Chasing Lots (without a lot to show for it)

[Mike Hollingshead]

This thread almost makes me feel better about my year. Seems like the slow moving nice structure died after the first chase March 30. How odd. It's getting really old now, and costly. Nothing annoys me more than costly chasing for pretty much nothing. I don't want to open my current credit card bill because I know it's going to scare me. I was going to before yesterday's chase, but figured, eh, that will probably scare me out of the chase(reality). I've been in the same mode since 2006, determined to keep chasing so I finally see something amazing. The last great storm I've seen.....June 9, 2005 Hill City KS. Something over 100 chases since then. The rest of the chases, virtually no really nice storm structures for me. I guess 2008 just sort of blurs into 06 and 07 for me.

The thing that's getting obnoxiously annoying about this year to me, are the storms I think are too linear, so I let them go....then they produce tornadoes. First was Abilene TX storm April 9. Fast motions, sick of chasing the thing with the 3 county long cold rfd/gust front. 10 minutes later it hits Breckenridge. April 24, Beloit KS. Let it go around 11pm near Osborne KS. It was mostly a linear cold crapper at the time. May 29, Yankton KS storm. Linear bow mostly by then, and it produces a multivortex tornado on the ne curling side right after I let it go and went se ahead of the line. Just as recently as June 11, the storm that hit the boyscout camp. I actually stopped and filmed it looking interesting from the Little Sioux exit. It then lost the big lowering, and looked like the definition of a long cold front line of storms. I thought, how can anything in this produce with such strong cold linear action south of any "action areas". It would hit that camp not much after this, as I left and moved south. I'm actually glad I didn't see that one. Then after that, I watched another horribly linear storm in the line, near Missouri Valley. Then I watched as the big curling rfd manhandled the cold undercutting to its northeast, wrapping up a funnel. Then as I went east in that RFD curl, I could tell it was, or was going to, produce a tornado. Sure enough, it headed northeast towards Carrol IA and had 3 different tornado reports on it. I wasn't on the nighttime Omaha thing, but that was essentially a small line at the time, with a kink in the center of it. I thought I knew when something couldn't produce a tornado, and always felt happy knowing when it was probably safe to let a storm go. Now that happy zone is toast. Seems like after this year I'll just have to chase things till their last rain drop.

The last good daylight tornado I've seen.....April 6, 2006. It's all getting super old.

 

[Damon Scott Hynes]

There has been a lot this to wear a guy out, to be sure. I think some of it has to do with the fact that it is June 14--if we were this tired on April 14 we wouldn't admit it. The end of the year is in sight (unless you chase tropical systems).

That said, a lot of things fell into place to make this my best year ever--in terms of opportunity (Bush money, work slowed down a lot), Ma Nature cooperated, my increasing skill (such as that is).

I can't knock good ol' luck, either. It would have been teh sux0r to drive Omaha-Hays, spent two days and seen nothing. Nice thing about taking the long view is that I have a long view to take in the first place--the busts are easier to take when it's been this busy.

Off to New England/Quebec/Ontario for a week--wonder if if there is such a thing as a Lake Erie Convergence Zone

 

[Dave Kaplow]

Geez, do you know how you guys sound to those of us who couldn't chase at all in the Alley this year? I mean c'mon, "Not a whole lot of jaw-dropping structure to be found" in a year that produced THIS??? For crying out loud, it may have been frustrating at times, and yes of course chasing can be extremely hard work, and it sucks to bust on a big outbreak day (I know, I've done it), but... You can't deny this has been an unusually good season. Not a single protracted period of down-time, no death ridge in sight, no unstoppable moisture-scouring cold fronts, none of the usual things chasers complain about during a bad season. Instead we get complaints about the hard work with little to show for it. Would you prefer a season with no chasable weather at all for weeks at time? No, I didn't think so.

OK, j/k, I'm not really being serious here, I can see there's been a whole lot of chases where the photogenic possibilities have all faded quickly into an HP mess... But the fact remains that I would have killed to have had all those opportunities, even if they didn't all pan out in the end. I think what's really happening is that the unusually active season has just plain worn a lot of people out. There have simply been too many potential chase days, often right in a row. But at the end of the day (or season in this case) I think you'll find that there's actually been quite a lot of good stuff hidden amidst all the HP rain-wrapped crapola. Face it, there's actually been an embarrassment of riches on the Plains this year, I bet everyone who chased has gotten at least a jewel or two out of it. I expect most of the Highlights tapes to come will be pretty spectacular this year, as compared to average. And if not, hey, I'll still take an HP type storm over nothing at all, any day of the week.

I guess all I'm saying is that I genuinely envy you guys all those long hard chases with not much to show for it. True, I wasn't there and thus can't really comment, but from my perspective out here in the Northeast, it's hard to see how this has been anything but a really great season out on the Plains.

 

[Mike Peregrine]

Oh it's true ... don't get me wrong, I would take a whole lot of chasing with little results, or difficult to achieve results, over not chasing at all. It's like Shawna mentioned in a thread a while back ... I'm chasing my brains out right now because I know I'll miss it come December. Just glad to see we are all in the same boat as far as the struggle goes this time. Every year is just so different. And I do have to admit that Glen Elder more than made up for the rest of the madness.

 

[Shane Adams]

Geez, do you know how you guys sound to those of us who couldn't chase at all in the Alley this year? I mean c'mon, "Not a whole lot of jaw-dropping structure to be found" in a year that produced THIS??? For crying out loud, it may have been frustrating at times, and yes of course chasing can be extremely hard work, and it sucks to bust on a big outbreak day (I know, I've done it), but... You can't deny this has been an unusually good season. Not a single protracted period of down-time, no death ridge in sight, no unstoppable moisture-scouring cold fronts, none of the usual things chasers complain about during a bad season. Instead we get complaints about the hard work with little to show for it. Would you prefer a season with no chasable weather at all for weeks at time? No, I didn't think so.

OK, j/k, I'm not really being serious here, I can see there's been a whole lot of chases where the photogenic possibilities have all faded quickly into an HP mess... But the fact remains that I would have killed to have had all those opportunities, even if they didn't all pan out in the end. I think what's really happening is that the unusually active season has just plain worn a lot of people out. There have simply been too many potential chase days, often right in a row. But at the end of the day (or season in this case) I think you'll find that there's actually been quite a lot of good stuff hidden amidst all the HP rain-wrapped crapola. Face it, there's actually been an embarrassment of riches on the Plains this year, I bet everyone who chased has gotten at least a jewel or two out of it. I expect most of the Highlights tapes to come will be pretty spectacular this year, as compared to average. And if not, hey, I'll still take an HP type storm over nothing at all, any day of the week.

I guess all I'm saying is that I genuinely envy you guys all those long hard chases with not much to show for it. True, I wasn't there and thus can't really comment, but from my perspective out here in the Northeast, it's hard to see how this has been anything but a really great season out on the Plains.

I guess I can sorta understand this...I hear it every year from those outside the Alley who don't chase. But the way I see it is, there's a HUGE difference between not getting to go (and hence not having to spend a dime) and putting everything into it and still coming up short. Not to start yet another debate, but I gotta be honest (and this isn't directed at Dave, this is just something his post reminded me of). Thread jack in progress, though these two subjects are related...

This is not directed at everyone who does not chase. Only those whom I describe in the following sentence:

I can't stand it when people who don't chase give me grief because I "whine" and "cry" when things don't go well. The last time I checked, I was the one out there doing the miles, spending the time, the money, not having a life, living in poverty, to chase...while you sat at home in front of a computer watching it all being handed to you on a silver platter, no expenses, no road wear, no life sacrifices. Only desire that isn't quite ambitious or brave enough to be acted on.

Maybe I'm different, I dunno. But the last thing I wanna hear when I get back from a 700-mile bust, *****ing and complaining about it, is some jackhole who sat on his/her arse telling me to stop whining.

That's when I wanna break out the Hamburger Helper glove, and just slap the s**t outta them.

 

[Robert Rohloff]

I have driven more miles with 25-50 foot visibility than I ever want to again. Early on I was saying if your home was damaged by the tornado you were also going to be in a flashflood. I have been cut off so many times this year by flooded roads, not to mention if I am somewhere that I do not know the area having to worry about driving into a washout.

Looking at the rainfall amounts here in NE OK there is no doubt it was the season of the HP. If we get a tropical system up this way we are in trouble with how high the lakes and rivers are. I have used double the Aquapel and put PIAA blades on and still even with the windshield working great you still can not see........

The lightning was also bad this year, too many close hits...Of course it would have helped to check in advance to see where Drummond was at the time.

 

[Tony Laubach]

I must be a strange case (as often I am, but really now), but I've had an amazing season! Yes, my share of tornadoes have been rain-wrapped, moving at warp-speed, or after dark, but I'm also thrilled to have nabbed two of the most photogenic tornadoes I've shot, both wall-worthy prints.

Prior to the tornado-fest May brought, I enjoyed some of the better hailstorms I have encountered and had the trophies on my van to show them off with...

And I've even had my good share of great structured storms...

Even managed my first daytime lightning photos by just pressing the shutter when I see the stroke and hope for a return stroke!

Definitely a busy season as I am on pace for over 40,000 miles and will easily shatter last year's 30,000+ miles. Between the amazing tornadoes, both photogenic and experiences, the hailstorms, fires, and intense CG strikes over the last couple of days, I have more than plenty to show for it.

Granted, I haven't had one of those storms where you can stop, break out a six-pack, set up four tripods, and watch the tornado drill away in a nicely landscaped field void of power poles, rain curtains, and DOW circuses, but for what its been worth, its been amazing. I'm missing the lightning photos I had by this time last year, but that's been about the only downside to an otherwise very thrilling and rewarding 2008 season!

With that said, there are still two weeks left in June, and the season should be on its way to my neck of the woods. I have no intention to quit now.

But, on the other hand, a quiet period being offered over the next few days will be very welcomed! I've done over 25,000 miles already this season, more than half since May 1. And that's not including various travels for vehicle setups and such. The break will be welcomed, but I'll be ready to roll again next week! The cyclic 2008 season still has a few more cycles left in her!

Oh, and for the sake of saying... Kansas gets the award for this year's best shows... hands down!

 

[Dave Kaplow]

I guess I can sorta understand this...I hear it every year from those outside the Alley who don't chase. But the way I see it is, there's a HUGE difference between not getting to go (and hence not having to spend a dime) and putting everything into it and still coming up short. Not to start yet another debate, but I gotta be honest (and this isn't directed at Dave, this is just something his post reminded me of). Thread jack in progress, though these two subjects are related...

This is not directed at everyone who does not chase. Only those whom I describe in the following sentence:

I can't stand it when people who don't chase give me grief because I "whine" and "cry" when things don't go well. The last time I checked, I was the one out there doing the miles, spending the time, the money, not having a life, living in poverty, to chase...while you sat at home in front of a computer watching it all being handed to you on a silver platter, no expenses, no road wear, no life sacrifices. Only desire that isn't quite ambitious or brave enough to be acted on.

Maybe I'm different, I dunno. But the last thing I wanna hear when I get back from a 700-mile bust, *****ing and complaining about it, is some jackhole who sat on his/her arse telling me to stop whining.

That's when I wanna break out the Hamburger Helper glove, and just slap the s**t outta them.

For the record, I do chase the Plains when I can afford to, so I am not commenting on something I know nothing about. Chasing is indeed a huge and hugely expensive endeavor, involving a lot of work. I admit I'm not one of the most visible chasers out there, but there's a reason for that above and beyond my desire to keep a low profile. You don't see me submitting Reports posts because I'm one of the very few chasers, if not the only one, who chooses to chase without documenting what I see. I usually don't even bring any photographic equipment with me, not even a cheap camcorder. I love storms, and I love chasing, but I'm in it strictly for the experience, for the rush if you will, but also for the sheer beauty of it. Not having a camera frees me to experience storms directly without constantly worrying about whether I'm "getting it" on camera. But that's just me, and I'm digressing... The point is that I happen to agree with Shane that those who have never chased the Plains at all, who have never put in the effort, never learned to forecast, those people indeed have no right to whine about anything an active chaser does.

/hijack. Now let's get back on Topic.

Edit: Those are beautiful pics, Tony. I do believe you may have made my point for me about the gems hidden amidst all the muck this year.

 

[cdcollura]

Good day all,

I myself was out quite a bit this year chasing. I tackled the April 9, Texas setup. I came back out for May 1 in Kansas near Chanute. Then, capriciously timed my two-week trip starting May 19 through June 1 (so May 22, 23, and 29 "big" days were included, inter-spersed by marginal / modest days). Luckily, little 'down' time, buts lots and lots of chasing.

I must be a strange case (as often I am, but really now), but I've had an amazing season!

... Oh, and for the sake of saying... Kansas gets the award for this year's best shows... hands down!

Tony, I guess we were the lucky ones!

In the process, a rental was "cored" near Greensberg, KS on May 26 and needed to be exchanged (after a nice OK cop made pay $150 fine to fix it on the way to OKC on May 28). Total mileage was about 6,500 miles between the two rentals, with almost $900 in gas alone. I was beat, really beat.

I think I did very well, I did not miss the 22, 23, and 29 tornadoes (I guess I was just lucky, or happened to be spot on on those days). Still, a LOT of effort was done to get the tornadoes and storms, as it never will be 100% perfect (we are humans). I missed the OK tornadoes on May 24, as my group and I, along with MANY others were in Nebraska.

Oh, and not to mention, with the tornadoes I did manage to find ... I did get a bit too close to not one, but 3 of them (May 23 wedge in Quinter, KS; Kearney NE on May 29, and near Glen Elder, KS that same day) ;-)

 

[afischer]

I sure don't have a great deal to show for 2008. My work schedule hasn't jived particularly well with chase days this year, and as a result I've chased less this spring than in any year since my chase career got going in 2002. Over time I'm definitely finding myself becoming more of "structure" person. Still love to see tornadoes, but great supercell structure can be awfully rewarding to me... and way better than a dozen "bird fart" tornadoes.

 

[Mike Hollingshead]

I don't think the thread was saying there were no gems. There will always be gems. Even in the most active years they aren't widespread. 2008 has really had an above average number of the fast moving wet variety(above the above average number those already take up). I think it's worth 'whining'(posting) about for those of us "able" to chase it hard at about $4/gallon.

Hindsight works so many ways sometimes. You couldn't afford to come out and chase, and can now see all the great wonders those who took a camera with are posting....then wonder what some are "complaining" about. I can now go back and look at all my numerous chases and wonder if there are any I'd honestly want to spend the time and money doing again. Not do differently again(!...of course I would) just if I'd honestly want to do them knowing how they went down. 2004 I'd say I'd do 50% of them knowing what I saw. 2008 though, lol. Hmmm. Out of the 20 something chases there maybe one I'd do again to see what I ended up seeing. March 30th. And that is just barely, I might not even do that one again to see that. That is chases of at least any distance. I'd do about any closer one again, most just weren't close, and if they were, I'd somehow manage 500 miles or something on them. So I'd do about 0% of my 2008 chases again if I could have seen how I'd do on them in the first place, and what it was I'd be watching. So far that is worse than 2007 for me, and 2006. And in 2008...the number of tornado warned "supercells" I was on....absolutely blew those two years away. 2008, for as active as it was, and the gems it did have, really has had a lot of fast moving crappers...which is all this thread was about. A lot of work for little...*for some*.

Had I not chased at all on any of them, and watched it all unfold from home...I'd think WAY differently. I'd be like, stop whining, at least you could chase! Had I chased and seen a gem or two, I'd be completely thrilled to have seen those. Had I simply seen that May 29 nc KS supercell, I would not care at all about all the HP fast moving junkers I saw all year. All those efforts would have made it worth it to have seen that thing. Reality is, I was out on all these chases, and saw the ass end of the days "goodies".

The gas prices just sort of increase any chase annoyances one may have during a year. Seeing crap was so much cheaper in the past! And it was therefor worth less whining.

 

[Dustin Wilcox]

I must be a strange case (as often I am, but really now), but I've had an amazing season!

I'm in the same boat, an absolutly awesome year for me (it's only the begining of June to, still got all the Summer corn fed days to come!!) I lost count of the number of tubes I have seen this year, and I have seen tornadoes on probably at least half of my chases (many of which were pretty awesome tornadoes) Granite the chases have been tough, poor roads, fast storm motions, ext.. but hands down this has been a sweet year IMO.

 

[Mike Hollingshead]

I don't think the thread was saying there were no gems. There will always be gems. Even in the most active years they aren't widespread. 2008 has really had an above average number of the fast moving wet variety(above the above average number those already take up). I think it's worth 'whining'(posting) about for those of us "able" to chase it hard at about $4/gallon.

Hindsight works so many ways sometimes. You couldn't afford to come out and chase, and can now see all the great wonders those who took a camera with are posting....then wonder what some are "complaining" about. I can now go back and look at all my numerous chases and wonder if there are any I'd honestly want to spend the time and money doing again. Not do differently again(!...of course I would) just if I'd honestly want to do them knowing how they went down. 2004 I'd say I'd do 50% of them knowing what I saw. 2008 though, lol. Hmmm. Out of the 20 something chases there maybe one I'd do again to see what I ended up seeing. March 30th. And that is just barely, I might not even do that one again to see that. That is chases of at least any distance. I'd do about any closer one again, most just weren't close, and if they were, I'd somehow manage 500 miles or something on them. So I'd do about 0% of my 2008 chases again if I could have seen how I'd do on them in the first place, and what it was I'd be watching. So far that is worse than 2007 for me, and 2006. And in 2008...the number of tornado warned "supercells" I was on....absolutely blew those two years away. 2008, for as active as it was, and the gems it did have, really has had a lot of fast moving crappers...which is all this thread was about. A lot of work for little...*for some*.

Had I not chased at all on any of them, and watched it all unfold from home...I'd think WAY differently. I'd be like, stop whining, at least you could chase! Had I chased and seen a gem or two, I'd be completely thrilled to have seen those. Had I simply seen that May 29 nc KS supercell, I would not care at all about all the HP fast moving junkers I saw all year. All those efforts would have made it worth it to have seen that thing though. Reality is, I was out on all these chases, and saw the ass end of the days "goodies".

The gas prices just sort of increase any chase annoyances one may have during a year. Seeing crap was so much cheaper in the past! And it was therefor worth less whining.

 

[Jeff Snyder]

Had I simply seen that May 29 nc KS supercell, I would not care at all about all the HP fast moving junkers I saw all year.

Not to rub salt on the wound, but I think that actually made my entire season. I'm in the same boat as a lot of you -- I spent many a days out on the Plains, oftentimes seeing little other than wet, messy HP or linear crapvection. Daytime tornadoes from classic supercells were absent (largely) in the Plains this year. Many days are starting to blur together, but it was has been the year of HP structure. I love good structure, but I can only see so much before I'm left wanting to see the "real stuff". I largely came up empty during the May 22-26 stretch, mostly because of one or two poor road decisions (hindsight, hindsight...). Recently, we've had setups with NE-SW oriented fronts that have lead to storm interactions and other messy behaviors.

The highlight of the year, though, was definately the storm of all storms on 29 May 08 near Beloit, which had both amazing structure AND readily-viewable tornadoes -- no 10 second glimpses as they came out of rain, no squinting to see it between lightning flashes after dark, etc.

Kansas again was the state to chase this year. Heck, in the past 8-9 years, when has Kansas NOT been the state to chase? Nebraska has had many doozies as well, but Kansas is still trumping OK and TX most of the time. This also goes to show just how marvelous 2004 actually was. Daytime tornadoes from classic supercells, beautiful structure, some not moving at warp speed, etc. Ah, 2004 (I missed the June 9 and June 12 2005 tornado events, so years since 2004 have come up wimpy in comparison). Well, 2007 was a good chase year for me, so perhaps I can't complain too much about the past 4 years.

 

[Chris Hayes]

This year may have been an HP year, but it's my best year of chasing so far. With 9 tornados (so far), 4 tornado days, and only 1 true bust day out of 10+ chase days, this has been my best chase year so far. In addition to the chase days, I've also gotten nearly over 30 new lightning pictures from 3 nights of lightning photography so far. A couple nights ago, I had my best night of lightning photography ever with 20 good shots out of over 150 taken. Deffinately been a good year.