dangerous chaser traffic jams

[Steve Miller]

Chasers can avoid mass convergence in about 2-3 years after the Discovery Channel ends the Storm Chasers show. Face it, we all watch and enjoy the show but mass influxes of chasers over the years have coincided with sporadic NOVA/Discovery programs, the movie Twister, and now Storm Chasers. This is no different except it provides a constant influx rather than a one-time instance.
As for Vortex commenting on us congesting the roads, I had 3 separate incidents with V2 vehicles last year being less than friendly in the field. Frankly, I'm glad THEY are off the road.

 

[Michael Gavan]

My interpretation is that most of these people are not doing their own forecasts, but simply going to highest SPC probability.

I agree. My first couple times out i did that. I was skunked every time. Learned (more appropriately, learning) to forecast, then chase. Good things happened.

 

[Andy Jackson]

I agree. My first couple times out i did that. I was skunked every time. Learned (more appropriately, learning) to forecast, then chase. Good things happened.

It's better to have a basic understanding of why they have the areas delineated that they do, but guaranteed most chasers have the SPC day 1 in their browser cache.


I also noticed last year 3 of the outbreaks that happened included some good tornadoes away from the highest probability area, this may help people avoid dealing with the crowds.

 

[Justin Turcotte]

The later in the season and further north (and away from Norman) you go the less chaser convergence. North Dakota is pretty damn empty in July yet tornadoes are here. I grabbed a passport to chase with the Canucks. I'm guessing that place is near vacant. Seems a lot of folks schedule chase vacations in May. If crowding is a real concern then consider June and July further north.

 

[Brandon Jenkins]

We need less whackers with lightbars and storm chaser decals so that the "Chaser Chasers" don't have such an easy target.

But seriously, with spotter network and real time GPS data telling anyone with internet access where the "area of interest" is located, one can only expect that they will more than likely be caught in some kind of convergence on a moderate or high risk day in the plains. If you don't like it or simply don't want to risk it, then by all means choose an area that shows potential but is located outside of the high risk area. There is no way to "fix" the issue, and the problem will only compound until chaser tv shows wane in popularity.

 

[Marcus Hicks]

Avoid traffic by not traveling on holidays and high risks. If you do deal with it. It's that simple. See Texts and 2% slight risks can yield some beautiful tornadoes and little traffic because people have to actually think on those.

 

[Steve Miller]

Avoid traffic by not traveling on holidays and high risks. If you do deal with it. It's that simple. See Texts and 2% slight risks can yield some beautiful tornadoes and little traffic because people have to actually think on those.

And weekends! Weekend warriors are what make me favor weekday chases outside of OK.

 

[tarone]

Case in point was Campo, CO last year. It was beautiful tornado with relatively few chasers on it. V2 didn't bother.