Colorado Storm Chasing

Calm Before The Storms

2011-06-04T08:35:00.000-07:00

The recent severe weather in the southeast and midwest has subsided, at least for now. Here in Colorado, we have not seen many violent storms so far in 2011. What is the reason for this? One probable culprit is La Nina. While most of us meteorologists caution against blaming local weather patterns on global phenomena, in this case I feel the need to point to La Nina for our unusually calm and cool May.

NOAA and the National Weather Service do an amazing job of tracking the El Nino/La Nina pattern. The latest data shows that La Nina is continuing to weaken, and sea surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific are rising. For most of the early spring 2011, the Jet Stream was draped across California and on through the southern parts of the USA. This gave Colorado some much-needed moisture, and cool temperatures. All that is about to change.

As La Nina continues to weaken, we can expect the Jet Stream to be pushed farther north, with expanding high pressure over the Great Basin. For Colorado, this has several important implications. First, we should see temperatures begin to warm rapidly. This will melt the significant snowpack in the mountains, and could cause river flooding. Second, weather disturbances may dip across northeast Colorado from the Pacific Northwest, causing an increase in thunderstorms over the plains. This means wind, rain, hail and possibly tornadoes.

Colorado's peak severe weather season is late May through the end of June, however we can experience severe thunderstorms all the way into October. Most of the latest data on La Nina points to more precipitation over Colorado as we head into June.

This is good news for storm chasers, such as myself. Those of us who venture out onto the plains in the spring and summer to photograph and video severe weather are looking forward to the month of June. One important caveat to this is my personal hope for the safety of everyone on the plains. Most storm chasers do not want to see people hurt or killed, or property destroyed. I even worry about livestock exposed to hail and lightning.

If you've been intrigued about this year's EF-5 tornadoes in the south and midwest, you may be thinking about going out on your own to chase thunderstorms this summer. I'm going to repeat some information I posted here in 2009 about "Safe Chasing":

1.) Learn all you can about severe weather before you go out.

2.) Chase with an experienced partner.
3.) Do not stop on the road. Slow down and pull way off to the side.
4.) Use your flashers when stopped on the roadside.
5.) Do not speed through small towns. Besides the possibility of running over a
small child, local law enforcement is usually wary of storm chasers and they will bust you.
6.) Avoid eating while driving. This is an unnecessary distraction.
7.) Do not text or blog while driving. Yes, I have seen chasers doing this!
8.) Get a hands-free cell phone headset or earpiece. You need both hands to drive.
9.) Don't core punch your first time out.
10.) Save your camera and video recorder for when you stop.
11.) Watch the other chasers and drivers around you.

12.) If someone is driving recklessly, report them.

Those of us who have years of storm chasing experience are not trying to discourage new chasers. What we are trying to do is keep you, and everyone else, safe.

Whether you are interested in chasing storms or not, you should be very aware how fast Colorado's weather can change. If you check the forecast once a week, you are going to miss some important information. We at Channel 7 keep a very close eye on changing weather, and we encourage you to watch our weathercasts, and check our website every day for the very latest information and safety tips. I can be reached at steve.hamilton@mac.com if you have any questions at all.

Thanks!

What Happened In Joplin, MO?

2011-05-27T16:12:00.000-07:00

The strength and violence of the Joplin, MO tornado that hit last Sunday raises some important questions for safety planners and residents who live in tornado-prone areas. These questions are: Finding adequate shelter, and believability of tornado warnings.

The National Weather Service issued a "Tornado Warning" for the Joplin area 23 minutes ahead of the first reported touchdown. This gave residents a decent amount of time to find adequate shelter. The questions then become, "What is adequate shelter?" and "Is this a real tornado, or another false alarm?"

In my opinion, the NWS did a great job of providing adequate lead time for the local residents. Sirens were blaring over 20 minutes ahead of the disaster. We can explore the above issues a bit further by simply looking at the images of the devastation. One challenge is, how often does this magnitude of tornado hit any one particular area? We haven't seen one single tornado do this kind of damage, with so much loss of life, since the 1950s. For every EF-5 tornado that hits a populated area, there are hundreds of others that pass harmlessly around big towns and cities. This fact can cause disbelief or denial amongst people in highly-populated areas. I saw one interview on CNN where the victim said "I never thought this could happen to me."

As a meteorologist, and a broadcaster, this is one of the most troubling things to hear from people. Now we know, these things can happen to anyone living in a tornado-prone area.

So, those of us who communicate severe weather warnings to the public have to keep in mind how we address the issue to those who are listening and watching on radio and TV. My observations have shown the range of human emotions in life-threatening weather, including fear, apathy, wonder, disbelief and denial. It's important that people facing powerful weather understand the dangers, and understand that tornadoes do not choose who they affect. Tornadoes are pure acts of Nature, indiscriminate in their destruction. Getting people to believe this fact is another story, and raises an entirely new set of issues, which I will address in my next posting.

The other point that has been on my mind is 'adequate' shelter. At least some of the broadcasters and meteorologists in the Joplin area were telling people that they must seek shelter underground. EF-5 tornadoes have wind speeds of over 200 mph. We are talking about winds that are moving debris at the speed of an Indy race car. Humans cannot survive such an environment without 'adequate' protection. What is adequate protection from an EF-5?

Tests have been done for years with cannons and 2x4s against various types of housing. A piece of wood propelled at 200 mph easily penetrates drywall, press-board, most housing siding and even brick walls. The typical home is constructed of exactly these same materials. Additionally, the power of EF-5 winds will often completely remove residential homes from their foundations and destroy them in-flight, along with anyone in them.

I personally had the chance to view the damage done by the Greensburg, KS EF-5 tornado from May 4-5, 2007. Even though the death toll was much lower, the damage was just as great. I saw many concrete pads completely scoured, houses thrown into the air and dropped many yards away with vehicles on top of them, coins buried deep into tree trunks. Again, EF-5 forces are not survivable by humans, unless there is adequate shelter.

Simply put, being above ground during such a powerful tornado is a death sentence. Generally 'adequate shelter' from an EF-5 means being under ground, supposedly in a basement. Even this is no sure-fire guarantee of safety because the structure above the basement can collapse into it if the roof is removed. So, then we are talking about a basement with some sort of heavy structure in it, allowing the occupants to crouch under and avoid the wind-driven debris, and then whatever falls into the basement following the tornado.

Trailer homes and automobiles of any kind, including large trucks and SUVs are completely unsafe in almost any strong tornado, let alone an EF-5.

Many homes in the Joplin area, to say nothing of the rest of the Midwest, do not have basements. Some have crawl-spaces, but due to the high water table, sometimes a basement is not practical. What then? There are companies now that make 'safe rooms' that are designed to withstand the forces of 200 mph winds and debris, yet are located above-ground. Some people without basements are having these installed. They essentially consist of a large concrete block with a steel door. People get inside and ride out the storm. I've seen images of a concrete foundation with nothing else on it except the safe room. Unfortunately, these types of structures are not affordable by everyone, to say nothing of folks who occupy trailer homes in parks that do not provide concrete or underground safety areas.

It may seem that all I've done here is raise a lot of questions and concerns. This, to me, is a good place to start. In my next posting, I'll share some research on safe rooms and the power of strong tornadoes, and what makes them tick. Thanks.

2011: The Year Of The EF-5

2011-05-25T06:44:00.000-07:00

Greetings, storm chasing enthusiasts. I hope you will understand that my excitement for the new storm season is tempered with the ever-growing casualty lists from towns across the South and Midwest. When I chase storms and tornadoes, at the forefront of my mind are the people under those storms who are losing property, and sometimes their lives. We must remember to keep everything in perspective about what we are doing out there. While storm chasers are vital in documenting meteorological occurrences, in my opinion it is critical for all storm chasers to maintain a certain level of stoicism regarding the destruction wrought by storms. (Photo credit: www.tornadovideos.net)

There has been much criticism of a video released last week documenting the Joplin, MO tornado, where chasers are heard yelling profanity-laced descriptions in the background. Granted, that tornado was huge, and bound to generate excitement. However, many professional and scientific chasers thought the verbiage was inappropriate, considering how many people lost their lives in Joplin, (125 as of this posting). I will tell you from personal experience that it is difficult to control one's emotions in the presence of such violent weather, so I see both sides of the issue. As storm chasers, we have to decide what is, and more importantly what is not, appropriate behavior, when we release storm video.

2011 is on track to become a record tornado year for the United States, not only in the number of tornadoes, but also in the number of EF-5s being recorded. The Joplin tornado was upgraded to an EF-5 yesterday (May 24, 2011).

If you are unfamiliar with the "Enhanced Fujita" or EF scale, please hit this link:
http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/ef-scale.html

Several EF-5s were recorded in last month's outbreak across Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia.

Why are this year's tornadoes so violent? First, the interaction between storm systems and the Jet Stream has made for several outbreak situations in recent weeks. Often in the early to mid spring, the Jet Stream is still far enough south to coincide with the passage of low pressure and frontal systems. The Jet Stream is a major player in thunderstorm evolution. If we get an active Jet Stream flow (50 knots or higher) above an area primed for thunderstorm growth, some of the major storm elements become enhanced. Speed and directional shear, and lift, are increased by strong Jet Stream winds. In the case of the recent tornado outbreaks, the Polar Jet, which circles the Earth at 7-12 km (23,000 - 39,000 feet) and separates major cold and warm air masses, was present. Digging further into this phenomenon, there were significant "jet maxes" crossing the prime thunderstorm areas during the outbreaks. A jet max is an area of particularly strong winds, embedded within the Jet Stream itself, say over 110 knots. In meteorology, we divide jet maxes up into quadrants, so picture an oval divided into quarters. In the left-front and right-rear quadrants of a jet max, we often see enhanced lift and shear.

The recent weakening of the La Nina phenomenon in the Pacific may also be a contributor. During La Nina springs, a large ridge forms over the western USA, serving to push the jet stream farther north. La Nina has weakened significantly in recent weeks, and the Polar Jet Stream has stayed far to the south. This means the Jet has been crossing the Deep South and the Southern Plains, and interacting with thunderstorms more frequently than usual.

Strong Jet Stream winds in the vicinity of large thunderstorms serves to enhance lift by evacuating air from the top of the thunderstorm. This air must be replaced with something, and often air is pulled from below, thereby enhancing lift. Shear is also enhanced because the Jet Stream usually provides strong southwesterly winds in the mid and upper levels. Combined with adequate surface winds from the southeast, the two wind vectors cross each other and give a "twist" to the atmosphere within a thunderstorm, enhancing growth and severity.

Many storm chasers I speak with are expecting a very active June for Colorado's eastern plains. We will be out there, providing images, video and accounts of whatever takes place.

Okla-HAIL-Mo, May 16, 2010

2010-05-17T08:33:00.000-07:00

Wow, what a wicked day for folks in the Oklahoma City area on Sunday 5/16. A massive hailstorm approached the area from the northwest in the mid-afternoon, dropping hailstones the size of softballs. Major damage was reported throughout the area, including smashed windows and windshields, large dents in vehicles, and some injuries.

My chase centered west of the hailstorm, in the Hinton and Binger, OK areas. The reason for this is I wanted to stay out of the huge hail, and photograph some interesting storm formations. The storms west of OKC were less-severe, but more photogenic.

Moving east from Amarillo, TX in the early afternoon, I was able to intercept a developing super-cell thunderstorm near Hinton around 3:30 p.m. This storm initially did not look threatening, however it quickly developed into a rotating super-cell, dropping golf ball sized hail, and a beautiful structure. I will be posting photos of this storm later today.

Today, Monday May 17, I will be chasing to the west of Amarillo, out toward Albuquerque, NM.

Stay tuned!

Chasing In Texas Oil Country

2010-05-15T06:52:00.000-07:00

On Friday May 14, the chase centered around Kermit, Odessa and Midland, Texas with storms forming along a stationary front draped across the area along I-20 in the southwest part of the state. It was a good old fashioned Texas wild-goose-chase across the oil fields and several tornadoes were sighted by Roger Hill and Tony Laubach.

Coming in from the north, I had a long drive from Amarillo that morning so I positioned myself to catch the western-most storms in the line. Quite often, the storms forming at the end of the line can quickly produce tornadoes, and are sometimes quite photogenic as there are no storms behind them to interfere with light quality and contrast for photos and video.

This area of southwest Texas is dotted with oil drilling platforms and has the distinct odor of crude oil mixed with mesquite. An interesting smell, to be sure. The countryside is mostly flat, providing a great view of thunderstorm updraft bases for miles around.

Taking I-27 south to Lubbock and then proceeding southwest from there along smaller roads, I was able to intercept several thunderstorms. The weather situation in the area was dominated by a stationary front. North of the front, temperatures were in the 50s with fog and drizzle. South of the front, readings reached the upper 60s with high dewpoints. There was also a low-level jet of 30 knots crossing the front at a favorable angle. When you have dynamics like that, you can be fairly certain that storms will form.

Proceeding south toward Kermit, TX, I was able to navigate safely through one thunderstorm "hail core". A hail core is the part of a thunderstorm where the largest hail is falling, usually some distance away from the updraft. Hail was golf ball sized and my vehicle sustained several dings. Once south of the hail and rain, I sighted the storm's updraft base. I immediately recognized that the updraft was rotating and potentially tornadic. You can see the rotation in the images I've posted.

I encountered "chaser convergence" along Highway 115 near Kermit. The "TIV" or Tornado Intercept Vehicle (Tornado Tank) was there along with several of the Doppler-On-Wheels vehicles from various research teams including the National Science Foundation. Numerous amateur chasers were sighted along the roads as well. Fortunately, everyone played nice and I did not encounter any rude or unsafe chasers.

Locking in on the Kermit storm as the best looking one in the area, I decided to engage it. I positioned myself just north of I-20 and found good paved roads for a beautiful view of the storm structure, while staying out of the large hail that was falling. Visible to the northwest was the storm's rotating updraft which had "TVS" or Tornado Vortex Signatures embedded within the structure. A TVS is radar-indicated rotation. This was a classic super-cell updraft with strong inflow bands and beautiful sculpted striations, indicative of moderate wind shear.

After stopping four or five times at various points for photos, I disengaged around 4:30 p.m. CDT and began the long trek back up to Amarillo, where all my clothes were located! I arrived back at my hotel around midnight.

Folks, this is what serious storm chasing is all about. You get up early and forecast your target, then drive to get there, (four hours in this case). The chase lasted almost three hours, followed by a four hour drive back. Obviously, anticipation and positioning are key to avoiding long drives, but sometimes it cannot be avoided.

I've been out now since last Monday and running out of clean clothing. Today (Saturday May 15 will be a marginal day in the Amarillo area, however some storms may move out of New Mexico in the afternoon toward this area. Sunday 5/16 looks interesting east of here out toward Wichita Falls.

This has been a very successful week, however the weather pattern will be changing soon for the Great Plains. We are forecasting a high pressure ridge to move into the area next week, squelching the chances for severe thunderstorms.

Wild Day In Oklahoma, May 10 2010

2010-05-11T07:53:00.000-07:00

Good Day Everyone. Monday May 10, 2010 will go down as an infamous day in Oklahoma tornado history. Thanks to a powerful low pressure system with strong dynamics, high dewpoints and good wind shear, we had numerous strong thunderstorms with tornadoes across northern Oklahoma. Unfortunately, several people lost their lives. My chase day began in Goodland, KS and ended in Wichita, KS. A five-hour drive out I-70 and then down I-35 brought me in range of one of the strongest storms by 4 p.m. I moved in from the north to get position in "The Notch", which is an area on the leading edge of the storm with strong air inflow. Since I was coming in from the north, my best chance to see any tornadoes would be in the notch.

I got there in the nick of time and found myself directly under the mesocyclone, or the strongest area of rotation. To my great relief there was only one other chaser there! The tornado was rain-wrapped by that time, and thus invisible. Finding myself in the perfect position to get run over by the tornado, I skedaddled to the south to try and get around the southern edge of the thunderstorm and perhaps glimpse a tornado from the south. Moving back off the country roads to I-35, I headed out of the storm just before ten tractor-trailers were blown off the roadway. I quickly turned to see the dissipating tornado and then started back north on I-35, stopping to assist several truckers whose rigs were overturned. Several trees had been uprooted as well. This damage was done either by a tornado, or the extremely strong rear-flank downdraft winds coming around the south side of the storm.

Needless to say, it was a very exciting 30 minutes! Fortunately none of the truckers I encountered were injured. Several trucks had blown over onto other vehicles, but everyone was fine. Today I head out of Wichita for the Tulsa area to play along the existing frontal boundary. There will be favorable conditions for a few super-cells today.

Stay tuned and stay safe!

The Hunt Begins 2010

2010-03-28T18:48:00.000-07:00

Hello fellow storm enthusiasts. Here we are at the end of March, and storm chasers are eagerly outfitting their vehicles, scheduling time off and studying long-range forecasting models in anticipation for an active chase season. We don't actually know for sure what 2010 will hold in terms of the number of tornadoes we will experience, which brings up the main point of this post.

There are all kinds of storm chasers out there. Many are in the hobby exclusively to see tornadoes. Granted, tornadoes could be considered the holy grail of storm chasing. However, if you are considering investing in photography equipment, wireless internet, laptop computers and other gear, just to see tornadoes, I would suggest that you are missing out on many other fascinating aspects of storm chasing.

In my 10 years as a chaser, I've seen perhaps 30 tornadoes. By the standards of some chasers, that's not very many. However, I do not chase storms exclusively to see tornadoes. Severe thunderstorms hold many treasures for the chaser who can appreciate the storm as an entity unto itself.

When I locate a chase-worthy thunderstorm, I look forward to the wide variety of features that I am about to experience. Being a meteorologist, I am first interested in the structure of the storm. This is best observed from several miles away. Quite often you can see striations and rotation as the storm begins to take shape. The sheer enormity of some thunderstorms is enough to spark a huge thrill of amazement. I enjoy studying how each storm is "put together". That is, how the individual elements have come together to make this giant, booming convective engine.

No two thunderstorms have ever been, nor will ever be, identical. They're all different and hold their own unique treasures. One good-sized thunderstorm could supply all the electric power needed by the United States for three or four days. Watching nature's fireworks and attempting to comprehend the power behind a single lightning stroke can be an electrifying endeavor.

Then there's the hail, the wind, the sound and the feel of being in close proximity to one of the planet's most amazing displays of atmospheric aesthetics. Just standing in the wind as the air around you is being pulled up into a thunderstorm updraft makes your senses tingle. Seeing the rain pour down, drenching parched earth and returning life to a dried out cornfield is an exhilarating experience. And if you've ever held a grapefruit-sized hailstone in your hand and felt its weight, and realized where it's been and how many times it was lifted into the sky to attain that size, you know what I'm talking about. Thunderstorms are amazing, frightening and awe-inspiring.

I will tell you that there is nothing like the thrill of seeing a tornado close-up. But I will venture forth the suggestion that tornado-hunting should not be your sole endeavor if you're going out to chase thunderstorms. Tornadoes are rare and special, but so are the other aspects of severe weather, and thunderstorms should be appreciated in their entirety, for the powerful and beautiful phenomena they are.

Happy, and SAFE, chasing!

-Steve Hamilton 3/28/2010

Storm Chasing Tips

2009-05-11T06:13:00.000-07:00

Hello! Storm chasing is taking on a whole new look for 2009. There are more storm chasers than ever on the highways and country roads of the Great Plains.

In addition to professional and amateur chasers, watch for the Vortex 2 Project researchers out there. This is an ambitious data-gathering armada of vehicles bristling with antennas and anemometers.

The biggest danger, in my opinion, is not tornadoes or hail. The most dangerous part of storm chasing is traffic accidents.

Dedicated, professional storm chasers will take this fact into consideration when engaged with their craft. However, there are plenty of novice chasers who become overly excited and reckless while chasing. Their focus is the storm, which is up in the sky, not on the road. They are speeding along with their eyes on the funnel cloud above them, not noticing the chaser in front who has slowed down to pull off the road. So far, there have not been any major accidents related to storm chasing, but it's just a matter of time.

If you are a beginner, or inexperienced with the art of storm chasing, please indulge me while I relate a few tips to you related to the danger of traffic accidents.

1.) Chase with a partner. One of you drives, the other watches the sky or the computer.
2.) Do not stop on the road. Slow down and pull way off to the side.
3.) Use your flashers when stopped on the roadside.
4.) Do not speed through small towns. Besides the unthinkable possibility of running over a
small child, the local sheriff is wary of storm chasers and will bust you.
5.) Avoid eating while driving. This is an unnecessary distraction.
6.) Do not attempt to write your blog while driving. This sounds crazy, but I've seen chasers do
it!
7.) Get a hands-free cell phone headset or earpiece. You need both hands to drive.
8.) Don't core punch your first time out. It can be very intimidating
9.) Save your camera and video recorder for when you stop. The shot will still be there when
you pull over.
10.) Watch the other chasers and drivers around you. If someone is driving recklessly, report
them. Drive defensively. Missing a storm or a photo opportunity is not worth your life, or
the life of another.

In my next post, I'll give you some other pointers on how to chase successfully if you are just starting out...stay tuned!

If you like Smooth Jazz music, check out my radio station: K-High 101.9 FM and http://www.kkhi1019.com

Episode 2008: A New Beginning

2008-05-22T07:18:00.000-07:00

Hello Storm-Lovers! It's been an active year so far with 1005 tornadoes confirmed as of May 2008! We're on track for a possible record year. If you've been reading the blogs posted by our other storm chasers like Tony and Roger, you can tell we've been busy! However, there hasn't been much severe weather so far in Colorado. Due to my work situation, I primarily chase within the borders of our home state. We had some severe thunderstorms in extreme eastern Colorado yesterday, but no tornadoes were reported. Today (5/22/08) we could see some significant tornadoes just east of Colorado, in Kansas and southwestern Nebraska.

The hobby/business of storm chasing has grown substantially over the past decade. Some do it for money, but most of us do it for the sheer thrill of experiencing nature at its most furious. We enjoy photographing and shooting video of severe weather, and we also love to share our experiences with you. Obviously you're interested in storm chasing since you're reading this blog. If you've never done it before, I ask that you contact me, or one of the other chasers on the Channel 7 website. We are all experienced, safe and knowledgeable in the art and science of storm chasing. Please do not attempt to chase on your own if you're a new-comer to the hobby. The dangers are numerous and random, and it's not something to be taken lightly. My email address is <steve.hamilton@mac.com>. I'd be happy to chat with you further about planning a chase.

When I chase, I prefer to take at least one other person with me. This not only gives someone else a chance to enjoy what we love, but also helps in the fact that I've got another set of eyes on the sky. Solo storm chasing is less-fun, and more dangerous. This is because while I'm driving, I can't always be watching the sky. My passenger helps with navigation and some meteorology because they are the person using the computer to help pick out the best routes to storms and informing me about changing weather conditions.

Severe weather season lasts from now through August in Colorado. We've got many opportunities to see some spectacular weather including tornadoes, hail, lightning and beautiful cloud structure. We're looking forward to an exciting summer!

So You Wanna Be A Stormchaser...

2007-09-08T08:36:00.000-07:00

Good Day! I thought I'd take advantage of the lull in severe weather to talk about what it takes to become a storm chaser. Over the past ten years, many people have become interested in chasing storms, especially after the release of the 1996 blockbuster movie "Twister". This has been both a boost and a burden to this rather unusual hobby/business. These people have come from all walks of life, with widely-varying degrees of experience and ability.

Storm chasing is exciting, rewarding, educational and potentially extremely dangerous. It is not an interest you can simply jump in to without doing some research, especially if you wish to do it correctly. The hazards are numerous and range from getting too close to a tornado, being hit by lightning, hydroplaning on rain-soaked highways or crashing your vehicle into other storm chasers. These dangers are just a few of the bigger risks, and every chase situation presents different challenges and perils.

There are many reasons why people become involved with storm chasing. Personally, I simply love to watch severe weather. Tornadoes are the icing on the cake, but there are many aspects to severe thunderstorms which are beautiful and exciting. Watching a storm develop from a puffy cumulus cloud into a towering monster is one of the biggest thrills I can imagine. Seeing large hail pelting a cornfield, watching 100 mph downdraft winds rake a farm or small town, waiting in anticipation for the gust front to overwhelm you as the storm approaches, and enjoying flash after flash of powerful, deadly lightning are examples of my weather turn-ons. Not everyone chases for the same reasons. Some do it for the photographic opportunities. Some are adrenaline junkies. Others do it to test their forecasting abilities, or simply to have fun. While chasing, I see plenty of people on the roads who have no business being there, attempting to get a thrill. Storm chasing is not an activity you should undertake without first engaging in some mental and technical preparation. I equate it with rock climbing or skydiving. You could kill yourself, or others, if you decide to chase without learning about the hobby from the safety of your reading room.

If you truly wish to become a storm chaser, I've got a few recommendations. First off, you should probably contact me, (weatherbuff@gmail.com), or one of the other experienced chasers on this web site. We will be happy to explain how to get into the hobby. There are some great books available as well, like "The Storm Chasing Handbook" by Tim Vasquez. It's loaded with valuable information for the beginning chaser. It will tell you pretty much everything you need to know in order to make a decision on whether this is the hobby for you. Another option is to contact an experienced storm chaser like myself or any of the other people on this blog and come on a one-day chase with us. The costs for a short chase are usually pretty low and you can gain a wonderful perspective on what it takes to become a chaser.

The peak of the storm chasing season on the Great Plains/High Plains of the United States generally runs from late March through late June. However, severe thunderstorms are possible just about any time during the warm months. In addition to a good working knowledge of weather, the tools required for storm chasing vary widely depending on who you ask. The most important tool, (and I'm sure my fellow chasers would agree), is a good, reliable vehicle. Turning your ignition key and listening to your engine refusing to start is not a good sound while a tornado is bearing down on you. Beyond that, there are many decisions to be made on which equipment you wish to surround yourself with. Chase philosophy is unique to each chaser, and as you gain experience you'll develop your own as well. Personally, I rely on a fair amount of technology, (lap top computer, wireless internet, satellite-delivered data, GPS), along with my formal meteorological training from Mississippi State University. I also believe in a balance between model data and actual data like hourly weather observations and satellite images.

Essentially, there is much to learn before you actually take to the open road in search of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. If you wish to become a successful chaser, and have a good time doing it, take my primary recommendation. That is, contact an experienced storm chaser and get the facts first. I'm always willing to explain the benefits and perils of chasing to anyone who is interested! ~Steve.

September Already?

2007-09-02T15:00:00.000-07:00

Wow, did this Summer fly by or what? Here we are at Labor Day already! Well, storm chasers actually look forward to this time of year. There is something called the "Fall Max" which is a return of some moderately severe weather to the Great Plains. I'll explain why we have another few weeks of severe thunderstorm potential in the Fall. Most severe weather is due to interaction with the Jet Stream, which is a ribbon of fast-moving air that circles the Earth at high altitude. The Jet Stream is formed along the border of cold, Canadian air to the north and warm tropical or continental air to the south. In between these two differing air masses, we find the Jet Stream, which is also called the Polar Front. During the Summer, the Polar Front is pushed far to the north as air from the tropics moves northward. In the winter, the Polar Front is usually positioned across the southern US. Most of the country is under the influence of cold, polar air. When Spring arrives, the Front begins to move northward. As this boundary between cold and warm air moves over the Gulf States, the interactions of cold and warm air, plus the high upper-level winds along the Front help to generate severe thunderstorms across the Southern Plains. As the Polar Front moves north with the return of warm weather, severe thunderstorms break out in the Central Plains, and then later in the Summer, over the Northern Plains. The Fall Max occurs as the Polar Front begins its southern trek with the return of Fall months. This means the chance of severe weather increases again from north to south. So, storm chasers get a last taste of the kind of weather we seek before the cold snows of Winter move in. As a matter of fact, October is one of Denver's biggest hail months! ~Steve.

2007-07-09T09:11:00.000-07:00

It's been pretty hot and dry around Denver lately! Looks like we've got a chance for some supercell thunderstorms and severe weather tomorrow, (Tuesday July 10). I'm going to keep an eye on things and may head out in my Dodge Ram chase vehicle to check things out after work tomorrow.

Yesterday's (Sunday July 8) storm activity was somewhat severe, but not really "chaseable". In storm-chasing circles, we look for "supercells" which have a very specific structure and properties that set them apart from ordinary thunderstorms. Their radar signature, look and "feel" are quite different from "air mass" thunderstorms. When we chase, supercells are the Holy Grail we seek. Yesterday's activity was "pulse" in nature. Every thunderstorm has an updraft and a downdraft. With pulse-severe storms, the updrafts and downdrafts are not in syn ch, meaning that one is intense while the other is weak. The storm oscillates and can generate brief severe weather, but it quickly dies as the mechanics interfere with one another. Pulse severe storms are not chaseable because by the time we get to the storm, it has usually weakened or dissipated.

Supercells are another matter entirely! Their updrafts and downdrafts are oriented in such a way that they work together to feed and ventilate the storm. Supercells can last for hours and generate incredibly severe weather. This includes large hail, winds in excess of 60 mph, deadly lightning and tornadoes. Stormchasers look for chase environments conducive to supercell development. For any thunderstorm, you need moisture, heat, lift and instability. For supercells, the additional ingredient of "shear" is needed. Wind shear comes in various forms. At the basic level, there's "speed" shear and "directional" shear. Speed shear is an increase of wind speed with height. Directional sheer is a "veering" of wind with height. Ideally, that would mean winds from the southeast at the surface, south or southwest at the mid-levels and west higher up. This give a spin to the thunderstorms and causes their updrafts to be separated from the downdrafts so they don't interfere. This way, the storm can sustain itself, sometimes for many hours.

That's the long explanation of why I didn't go chasing yesterday! The photo you see with this post is of a "classic" supercell, taken by my friend Helen Kelly. She was with us on Tour 7 this year and took this shot in northern Nebraska. This storm has just blown through the cap and exploded into a supercell in less than 30 minutes! Click HERE for a link to her photo albums from our chase!

Tour 7 Stormchase

2007-06-24T08:59:00.000-07:00

Hello! Sorry for the delay in posting this. We are just back from Tour 7 with Roger Hill and Silver Lining Tours. What a week! Lots of great storms, huge hail and close lightning! Our tour covered five States and about 3,200 miles in six days. I was in charge of Van 2. We had guests from the UK, Canada, California, Arizona and Washington. We only had two bust-days out of six, which is typical for a six-day tour.

Day one we blasted north from Denver to South Dakota to catch some expected supercell activity. Unfortunately the "cap" was +16 C which is virtually unbreakable. We spent the day milling around the Murdo, SD area and staying out of the 95-degree heat as much as possible. Some electrical problems plagued the lead chase van, so the down time allowed us to make repairs on the road.

Day two found us in Kansas, chasing puffy cumulus clouds. Another bust day due to the intense capping inversion. However, we took advantage of the situation to explore the destruction of Greensburg, KS which was hit by an EF-5 tornado on May 4 of this year. I'd seen pictures of the damage, but the photos do not compare to actually being there. Two photos are included here.

Day three was spent in Nebraska with some wonderful supercells. (Details and photos coming soon.)

We visited western Nebraska on day five where we located several supercells coming out of Wyoming. (Details and photos coming soon.)

Day five was perhaps the most exciting of the entire tour. We awoke in Chamberlain, SD to overcast skies and two tornadic supercells bearing down on the town early in the morning! Our group was set to depart at 9:30 a.m., however we ended up rushing through breakfast to head out and catch the storms. We holed up in the barn of a local farmer to escape the giant hail being dumped by one supercell that passed just off to our north. Chase tactics for storms with large hail are different. We usually let the hail core pass us by, then venture in behind it to collect the hailstones. We tramped through a field and collected 3.5 inch stones...bigger than baseballs! Windows and windshields were broken in the town. Had we driven through the storm, all of our windows in the vans would have been shattered. The storms disrupted the atmosphere for awhile, so the early afternoon was quiet. Then, around 6 p.m. a giant supercell blew the cap and exploded up to 60,000 feet! We chased it south into northern Nebraska. Our road network was poor, but we were able to get right under the mesocyclone! It did not produce a tornado, but it came very close. We took shelter next to an old schoolhouse but the vans took several dings from 3-inch hail.

Day six found us headed home to Colorado. On the way, we intercepted a line of intense thunderstorms moving off the Front Range. We arrived back in Denver in the early afternoon. It was a very successful chase! I will be chasing the Colorado plains for the rest of the summer, so keep checking back for updates! - Steve.

Douglas/Elbert County Washout!

2007-06-12T20:18:00.000-07:00

What a big rainstorm south of the Metro Area on Tuesday afternoon! I was working the afternoon shift on KOSI 101 and doing a "virtual chase" looking at the NEXRAD on my laptop in the studio. I watched two huge areas of rain move over the Front Range. One went to the north and soaked Boulder and Golden. The other moved out of the foothills of western Douglas County and dumped copius amounts of rain on Douglas and Elbert Counties between 3 and 5 p.m. The storm then moved into northeast Elbert County and the NWS issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning on it due to penny-sized hail. Penny-sized is 3/4 inch, which is the minimum required for a warning. My radar screen was lit-up all afternoon with this baby! When I got home to Elizabeth around 7:30, I checked my official National Weather Service rain gauge and logged 1.82 inches of rain! I guess I won't have to worry about watering the lawn for a few days!

Silver Lining Tour 7

2007-06-12T10:29:00.000-07:00

Hello Weather Enthusiasts!

Tour 7 with Silver Lining Tours starts this weekend and I'll be driving again! We'll be leaving on Sunday morning for whereabouts unknown! I've been keeping up with the GFS model and things look interesting with a couple of troughs progged to move through. Troughs are a good thing ;-) Hopefully the timing will work out, but hey, it's June in the Great Plains...anything can happen! I will be blogging-in as much as possible from the road with pictures and stories for you. Tour 7 goes from Sunday June 17 through Friday June 22. Here are a couple of great images from Tour 4:

(Left: Monster storm going HP near Guymon, OK on May 31)
(Right: Beautiful rainbow near Portales, NM on June 1 after a hailstorm)

We will have six full chase days! After that, Roger and I will be teaming up as much as possible for day-chases all summer long. The miles can add up quickly on these expeditions, but it's always a lot of fun. You can always check in with me via e-mail at weatherbuff@gmail.com if you'd like to chat or learn more about stormchasing!

Cheers,

Steve

Storm Chaser Slang

2007-06-06T05:07:00.000-07:00

I've been chasing storms for nearly 10 years now, and I've picked up on some interesting slang words used by chasers to describe certain situations. Many of these have been developed by my friend Roger Hill. They're pretty amusing!

"Beast" - Used to describe a particularly large and dangerous thunderstorm.

"Whatabeast" - Coined by Mr. Roger Hill to describe a large storm. (Similar to a "Beast").

"Monster" - (See above)

"Meatball" - A storm that exhibits a round, compact and strong radar signature.

"Bush Ball" - Another Roger Hill term for a small thunderstorm cell with a fuzzy top.

"Ice Blender" - Mainly used in Colorado to denote a storm generating large hail.

"Outflow-Dominant" - Used when a storm reaches a phase where more air is flowing out of it than into it, usually in the decay phase.

"Gusting-Out" - Similar to outflow-dominant. Used when a storm's outflow boundary has reached outward about 10 miles and is particularly strong.

"Barber Pole" - This describes a low-precipitation supercell which usually has a cork-screw shaped updraft. These have particularly beautiful structure.

"Mother Ship" - Usually refers to a large rotating supercell which has a rounded structure that resembles a space ship.

"Stack Of Plates" - Similar to above with a striated structure that looks like plates stacked upon one another. These are wonderful to photograph!

"V-Notch" - A radar signature in the shape of a "V" which denotes a strong inflow of wind into a thunderstorm. Depending on the position of the notch, this could indicate a strengthening storm.

"Flying Eagle" - Another radar signature indicating a strong thunderstorm.

"High-Based" - When a thunderstorm's base is elevated, usually above 5 or 6 thousand feet. These storms rarely produce tornadoes, but can drop large hail.

"Ice Bomb" - Used to describe hail bigger than four-inches in diameter.

"Acus" - Altocumulus Castellanus. A cloud type that indicates mid-level moisture.

"Yokel" - Refers to local amateur storm chasers, some of whom do not know what they are doing and usually blocking traffic.

"Parasite" - Thrill-seekers who follow professional storm chasers around.

"Gust-Nado" - A 'spin-up' in the front edge of a thunderstorm's gust front that can resemble a tornado. However, a gust-nado is not attached to the cloud base.

"Doppler-Nado" - Strong rotation in a thunderstorm, indicated by doppler radar. Usually the NWS will issue a tornado warning if the rotation is strong enough, even though an actual tornado may not have been sighted.

"Sheriff-Nado" - A 'tornado' reported by law enforcement officials. Sometimes these reports are false ;-)

"Tractor-Nado" - Dust or weeds kicked up by a tractor in a field. Sometimes looks like a debris cloud from a distance.

Real Tornado Descriptions: Tube, Rope, Elephant Trunk, Cigar, Wedge, funnel, stove-pipe.

...More to come!