Tornado Chasers?

[RWhite]

Depending on where you live, you may still be able to attend (free) a Skywarn School taught by the NWS. They are pretty much coming to an end this winter with these presentations, but a few are still being offered near the DFW area. This is a must training for those that want to learn more about severe weather and storm spotting. No test, etc. just a lot of good videos, slides and great commentary by the NWS and storm spotters.

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/fwd/skywarnsch.php?file=sptrsch

[ram57ta]

Ive amateur chased since about 92 and have gotten some pics of a couple of funnels but I learned in 94 to not chase night tornadoes when I caught the back side of the Lancaster tornado as it crossed 35 causing immense damage to my old Regal. Id love to chase with a pro and a good camera.

[Slow Five-O]

Always been interested and love the show.
Had a buddy who was a meteorology major and got to go with the a&m chaser group.


I'd love to go one weekend.

[SMKR]

Haha yeah I went on my own with a couple buddies the first time, and looking back on it, it was pretty idiotic. Ive learned a lot since then lol but still would much rather go with someone experienced.

Thanks for the links SMKR and RWhite for the links, I will definitely check them out.

SMKR, do you have a chase vehicle or anything? I'll be down to chase for sure. Ive been keeping an eye on the weather and whatnot.

Nothing official, I will either take my 08 civic or 01 z71 with 4x4 for the muddy roads so I can go down em. It's a tough decision a times, have 4x4 in west Texas and Oklahoma to get to the more remote areas but get 12 mpg or get 45 in the civic but not have off road capability.

Problem i was seeing last year were all the wanna be's out there making stupid decisions putting us all in jeopardy safety wise.

[dmh165638]

I chased about 20 years ago when I lived Kansas City, Ks and Wichita, Ks. I really didn't have anything at the time other than a ton of maps, cb radio, and a Bronco II. My parents were weather spotters most of my childhood so I was exposed to it regularly for many years and developed a passion for it as a hobby. My dad was a big C.B. and ham radio guy so that mixed well at the time with being a weather spotter. For the last several years I have been getting interested again and mainly playing internet chaser. Watching live feeds, reading forum, weather reports, weather models, etc. I have checked into maybe doing some spotter training courses and getting into it more seriously. I was actually going to hit the road this Sunday up in the north Tx panhandle, Ok panhandle and southwest Kansas because it was supposed to be a hotspot Saturday and Sunday. The models have changed and it has now shifted to Monday.

This is the best place to start to get target areas and dates.
http://www.spc.noaa.gov/

This is the forums for Reed Timmer's site from Storm Chasers.
http://www.tornadovideos.net/forum

Another good chaser site
http://www.severestudios.com/

This is one of the most comprehensive sites and great forums
http://www.stormtrack.org/

[ozzeran]

Man just reading some of these forums I need to read the "meteorology today" book I bought used before I understand anything. Always been into meteorology but never bothered to read about it.

[Mike]

I live in Oklahoma City. Near a neighborhood that was leveled by the May 3rd 1999 tornado.
I chase around here when I can. Last season got on my roof and watched one hit about 2 miles east of me.. I will see if I still have any damage pics.

[stevo]

I'm no professional, but I have chased a few just to look at them. I watched one come across Lake Whitney and go into Bosque County for about 15 minutes, then the storm proceeded to beat the shit out of my Dodge Dart with baseball hail. I agree, get a throw away vehicle if you decide to actually do it.

Stevo

[dmh165638]

I was up there the week after it happened working for the week. I went out and drove the damage path everyday and have never seen anything like it until I was working down in south Lousiana right after Katrina. Some of the damage in Moore was just mind boggling and some of the wildest things I have ever seen.

I live in Moore, OK. My neighborhood was leveled by the May 3rd 1999 tornado.
I chase around here when I can. Last season got on my roof and watched one hit about 2 miles east of me.. I will see if I still have any damage pics.

[Fern]

i love this stuff.

[ceyko]

Ive amateur chased since about 92 and have gotten some pics of a couple of funnels but I learned in 94 to not chase night tornadoes when I caught the back side of the Lancaster tornado as it crossed 35 causing immense damage to my old Regal. Id love to chase with a pro and a good camera.

Even on TV night tornadoes scare the shit out of me man. One episode of storm chasers they show the lightening and that big as tornado a few times. Like a bitch I had a bad dream about it that night.

[QuickLS1CHK]

Were any of you fellow chasers at TESSA?

[ALLAN]

Nothing to chase here. They don't even have sirens.

[Mike]

I was up there the week after it happened working for the week. I went out and drove the damage path everyday and have never seen anything like it until I was working down in south Lousiana right after Katrina. Some of the damage in Moore was just mind boggling and some of the wildest things I have ever seen.

I hear it was bad. I didn't move here until 2007.
I live in the part of the neighborhood that wasn't touched. A few streets over houses were taken down by two tornados in a 5 year span.

[Sean88gt]

I'd like to try it once.