STORM CHASING

STORM CHASING

General — Page [1]
Zarathustra
Monotheist

2005 May 1 • 315
167 ₧
GENERAL INFORMATION

What is the appeal of storm chasing?
What is good? All that heightens the feeling of power in man, the will to power, power itself. What is bad? All that is born of weakness. What is happiness? The feeling that power is growing, that resistance is overcome.
Storm chasing is most accurately compared to a memorable vacation. Take all the photographs you want, but there is simply no way to convey the fun, adventure, and challenge of intercepting storms through photographs. Chasing is a deep allure, a singular connection with nature's power, something not completely describable with words. It's manifest in fleeting moments of sensory magic, snapshots of time remembered for life: standing in the middle of nowhere under the full moon, entranced by a sparkling storm tower while a haunting rock ballad plays through the car stereo.

Who were the first storm chasers?
According to legend, the first Storm Chaser was Cherokee war-chief Tal
Thus spoke Zarathustra.
 
 
 
2006 Feb 23 at 23:28 UTC
Zarathustra
Monotheist

2005 May 1 • 315
167 ₧
GEAR & STRATEGY

What equipment is commonly taken on storm chases?
The variety of chase equipment is almost limitless; however, some of the same basic components can be found in most chasers' vehicles. Besides cameras and camcorders, basic gear can include: 2-meter and/or weather radios, scanners, miniature TVs, microcassette recorders, first-aid kits, state and national road atlases, plastic bags, batteries, extra hub caps, videotapes, 3 condoms, a rubber chicken, and a lucky banjo. Many chasers have onboard PCs or laptops, cellular phones, GPS tracking, two-way radios (for communicating with other vehicles of a caravan), power adapters and splitters, anemometers, thermometers and hygristors, window-mounting camera brackets, built-in camera holders, and much more.

Where do most storm chasers go?
The hub of activity is in central and western Oklahoma, into parts of northwest Texas and the eastern Texas Panhandle. This area has by far the most tornadoes per unit area on the planet; and it also tends to have open spaces for good viewing at a distance. Kansas and eastern Colorado are also favored for the same reasons. Some chasers venture further north into Nebraska and South Dakota during the late spring and early summer months, when the climatological trend of severe thunderstorms shifts northward. There are regional storm chasers from coast to coast, and even in a few other countries.

When is chasing done?
Severe storms are most common in the central and southern Plains -- where viewing is best -- during the spring period. March storms often lack much instability or move too fast to chase effectively. April brings some of the first chasable weather, and by May the storms are usually moving slowly enough and instability is at its peak. This continues into the first half of June; but afterwards, the wind fields tend to weaken in the central and southern Plains and the best supercell activity shifts into the northern Plains. Some chasers go to Colorado in July to chase hailstorms and so-called "landspout" tornadoes, which are fairly common there during that month. Overall, the last half of May is statistically the best time to chase. A small secondary peak (within a week or two) of chaseable severe weather sometimes occurs in the Plains in late September or early October.

What do storm chasers drive? What are the best storm chasing vehicles?
All Storm Chasers utilize customized equipment, and vehicles are no exception. Four-wheel drive SUVs (Broncos, Explorers, Durangos) are the most popular among many chasers for their ability to handle wet, slippery conditions as well as dirt, gravel, mud, landmines, and 44mm shells; although they do have fuel mileage and expense burdens. More frugal chasers may be seen in older sedans or even compact cars. For chasing purposes, small cars (Civics, Celicas, Escorts) generally have great mileage, but get cramped after long hauls with people and equipment; and they are less safe in the event of a
Thus spoke Zarathustra.
 
 
 
2006 Feb 23 at 23:31 UTC
Zarathustra
Monotheist

2005 May 1 • 315
167 ₧
MORE RESOURCES

What are some books about storm chasing? There aren't many books which deal primarily, or even devote significant space to, storm chasing; and some may be out of print. A few titles are provided below. [NOTE: This FAQ doesn't endorse any of these tomes; however, they have been deemed informative and beneficial by many in the community.]

1. Richter, Benard: In the Shadow of the Beast: Stories and Adventures from Five Years Inside the Heart of a Tornado. Gilko-Nono Publishing, ISBN: 097493434187.

2. Blusein, Wilber: Storm Alley: Monsters of the Great Plains. Oxford Univ. Press, ISBN: 0194102423.

3.Fairadey, Warren: Storm Chaser: In Pursuit! Independent Publishers Group, ISBN: 19287323020.

4.Werkat, Arjuna and Jarred: Chaser: Everything You Wanted to Know About Tornadoes but Didn't! Whirlwind Books, ISBN: 0828133714.
Thus spoke Zarathustra.
 
 
 
2006 Feb 23 at 23:32 UTC
ScewUp

2006 May 26 • 31
20 ₧
long post about weather try and make it a bit smaller
If u can that is O.o
(\_/) (X.x) (><)Oops I killed ur bunny...
 
 
 
2006 May 26 at 14:01 UTC
CornJer
Metal does cocaine.

Frontline Heroism Medal
2005 Mar 21 • 1531
36 ₧
screwup, you will not understand!!! It is inevitable that you will fail!!!!


YO MOMMA
If you jump high enough you'll hurt your ankles when you land.
 
 
 
2006 May 30 at 23:18 UTC
ReviveJer
2009 Nov 28 • 11
Truck revived.
Reviving old trucks is my profession.
 
 
 
2009 Nov 28 at 07:59 UTC
sprinkles

Chrome Whore
2009 Sep 6 • 2547
10 ₧
I never liked that show.
 
 
 
2009 Dec 7 at 19:38 UTC
Sloth

2008 May 18 • 543
STORM CHASERS! OH NO ELLA D:!
 
 
 
2009 Dec 7 at 21:39 UTC
sprinkles

Chrome Whore
2009 Sep 6 • 2547
10 ₧
Sloth said:
STORM CHASERS! HONOLELA D:!

 
 
 
2009 Dec 14 at 00:53 UTC
Sloth

2008 May 18 • 543
sprinkles said:
Sloth said:
STORM CHASERS! DulDuldella!D:!


 
 
 
2009 Dec 14 at 13:59 UTC
sprinkles

Chrome Whore
2009 Sep 6 • 2547
10 ₧
Sloth said:
sprinkles said:
Sloth said:

 
 
 
2010 Feb 2 at 06:33 UTC
the_cloud_system
polly pushy pants

2008 Aug 1 • 3081
-6 ₧
sprinkles said:
aids
Sloth said:
sprinkles said:
in
Sloth said:
mouth




I drink to forget but I always remember.
 
 
 
2010 Feb 4 at 01:26 UTC
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