beaudodson
EF5
For many people it has been where weather first began. Thousands of posters have been there. Hundreds of meteorologists - from Weather Channel employees, NWS and SPC employees, and dozens of other national and world organizations have been members.
But, it apparently is gone. After issues with the single owner (not a good idea perhaps to have one person in charge) the plug was pulled earlier today. The announcement went out over the last few days. However, many probably missed it.
During the last few hours the site has being showing 404 - Not Found.
I have posted some links here concerning the problems.
http://www.stormreports.org/
The forum admins and moderators have set up shop and started another forum. The name has been changed to include the entire nation.
Tens of thousands of historic posts have been lost. Whether they can be retrieved or not is in question. Every major tornado outbreak, winter storm, hurricane, and other events were documented in that forum - with tens of thousands of maps, photographs, first hand accounts, and data.
It is a significant loss for those interested in historic meteorological information. Not everyone always got along in the forum - like any forum. But, at the end of the day I believe it was a great success - until this moment.
There have been a number of Eastern US WX Conferences over the past decade. The group first started on MIRC and eventually moved to an online forum - much like Storm Track (which started as print newsletters way back when).
Several Storm Track members participated in those conferences.
A number of meteorological college students have also been helped with grants and scholarships.
There have been some negotiations to try and save the data base for historic purposes. However, it is in doubt as to whether the individual holding those servers will give them up.
This is a classic case of why one person should never be in charge or own a forum. If a death or accident occurs - then what happens? If the person becomes angry or mad - then what happens?
Hopefully Storm Track is backed up and backed up multiple times. I also hope there is a plan in the event something happens to those in charge. The historic data in these forums is important - not only to all of us but also to new members of the meteorological society at large.
I am sorry to see the forum go - even with personality conflicts. There were a lot of great minds and posters within the group. Some of the countries absolute best winter weather forecasters posted there.
Beau
But, it apparently is gone. After issues with the single owner (not a good idea perhaps to have one person in charge) the plug was pulled earlier today. The announcement went out over the last few days. However, many probably missed it.
During the last few hours the site has being showing 404 - Not Found.
I have posted some links here concerning the problems.
http://www.stormreports.org/
The forum admins and moderators have set up shop and started another forum. The name has been changed to include the entire nation.
Tens of thousands of historic posts have been lost. Whether they can be retrieved or not is in question. Every major tornado outbreak, winter storm, hurricane, and other events were documented in that forum - with tens of thousands of maps, photographs, first hand accounts, and data.
It is a significant loss for those interested in historic meteorological information. Not everyone always got along in the forum - like any forum. But, at the end of the day I believe it was a great success - until this moment.
There have been a number of Eastern US WX Conferences over the past decade. The group first started on MIRC and eventually moved to an online forum - much like Storm Track (which started as print newsletters way back when).
Several Storm Track members participated in those conferences.
A number of meteorological college students have also been helped with grants and scholarships.
There have been some negotiations to try and save the data base for historic purposes. However, it is in doubt as to whether the individual holding those servers will give them up.
This is a classic case of why one person should never be in charge or own a forum. If a death or accident occurs - then what happens? If the person becomes angry or mad - then what happens?
Hopefully Storm Track is backed up and backed up multiple times. I also hope there is a plan in the event something happens to those in charge. The historic data in these forums is important - not only to all of us but also to new members of the meteorological society at large.
I am sorry to see the forum go - even with personality conflicts. There were a lot of great minds and posters within the group. Some of the countries absolute best winter weather forecasters posted there.
Beau
