Storm Chasing/Spotting

[Pike]

Anyone do this or aspire to do this? I've been fascinated with severe weather since I was like 6 and this is something I really want to get into but all the chaser/spotter websites pretty much say "If you don't know what you're doing then &@#% off b/c it's dangerous and btw you can't learn from me." So like how the hell do you get in to this?

I read weather books and have a decent knowledge of severe storms. I've also attended spotter training classes here in Manhattan.

I've also never seen a tornado but would certainly love to.

Also the Manhattan tornado was the funnest day of the summer, imo

[PCR]

http://www.amazon.com/Storm-Chasing-Handbook-Tim-Vasquez/dp/0970684037/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1234770292&sr=8-2

[steve dave]

remember in Twister when that cow is running in the air as it flys by in the tornado.  Pretty hilarious imo.  Would like to witness that I guess. 

[Dirty Sanchez]

I was completely  about storms when I was little, but somewhere in my early teens I changed to  .  About that time it seemed that severe weather always seemed to dodge whereever I was.  It could be 10 miles from town and the storm would either split or go poof right before it got to where I was. 

I really would have liked to have gone into meteorology, but my total lack of ability to do physics and chemistry probably preclude that.  And KSU doesn't offer that program.  The best place to go for that is blow u and there was no freaking way.

I also have never seen a tornado (lifelong Kansan turning 32 in a couple weeks), but want to.  Seen some clouds over my head do some funny things, but never seen one drop.  But after helping out in Chapman last year, I'm not sure I want to unless I'm several miles away.

[Oklahoma_Cat]

When I worked for KAKE, I did a lot of storm chasing...was pretty awesome most of the time.  Sometimes you have second thoughts and wonder what the hell you are doing.  I've only seen one tornado personally, and it was a couple miles away.

I'm surprised that there aren't more people killed from chasing storms...because if you don't have the right gear, it's hard to know what direction the storm is moving.

[pissclams]

i do not want to go to there

[Thin Blue Line]

Start by taking one of the NWS storm spotter classes. They should be starting up next month in everyone's area.

[Pike]

http://www.amazon.com/Storm-Chasing-Handbook-Tim-Vasquez/dp/0970684037/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1234770292&sr=8-2

Yep I was looking at that book. I get paid tomorrow so I may buy it tomorrow

Start by taking one of the NWS storm spotter classes. They should be starting up next month in everyone's area.

And yeah I've taken a class. There is another one coming up in a few weeks and it's at some building in Cico Park

[michigancat]

I watched that reality show about storm chasers, and it was kind of sickening how those people act like schoolgirls when there are storms that can kill people and all disappointed when they die and don't destroy a bunch of stuff.

I saw a bunch of really freaky storms when I worked on the farm, and agree w/ clams.  I want to get the f*ck away when weather starts to get dangerous.

[FBWillie]

I've gone;  I use a rule of thumb to stay safe.   If I see people around that look like total dumb crap rednecks...   I leave the area.   It's worked so far! 



Honestly though, I don't go out if it's so big that you can't really tell which way it would go; I just kind of stay behind the storm and stay on main roads/never take roads I'm not familiar with.  I've only seen one tornado while I was chasing, but I've seen 3 go by my house or where I was already driving/not storm chasing.

Fun stuff... always gets the blood pump'n

[FBWillie]

Also, I work with the guy that shot the famous "girl under the bridge" footage when that big ass tornado tore up Andover.

He's a total EMAW. 

[PCR]

That under the bridge footage has killed a lot of people through the years who didn't know that's the worst place to be.  3 people were killed that way in the 1999 Moore outbreak, at 3 separate overpasses. 

[yoga-lika_abana]

suprised there hasn't been a stormnut sighting in this thread.

[jeffy]

If you want to spot a tornado, just hang out in Oklahoma trailer parks.  Granted that accounts for 80% of the state....

[PCR]

LOL not only that, they don't build basements in Oklahoma.  States full of retards (cept OKcat of course.) 

[Lurker]

I watched that reality show about storm chasers, and it was kind of sickening how those people act like schoolgirls when there are storms that can kill people and all disappointed when they die and don't destroy a bunch of stuff.

Are you talking about the show on the Discovery Channel with the IMAX Film director in that home made armored car?  I've seen those guys several times out here in Western Kansas.   My father and I go out chasing every spring.  Using radar on the cell phone and laptops you can know which way the storms are moving and you can get yourself in a position to stay safe and see the tornadoes.   Its a hell of a rush to see the power Mother Nature can deliver.  

Took this photo with a crappy digital camera a couple years ago north of Cedar Bluff


This was just some nice lightning in a storm north of Dodge last year.

 

[Oklahoma_Cat]

LOL not only that, they don't build basements in Oklahoma.  States full of retards (cept OKcat of course.) 

 

Although that's not entirely true.  Most older homes don't have basements, but newer houses do.  They found a way to battle the evil red dirt.

[Fledermaus]

Massive thunderstorms are the main thing that I miss about Kansas since I moved away.  A big active thunderhead rolling in is one of the most impressive and awe-inspiring sights on Earth.

[catdude33]

I too love chasing storms.  Here is a picture my wife took of me chasing a tornado on foot last Spring just south of Kearney, NE.  Tweaked my ankle at the last second or I would have had it.

[jeffy]

I too love chasing storms.  Here is a picture my wife took of me chasing a tornado on foot last Spring just south of Kearney, NE.  Tweaked my ankle at the last second or I would have had it.

Man... I saw you on ABC news chasing that dust devil!  That was incredible!

[FBWillie]

That under the bridge footage has killed a lot of people through the years who didn't know that's the worst place to be.  3 people were killed that way in the 1999 Moore outbreak, at 3 separate overpasses. 

KSN still made a crap ton of $$ off the footage;   And he wasn't a storm chaser; was coming back from someplace in the KSN truck with some reporter or something.   They stopped there because there wasn't really anythwhere else... just kinda trapped. 

[PCR]

It turned out that that particular overpass was constructed in a way that is somewhat safe (with eaves), while most are like a wind tunnel. 

[KSt8er]

Love to chase but don't get out often because I won't chase after dark, just don't have the right setup for it.   Went twice last year and saw one each time.  I'd much rather be able to see one and move over a mile to get away then to be looking out the front window when the neighbors house start exploding. 

And God hates trailer houses, I think that is evident enough.