Friday, February 29, 2008
The 0z WRF has increased my confidence in the Sunday-only scenario and has lead me one step closer to calling off the flight plans and making the drive to the Texas Panhandle tomorrow evening. Thanks to Fox's Bones, I passed the time while the model came in and gave it a look. Its definitely favoring an area from roughly Lawton to the areas east of Lubbock. Amarillo looks like a good spot to start from Sunday morning.
The WRF quickly breaks out precip along the front from roughly 18z (with none) to 0z (with two bulls-eyes), then at 6z Mon, a ton along the squall line as it blasts southeast. My disecting of the WRF hints to me that Monday is going to be a complete mess with the line and most of the action confined to southwest Arkansas and northern Louisiana. I have no doubt in my mind that chaos will ensue, but I have to pick one of the two days with this setup, and the overwhelming urge to ROAD TRIP in my own ride is winning out. I'm looking more and more to hauling "White Lightning" on her first run of 2008!
More in the morning, but assuming I bail on the plane, I'll drive myself to campus where I am working til 5pm. I'll leave straight from there via I-25 and arrive in AMA by about midnight central time.
If something big comes up before then, I'll update... otherwise one final look at things in the morning will put the final billing on this trip!
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Waivering continues in terms of how to approach the weekend. I'm confident in saying Monday will definitely be the big day of the two I'm watching. Sunday's appeal comes from the territory I would be chasing in. As I'm getting a better picture of the unfolding situation, my hunch is a two-day chase would be very difficult mainly as I may not catch up to things on Monday if I chase Sunday. Monday's interest, to me at least, seems a bit further south than I would like. While western Tennessee would be my ideal target for Monday, my hunch is eastern Mississippi, along and just south of I-20, will be the better play weather-wise. I've chased down there once and the terrain was pretty bad. The big issue is the 400 miles I would need to drive to get into position for Monday coming from behind the storm and likely having to navigate through the squall line that may be moving as fast as I would be.
Right now, I am cancelling my Dallas reservations for Saturday in preparation of driving down to Amarillo Saturday night to chase Sunday only. I'm also giving consideration to ditching out on Sunday's chase and flying out to Atlanta instead to play Monday's setup. I think my flying into Dallas is not going to help me much as I cannot see my successfully chasing both Sunday and Monday unless the system really slows down. Even then, I am having to battle through the squall line to get into the better air anyway.
SUNDAY: With a drive to Amarillo Saturday night, I would base camp and leave AMA in the morning for a tartet lying along a Abilene to Wichita Falls line. Chances are decent I could end up in Dallas Sunday night anyway. Assuming that were to happen, I am not forced into driving the entire way home Monday if I don't want to. I could also attempt to chase the Monday setup, but the ridiculous drive home would not be a fun. Seeing as I would prefer to be back on Wednesday, having to cover over 1000 miles in one day doesn't sound very appealing. A drawback to chasing Sunday is I have a chance of being behind the action and missing Sunday's show as it may evolve much further east, closer to Dallas or beyond. If I choose to make the flight, I will find myself in better starting position, and could keep Monday open if I so choose.
MONDAY: I think Monday is without question the bigger of the days in terms of severe weather. However, many negative factors are coming heavily into play. First, my hopeful target further north into western Tennessee is not looking terribly great for severe weather potential. Add to that the distance I would need to cover the morning of just to make it out there. Secondly, most of the favorable tornatic weather looks to sit along and south of I-20 in eastern Mississippi, an area hardly condusive for chasing. I can say that from experience after my January ventures. Lastly, having to drive through a squall line moving in the generally same direction I will be traveling. That'll slow me down a lot. However, turn it around with me coming in from the east. I could plant myself in the warm sector and adjust better to a north/south line as I see fit through the day. I wouldn't be racing east with a narrow area to cover, thus have more flexibility in my route. Obviously the chances of seeing goodies are much higher on Monday, so that's something else to consider. Lastly, there is a chance I could reasonably make Monday's target from Texas, but would leave myself a helluva drive home if I do not fly. If I do fly, I am open to taking the one-way rental fee and flying back home from any number of places east of the Mississippi.
It'll be a first thing in the morning decision after I take a look at things. Once I determine my method of getting there, I can focus on the forecasting aspects during the day. In the meantime, I am going to setup the van with the minimum tonight and have her ready to roll just in case. I am leaning in the direction of the road trip down for Sunday at this point, but we'll see.
Lastly, my new software arrived this afternoon. My Delorme Street Atlas 2008 and Topo 7.0 will be installed on the chase laptop tomorrow morning and will be in use for the chase.
More info by mid-morning in regards to my plans... will shift into HIGH ALERT at this time...
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Thursday, February 28, 2008
Another look at the weekend continues to show good potential for chaseable activity. The two day setup is looking more and more distinct even as Sunday continues to drift further west with the slowing of the system by the models. Monday is looking a bit further south than I would like; mainly over areas of Alabama and Mississippi and that continues to play a negative factor. However at the same time, Monday is looking like the bigger day with better moisture return and strengthening of the overall system. My biggest issue with Sunday is while the system is slowing down as a whole, with a cold front blasting south like it is, I'm wondering if it'll be a more southern play. Southern to the point where it would make more sense to fly into Austin as opposed to Dallas. At this point, I'm not ready to make that committment yet, so I'm sticking with my Dallas arrival for a flight trip. However, my cons with Monday, including really bad terrain, may limit me to just the one day unless it becomes a Feb. 5 repeat. If I choose not to do Monday, and Sunday remains well within driving distance, I'm going to go with my departure via my van.
In any case, the chase chances continue to increase, so I'm going to up my alert to moderate. I'll peak again in the morning unless something dramatic happens with the runs this afternoon.
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Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Been watching the weekend system for a few days, and prospects are shifting a bit in the direction that may lead me out for this event. A lot of uncertainties not only in the forecast, but how to approach this setup should things unfold in that direction. If the Sunday/Monday time frame holds, I could do a two-day chase with the flight option at my disposal. If Sunday looks to be the only real day and its somewhere in northern Texas or Oklahoma, the option to road trip from Denver would come into play. Here are the scenarios assuming a setup unfolds that warrents the trips...
SUNDAY/MONDAY CHASEIf a two-day setup were to unfold, I would leave Saturday night via plane to Dallas, TX. I would pick up a rental on Sunday morning and chase Sunday, then pending how far east Monday sets up, chase Monday as well. Because the territory of western and central Arkansas is horrible for chasing, I would ultimately need a setup in eastern Arkansas or western Tennessee for this to unfold. Either that or a repeat setup in the same area. Either of those would warrent the two day chase. Seeing as no matter what happens, I'll end up taking Monday off. And with Tuesday being a usual off day for me anyway, I would be fine with driving back to Dallas and returning home from there on Tuesday evening. This would save me the one-way rental fee, but add upwards of 700 miles of driving pending how far east I run. The other option is to catch a flight from the eastern destination and pay a one-way rental fee to save the travel. With time not so much an issue and six flights available from Dallas back home on Monday, I am fine to make the trip if Monday warrents.
SUNDAY ONLY CHASEIf Sunday is a loner day, or Monday is just terribly unfavorable, I would split the choice to either fly to Dallas or drive out. Again, I would leave Saturday night either way. If I elect to drive my own vehicle, I'll make the six hour venture to Amarillo to allow me the I-40 or Hwy 287 routes to a Sunday target. I would then use Monday as my return day, or split it up through Tuesday pending the distance of travel. I have the time, and there is no reason to drive 14 hours straight if I don't have to. While the van is not ready for a multi-week stretch, she would be good for a few days easy, including equipment setup, so I could get her out for a dry-run. This option also could include Denver-based chasers making the run out. If I choose to fly, it'll be to Dallas. If I only do the one day, I'll open the option to partner up with a local friend if they're heading out. Otherwise the rental will get the call again. I'll return home Monday via plane from Dallas.
My hope is one of the two scenarios; the Sunday/Monday with a return drive to Dallas on Tuesday and get home late Tuesday evening, or the Sunday only with the drive from Denver and split the return trip home Monday into Tuesday.
A lot of time between now and then and a lot still needs to fall into place before I start setting anything in stone. However, the general trend is hinting at one of the days opening up for a decent early March setup. The point of all this is to say I have my eye on things and will continue to do so through the rest of the week.
So with that, stay tuned...
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Monday, February 25, 2008
Not much to speak of from the weekend except the work began on the van Sunday. I picked up the hardware to mount the radios and cleared out the back in preparation for the work being done today by Chrysler. I've finally got around to replacing the spare tire assembly wench under the van. This will allow me to get the spare tire out from the van and free up some much needed space. I went all of last year with the tire inside and can enjoy the extra space for this coming season.
I'll do some work Tuesday morning in terms of getting the last of the parts I need, but the big install day will be Sunday when I wire everything and hard-mount the radio mount. I look to finish on schedule next weekend.
TESSA is March 8, but I will not be attending as I'm committed here in Denver that weekend. I had been going back and forth about heading to the conference, but the committments pretty well iced that.
That's about it for me right now. Nothing on the horizon of chasing at the moment, so will continue to remain on stand-by.
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Wednesday, February 20, 2008
An interesting graphic I came across in Steve Miller's (OK) blog that I thought was worth a post.
As Steve says, it pretty much speaks for itself. Obviously one could draw any number of lines from this to try and predict how the rest of the season will unfold. Truth is, it could go either way. Just amazing to see such a change from the "norm", especially this time of year.
How March unfolds becomes the next question. Most people can remember the big day last year. I will never forget, and not because I was out there to see it all. This year, I find myself with a nicely timed Spring Break that would include that date if it were to unfold again. Starting on Sunday, March 23, I am on break through Sunday, March 30. Depending on how things look to shape up that week will determine whether I work it or not. Just nice to see the last week of March virtually free for me.
I'm three days away from my first tornado of last year. On February 23 last season, a handful of chasers, including myself and the Carlsons, nabbed a tornado in the Texas Panhandle. That was odd in its own rights, not to mention it was the Texas Panhandle and not somewhere I find myself flying to now. Nothing in the models is showing a repeat setup, but there's still a chance something early next week may open up. With that said, keeping an eye on things. But as I also mentioned to Michael Carlson in a discussion with him this morning, I'd be quite content to enjoy a few quiet weeks just to get ahead on things enough to balance out whatever time I start taking off to chase starting in late March.
Lastly, I installed the streaming cam software on my chase laptop and will be testing it in the coming weeks. I'm mentioning this because a thread was brought up about a public site in Stormtrack that allows users to post streaming vids. I will likely host this on my own unless site bandwidth becomes an issue, but we'll see. I haven't completely decided if I want to have a constant need to tie my data card with streaming video. The image every 30 seconds would suffice for my needs in conjunction with the live radar via StormLab. While I may consider streaming for local events where I am within high-speed enabled areas, it may take up too much bandwidth on the slower speed areas in most of the Plains. We'll see on the first few chases how that plays out.
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Tuesday, February 19, 2008
I uploaded the February 5 raw footage I showed at the chaser convention. You can view it via Google right here.
Also worth a mention that my website is now accessible from www.tksc.net as well as the current tornadoeskick.com domain. I did this to have a quick and short URL available to me for times when I wished I had a simple URL to tell. It forwards to the current domain and nothing will change aside from that. Where you'll likely see this is handwritten stuff and used on online videos to have a website referral.
I installed the memory upgrade into the Compaq laptop last night with no issues. The 2GB doubles the old setup and will give me much needed speed and extra memory on the chase laptop. Unfortunately I cannot reserve any of it for extra video memory, so my hope to have a smoothing GRLevel3 is dead. Everything else should be fine for it!
That's really all I have now. Just a couple useless blabs to pass a few quick minutes.
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Monday, February 18, 2008
Back at work after a very fun weekend here in Denver with the closing of the National Storm Chaser Convention. A record-turnout hopefully means another convention is in store for this time next year as I enjoyed this as much as the previous several conventions. The talks were great, the company even better, and the time had by all was a great one! Kudos to Tim and Roger for pulling this together and making it the best of my visits.
A few pictures here now, but a complete album page to come as I get back into a normal schedule this week...
 Jason Foster made the trip months after his surgery and had a great time up in Breckenridge on Friday morning!
 Jason, Chris, and Neva scaled the powdery snow up the hill! No easy task as the snow was 10 feet or more deep!
 Doug and his squeeze, Neva, at Tony's Mine.
 Jason, Chris, Neva, Doug, and myself at 11,585 feet on top of Georgia Pass!
 Mike Nelson signing copies of his book at the 7News table.
 Scott Weberpal working his booth at the convention.
 Joey Ketchem on the phone in the hotel lobby.
 Sean and Josh discussing the future of the DOWs, TIV, and the Discovery Channel show.
 Mike Umschied talking about the Greensburg Tornado.
 Me showing my February 5 Memphis tornado footage with the enjoyable and rare bragging right of having a pair of tornadoes less than two weeks before the convention.
This weekend, I will begin the setup of "White Lightning" for the 2008 season. I'm hopeful to have work completed on her by Sunday, March 2 which will give me the next two weekends. During that time, I want to also unpack and organize my gear and have all of it ready to go at a moment's notice. Preparations are already underway, although sidetracked with the move, and should continue over the next two weeks. Obviously any chasing that comes up between now and then will be handled as needed per the event, but I want to be sure all's ready to go by the first weekend in March.
Hard to believe its that soon, but its coming quick! Less than three months away from the full-swing of this season!
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Saturday, February 16, 2008
A quick update from the storm chaser convention as I've been rather blogless all weekend. I'm still recovering from my midweek bout with the flu and have had little in the way of good internet connection here at the Radisson, but the conference is going very well and we're having a blast. I've taken a handful of pictures to which I'll post first thing Monday morning. We're about to have the banquet downstairs and I'm going to be returning to the crowds, but wanted to say I'm having a blast even as I am physically exhausted. Looking forward to getting home tomorrow to relax a bit and return to unpacking and getting 100% well again.
More later..
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Monday, February 11, 2008
I write now as a new resident of Westminster, Colorado... even as I am writing from downtown on campus. Either way, the move went well. Thanks a ton to Tim and Paul Samaras, Michael Carlson, Ed Grubb, Jon Van de Grift, Dann Cianca, and other non-chasing friends for getting me out of the Lakewood dump and into the new place up north. The loading of the trucks, 20 mile drive to Westminster, unloading up to the second floor, and the return to Lakewood for pizza took four hours, nearly on the nose. Quickest move I have ever had! Definitely due to the help I had, so mega thanks to all them for that. Tim joked that I didn't take any pictures and that was mainly due to me running my gear to the new place the night before. But I do believe Van de Grift shot a few, so I'll have to squander a few of them for posting later.
Three to six inches of snow, possibly as much as eight. Not here in Denver, back in my old stomping grounds. Circleville, Ohio is one of many areas in the midwest under a Winter Storm Warning. Storm totals of up to 8 inches are possible in these areas along with sleet accumulations.
Why I'm mentioning this? Reminiscing about the good ol' days. Partially because I am coming down with whatever nasty virus my lady and about half the people I know have. I sometimes get nostalgic when I'm feeling ill, so hopefully this will pass quicker than those around me.
I remember growing up and rarely seeing events like this. Now-a-days, after living through the Blizzard of 2003 and the storms of 2006, eight inches of snow is hardly worth batting an eye over. But going back 15 years, it was a big deal. Being out of school, going around and shoveling driveways for $20 a pop and turning around to buy video games and other fun toys. I even get half tempted now to go out and do that with our snows. I'd have to drag some kid along as I'm sure being young and wide-eyed helped make a sale. I've become a bit uglier over the years and my eyes not as wide as they use to be. Actually, that's not entirely true. My eyes are probably just as wide if not wider, just not towards shoveling driveways on a snow day.
But its fun to think back on those days. I remember getting up in the morning checking the overnight totals after spending half the night watching it come in on the Weather Channel. I remember waiting eagerly to see Circleville City Schools on the closed list, then getting all bundled up to walk the streets of Northwood Park (my neighborhood) to go out and shovel driveways. Afterwards, we'd go sledding over at the country club and try to avoid crashing into the creek at the base of the hill.
Great times. Nice to think about those days. Especially now that I am off to Visual Basic... no wonder my eyes aren't so wide.. LOL
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Thursday, February 07, 2008
I have pretty much finished my chase log from the 'Super Tuesday Outbreak'; you can view the nearly completed log here. I have a few more video stills to pull from the second tornado and the damage shots from the mall, but overall, its pretty well done.
I survived the brutal day yesterday after flying back in from Tennessee and going straight to work. I went from campus to the station, then back to campus for class, finally getting home and in bed my 10pm. I slept a full night for the first time since Sunday and am feeling much better today.
7News did a special on their 4 o'clock program yesterday covering the outbreak. One of the producer's sister lived in Mississippi where a tornado did some damage to her home. Using her story and my chasing story, they did a little segment on the outbreak. I'm waiting to get a copy of that and will probably YouTube it and throw it in the log as well.
I'm moving starting tomorrow, so things will be a bit quiet into next week. Fortunately the weather looks to do the same, so I'll be focused on my real life through then. Next weekend is the chaser convention and a whole host of fun things to do. Going bowling with some friends Thursday night, then heading up to Breckenridge to do some snowmobiling with others Friday morning. Will head to the hotel and conference center later in the day on Friday to mingle with the rest of the chasers as they arrive in town.
So that's all I have for now. Looking forward to getting settled up north and anxiously await the next chance I have to get out. Going to savor this one for a bit and enjoy having a conversation piece next weekend!
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Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Have landed in Denver to conclude this chase trip. Am heading straight to campus for work. Check out my preliminary chase log from yesterday's action.
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Sitting at the Memphis airport waiting to board my flight back home. I managed a few hours of sleep last night before being awakened about 3:40am (1:40am MST). I drove out, dropped off the rental, and came here. I wrote up a quick chase report covering yesterday's insane day in the southeast. That log is under construction, but can be viewed here.
CNN is reporting a total of 27 people were killed in yesterday's outbreak to which SPC's preliminary reports indicate over 60 tornado reports. Many more were injured across several states with these swift-moving storms. It was certainly a tragic day and will take weeks to gather the final numbers on everything. My thoughts and prayers are with those affected in yesterday's storms and my hope is life cna return to normal as soon as possible. Our report of the dusty multi-vortex showed up in the SPC storm reports, so it looks as if our report was relayed accordingly.
I'll be working on the chase log over the next week around my move this weekend, but it has a majority of the pictures. Video clips will come later. I'm going to grab some quick breakfast and eat before we board, then grab a nap before returning to Denver for my 9:00am work shift on campus.
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Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Two tornadoes, a funnel, and damage in southeast Memphis didn't signal the end of our night. Tornado sirens wailing away on the west side of town as the squall line approaches the city. The tornado warned cell threatening downtown looks to take dead-aim at us here in northeast Memphis. The local sirens have blared a couple of times in the last 10 minutes, but the warning hasn't officially reached our area yet. Will likely go out and video the line as it moves through, but after a very long day and nearly 600 drive-miles, I am ready to call it an evening.
Reports are serious from Jackson, Tennessee as well as the supercell taking aim on Nashville right now. The night not over by any stretch for many folks, including us, but a hard night for others as the storms worst was delivered earlier.
The high risk and PDS watches were certainly warrented as SPC's count stands just shy of 40 tornadoes on the day. We saw two.
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Sitting at a gas station in Arlington, Tennessee waiting for the large tornado that just went through Memphis to pass to our south. Power went out here at the gas station moments ago as a result of either the tornado or a lightning strike. My chase partner lives on the south side of town and may have suffered damage in the storm. We're hearing reports over the radio of damage in town. Will update again later.
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I have changed my flight home from Mephis in the morning and will offset the one-way fee of the car with the hotel I will not need and also save myself a 400 mile drive back to Atlanta which obviously saves me a $50 tank of gas as a result. A friend of mine has offered me a place to crash for the night, so I can save the hotel costs to offset the extra rental fee.
So with that, I've loosened my leash and will venture about an hour west into Arkansas to get a visual on what's to come. My plan of attack has changed a bit with the new flight, but I had given myself some extra wiggle room.
More later...
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Have stopped in northeast Memphis for a nap after making my target just in time to see the first watch box go up. MD currently out for possible development over the next couple of hours, but nothing imminent. Will let the Arkansas action move this direction, but feel I'll have one or two shots in the next couple of hours around here. Overall conditions are excellent with some clearing and warming; just lacking any real focus. But something may popcorn its way to life and feed from the conditions.
In the meantime, going to catch a 60 minute nap since I have found a friend who has kindly offered their sleeping quarters to my weary ass. I'll check back in about an hour from now.
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Following Max Trans into Tennessee on Hwy 309 in Collerville.
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What the southeast lacks for favorable chase terrain is made up in part by its Mellow Yellow supply.
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Gas and potty break in Tupelo, Mississippi.
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Blue skies near Tupalo, MS.
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High risk to include all of west Tennessee at 1630z.
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Crossed into Mississippi on Hwy 78, soon to be I-22.
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In Burmingham, AL bout to get on Hwy 78 for Memphis, TN.
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1300z outlook went 30 hatched HIGH RISK for most or Arkansas. Stickinng with plan for Memphis.
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Crossed into Alabama on I-20.
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Feels like I was just here yesterday. But here I am again after a quick nap on the plane. Be on the road shortly.
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Monday, February 04, 2008
Funny to think I've done this once before... I'm practically sitting in the same spot as I was last time. Amazing its only the first week of February and by the time I check in to my hotel in Atlanta tomorrow night, I'll be over 1500 miles on two chases in states two time zones away.
So its snowing right now here in Denver. A take-off I don't look forward to, but I imagine I'll be well on my way to my couple hours of sleep long before we get off the ground. Chases like this, I learn to play the time zone switch and trick my brain into thinking I got 4 hours of sleep instead of 2. Will help me as I foresee a long drive back to Atlanta once I conclude my chase for the day.
I'm waiting on the new Day 1 more so to see if I'll be chasing 2008's first high risk. Last time I made this trip, I was betting on an upgrade to moderate. I'm wondering if the 0600z outlook won't be high already. We should see before I write out this entry.
Thanks to my bro for hauling me out here. He picked me up from campus after I took my quiz where we met my Grandfather for dinner at a local Pub down south. Afterwards, he gave me a lift up here and I avoided a lengthy bus ride. Nice to see my Grandfather after nearly two years.
The airport's a quiet place at this time of night. Having to go through security with two video cameras and two laptops is always a pain unless it is this time of night. I was the only one in my security line and I was through after the puffer machine very quickly. So here I am at Gate A38 awaiting to board. Hopefully I'll score a row to myself like last time where I was able to stretch out for my nap before landing in Atlanta.
No partner with this trip as he would be unable to get in early enough. His landing in Atlanta would be after 1p, and I'm hoping I'll be in Memphis about that time. Its about 390 miles from Atlanta to Memphis, so figuring on about 6 hours drive-time which would land me in Memphis right about 1pm. I didn't get the minivan on this trip, so I'll be anxious to see what I land.
More chasers heding out for this according to the chatter on Stormtrack. Not sure who if anyone I will run into as a lot will be coming from the west. I'll probably run head-on into them on a cell ahead of the squall line. My target as of now holds, but I'll probably fine-tune things in the morning quickly as I race to beat Atlanta's fun traffic nightmares. I brought a couple of CDs this time to avoid having to radio surf.
The new day 1 has come out with a 15% hatched tornado moderate risk. They continue to highlight a large area for the moderate risk including most of Arkansas, Mississippi, and western Tennessee. They also mention the potential for a high risk upgrade as the parameters become more clear. I think anywhere in the moderate risk, or the warm sector, will make a viable target. Several other factors besides the screaming cold front will help initiate storms in these areas. The ingredients present will be more than enough to sustain any storm that does manage to develop. If that's the case, and pending my distance at that point, I may be able to choose my storm per what is ongoing with it. One of the perks of arriving from my position is I can give better choice with the storms coming at me as I am always gaining ground even if I am moving north and south. Again, will take a more detailed look at things upon landing and see how things are looking once I hit the road. THe big question for me is potential for some clearing. Hitting those open areas may lead to better results as opposed to January's trip in the grunge.
More in the morning... goodnight from DIA.
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At some point in the next 24 hours, I'll surpass 1,100 blog entries in this blog. Why I'll be hitting that mark, you ask? I'm going to give my fly-and-chase its second go-around for what I think will be 2008's first high risk day in the southeast. My plane lands at 5:10am EST in Atlanta and I'll grab my ride and go. I'm still awaiting final word for a potential chase partner I'll meet in Atlanta, so that may change my departure times a bit.
My initial target is going to be SW Tennessee near Memphis. Drive-time from Atlanta to there will be roughly 5 hours plus the time zone change. Storms will be ongoing and probably well on their way by the time I reach my target bubble. However, they should remain ongoing well into the afternoon, so a noon to 2pm arrival in my target probably won't hurt me. From there, just follow everything bad to the east to get back to Atlanta and catch a red-eye out in the morning to get me back in time for work on Wednesday.
SPC Day 2 are heavily worded mentioning the potential for long-track supercells and strong tornadoes. Storm speeds and terrain will be the issues once again as these storms will be racing northeast through the trees. I'm hopeful the terrain further north near the Tennessee border will be a bit better than what I encountered in central Alabama/Mississippi last month. Obviously it won't be plains worthy, but maybe a bit better. Trees not having leaves may also help as well.
I'm going to be running StormLab 4.0 during this trip to which I will have the radar uploaded to my live chase page. No webcams for this trip, but you can check the radar with my GPS to keep tabs of me as I am out and about tomorrow.
More updates to come. All reservations are taken care of and I'm set to go.
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Saturday, February 02, 2008
Some equipment upgrades to discuss for the coming month. After the move and with several checks coming in (thank you IRS), I am going to make a few small purchases (small compared to my normal spending this time of year).
My Compaq R3000z machine will undergo a 1GB memory upgrade. For less than $130, I can upgrade her from the current 512mbx2 to 1GBx2. Doubling the RAM oughta make for a smoother usage and allow me to use the smoothing features on GRLevel3. I like this computer for chasing over my Gateway because I've finally got everything working how I want it. Its heavier than I'd like, but its sturdy. Its like an old childhood blanket, just comfortable with it. The GPS splitter works well and all my software has been configured over a couple of seasons. She's old, but runs well for chasing. The memory upgrade will get her quicker. A few small, unfixable problems are minor enough to ignore and/or work around, so so long as she boots and runs my software, she'll continue to live on the Jotto Desk! I'll offload all the BS from it and use it solely for chasing and other weather-related things. The Gateway will act as a backup and will be my post-chase lappy with all my web stuff and time killers.
I'm also making a few purchases to go with my Sprint account. I'm debating on adding a second line for cheap for the chasing months so I can use two laptops if needed and to have a backup connection/phone if need be. Since most phones can access the super-high speed networks, a phone-as-modem add on would suffice. Aside from the additional monthly charge, the new setup will run me less than $100. I already have the extra amplifier for the phones. I would need to purchase the phone/card-specific cable.
Camera-wise, I've decided to stick with my current Nikon setup. I was going back and forth for quite some time on whether to upgrade my current 70-300mm to a VR lens. The upgrade would run about $400 after I sold the current lens. Truth is, I'm completely fine with the 18-200mm and see no reason to blow several hundred bucks to get a lens I'll only use a handful of times. Not only that, but I have done well with the non-VR 300mm and will probably continue to do so.
Video cameras are good as well. Still have plenty of D8 tapes leftover from my Ebay purchases and will probably be killing those off so long as I can get my hands on a D8 camcorder. Nothing new will be needed with those as I am set everywhere else, too!
Software is also fine. I completed the upgrade over to the new StormLab 4.0 Supercharged last week and have been fine tuning my settings since. I'm still going to lean against GRLevel3 as I am acquainting myself to the field use of StormLab, but I'm hopeful the transition will be smooth. As a result, I have uploaded the basic LIVE CHASE page to which I am going to run over the season. I'm still making tweaks and additions, but this basic version can at least run on any setup.
The rest of the expense will go into the van. On top of her annual maintenance, I need to get the spare-tire mount replaced and possibly even fix the front bumper. After the move and chaser convention, I'll spend a weekend installing the rest of the gear and getting her up to speed. A few other minor additions may come along, but nothing in my head I feel is noteworthy. A new windshield may also be in the cards come late March.
As for chasing itself, I'd like to say that my move and everything else has me overwhelmed and I'm ignoring any chasing prospects for next week. Truth be told, I have a usual day off Tuesday and have made great progress on packing and could pull my fly-and-chase routine if the setup poses enough promise. Something I'll consider more tomorrow and Monday, but its in the back of my mind.
Fifteen minutes or so, I'll learn whether I am going to Canton in August. My childhood idols, Darrell Green and Art Monk (whose number I wear all over Tornado Alley), are among the 17 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I'm pretty confident that Green will be inducted, and am hopeful Monk's time has also arrived. If either, preferably both, get elected, I'll make a weekend trip to see my Dad and attend the ceremony with hope that I can get a long awaiting authentic Redskins helmet autographed.
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Friday, February 01, 2008
Storm chasing in January, shooting lightning in February. Thundersnow made a dramatic appearance over Denver on the first day of February sending the average person into confusion and sending us storm chasers into nirvana. At 9:17pm, I was pulled from my couch by what I thought was someone taking flash pictures in front of my living room window. Before I made it off the couch, thunder set off nearby car alarms. In just under half an hour, I witnessed nine different flashes of lightning, all inner-cloud, along with grauple. The storm actually intensified as it pushed east/southeast toward Parker. Dann Cianca measured dime-sized hail/grauple out near Santa Fe, and even more thunder and lightning was reported down there.
 Photo from Dann Ciana's Camera Phone - Copyright Dann Cianca
The storm, still ongoing at this hour, actually maxed out at 54DBz according to my GRLevel3 and had a hail indicator of 0.25 inches. With Dann's report, its highly likely that indicator was correct.
Prior to the storm's exit, I did make an attempt to shoot lightning in sub-40 degree temps with light grauple falling. I didn't score any shots, but was simply in awe over the fact I was shooting lightning the day before Groundhog Day!
Grauple didn't amount to much here in Lakewood, but there was plenty around.
 
I am going to post a report on this with more pictures later. Just a crazy night with the second report of thundersnow in three days.
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