Storm Chasing

[loudboy]

Hey All,

How many here chase tornados? I have always want to chase a tornado. I do know it is extreamley dangrous. If I ever do go chasing what do you suggest I should do first? Go with a experianced chaser?

[Stormsfury]

Hey All,

How many here chase tornados? I have always want to chase a tornado. I do know it is extreamley dangrous. If I ever do go chasing what do you suggest I should do first? Go with a experianced chaser?

Exactly ... Go with an experienced chaser if you wish to pursue and chase storms (especially on the first few chases until you gain experience) ... Storm chasing is usually done in groups, and it's always recommnended ...

When I go on my first Tornado Alley chase in the future, I will have an extra person only interested in driving doing the driving so I can focus my attention with the storms at hand ... and if possible, I will chase with a professional and/or someone with vast experience ...

SF

[weatherwunder]

I chase tornadoes, and I STRONGLY suggest going with a professional for your first time out.

This is an extremely dangerous hobby, and you have to know what you are doing.

Have fun with it, but by all means be safe!

[Colin]

I'm still young yet, but I have also thought of chasing tornadoes...and probably will when I have the time. Of course I'd try and find someone professional to go with...anybody have any suggestions on where I'd find somebody?

[JetMaxx]

I did some storm chasing when I lived in Mississippi, and it's imperative to always learn under an experienced chaser...and learn as much as you can about tornadoes and severe thunderstorms...how they work, and how to chase them safely.

Brian Stertz is a good friend of mine in Tulsa...he's an experienced chaser and a few years ago he and fellow chaser Jeff Pietrowski nearly got themselves killed chasing a large tornado in Nebraska. Just listening to Brian's harrowing tale of his close call gave me cold chills..

I've been a severe storm spotter for 21 years, and have spent hours researching supercells, tornadoes, and other types of severe weather...and I still get surprised once in a while.

One point I wish to make..
At least here in the southeast U.S., you don't have to chase very far to see occasional violent storms and tornadoes. Since 1973, I've witnessed several tornadoes, large hail, awesome supercells, and damaging microbursts....all within 15 miles of my home (and my apartment when I lived in central Mississippi).

In fact, the most awesome tornado I've ever seen in my life was observed from my own sister's back deck in Madison, Mississippi in March 1995. I survived a 110-115 mph tornado that badly damaged my home west of Atlanta in 1974...and was within 1/2-3/4 mile of the March 29, 1991 F2 that severely damaged portions of Douglasville (I never saw it...totally invisible wrapped in blinding rain and...but I heard the unmistakable roar).

PW

[breeze]

I would most definitely want to go out with an
experienced "chaser", if the opportunity ever
arose.

There are so many hills around here to block
your view. Many times, driving from work, I
have watched the potential "wall cloud", only
to watch my view disappear behind hills...then,
coming out, to see that it wasn't the true "wall",
only seemed that way...maybe a "shelf", maybe
a figment of my imagination...(clouds DO play tricks
on you, at times!)

Would be interesting to view a real tornadic cloud
from afar...but, that's the catch...from afar. That's
a wish....not usually a reality!