Chaser training

[fplowman]

Ill have to say I have been to so many spotter training, advanced spotter training, etc. that I have lost count. Rarely do I even go anymore.

For those of you that may be new and starting out this doesn't mean you wont find good information there. It just means that over time it will become redundant. Also I may note NWS spotter training by one person and or group may be light years ahead of another, so try a few different venues and you will find some good basic info out there.

Not that the training classes didn't teach me a thing or two. For the most part that kind of training isn't suited as a proper training outlet to storm chasers. It is a whole different animal. Many of these NWS classes will even discourage storm chasing.

I have to agree the thousands of miles and several dozen chases in the field have contributed to my knowledge greatly and I would say is probably the best training possible to chase storms. Some folks chase 10 maybe 12 storms a year like myself. I know of others that may chase 20 - 30 storms per year. They obviously get more action and their learning and knowledge are accelerated.

I also must contribute much of my knowledge to those I have met and who have helped me in the field to understand many of the data tools and basic knowledge of storm movement and behavior that I have learned.

I was unable to vote in the poll for these reasons as the pole did not encompass the complexity of the whole picture.

After 6 or 7 years I'm still a novice when it comes to forecasting. But I am still able to be quite successful in the field otherwise. Obviously I know enough without having a met degree. Im still learning.

Much of it is luck, dumb luck, on the job experience and just getting out there and doing it.

The most important things: IMO

1. Associating yourself with others more experienced than yourself and learning from them.

2. Knoweldge of storm behavior, structure and movement. With that is situational awareness.

3. BASIC forecasting knowledge and principles.

4. Well maintained vehicle and equipment.

5. Simple common sense.

Im sure I left something out as Im just typing on the fly when at work ( I should be working ) lol

 

[Jody Radzik]

My Skywarn training brought some basic understanding of how to chase, like staying on the SE quadrant of a storm. Joining Stormtrack greatly accelerated my knowledge, but it wasn't until I had Scud Stud Bob as a nowcaster and got out on the road consistently that I really began to get an adequate picture of what was happening in the air around a supercell.

 

[Mikey Gribble]

I still haven't met a consistently good chaser that wasn't a good forecaster, so IMO studying meteorology is critical to being a sucessful chaser. I don't think it matters whether the education is formal or not, but one way or another you need to learn how to do your own forecasting if you're serious about chasing. You can only get so far ripping off SPC and NWS forecasts.

 

[Bob Hartig]

I don't see how you can get around the need to acquire forecasting knowledge and field savvy, however you go about it. The going has been slow for me--way too slow for my liking, but I'm getting there. I learn best by being around others who know what I want to know so I can ask questions, observe, and absorb. But since having a storm chasing mentor or two isn't an option, I continue with my reading, stay tuned to the ST forum, and then just get out there and do it. Over the winter, I completed several of UCAR's online, interactive courses on severe convective weather, and I also organized a little seminar for my chase buddies and me at KGRR, in which one of the mets shared his study on Michigan sigtor climatology and took us through his list of tools.

I agree with Mikey: you can only get so far by ripping off SPC forecasts. But who wants to shoot another man's moose, anyway? A large part of the satisfaction lies in calling it in yourself.

 

[Willie Dines]

Unfortunatelyt, my location and lack of ability to drive a car, has been a big limitation on oppertunities to chase, but I have done moderate self study over the years, and now most of my interest lays in tornado structure and dynamics, through practical studies via a tornado simulator, and although I would love to be able to chase in the plains every spring, being between jobs isn't gonna get me there

In saying that, if I were in the position that I could chase in spring every year on the plains, then I would definitely say that I would prefer to learn from forecasting, and by gaining experience as well as getting advice from more experienced chasers

Willie

 

[Rob Herman]

The percent results of this poll do not add up to 100%.

 

[Adam Lucio]

Maybe because your allowed to select more than one answer?

Like me for example I checked 1, 2, and 3.

ALMOST ALL of my "training" has been from experience, even when it was foolishly done so [i.e. me driving around aimelessly during bad weather the second I turned 16.]

I have taken all available Skywarn classes, and Ive taken two meterology classes back when I was in school [never finished]

Most of my education has been self taught, there are excellent resources for knowledge all over the place, and when its something your passionate about, and really want to learn, you dont need a teacher.

 

[Brent Gilles]

I definitely agree with those who feel forecasting skills are important. You have to be able to put yourself in the position to have a successful chase in the first place. Along with that though you have to have some cooperation from mother nature and luck. Nowcasting skills are also critical, as its important to be able to process the multitudes of incoming data as you are trying to refine and hone in on the exact position you want to put yourself in.
Once you have your position, it really does come down to experience. A meteorology degree doesn't give any advantage over experience.
For me personally a successful chase is more about a successful forecast than it is seeing a tornado (though seeing a tornado is always my ultimate goal, good storm structure and witnessing any severe event is a success to me).

 

[Bill Tabor]

Your poll left out two important training aspects in regards to meteorology and storm chasing. These would be independent study, and training from other chasers / meteorologists.

While I have taken a number of Skywarn courses, a much of my training was on my own in the field. However I also independently studied and read numerous meteoreorology, severe meteorology, and storm chasing resources including books, video presentations, Powerpoint presentations, online study guides / faqs, and white papers just to name off the top of my head. I also study models, maps, and soundings - paying particular attention to detail and variances in order to learn them, and storm development behavior which is kind of a self taught deduction. Additionally I also had training from experienced veteran storm chasers and meteorologists both in the field and at home.

 

[Bill Tabor]

By the way David, thanks for not being a storm snob that day out in Montauge county and encouraging me to follow my dream.

Yeah, that's kick ass! It's always great to meet the chasers that really connect out there in the field and aren't snobbish, but are willing to share, educate, and encourage. I've had that privilege a number of times with numerous excellent chasers and for instance really enjoyed running into Jeff Piotrowski, and Allan Moller. Talk about a couple of animated guys near a storm!! However in particular I'd have to thank Gene Moore who in my opinion is really something special in that regard. Seriously, I met Gene when still a fairly green horn chaser in '97 even though I had been chasing since '93. We met while observing a tornado in Oklahoma the day before the Jarrell F5. I had no idea who Gene was, but he was very gracious, accommodating, willing to share, and educate. I think he really enjoys seeing others' passion and love in storms because it likely sparks an element within himself. I didn't completely remember his name, but sometime later after seeing a front page image of a tornado on the (now old and historically famous) Storm Chaser Homepage mentioning his name I emailed him and sure enough it was the same guy. Through other emails we eventually determined a shared interest and benefit in chasing together, and I have learned immensely from the experience. So, let's just say I am certainly indebted to Gene in this regard, and so I know exactly what you are talking about Jeremy.

All of these guys and numerous others I have met in the field are a definite inspiration. Just to name a few other memorable / inspirational folks I have met in the field, or chased with off the top of my head I can think of: Tim Samaras, Tim Marshall, Tim Vasquez, Shane Adams, David Hoadley, Gene Rhoden, Roger Hill, David Gold, Herb Stein, Jim Cantore, Bill Combes, David Douglas, Chris Novy, Geoff Mackley, The MESO clan. I salute all you guys for the love and passion you bring to the game and your willingness to share it with others. You all set a high standard, that I always hope to emulate out there under the storm. Sometimes it's tough for me, especially when chasing along as I often do. All the many miles driven and yet to go. All the equipment to deal with, along with navigation, and trying to keep my eye on the storm. I have my head down so much, and am so preoccupied. But I do like to lift it up and look around, get out of the vehicle and meet those other chasers around me. We all talk on here so much, and we have so many online friends - but if we don't get out and shake hands with those next to us we often never know who it was, only to perhaps learn later in the REPORTS section who you were standing next to but never met. So, I encourage the rest of you to reach out and share your passion. I think it's a good thing and we can all only benefit the more.

These are just a few names, and we all know there are many more excellent chasers out there. Many of you new guys (and gals) are likely inspirational too, and have something to share. I look forward to meeting any / all of you in time.

 

[Bill Tabor]

I agree with Mikey: you can only get so far by ripping off SPC forecasts. But who wants to shoot another man's moose, anyway? A large part of the satisfaction lies in calling it in yourself.

I agree with that, and one thing I'd like to add from my experience is that the SPC convective outlooks are really for a broad area, and encompass a large portion of time - much of it at night. True, you also have perhaps more specific mesoscale discussions and watches, but in my opinion to really be successful (and fully enjoy yourself) you have to understand the layout of what is about to transpire atmospherically as a mental image. You need to know about boundary positions and sfc features as well as overhead jets, disturbances, caps, and what will set off convection, as well as what makes a good storm and the different ways they can be created. Once you do, you will become much more successful as a chaser, because rather than just taking a chance on SPC's very wide area you will actually understand what's up. I continue to learn forecasting, but I have become proficient for my purposes. I almost never go out and fully bust anymore. Almost every time I do go out the door I will at least see a supercell and whatever it brings. I probably now have about a 95% to 99% success rate based on that definition. Tornado rates are lower, because they are rarer. This also saves time, gas, and wear on you physically and mentally - allowing you to enjoy the storm more. So I encourage all of you that have not done so to learn about meteorology and severe forecasting. It's really not that hard IMO, and it's actually lots of fun.

 

[Jason Foster]

Thoughts right on target

Bill:

Enjoyed reading your thoughts. It's one of the reasons I do polls.

Your right, I should have maybe had those two as specific options. I kinda felt they fall under "Learning in the Field", but that was my thought, and not made clear in the posting.

 

[Chris Bowman]

I would say education/ training is the foundation of a good chaser. Formal or self taught one has to have an understanding of the meteorology involved and the storm attributes to look for. The second thing I would say builds upon the that foundation and that is experience. When I first got into this line of work it was scary how little I knew even with a degree. Like almost everything, experience counts. The third I would say is a little bit of luck.

I think anyone involved with meteorology is in a perpetual state training. There is new science and new techniques all the time. Of course this all builds up one's experience.

 

[Eric Sipes]

Hi Everyone,

It's my first post on StormTrack and I'm glad to be here.
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I had to chose "other" because of the way I went about it. Growing up in Oklahoma, I've always been fascinated by severe weather. When I was about 13 I decided I wanted to get out and chase but, didn't have a clue as to how to go about it. So, I got online and started to study what causes severe weather and what to look for while out in the field.

A year had passed and I had learned a lot but, had yet to accually chase. I finally got my first chance on March 24, 2004 when a nice supercell was passing just north of Cordell, OK. My father and I got out and drove a few miles out to watch it pass. I got a few pics of a nice wall cloud and possibly a tornado just WSW of Bessie.

After getting my license in '05 and chasing many local events during the spring and summer of '06 with little to no success, I had all but given up. I then met another local chaser, Gene Thiesen, in early '07. With his and his chase partner's help, I have now become quite informed on how storm systems work. I have learned (although I've still got a lot to learn) how to forecast, target, and position myself for severe/tornadic storms better than I had ever hoped.

In '07 alone, chasing with Gene and Walt, I recorded 28 confirmed tornadoes including, the 3/28 Caprock Canyon tornadoes and 4/13 Seymour, TX Wedge. 2008 is and will be my second full year chasing the plains.

-Eric

 

[Jason Foster]

bumping this old thread to see what numbers would be added to the poll. I'm thinking about taking the results and talking about them in a future blog.