Advice for a virgin

[Houston Brown]

I, like many others I am sure, have been wanting to see the beauty of Spring weather up close and personal for many years. Super cells, Tornados, Wall Clouds, and all the rest that goes along with it. As an avid photographer, I have decided that I can not go another year without getting a picture of one of these items any longer. I have been reading around in this forum for hours now wondering if this is the place to ask how does a greenhorn get started?

I am looking for some very the basics here. About all I have is my car and my camera and a road map. Is it possible to chase with such minimal equipment and actually hope to see anything? I am not looking to intercept, just observe from a safe distance, if I happen to be able to get close, than so be it.

At first I was thinking all I would really have to do was get a laptop with an internet card, go where the weather is, look for other chasers, listen in on the CB and just follow some other chasers and I am bound to see something. I am sure it is not quite that easy, but I wonder how else to get my feet wet here. Pun intended.

Many thanks,
Houston

 

[Andrew Pritchard]

It may be somewhat awkward and seem like you're doing it wrong at first, and sometimes frustrating. It's never as easy as they make it seem on the videos or in the books.

I think most people started chasing without a lot of "aids" in their first years. Chasers were doing it successfully years before the internet, anyway. It's all in your approach and your knowledge on the subject.

 

[Jason Boggs]

First things first...welcome to Stormtrack!

If you want to keep it very basic, what you listed can get the job done, but it may be difficult. I have to ask, will you be chasing alone or with a partner. If you will be chasing alone, I highly suggest some form of navigation system (GPS) for ease of navigation and safety. I've done it, but it's very hard to drive and look at a map at the same time. Now that I think about it, it's incredibly irresponsible to do such a thing! Now, if you will be with a partner, a paper map is fine as long as your chase partner keeps a close eye on your location at all times. If you can, I would highly consider a laptop with a GPS and software. Trust me, it is money WELL SPENT!

Now on to the other "essential items" for a chaser. I will list the items here to make it easier and note a brief explanation of why I think you shouldn't leave home without it.

cell phone: for obvious reasons
wx/ham radio: to get reports of severe weather
vid/still camera: for recording the event. You say you have a camera so that's good.
reliable vehicle: hey, this is what gets you to that barber pole in the sky. Reliable is the key word here.
forecasting knowledge: you need this if you're going to get in the vicinity of severe weather to get that great photo.
a little bit of luck: we all need a little bit of this whenever we can get it!

Really the best advice I can give you is just to GO OUT AND DO IT! You will learn what equipment you really need and what equipment just gets in the way. You will learn how to read the sky and learn where to go. If you are really serious and passionate about this great hobby, you will devote a major part of your time to learning everything there is about storm chasing. Then one day you will realize how much you have learned in such a short period of time.

Houston, if you have any questions please feel free to PM me. Hope this helped you out!

 

[Paul Austin]

At first I was thinking all I would really have to do was get a laptop with an internet card, go where the weather is, look for other chasers, listen in on the CB and just follow some other chasers and I am bound to see something.

Careful, Houston. Get permission from chasers, if you intend to follow. You will quickly find yourself on many chasers' black list, if you do so without first asking. That said, many chasers enjoy tagalongs.

Post a request here, if you are interested in buddying up, even if you prefer to drive your own vehicle.

Aside from what has been mentioned, read all you can about storm structure and behavior. You might even attend a free Skywarn spotter training session. The more knowledge you possess, the better you position yourself for success and especially safety. Read the educational forum here, and post questions when you have them. I'm sure others here can suggest other resources. I'll go ahead and recommend Tim Vasquez's Storm Chaser Handbook. It's very practical and acknowledges the wide range of styles and approaches found among both experienced and newby chasers. It's not all about head knowledge, but without some basic understanding, you could find yourself in some very sticky situations.

You've started off on the right foot, though. This is the place to be, if you want to learn. There are authorities here on topics ranging from forecasting to ham radio to all things technical to photography to chase wheels to...well you name your area of interest.

Best of luck, Houston. Hope to see you out there.

 

[Jay McCoy]

One thing that hasnt been mentioned is a great way to "get your feet wet" is a chase tour by a reputable company. There are a number of well respected tours run by very experienced chasers that can get you close to storms. Some of them even offer forecasting sessions to help you become more independend. I know a number of current chasers who started out by taking a tour. Its isnt the cheapest way to start but it will give you a feel for being out on the road in the storm and you usually end up with some great shots.

If that isnt your bag then do like most of us did and just do as much reading as you can. Take a NWS sanctioned spotter class and then get out there and do it. But having succcess that way the 1st year or 2 can be frustrating.

Good luck and welcome to ST.

 

[Mike Johnston]

With limited on-board equipment, a useful intermediate step you might consider is to employ a "nowcaster" during your chases. A nowcaster is another person who you will keep in contact with via cell phone during your chase. The function of a nowcaster is to inform the chaser of the locations, motions, and attributes of your potential chase targets. Some attributes of a good nowcaster:

1. Has personal chase experience. In other words, a nowcaster should be someone who knows what your objective is.

2. Obviously, has access to radar and other current weather data - along with knowledge of how to interpret this data.

3. Is reasonably informed about the current day's setup.

4. Has access to detailed road maps in the area of your chase - this is all the more important if you are chasing alone. A good nowcaster will be aware of your road options, natural barriers (eg. lakes) in your area, and keep your safety in mind.

5. Has sufficient time to devote to your effort during the likely chase window - takes the initiative to contact you as conditions change rather than just responding to your calls.

You don't necessarily have to keep continuous phone contact with your nowcaster, but it is a good idea to check in periodically, let him know your current location and what your immediate plans are.

Oftentimes on a potential chase day, you will find a few forum members on here who make a post on the forecast thread and may mention they would be available for nowcasting that day, and would send them a PM to introduce yourself, exchange phone numbers, let them know about your chase plan, etc.

Even for chasers who rely primarily on onboard equipment, it is a good idea to have a couple phone numbers for backup/emergency nowcasters in case they get caught in a pinch without data.

 

[Robert Dewey]

Avoid STD's... Severe Tornado Dislocation. In other words, make sure you know your position relative to the tornado at all times!

 

[fplowman]

Finding someone to help you isn't going to be easy. I may ruffle feathers but I got started chasing because no one wanted to help me. However; I must say, I now know why.

I started wanting to shoot a documentary. I contacted so many chasers trying to focus on them and have them take me into the field. No such luck. Reason being we as chasers are already busy shooting our own video and still photography.

I didnt know really what to do from there. I think you finding stormtrack and becoming involved here is a good first step. Secondly you should go to some storm spotter training classes as well as any advanced spotter training and or weather conferences. Being from the Dallas area you should have no trouble finding these within proximity.

From there you should learn storm structure, this is very important. Forecasting isn't as important right now until later after chasing for awhile. I say this because forecasting science is not easy to learn. Watching your local weatherman should make this evident. lol

You can go to the SPC (Storm Prediction Center) online and learn when and where within 100 mile radius there will be severe weather. That combined with knowledge of storm structure should get you within proximity of some action.

You will need detailed maps, the big expensive kind that show all the side and minimum maintenance roads. A scanner with an exterior antenna to get weather radio and other channels will be very helpful.

When I started I had a scanner and some maps and spotter training under my belt. Now I have all the wiz bang gadgets that give me the info I need to put me in place along with a little luck as Jason stated of course. lol

It takes awhile to learn to use these wiz bang gadgets and to extrapolate the information from them turning that into successful positioning on storm setups.

Hopefully this information helps you. Jay mentioned a chase tour. Although this may help you and get your feet wet seeing some good storms it is an expensive route to go. I would liken it to going on a tour bus of Europe compared to doing it yourself. Chasers by nature are the do it yourself kind of folks for the most part. Otherwise we wouldn't be chasers we would be followers. lol

If any of that makes sense.

Over time you will meet people and get advice and help from them. I have been doing this for over 5 years and still feel like a novice sometimes. There is alot to learn and alot of trial and error.. Get out there and do it!

Typical storm motion is NE so getting out ahead of it and letting it come to you has made me successful in the past. Although being new this probably isn't the best advice and may get you hurt.

Hope some of that helps.

After reading what Jason wrote it looks like you may have someone willing to help you to some extent. Learn all you can from chasers willing to help.

Good luck and happy chasing.

 

[Joey Ketcham]

Some great advice here.

I remember when I first got into chasing I read and heard about the "go with an experienced chaser" before venturing out on your own. This was during the mid 90's, I don't think the ST forum was around (or at least I didn't know of it at the time) and the only chasers I knew of at the time were Doswell, Hoadley, Bluestien, among some other veteran chasers. I quickly found out that these experienced chasers didn't want a newbie tagging along.

Many chasers today I think are more willing to let a new chaser tag along, and to help you find someone or if you do find someone to take you along might I recommend the following:

Split cost of gas or offer to split gas - Gas is sky high these days, if you are going to be riding with a chaser then split the cost of gas. If you are approaching a chaser to see if you can ride with them, offer to split the cost of gas. If a new chaser approaches me I'm going to be more quick to let someone offering to split the cost of gas to ride with me than someone who doesn't. That's just me though.

Split cost of motel rooms - Kind of goes hand in hand with splitting cost of gas. Occasionally you may have to stay overnight somewhere during a chase, generally it's best to get 1 room and just split the cost.

Ask questions - When I first started chasing I had tons of questions, and now that I'm 11 years into chasing I've had a few new chasers ride with me who just sat there the whole time and not ask a single question. The fact is, if you don't ask questions you won't learn - or at least learn as much. Take advantage, I think for the most part anyone who lets you ride with them will have no problems with you asking questions.

Assist - There are many tasks to do while chasing; driving, navigating, keeping an eye to the sky, communicating with other chasers or the NWS. Try to get yourself familiar with these tasks, jump in and help out. Most chasers have laptops among other tools, learn about these and help with navigating and such.

Learn - This is an obvious

And most of all, have fun.

As someone else mentioned, don't follow another chaser unless they say it's ok for you to do so. While it's open road and nothing illegal about it, it is frowned upon and will hurt your reputation. If you get out there, find some chasers and just ask I'm sure you'll quickly find someone who will let you follow them.

 

[Mike Hollingshead]

IMO there's not much to chasing....especially with such easy access to data now. I sure as hell don't feel any better or lucky than when I first started. If anything I feel worse off, lol. All that's really changed in that regard for me is that I chase more. I know a lot more now, but I hardly feel it's changed much.

If it were me, I'd get that laptop and data access and chase the outlooks by the spc till you can forecast some on your own. Once you got your storm just stay ahead of it using what roads you are given. There's really just not that much to the actual chasing part, and if you don't want to learn how to forecast right away, the spc can surely get you close enough. So many chases I feel I'd have done better if I wasn't trying to be right on initiation, and instead just waited further east till something stood out. There's a tip...don't bite so fast...unless it happens to be the storm of the day....LOL.

Then again, chasing and target picking that day are the easiest parts to it all. By far the hardest part is deciding what day is worth chasing or sitting out and actually committing.

If you really don't want a laptop with data, there's always library stops. I'd much rather have data in my car though. One should be able to at least muster a laptop nowadays. I'd at least have one with gps, and you can always add a wifi card to avoid the library hassle.

I've been trying to add some worthwhile topics to my site, but so far there's not a whole lot in there. There might be some useful info though. Here: http://www.extremeinstability.com/topics.htm I'm usually typing things for those with no understanding of storms, etc.

 

[Brian Stertz]

My advice use caution with the HP supercells. These are the more dominant storm mode when chasing and be very careful when trying to tangle with these chaser menaces. You could lose a window/windshield very easily or even worse. Give them a respectful distance at first and enjoy the incredible storm structures these often provide.

 

[Houston Brown]

I am overwhelmed with the amount of help I am being offered here. I have been in many many different forums as I am a web developer and spend an inordinate amount of time online and on forums like this.

I really expected the ol', "Go and read the book ...", "go to these web sites..." type of answers. I am pleasantly surprised. It looks as if I hit the jackpot by finding this forum and I feel very lucky that I did.

I appreciate everyones advice and direction and have already spoke with my girlfriend about it who is just as excited and ready to go. I have already asked if we can use her car. LMAO. (Just kidding)

One thing I always find difficult is learning the basics when I tempt a new hobby. Case in point here is all the acronyms. I am surprised that this group does not have a STICKY topic at the top of this forum for greenhorns like myself.

I am by no means complaining as the personal attention is much nicer, I just thought it might be a good idea.

Well this is probably not the last you will hear of me as I have lots of questions and many of them have been answered here, but I am sure the more I probe into this hobby, more will arise.

Many thanks to all that have responded to my plea for help.

Houston

 

[Bob Hartig]

Lots of seasoned advice here. My personal earning curve has been very slow, and only over this past year have I finally felt like I've learned a bit. You sure don't have to take as long as I have, but there is a progression. Just starting out, I'd suggest two things:
1. Learn about storm structure. Skywarn training is a great introduction.
2. Learn how to use and intepret radar. And bring your laptop so you can have ready access to it. A card is generally more convenient than relying on wifi hotspots.

A basic understanding of these things isn't hard to acquire, and it will increase your success and help you stay out of trouble.

Also, as someone else has mentioned, check out the Educational and New User forum. From one of the threads in that forum, here is a link from a post by David Drummond that will answer your request for help with the acronyms and terminology, and give you a gold mine of other educational resources besides: http://spotterguides.us/.

 

[Mikey Gribble]

If you want to see a tornado then my advice it to follow somebody that knows what they are doing. If you are in this for the long term and want to be self sufficient, then I would start reading and do it on your own. I got my ass handed to me for the first two years I chased. I got to see some beautiful storms, but I never saw a tornado until my third year (and tornadoes were what I was after). I was working very very hard at it too, so it ain't easy. The disappointment of failing to get a tornado made me work all the harder at forecasting and it paid off in the long run. In hindsight I think getting skunked for the first two years was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. Anyways, tag along with a good chaser if you want to be succcessful in the first year, but if you want to learn how to do it yourself then sooner or later you have to get out there on your own and learn lessons the hard way IMO.
I know a lot of chasers that always tag along with other chasers and would literally be helpless if they had to go out on their own. There is nothing wrong with that, but I like knowing that I can do it on my own. The technology that is available now makes it a lot easier to get tornadoes. You can be successful occasionally by utilizing technology and ripping off other people's forecasts, but occasional success is all that will ever come of that. I am a firm believer in the notion that you have to be a good forecaster to be a consistently successful chaser. The key word there is consitent.

 

[Craig Maire II]

The key word for any 'good" chaser is patience! A person has to be able to drive and sit for hours to catch the good storms!