5/19 Chaser Convergence

[Jay McCoy]

I cant believe the arrogance of Seans FB post. To say he is in the turrett so he can see better.. The hills were much taller than his vehicle so no way could see any mopre than anybody else. and so somebody calls on a radio and say the road is clear. We saw how fast a vehicle can pull out on the road to join the circus so what happens when somebody pulls out just as they top the hill??? With the sheer number of vehicles on the road there is no way to be sure somebody hasnt pulled out. And so he thinks he can see. Is he driving?? The driver cant see any better so how does that help?

And to say the video is zoomed in so that changes it.. ya.. It shows us even better how stupid you were active Sean. It clearly shows your guys driving up a hill passing cars in a no passing zone. Not to mention the Discovery crew following you. They dont have turretts so how did they see Sean?? Your actions are totally inexcusable and you should be called out in the harshest terms until you change it. What puts you above the law just because you have radios or can see better than the rest of the world. I would love to have a LEO pull you over and arrest you and the guys right in front of the Discovery crew for the world to see how we deal with yahoos. They they can arrest the TDC crew also.

As for JR's great pic. To be honest thats just the tip of the iceburg. The line was actually a few miles long. One of the problems compared to Tuesday in the panhandle was not only the numbers but the roads are much more narrow and there isnt as many spots to pull off. Hwy 152 from Dumas to Stinnett has paved shoulders and is pretty wide unlike hwy33. With the numbers, bad roads, high risk, and proximity to OKC it was a perfect storm for a chase convergence and traffic nightmare from hell. we are really lucky there wasnt any major incidents. Especially with jackass driving like we saw and documented (hint hint there Sean).

I think Chucks essay says it perfectly. We seem to have alot of people around here who want it both ways. Make money and get your mug on tv then complain when others join in.

I will admit I am selfish. I do miss the chase days of the 80's and 90's. I cant wait for mid june when the hords disappear and I have a nice west texas LP supercell and eveybody else is in Colorado or the northern plains.

 

[Matt Gingery]

I actually beat most of the crowd to the Bison, Ok. cell and shot the multiple tornadoes. I dropped off that cell to hit the tail end charlie near Kingfisher, Ok. I quickly realized that it was a death trap and decided to abort the cell and head for the Stroud, Ok. storm. This craziness has shown up in recent years, it wasn't always this way. This event was 3 fold worse than the hail bomb storm in NW Mo. last season. Basically anarchy, because with the limited law enforcement it was out of control. I honestly don't see an end to this type of thing in the near future. I am sure at some point all parties involved broke the law at any given moment. The sole blame cannot be placed on any particular group. We definately don't need any animosity between the groups either. I am sure that once everyone heard that the Bison cell dropped a wedge they got antsy and wanted to be there yesterday. I have always tried to allow V2 the right away on every chase and will continue to do so. In the infamous words "It Is What It Is". I know that not any group owns the highways or the storms but maybe out of respect for science we could default to another cell or try to give V2 the right away. Just my opinion. Now, the TIV and the other vehicles pulling these risky passing moves, well. . .thats another story all together.

 

[Warren Faidley]

I think part of the issue here is no history of bad incidents in the world of storm chasing for chasers to relate to. For example, when someone passes in a non-passing lane and hits someone head-on, the wrongful driver is in serious trouble. Serious injuries (as I've seen as an EMT), death, prison and a life time of legal / financial nightmares are awaiting.

No storm or clip is worth causing a serious accident. Nor is any discussion here is going to prevent a local or anyone from killing someone. Just don't be that person.

W.

 

[Mike Hollingshead]

I can already hear that upset dreaded phrase in the narration of Storm Chasers this fall on Discovery again.


Horror flick type of voice: "Recreational chasers, they are taking up the roads."

*sad music key*

Conversation in the last car cresting the far hill. "Is it clear?" "Well, yes and no."

JR....man there's some crazy photoshop potential on that image lol. And just realizing how much so, I just realized...no way that doesn't end up on fark. It's surely destined for fark photoshop mayhem.

 

[Joey Ketcham]

Wow.. just wow... a new video has been posted showing yet another incident of the TIV and Discovery Channel being reckless.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQQ_-ECVVag

 

[Steven Martinaitis]

Dr. Doswell's post brings up a number of interesting points, as does most people's responses in this thread. I won't go into much detail here, but his discussion on the technologically-driven simplification of storm chasing and the glorification of storm chasing via the entertainment industry is fascinating.

As for the segment on TWC, I think Dr. Wurman has a right to be upset, as do others with the VORTEX2 project. I think that he, and most others, don't have a problem with storm chasing. But the behavior of some, especially behind the wheel, can lead to extremely dangerous situations, and in this case, the impediment of a critical scientific mission, which I am fortunate to have participated on these past two years. Now I can definitely tell you that some of the video that was used in that segment was not from the Guthrie storm. Some of the video was shot around Hennessey/Marshall/Stillwater storm, which had it's fair share of traffic but not the chaos that was on the other storm. The videos from the Hennessey storm showed what well-behaved chasers should do... be completely pulled off the road with people standing away from the road in an open field.

The pictures and videos posted here on this forum about the traffic on the Guthrie storm truly reflects a very realistic fear... an insane number of vehicles on the road with a very wide spectrum of experience, expertise, and meteorological knowledge all with different objectives on the same storm with a limited road network. Add some very questionable and reckless driving, and we have a recipe for disaster. Luckily, we were spared catastrophe yesterday.

To those who were chasing the Hennessey/Marshall/Stillwater storm, great job by all. From my point of view, everyone was well behaved and respecting each other on the road. Yeah, there were quite a few of us, but there were no problems and no incidents that I saw or heard of.

 

[Rob Herman]

Did you notice the guy standing in the middle of the road?

 

[Benjamin Smith]

All I can say is wow. That picture on 33 and Chuck's blog post are very interesting. So much has happened recently. In no way shape or form can I condone any vehicle doing what I saw in that video. How are they to know that somebody isn't turning into the oncoming lane? It may be safe from the lead vehicles perspective however there is no way to assure that somebody doesn't turn on the oncoming traffic lane. This mad rush to get to the action and the drivers going 30 mph are both to blame. Why can't everybody just drive close to the speed limit and obey ALL traffic laws. The laws are there for a purpose, and anybody who thinks they are above traffic laws needs a serious head check because they are going to cause serious issues.

 

[MatthewCarman]

I can't believe what I just saw in two of the videos recently posted. People driving in the on coming lane forcing people off the road.

The first video shows a white vehicle force two other vehicles off the road as it is driving down the left lane at fast speeds.

The second one shows a vehicle come to a stop with the car behind almost hitting the first car and then the car moves in the left lane only to find a long line of cars in the right lane and then try to get back in the right lane almost forcing the car that almost hit them before off the road. Then another car pulls into the left lane where the first car was car only to almost hit an oncoming car forcing him to squeeze back into the right lane.

I am just amazed nobody was seriously hurt. Watching those videos make me mad.

 

[Benjamin Smith]

Here is a snip of some video I shot of the TIV and other chasers driving beyond reckless...I think the video speaks for itself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxgI_wQ9r18

Unbelievable video. I wonder if that white van at the end was a tour company? If so that is an example of a company who should be called out by other tour operators. And whoever was driving that small silver car should be seriously ashamed.

 

[Greg Blumberg]

I was out chasing yesterday, and I was shocked by the hoards of chasers around the storm. I will not lie: I was more scared by the cars on the road than the tornadic supercell. My chase yesterday must have been the single chase in my three year career that I was fearful for my life. I must have seen at least 500 cars around the storm with people on the side of the road sitting and watching the storm. I saw cars surrounding the radar trucks, people standing dangerously close the road, and dangerous driving habits. I saw people who clearly did not know what they were doing while storm chasing.

Many people I saw yesterday were definitely locals, some had their kids sitting on the side of the highway...heck I even saw a person getting out of his car in what looked like only his boxers. Next to the responsible chasers I know on ST, I must deduce that the majority of people out there were locals. There are a lot of chasers out there, but not THAT many.

As I drove away from the storm, I saw locals hanging around outside their houses, watching the storm, watching from a gas station, and sitting out on porches. While it was clear to me that they were not in immediate danger, I was very concerned for their disregard of storm warnings. I understand the stereotypical Oklahoman attitude towards tornadoes of going out and recording video instead of taking shelter, but still. Could this same attitude be echoed in locals going out and driving to see a storm (especially those close by)? I think so.

As for V2 interactions, I am flexible with them for their research, especially since I know several of the people involved in the experiment. As a scientist and researcher I empathize with their frustration. However, as a researcher you must consider possibilities of things that could interrupt your research. V2 has acknowledged this. This is one of the reasons I have been a critic of The Weather Channel's elaborate coverage of V2's operations. Initially it was V2's "we will not broadcast our location" but by association, TWC has done just this and shown a lack of respect to V2. Exposure and glamorization of a hobby WILL increase the number of participants. This is a fact. Knowing what V2 looks like and having a general idea of where they are only makes them easier to find. The Discovery Channel's Storm Chasers series has also contributed towards this. It is very similar to the "Twister" phenomenon that spiked OU's enrollment in the meteorology program and storm chasing participants. For TWC to report on "other chasers" being an annoyance is ignorant.

My goal in storm chasing is to learn about severe storms, enjoy and experience nature with friends. As I did yesterday, I will alert the public however I can. Since yesterday, I have seriously begun to consider limiting my chasing of these higher end events in order to increase my chances of chasing another day.

 

[Stephen Locke]

the smok uphill video

Stephen Locke here somewhat In defense of Sean Casey and the TIV regarding the "uphill video". I'm the green explorer in front that braked and pulled right to let Sean back in before the crest of the hill. If you watch close the TIV brakes first to get back in line behind me but I was second guessing him and also braked which required TIV to re-accelerate to pass me. My braking prolonged his effort to pass. From my perspective up front along with the TIV the video is a mild exaggeration. Zoom compression indeed makes the hill look taller than it was.

Regarding my chase speed; I chase a lot and have been pulled over five times in the past year (all warnings). I won't go 80 in 65 to get to a storm. I will however go 72 and was trying to maintain that average up and down those hills.

While I feel the video exaggerated the danger I will make the following comment. I noticed 10 minutes later that the TIV was still only 1/4 mile ahead of me so I would question the cost / benefit of that effort....

 

[Josh VandenTop]

I'll just leave this here...

May 19, 2010 - Highway 33 East of Kingfisher

This picture is absolutely crazy, I've never seen anything like this. After watching some of the vidoes I sure hope the people involved realize how stupid and reckless they were and never do some of the stuff they did again. Its stuff like that that gives the people who are doing things right a bad rep, and the worst part of that is the people who are doing it right will be the ones getting hurt by this stuff, and when LEO's see this they don't care if it was you or not, they'll treat all chasers as if they were the ones doing this stupid stuff.

 

[Fred Dearborn]

We did our best to stay off that highway and use secondary roads.Gosh,we even had some great photos/video of this cell well away from that convergence.I bet money you will see a very large decrease in chasers,or the wanna be chasers in my opinion once the Votex 2 project is over.The general public will find themselves lost without someone holding there hand.When I started over ten years ago,you could almost have a storm to yourself or at least see the pavement between cars.I dont need to say anything about the morons who put other lives at risk while chasing,it will bite them in the rear soon enough...

 

[Marcus Opitz]

I have found that the metro areas of Wichita, Tulsa and OKC seem to have the largest crowds. I rearly have a problem when the action is at least 100 miles from the aforementioned areas. But, I have not been out there in a couple years, sooo, it may now be a different story......