The first one is the 20 most deadiest Torandos in the US
http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/killers.html


http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/may2003.htm

[TXLady]

Golfball is the biggest you probably see in a life time. Baseball and grapefurit are very rare. I've seen Golfball once in my life and I was 10 when that happen.

We were hit in May of 95 with an unbelievable hailstorm. I think they were up to softball size. It occurred during Mayfest, when a lot of people were outside in the parks. There were injuries everywhere. As for me, it busted out windows in my house, destroyed the roof and literally totalled my new car. I actually had holes the size of softballs in my fenders. And since that night, my little dog freaks out whenever she senses a storm is near. The noise was incredible.

[Netopalis]

Are there any registered groups for a fee that can take amatuers such as me on a trip chasing tornadoes in Tornadoe alley,if so what are the cost $$$ to do such a trip?Could you also provide a website if avaiable?
Yes there is, I don't know anything about them. Here a few sites. The bad part I can see with storm tours is that there is no guarantes that you will see anything.

http://www.stormchasing.com/

http://www.tempesttours.com/

http://www.cyclone-tours.com/

[Netopalis]

We were hit in May of 95 with an unbelievable hailstorm. I think they were up to softball size. It occurred during Mayfest, when a lot of people were outside in the parks. There were injuries everywhere. As for me, it busted out windows in my house, destroyed the roof and literally totalled my new car. I actually had holes the size of softballs in my fenders. And since that night, my little dog freaks out whenever she senses a storm is near. The noise was incredible.
Ya I hate hail. Hail scares me more then tornados and micro brust.

[TXLady]

Do you have any information on the storms in North Central Texas last spring? Was there some kind of unusal weather pattern? I have never seen storms like these in my life. The lightening strikes were close and constant. Quite a light show. It wasn't just once but several times last spring. They were also accompanied by extremely heavy rains. I was just curious if something unusual had happened.

Thanks :)

[RabbitMPD]

Are there any registered groups for a fee that can take amatuers such as me on a trip chasing tornadoes in Tornadoe alley,if so what are the cost $$$ to do such a trip?Could you also provide a website if avaiable?
Yes, there are tons of tour companies out there and they are very successful too. One of my friends saw 15 tornadoes in one day with a tour company. They have the best equipment and technology which enables them to be very successful. However, they are extremely pricy. Here is a link to a very well known company. I think they are the best in the business. http://www.traddstormchasingtours.com/welcome.html Expect to spend about 2 grand for the tour alone. All food, hotel, and other expenses are up to you. Tours are generally 1-2 weeks long and need to be booked at least one year in advance.

[RabbitMPD]

Yes there is, I don't know anything about them. Here a few sites. The bad part I can see with storm tours is that there is no guarantes that you will see anything.

http://www.stormchasing.com/

http://www.tempesttours.com/

http://www.cyclone-tours.com/

TRADD, the site I provided, is the only company that provides a guarantee.

[Netopalis]

Do you have any information on the storms in North Central Texas last spring? Was there some kind of unusal weather pattern? I have never seen storms like these in my life. The lightening strikes were close and constant. Quite a light show. It wasn't just once but several times last spring. They were also accompanied by extremely heavy rains. I was just curious if something unusual had happened.

Thanks :)
Well I don't know about alot of unusal weather patterns. I live in South Central Oklahoma last year wasn't as bad as some. Between Oklahoma, Texas and anywhere in tornado alley is going to have some wicked weather. Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas probably have the wrost weather overall as in Super Cells and tornadic weather not counting blizzards or Hurricanes, and see more tornados on avgerage not always though. There some sites with information about storm activity last year I'll have to find those sites again.

Thanks for the sites (Netopalis) it was intresting to view all (3) sites and somewhat expensive but must be worth it.Another storm question,Do animals sense a coming severe storm and act different?Last week on my River travels we were staying at a resort state park in Ky and before a storm approached the canadian geese were not squalking it was real quite before the storm hit.
I have heared that animals sense coming of severe thunder storms, earthquakes ect.... However I would be lieing to if I told you if was true or false. I really don't know how true or not that is. I personally believe that that they do. I seen what your talking about. My cat hates thunderstorms drives him nuts. But when a tornado warning has been issused he gets real quiet and hides. When I go to New Mexico to do cross country backpacking birds and animals act different when a storm is brewing.

[Netopalis]

TRADD, the site I provided, is the only company that provides a guarantee.
I didn't know or not. I go on my chases. :D

[south]

There is some research on how animals can sometimes sense large thunderstorms approaching. As far as I can remember, it's the drop in local air pressure (or, more accurately, the fluctuation of it) that can creep them out. Animals have been shown to act kind of odd just before large earthquakes as well, or so they say. It's possible. Hell, some people get kind of hinky right before a big storm. I was one of them :D

TXLady, I am unaware of any unusual weather pattern that could have caused an event like you describe, and I looked to Texas as a source region for our weather in Kentucky and Missouri.

That is to say, it could have been explained numerous ways, and any one could be right. The Mid South had mind blowing severe weather seasons the previous three years, and the computers are roaring away trying to figure that out.

[Netopalis]

We all know Iam from the old school of Le,back 25 to 30 yrs ago and especially the areas I worked.The only warning we had for severe weather was the(TV) radio,and weather bulliteins over the NCIC,only instuction I received on the job if a Tornado touched down inside the city limits was to go to firehall and give (2) blast on the fire whistle,so as to alert the volunteer firemen to report in.My question is what are your duties during severe weather outbreaks in your areas,besides traffic control?
The PD here drive through residence areas slowly with their lights and sirings trying to give warning and then go storm spotting :D

My Search and Rescue unit gets put on standby if one of the 13 counties we cover goes under tornado or flood warning.

[Netopalis]

Something I heared tonight. Weather patterns, jetstream, and ocean temp are almost the same of the weather patterns of spring of 1999. Doesn't mean anything will happen but something to keep in mind.

[Skipper141]

Some of those sites are awesome, Tornados always interested me. And I actually got to see one, in Jersey! Aprox. 6 years ago while at a friends house we were out in his backyard shooting BB guns, although there where storm clouds in the sky, we figured we had at least a half hour until it started raining, but the clouds turned from black to dark green within seconds. Me realizing that those where twister clouds, I went in and turned the weather channel on. Sure enough there where reports of a tornado touch down in the next town over. Went back out to watch, and I got to see the funnel cloud in the distance, then went down in the basement and waited it out. Few hours later we learnt that it was an F1.
It sure was a rush to actually see one.

[Netopalis]

Yes we had a little excitiment 2 days ago. Nothing really serious happen. My Search and Rescue team got place on standby because at one point they thought one tornado was going to level a town. Just turns out it was a spin out.

[TXLady]

Slight risk of severe weather for sw tn tonight 3/25/05 and for sat 03/26/05 a moderate risk for tornadoes for NC MS & NC Ala we had a deadly outbreak of tornadoes on Easter Weekend in 1984 I hope that it want be the case this time around :eek:

Donald, we're coming up on the 5th anniversary of our tornado (March 28th).
We've got a chance for thunderstorms tonight. I have a love/hate relationship with Spring. We all look forward to Spring for the same reasons but I also dread it because of the scary weather. Nights spent without electricity, waiting to be blown away by a tornado or pummeled to death by monster hail. :rolleyes:

[oSutrooper]

The reason that Texas and Oklahoma get hit so hard by these twisters is beacause of the area we are in. Cold air from the rockies and warm air from the gulf

[Netopalis]

The reason that Texas and Oklahoma get hit so hard by these twisters is beacause of the area we are in. Cold air from the rockies and warm air from the gulf
Yes its called Tornado Alley.

[TXLady]

Why does texas get hit by all those monster storms was'nt there a f-5 that hit jarrel tx some yrs back leaving only a concrete slab where a residence used to sit cleaned out a whole community,what happens in texas usually travels through Ark,MS right into SW Tn.thats were this weather system is coming from out of your area. :eek:

Yeah, the tornado in Jarrell was WICKED! I don't know why we have this crazy weather. Sorry to send it your way, though. ;)

[Netopalis]

How big is the hail when its 2" in diamenter & 3" in diamenter? This was the size of hail in E Middle Tn between Crossville&Cookeville along I40 03/27/05.The weather service was calling for 2" of rain for my location we only received .35 I put Fertilzer on my yard hope that was enough rain to soak it into soil?
Off the top of my head 3" size hail would be about golfball size give or take .

[RabbitMPD]

Slight risk of severe thunderstorms from the Quad Cities area, Central Illinois, up through Chicago, into Eastern Michigan, and Northward into Wisconson through about the Green Bay area. I see the worst hit area being right around chicago. Look for some hail and strong gusty winds. Should be a very low threat of tornadoes.

[Netopalis]

Slight risk of severe thunderstorms from the Quad Cities area, Central Illinois, up through Chicago, into Eastern Michigan, and Northward into Wisconson through about the Green Bay area. I see the worst hit area being right around chicago. Look for some hail and strong gusty winds. Should be a very low threat of tornadoes.
RABBIT where you been? I was starting to wonder if a tornado ate you or something.

[tk0727]

I think I'm gonna stick with hiding in the basement!
You guys just send me the pictures ok? :D

[RabbitMPD]

RABBIT where you been? I was starting to wonder if a tornado ate you or something.
Yeah sorry. My computer decided the motherboard wasn't good enough and completely pooped out. Soooo, I'm out a computer right now. I'm only able to get on periodically. In a couple weeks I should be back online again.

On a happier note, I went on my first chase two days ago!!! :D Wow was it nice to get back out there! Nothing too impressive but I did manage to spot a wall cloud and some decent hail.

I went chasing with a friend of mine and he posted some pics and a video on his website. Again, nothing too impressive, it was just nice to get back out there and chase.

Here are some pics: http://www.midwestchasing.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=7

And a rather unimpressive video of us driving through heavy rain / hail: http://www.midwestchasing.com/videos/33005hailtor.wmv
I'll try to get back on here in a couple days and hopefully post some more.

[RabbitMPD]

Looks like our next chase day will be Tuesday, April 5th. Although the SPC doesn't have a day 4 outlook, I made one of my own. Lets see how accurate I am ;)

[Netopalis]

Yeah sorry. My computer decided the motherboard wasn't good enough and completely pooped out. Soooo, I'm out a computer right now. I'm only able to get on periodically. In a couple weeks I should be back online again.

On a happier note, I went on my first chase two days ago!!! :D Wow was it nice to get back out there! Nothing too impressive but I did manage to spot a wall cloud and some decent hail.

I went chasing with a friend of mine and he posted some pics and a video on his website. Again, nothing too impressive, it was just nice to get back out there and chase.

Here are some pics: http://www.midwestchasing.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=7

And a rather unimpressive video of us driving through heavy rain / hail: http://www.midwestchasing.com/videos/33005hailtor.wmv
I'll try to get back on here in a couple days and hopefully post some more.
Rabbit thats making me wish I had a sky warm unit here that I trusted gee I only thing I miss about home. :o

Well I thinking about do some free lance chasing this spring just see if I can find anything. I just curious rabbit do you use any kind of chase software like SwiftWX or Weather Matrix? I got a GPS/map program on my laptop that allows me to see where other chasers at that have a GPS hook up to their ham too.

[tk0727]

You mean you have basements out in tornado alley,Is it like they say Kansas is flat fields? :p
Sorry hon,, haven't checked this in awhile..
Actually, I don't have a basement!.. I have a garage, that's as close as I get! ..
Yeah. MO and KS are in Tornado alley.. that's what I've always heard it called.

[Netopalis]

Sorry hon,, haven't checked this in awhile..
Actually, I don't have a basement!.. I have a garage, that's as close as I get! ..
Yeah. MO and KS are in Tornado alley.. that's what I've always heard it called.


What you mean the area we live in KS is tornado alley. Rabbit and I both call it chasers paradise.You need to come chase with me some day. ;)

[RabbitMPD]

Rabbit thats making me wish I had a sky warm unit here that I trusted gee I only thing I miss about home. :o

Well I thinking about do some free lance chasing this spring just see if I can find anything. I just curious rabbit do you use any kind of chase software like SwiftWX or Weather Matrix? I got a GPS/map program on my laptop that allows me to see where other chasers at that have a GPS hook up to their ham too.
I currently don't have any gadgets myself. I'm armed with a scanner, ham radio, CB radio, cell phone, and roadmaps. Usually I'll stop over at local librarys to use the computers or call up a chaser that I know is in the area. Other than these tools, I use my incredibly powerful brain. Yeah, I bust a lot, but if you catch a good storm only using what I have it is so rewarding.

That said, often times I will share the expenses and tag along with somebody who has all the gadgets like I did my last chase. He has all sorts of gadgets in his car. I don't even know how to use them really. The GPS is a damn nice feature though and I want to get one soon. I believe the software my friend was using on the last chase is called WxWorx. Worked out very well. Without having that software, we would have busted for sure.

By the way Netopalis, looks like a good chase day shaping up for tomorrow. I slightly disagree with the outlook area the SPC has set. I believe the slight risk area should include the quad cities area in Illinois. Although the slight risk area is close to there, I think it should be included. But what do I know, they arent paying me the 200K per year. :rolleyes: Otherwise I agree completely with them. Kansas and Missouri look very probable for severe storms and that area will probably be bumped up to moderate risk by tomorrow morning.

If I could make the drive, my target area would be Norman Oklahoma and track east from there. But since I can't make the drive all the way out there, I'll probably start in the Quad Cities if I can find the time. All I have is court in the morning so I should be able to make it out again.

Be safe and happy chasing! The season has officially begun! :D

[RabbitMPD]

By the way Netopalis. I just wanted to mention in case you are going out for a chase tomorrow that embedded supercells are likely tomorrow. So, keep a close eye on the radar and I'd advise to avoid core punching tomorrow. Not saying this will happen for sure, but it's starting to shape up that way and it's very common for this time of year.

[Netopalis]

If I could make the drive, my target area would be Norman Oklahoma and track east from there. But since I can't make the drive all the way out there, I'll probably start in the Quad Cities if I can find the time. All I have is court in the morning so I should be able to make it out again.

Be safe and happy chasing! The season has officially begun! :D

Thanks. I havent look at the weather in a few days due to being so busy. I live about 100 miles east of norman so I should in line of the path of these storms. If I get in to anything I'll post it.

[RabbitMPD]

Thought you guys might like this link. This is a storm chaser with a webcam in his car. Check it out! http://www2.okstorms.com:8080/cgi-bin/GPSlive.cgi

[Netopalis]

ya those storms wasnt as bad was they was thinking they was going to be. They drop heavy rains ands quarter size hail.

[RabbitMPD]

ya those storms wasnt as bad was they was thinking they was going to be. They drop heavy rains ands quarter size hail.
Not only that, but how bad was my forecast! I predicted the quad cities as my target area!!! Only a few hundred miles off huh??? Time to break open the books again :o

The storms are forming a squall line now. Still a few good cells left but not a great time to go out and chase.

[Netopalis]

Not only that, but how bad was my forecast! I predicted the quad cities as my target area!!! Only a few hundred miles off huh??? Time to break open the books again :o

The storms are forming a squall line now. Still a few good cells left but not a great time to go out and chase.
No your forcast wasn't that far off.

Ada is 75 miles from norman and was one of the first hit towns.

Henrytta on I-40 is about 100 miles or so.

McAlester was hit pretty hard about 150miles from norman. You wasn't off to bad.

Okmulgee - was the target later wall cloud did form south of it between okmulgee and henrytta but nothing happen.

[Netopalis]

I think we are suppost to get some real serve weather tonight. They been predicting tornados with this storm for serveral days. I think Northern parts of Oklahoma is going to hammer harder. What ya think Rabbit?

[RabbitMPD]

I think we are suppost to get some real serve weather tonight. They been predicting tornados with this storm for serveral days. I think Northern parts of Oklahoma is going to hammer harder. What ya think Rabbit?
Well, I just got back from a trip to Detroit. While I'm talking about Detroit, don't mean to offend anybody, but what a piece of sh*t city! That place really freaking blows.

Anyway, haven't been able to keep an eye on the weather for the past couple days. If I were to say anything at this point I'd look for a repeat of 4/10. Conditions seem to be the same but again, haven't really spent much time forecasting. Glad to see the season is off to a decent start though.

[Netopalis]

Well, I just got back from a trip to Detroit. While I'm talking about Detroit, don't mean to offend anybody, but what a piece of sh*t city! That place really freaking blows.

Anyway, haven't been able to keep an eye on the weather for the past couple days. If I were to say anything at this point I'd look for a repeat of 4/10. Conditions seem to be the same but again, haven't really spent much time forecasting. Glad to see the season is off to a decent start though.
We had a small f-1 touch down east of OKC just knock down power lines no serious damage.

As anyone seen south latey?

[Netopalis]

Rabbit, Do you know any good storm spotter sites with a good forum on it. I got good sites but I can't find a good one that you can interact with other spotters. If not I'm considering making one.

[RabbitMPD]

www.stormtracker.org/forum is a great one. It takes a long time to get accepted but it's an excellent site.

[DSAGermaine]

I'm certified w/ the NOAA for local spotting, as of yet i havent taken any chaser classes, or tried to find a team to go w/, but it would be neat to do at least once or twice

[Netopalis]

I'm certified w/ the NOAA for local spotting, as of yet i havent taken any chaser classes, or tried to find a team to go w/, but it would be neat to do at least once or twice
Most sky warn teams are either part of the Local Amature Ham Rador Club or part of your emergency operations office.

[RabbitMPD]

:) Finally a Big Break in the Weather the next (7) days at least in the MidSouth Sunny weather Highs near 80 degrees low in the 50's a small chance of rain & no severe weather :)
That can change very quickly.

[friedom77]

Being stationed at Ft Riley KS, provided for some nice weather experiences. Since I was raised in strong island- I was not accustomed to that type of weather being a fact of life. I remember the first time we had one and the tv went to snow followed by a loud buzz. Soon after a monitoned voice came over the television telling us to get to a covered position. Like a fool I called up back home and put the phone to the tv. After being stationed there for 5 years, I always pay attention to the sky when a storm starts brewing.

[RabbitMPD]

Here is a tornado going through the City of Van Wert, Ohio. It was captured on the dash cam of a Trooper with the Ohio State Highway Patrol. It is the 2nd video down.

http://www.statepatrol.ohio.gov/newsroom/video.htm
Nice video! Thanks for sharing. Looks like a few active days ahead for the midwest. Stay safe!

[Netopalis]

Its been very quiet here. Haven't had much tornadic weather.

[RabbitMPD]

All of these tornado and severe thunderstorm watches but nothing coming of it
= :D for most but
= :( for me

[Netopalis]

I can't believe this two mornings in a row low temp 33 highs in the 50's,my yard still looks crapy may wait until wed to clean up,more TS in forecast for tomorrow,I even had my wood heater going :mad:
I can't believe that we haven't had anymore super cells since that one two weeks ago. ITS APRIL IN TORNADO ALLEY! Usually by now we had 4 or 5 nice T-storms at least. :o

[RabbitMPD]

Darn weather man missed it again,last night they forcast highs in low 80's P/C skies,It was pouring down rain high mid 40's right now sun finally picking through maybe will make 60 before end of day,Slight chance of severe weather on 04/29/05 cooler again this weekend high in 60's both sat and sun
Yeah we went from a week in the 80's and sunny to this week. Temps havent topped the mid 50's all week and it's been raining everyday. This weather makes me depressed. And I have a cold to boot. :(

Where are my storms!?!?!? :mad:

[Netopalis]

Yeah we went from a week in the 80's and sunny to this week. Temps havent topped the mid 50's all week and it's been raining everyday. This weather makes me depressed. And I have a cold to boot. :(

Where are my storms!?!?!? :mad:
I'm getting worried that the earthquake in Asia shifted that shifted the earth by a INCH and close us to have a .05 less of a day cause my weather to go bye bye.

[Netopalis]

Did they have yet another Quake in Asia WHats up with that?
no the one in dec did that.

[RabbitMPD]

Yes there was but it didn't shift the earth like the first one. The first one actually disrupted the earths rotation. :eek:

[Netopalis]

Yeah is that the reason for all this wacky weather,last few Aprils in the Mid South we would have had several Tornado,Watches and some Warnings,So is that Quake to blame for all this downturn in severe Weather?????
I wouldn't think so. Really only people thats going know a true answer to that is a meteorologist or physicist. I haven't heared that it would. I have heared it shorten the day at the poles by .05 secs shorter.

[Netopalis]

As a avid weather watcher (NETO) do you forsee other extreme weather patterns because of that shift in the earth,differnt in USA than yrs past
I don't think so. But I just know what clouds to look for.

[RabbitMPD]

There will be absolutely no changes in weather patterns as a direct result from that earthquake. Pretty neat how it can actually do that to the earth though.

[Netopalis]

Darn weather man missed the forecast again,the forecast was for high in the upper 70s and sunny instead highs mid 60's cool wind and misty rain.Iam about ready to fire up my ashley wood heater its chilly in the basement :(
usually the person most surprize about the weather is the weatherman.

[Netopalis]

We can thank Quopper for this latest cold snap low sunday morning forecast to be 38 Cool and damp right now highs in the 50's Watch out for May Tornados :eek:
No. She still hasn't invited me to the rockies to live with her and let me play in the mountians.

[Netopalis]

Your avatars are not as exciting as swatcop to get her attention find a chippendale exotic dancer to use as your avatar that will get Quopper's attention and you Neto will be heading to the Mtns in no time to play with Quopper :eek:
LOL. I dont need a avatar like swats to get her attention for that. Everytime I been to the rockies I do cross country backpacking. Like I need a place to stay.

[RabbitMPD]

Hey Netopalis....how'd your camping trip go??? Obviously no tornadoes came through. ;)

[Netopalis]

Hey Netopalis....how'd your camping trip go??? Obviously no tornadoes came through. ;)
pretty good. Nope no tornados DARN! However the weather couldn't been more perfect. It wasn't too hot or cold. So I got some fishing in too. :D Hows everything going up north?

[RabbitMPD]

pretty good. Nope no tornados DARN! However the weather couldn't been more perfect. It wasn't too hot or cold. So I got some fishing in too. :D Hows everything going up north?
Eh...cold and rainy. I really hope we can see 80's again soon, and some thunderstorms for crying out loud!

[Netopalis]

Eh...cold and rainy. I really hope we can see 80's again soon, and some thunderstorms for crying out loud!
thats the way it is here. If its going to rain do it the best way and at least have a supercell do it.

[RabbitMPD]

This isn't exactly the type of warning I like to see in May

-----------------------

WWUS73 KDVN 021631
NPWDVN

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
1131 AM CDT MON MAY 2 2005

...WIDESPREAD BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES AND FROST TO OCCUR
TONIGHT...

.CLEARING SKIES TONIGHT AND LIGHT WINDS WILL ALLOW FOR
TEMPERATURES TO FALL WELL BELOW FREEZING FOR SEVERAL HOURS WITH
WIDESPREAD FROST.

IAZ089-099-ILZ016>018-024>026-034-035-MOZ010-030045-
/X.UPG.KDVN.FR.Y.0001.050503T0500Z-050503T1400Z/
/X.EXA.KDVN.FZ.W.0002.050503T0500Z-050503T1400Z/
DES MOINES-LEE-HENRY-BUREAU-PUTNAM-MERCER-HENDERSON-WARREN-
HANCOCK-MCDONOUGH-CLARK-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BURLINGTON...FORT MADISON...KEWANEE...
PRINCETON...HENNEPIN...ALEDO...OQUAWKA...MONMOUTH. ..CARTHAGE...
MACOMB...KAHOKA
1131 AM CDT MON MAY 2 2005

...FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 9 AM CDT
TUESDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN QUAD CITIES HAS ISSUED A FREEZE
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 9 AM CDT
TUESDAY. A FREEZE WARNING MEANS SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES ARE
IMMINENT OR HIGHLY LIKELY. THIS IS AN UPGRADE OF THE FROST
ADVISORY FOR THIS AREA...WHICH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

LIGHT WINDS AND CLEAR SKIES WILL ALLOW TEMPERATURES TO FALL TO
AROUND 30 OVER THE AREA WITH A FEW LOCATIONS DIPPING INTO THE
UPPER 20S. THESE CONDITIONS WILL DAMAGE OR POSSIBLY EVEN KILL
EXPOSED SENSITIVE VEGETATION.

$$

IAZ040>042-051>054-063>068-076>078-087-088-098-ILZ001-002-007-009-
015-MOZ009-030030-
/X.CON.KDVN.FZ.W.0002.050503T0500Z-050503T1400Z/
BUCHANAN-DELAWARE-DUBUQUE-BENTON-LINN-JONES-JACKSON-IOWA-JOHNSON-
CEDAR-CLINTON-MUSCATINE-SCOTT-KEOKUK-WASHINGTON-LOUISA-JEFFERSON-
HENRY-VAN BUREN-JO DAVIESS-STEPHENSON-CARROLL-WHITESIDE-
ROCK ISLAND-SCOTLAND-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...INDEPENDENCE...MANCHESTER...DUBUQUE...
VINTON...CEDAR RAPIDS...ANAMOSA...MAQUOKETA...MARENGO...
IOWA CITY...TIPTON...CLINTON...MUSCATINE...BETTENDORF.. .
DAVENPORT...SIGOURNEY...WASHINGTON...WAPELLO...FAI RFIELD...
MOUNT PLEASANT...KEOSAUQUA....GALENA...FREEPORT...MOUNT CARROLL...
STERLING...ROCK FALLS...MOLINE...ROCK ISLAND...MEMPHIS
1131 AM CDT MON MAY 2 2005

...FREEZE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 9 AM
CDT TUESDAY...

TEMPERATURES WILL FALL INTO THE MID TO UPPER 20S FOR SEVERAL
HOURS BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND SHORTLY AFTER SUNRISE. LIGHT WINDS WILL
ALLOW WIDESPREAD FROST AND SIGNIFICANT TO SEVERE FREEZE BURN ON
EXPOSED PLANT GROWTH.

A FREEZE WARNING MEANS SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES ARE IMMINENT OR
HIGHLY LIKELY. THESE CONDITIONS WILL KILL CROPS AND OTHER
SENSITIVE VEGETATION.

$$
SHEETS

-----------------------


:mad: :mad: :mad:

[Netopalis]

I thought it was spring. Did I sleep through spring and summer?

[RabbitMPD]

I thought it was spring. Did I sleep through spring and summer?
My friends and I were saying the trees are gunna start to change colors here pretty soon! :rolleyes:

[RabbitMPD]

And your a hard one to beat! :D

[RabbitMPD]

We had a EarthQuake in Ark sunday morning that was felt all over West Tn and North Ms registered 4.1 and aftershocks 2.5 it makes the 4th 4.0 or greater since 2001 something's brewing I can't imagine what a 8.0 would do to this area today push us back to the 1800's probably!!! :eek:
There is a HUGE fault line that runs from Central Illinois through Indiana which has been acting up lately. I have heard a rumor that this thing shifts about every 1,000 years and were overdue by a couple hundred. The fault has been acting up lately with the latest quake at a 4.0. It was centered near the capitol (Springfield) and was felt even north of Chicago. Scary stuff. I'll take a tornado over a major earthquake any day of the week.

[RabbitMPD]

A major Quake 8.0 or higher would probably breakapart PickWick Dam which covers 65,000 acres of water I believe its a 50 ft drop to the tail waters if that dam was every at flood stage and a quake happened then Savannah and alot of other rivertowns would be up to their rooftops in water a major disaster area Hope that secenario never happens!!! :eek:
I can't imagine the destruction if that would happen. Unlike other regions, people in the midwest just aren't prepared for an earthquake. Very few schools run earthquake drills.

[RabbitMPD]

Finally!!! After a second fall for the year, the weather should start to pick up again. A new batch of severe storms will begin tomorrow with a slight risk in the central plains (watch out Netopalis - they should be in your area). Temps here are back well into the 70's and we will even hit the mid 80's on Saturday. With a chance of thunderstoms the next 4 out of 5 days I'm a happy camper. :D

[RabbitMPD]

So there was supposed to be a huge severe weather threat for the entire state of Illinois. What a joke! One 'Severe Thunderstorm Watch' issued and I don't think any warnings were issused. I know for a fact there were absolutely no severe weather reports in the entire state. There are more threats in the days coming but this is getting rediculous. Where are my storms!?!?!? :confused: :mad:

[Netopalis]

I just moved to NH recently from Champaign IL and we don't get nothin here :mad: ...I really miss the storm chases. Are you an Amatuer Radio operator? I myself am not, but I am a NOAA severe wx spotter...
You need a ham op lic before you need to be a NOAA wx to me. Ham radio is only way I can commuincate with other spotters most of the time. CB and cell phone are too weak to do the job. Plus cell towers get jam up easy aspecially during heavy lighting in thunderstorms.

[RabbitMPD]

You need a ham op lic before you need to be a NOAA wx to me. Ham radio is only way I can commuincate with other spotters most of the time. CB and cell phone are too weak to do the job. Plus cell towers get jam up easy aspecially during heavy lighting in thunderstorms.
I agree. Ham radio is the way to go if you want to report anything to the NWS or to any other spotters/chasers. I am certified and the radio is probably my biggest tool. I'm not rich enough to have laptops with wireless internet and all those gadgets so I primarily use the radio and have others help me out a little. My most expensive piece of equipment is a nice digital camera that I bought over the winter that I haven

[Netopalis]

[QUOTE=RabbitMPD]I agree. Ham radio is the way to go if you want to report anything to the NWS or to any other spotters/chasers. I am certified and the radio is probably my biggest tool. I'm not rich enough to have laptops with wireless internet and all those gadgets so I primarily use the radio and have others help me out a little. My most expensive piece of equipment is a nice digital camera that I bought over the winter that I haven

[Netopalis]

Yeah I had a tough time with the cell. I'm not big on electronics or Morse code, both of which you needed to know back whan I looked into it...
Thats only for a General or Extra Class. Tech class is what most spotters have, and is the easiest to get. We run off a 2m band. Net Control is where you need a higher class so you can get up on the HF. There is some talk of moving MC to extra class only.

[RabbitMPD]

My old sky warn team bough 6 GPS tracking devices (I forgot what they call them) that connects with you ham and new control or anyone who got a laptop hook up to the ham can track you.
This is called GPRS. Great tool for spotters who want to keep track of each other. My SkyWarn group also uses them although it is not required.

As for the camera you always keep - very smart. Not just for weather but for anything. I always tell people to get a disposable camera and keep it in the glove box. If you have an accident you want pictures, if you see a crime taking place, pictures help cops tremendously. Cameras can come in extremely handy in times you least expect it. And yes...if a tornado happens to come through you can take a picture of that too. ;)

EDIT: Trip to Iowa is on a delay. We may be changing our location but we are currently in Macomb, Illinois in West Central Illinois. Home of Western Illinois University. We are using their wonderfull computers. :D

I'll try to keep you guys updated. The SPC really has no clue what is going to happen but they say if the storms do fire, they will be very intense.

----------

PUBLIC SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
1142 AM CDT TUE MAY 10 2005

VALID 101642Z - 110045Z

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED OVER PARTS OF THE CENTRAL PLAINS
TODAY AND TONIGHT.

THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER IN NORMAN OK IS FORECASTING THE
DEVELOPMENT OF WIDESPREAD SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVER PARTS OF THE
CENTRAL PLAINS LATER TODAY AND TONIGHT.

THE AREAS MOST LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE THIS ACTIVITY INCLUDE

WESTERN AND CENTRAL IOWA
EASTERN NEBRASKA

SURROUNDING THE MODERATE RISK AREA...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FROM NEBRASKA EASTWARD TOWARDS THE SOUTHERN
GREAT LAKES.

A SURFACE FRONT WILL REMAIN STALLED ACROSS CENTRAL IOWA AND NEBRASKA
TODAY AND SHOULD FOCUS WIDESPREAD SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ALONG AND
NORTH OF IT LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND OVERNIGHT. THE AIR MASS WILL
BECOME VERY WARM AND HUMID SOUTH OF THIS FRONT AND MAKE THE
ATMOSPHERE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THUNDERSTORMS. SOME UNCERTAINTY
CONTINUES REGARDING WHETHER OR NOT STORMS WILL FORM ALONG AND SOUTH
OF THE FRONT. SHOULD THIS OCCUR...VERY INTENSE SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
WITH THE THREATS OF VERY LARGE HAIL AND TORNADOES WILL ACCOMPANY
THESE STORMS. OTHER THUNDERSTORMS WILL INCREASE IN COVERAGE AND
INTENSITY NEAR AND NORTH OF THE FRONT BY THE EARLY EVENING WITH
ADDITIONAL THREATS OF WIDESPREAD LARGE HAIL AND POSSIBLY DAMAGING
WINDS OVERNIGHT. THESE STORMS WILL MOVE AND DEVELOP EASTWARD ACROSS
THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY LATER TONIGHT.

THOSE IN THE THREATENED AREA ARE URGED TO REVIEW SEVERE WEATHER
SAFETY RULES AND TO LISTEN TO RADIO...TELEVISION...AND NOAA WEATHER
RADIO FOR POSSIBLE WATCHES...WARNINGS...AND STATEMENTS LATER TODAY.

..EVANS.. 05/10/2005

----------

[TXLady]

Where are my storms!?!?!? :confused: :mad:


That's what I want to know! This is starting to make me nervous. No severe storms at all this spring. By this time of the year I've usally had to take cover in my bathroom several times. :confused:

[RabbitMPD]

That's what I want to know! This is starting to make me nervous. No severe storms at all this spring. By this time of the year I've usally had to take cover in my bathroom several times. :confused:
I have a friend in Arlington, Texas who got hit pretty bad about a week and a half ago. Lots of hail damage to his car and a funnel cloud was reported. Thank God it didn't touch down in such a populated area. There was a whole lot of wind damage though. Just missed ya. ;)

[TXLady]

I have a friend in Arlington, Texas who got hit pretty bad about a week and a half ago. Lots of hail damage to his car and a funnel cloud was reported. Thank God it didn't touch down in such a populated area. There was a whole lot of wind damage though. Just missed ya. ;)

I remember that storm. In my area it wasn't all that severe. It passed and then 30 minutes later the sun was shining.

I don't mind being missed at all. This just isn't normal for us.

[RabbitMPD]

I remember that storm. In my area it wasn't all that severe. It passed and then 30 minutes later the sun was shining.

I don't mind being missed at all. This just isn't normal for us.
Yeah. This isn't normal for anybody. Although if you look at history, this is more normal than we think. The last 5 years have just been overly active for some reason. So although this is below average, it's still fairly "normal" compared to the last 50 years.

I don't like normal :p

[TXLady]

I don't like normal :p

Well, don't give up. It could all change in a heartbeat. ;)

[RabbitMPD]

Well Netopalis, it looks like I might get capped. Grrrr. Just have to play the waiting game. :mad:

[RabbitMPD]

For what it's worth this is what were dealing with. http://www.rap.ucar.edu/weather/model/sfc_ict_cape.gif

The cap is strong but if it breaks we could see some major F-3 to F-4 tornadoes.

[Netopalis]

For what it's worth this is what were dealing with. http://www.rap.ucar.edu/weather/model/sfc_ict_cape.gif

The cap is strong but if it breaks we could see some major F-3 to F-4 tornadoes.
Its about damn time we start seeing some tornados.

[RabbitMPD]

Its about damn time we start seeing some tornados.
initiation should start in Northcentral and northeast Nebraska through westcentral and northwest Iowa by 5-6pm CDT. An MD will probably be issued around 5pm. Come on cap...break damn it!!!

[RabbitMPD]

MD ISSUED!!!!! :D http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/md/md0805.html

----------

MESOSCALE DISCUSSION 0805
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
0501 PM CDT TUE MAY 10 2005

AREAS AFFECTED...S CNTRL THRU ERN NEB INTO SW IA

CONCERNING...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL

VALID 102201Z - 110000Z

WW IS LIKELY WITHIN NEXT 1 TO 2 HOURS.

RAPID DESTABILIZATION IS ONGOING VICINITY OF QUASI-STATIONARY FRONT
ACROSS SOUTHERN NEBRASKA/SOUTHWEST IOWA. LOOPS OF LATEST SURFACE
OBSERVATIONS...AND VISIBLE SATELLITE IMAGERY...INDICATE BETTER
MOISTURE STREAMING NORTHWARD ALONG DEVELOPING SOUTHERLY LOW-LEVEL
JET ACROSS CENTRAL/EASTERN KANSAS INTO EASTERN NEBRASKA. THIS...IN
CONJUNCTION WITH STRONG HEATING WHICH HAS ALREADY OCCURRED...IS
CONTRIBUTING TO WEAKENING INHIBITION. BOUNDARY LAYER CAPE...AND
MOST UNSTABLE CAPE IN MOIST LAYER LIFTING OVER FRONT...APPEAR LIKELY
TO APPROACH 3000 J/KG WITHIN NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS.

GIVEN DESTABILIZATION...FORCING ASSOCIATED WITH IMPULSE NOW EVIDENT
IN WATER VAPOR IMAGERY OVER WESTERN KANSAS...IS EXPECTED TO SUPPORT
RAPID INTENSE CONVECTIVE DEVELOPMENT AS UPPER FEATURE ROUNDS CREST
OF BROADER-SCALE SOUTHERN PLAINS RIDGE. INITIATION APPEARS POSSIBLE
NEAR THE PLATTE RIVER AS EARLY AS 23-00Z TIME FRAME...FROM VICINITY
OF DRY LINE FRONT INTERSECTION SOUTHEAST OF NORTH PLATTE INTO
VICINITY OF FRONT/LOW-LEVEL JET INTERSECTION SOUTHWEST OF NORFOLK.
VEERING WINDS WITH HEIGHT BENEATH MODERATE SOUTHWESTERLY MID-LEVEL
FLOW WILL PROVIDE FAVORABLE HODOGRAPHS FOR SUPERCELLS...WITH VERY
LARGE HAIL LIKELY...ISOLATED TORNADOES POSSIBLE.

----------

:D :D :D

[RabbitMPD]

We have some MAJOR tornadoes firing up all over the place now. Numourous cells with MULTIPLE tornadoes in them. If any of you are in a tornado warned area seek shelter and stay there. Even if a tordado comes through there may be another behind it.

[DaveinUtah]

you guys want to talk about crappy weather. I mean, it doesn't beat a Tornado, but I woke up this morning, May 11th and it is freaking snowing outside. Crazy!

[Netopalis]

We have some MAJOR tornadoes firing up all over the place now. Numourous cells with MULTIPLE tornadoes in them. If any of you are in a tornado warned area seek shelter and stay there. Even if a tordado comes through there may be another behind it.
Or if you live in tornado alley run out side and watch it. j/k :D :p I heared they had some twisters in your kill zone last night? They said could see some tornados in NW Oklahoma today.

[Netopalis]

you guys want to talk about crappy weather. I mean, it doesn't beat a Tornado, but I woke up this morning, May 11th and it is freaking snowing outside. Crazy!
whats wrong withthat?

[DaveinUtah]

whats wrong withthat?

Well, It depends on where you live I guess, but it has been in the 60s and 70s here and hasn't snowed in months.

[Netopalis]

Well, It depends on where you live I guess, but it has been in the 60s and 70s here and hasn't snowed in months.
Well it will change in 2 months. ;) You be begging for snow then.

[DaveinUtah]

Well it will change in 2 months. ;) You be begging for snow then.

Damn straight. When it starts hitting 100 degrees. :D

[Dixie05]

Iam puzzeled we did not get the severe weather outbreak of Thunderstorms and Tornadoes in the South so far this year,just isolated here and there,mine you Iam not complaining it just seems weird to me,the last few years I have picked up a least a ton of debrie from the trees in my yard .So far this year only a couple of wheel barrow loads,the rainfall is in a defecit down about 5'' so far this year,We recorded our 5th driest May ever :confused:

[ProCop75]

Stormy weather were Iam garden variety Thunderstorm nothing serioues yet!! :eek:

[Dixie05]

Tropical storm Arlene should be pounding the area around Gulf Shores Alabama the State of Alabama is under a Flood Watch until late Sunday,lots of rain predicted :(

[RabbitMPD]

Even the Storm Prediction Center is shocked by the lack of thunderstorms this year. Texas has had a pretty active season this year but they are the exception. Have a pretty good shot of storms today from Iowa into most of Illinois and Southern Wisconsin. Moderate chance of tornadoes. Even Arlene was much weaker than expected. Anyway, I'm heading out towards Northern Iowa in just a few minutes here. Storms should start firing around 3pm CDT if everything comes togeather. Although I'm sure nothing will happen :rolleyes:

ZZZZZZZZ

[TXLady]

Hey Rabbit, glad to see you're back. I thought you had been abducted by aliens. :) ;)

[The Colonel(44)]

Tornado Alley has expanded to include Dixie Alley,We dodged two tornado weekends in a row,now temperatures are expected to rise to the mid 60's again for a third weekend in a row,Iam ready for snow& colder weather,Tornado in December Bah Humbug!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :mad:

[RabbitMPD]

Wow, you dug around for this thread. I thought it was long gone.

Yes what started as a slow season (except for you Wisconsin), turned into a historic year. November was a record breaking month for tornadoes. Not only that, but the tornadoes have been strong, long track, very fast (little to no warning), destructive tornadoes often times striking in the middle of the night. Talk about a bad combination.

Since the Christmas season is here, I need to offer a gift idea. Please, buy a NOAA weather radio for your loved ones. They are not very expensive and can save lives. To me, a weather radio is as important as a smoke detector. As soon as the Storm Prediction Center issues a warning, it will sound an alarm on your radio stating what type of warning it is and where the storm is expected to strike. Now I understand this is not a gift most people would like to unwrap but at least get one for yourself. Too many people have been killed this year because of either malfunctioning sirens (many cities still run their alarms on electricity with no backup :rolleyes: ) or because they were sleeping and the sirens didn't wake them up. By the time the tornado woke them up, it was too late.

Anyway, enough ranting from me. Just keep in mind that tornadoes can strike any month of the year. There have even been small tornadoes associated with snowstorms. Stay safe everybody.

Check out this video. This is not mine, but pretty incredible footage. http://mfile.akamai.com/12881/wmv/vod.ibsys.com/2005/1113/5313024.200k.asx

[The Colonel(44)]

Wow, you dug around for this thread. I thought it was long gone.

Yes what started as a slow season (except for you Wisconsin), turned into a historic year. November was a record breaking month for tornadoes. Not only that, but the tornadoes have been strong, long track, very fast (little to no warning), destructive tornadoes often times striking in the middle of the night. Talk about a bad combination.

Since the Christmas season is here, I need to offer a gift idea. Please, buy a NOAA weather radio for your loved ones. They are not very expensive and can save lives. To me, a weather radio is as important as a smoke detector. As soon as the Storm Prediction Center issues a warning, it will sound an alarm on your radio stating what type of warning it is and where the storm is expected to strike. Now I understand this is not a gift most people would like to unwrap but at least get one for yourself. Too many people have been killed this year because of either malfunctioning sirens (many cities still run their alarms on electricity with no backup :rolleyes: ) or because they were sleeping and the sirens didn't wake them up. By the time the tornado woke them up, it was too late.

Anyway, enough ranting from me. Just keep in mind that tornadoes can strike any month of the year. There have even been small tornadoes associated with snowstorms. Stay safe everybody.

Check out this video. This is not mine, but pretty incredible footage. http://mfile.akamai.com/12881/wmv/vod.ibsys.com/2005/1113/5313024.200k.asxIntresting Video,needs to learn to pan the camera slowly and keep comments to himself!Thats the storms that tore up Henry County Tn 2 weeks ago,Get this they are not elgible for state or federal disaster assistance as 2 tornadoes hit F-2 and F-3! Once the Local TV Stations sounded TW for our area and city alarms did'nt sound till 10 minutes later,I think IU'll purchase one of those radios that only sound when your county is under warning.Thanks RabbitMPD for posting this information! :)

[RabbitMPD]

I think IU'll purchase one of those radios that only sound when your county is under warning.
Yeah you only spend about 5-10 bucks more for those. You can have it sound only if your county goes under a watch/warning and you can specify which warnings you want to hear. For example, if you can care less about a severe thunderstorm watch and only want to hear warnings, you can turn the alarm off for a severe thunderstorm watch.

[00svtlightning]

We had some nasty storms roll through here this spring/summer..couple good ones otherwise slow...I'm a skywarn member myself...we go and spot for the county....fun times..got some good videos

[CWMQKClady]

Speaking of sirens...I used to live in an area where they would go off for every little thing and people began to be quite annoyed because they felt they were just hearing another false alarm. Where I live now though the sirens don't go off enough in my opinion. We have had tornadoes the last couple of years or so and they were pretty close by. I'll let my husband know about the radio and maybe he can check into it.

Thanks for the information.

[The Colonel(44)]

Yeah you only spend about 5-10 bucks more for those. You can have it sound only if your county goes under a watch/warning and you can specify which warnings you want to hear. For example, if you can care less about a severe thunderstorm watch and only want to hear warnings, you can turn the alarm off for a severe thunderstorm watch.Yeah I have one of the old radio's,Woke me up at 2am for a Tornado Warning for North MS some 100 miles from home,Scared the crap out of me,tought Tornado was in my county.The city has spent lots of money on new sirens,that when its operational will wake up the Dead,closet tower is 5 blocks away.Its mainly sounded for Severe Weather, but also for homeland security measures God forbid that ever happen! :eek:

[RabbitMPD]

Speaking of sirens...I used to live in an area where they would go off for every little thing and people began to be quite annoyed because they felt they were just hearing another false alarm. Where I live now though the sirens don't go off enough in my opinion. We have had tornadoes the last couple of years or so and they were pretty close by. I'll let my husband know about the radio and maybe he can check into it.

Thanks for the information.
Also something to keep in mind is that all towns have different policies regarding the sirens. Most towns will sound the siren for 5 minutes, and then turn them off. This does not mean the threat is gone! When the threat is gone they will sound the siren again. Sometimes the second siren (the all clear siren) sounds different then the first warning siren. Check your city hall for the details. There was a storm last year in which somebody was killed. She thought since the siren turned off it was ok to go upstairs. WRONG!

[The Colonel(44)]

We dodged a bullet last night,weather got rough 100 miles north of home and 75 miles to the South,We were under a Tornado Watch until 5am today,temps most of yesterday were in the high 40's and at 11pm last night had risen to 66.This makes the 3rd week in a row,Weather very cold during week and Severe Weather on weekends!There is even a chance of Snow Showers for thursday and warmer for the Weekend :confused:

[The Colonel(44)]

Sunday we had wind gust in the low 40's! Outside of Memphis,Tn wind gust were in the 50's and like Oklahoma,Texas and Arkansas its dry in Tennessee as well,high fire danger, We are suppose to get a half inch of rain,Last year we had a rain defecit of 14 inches and Jaunuary is unseasonably warm Sunday high was 71 :eek: