Joe Grunow
David:
Sure glad you came out OK!
Sure glad you came out OK!
Do I ever get scared?
- Thread starter David Drummond
- Start date
- Status
Jason A.C. Brock
This will only make you a better chaser David. There are some chasers out there who NEED to have that tornado fear instilled into them. I had a similiar experience with lightning and not wating to chase again aftwerwards... 3 days later I was over it tho....Chasing is dangerous and deadly period. If your not terrified but at the same time just utterly amazed at the power your seeing...well.....you just dont get it....and if its not the PASSION driving you and its something else...only an adrenaline rush...recognition...pride....trying to prove something to someone....trying to impress someone...well then you just dont get it either.
cdcollura
EF5
I got the same experience with an "Oh God" on video...
This was back in 1998 during the intense El Nino winter in S Florida, where a strong F1 (with 110 MPH winds) overturned a semi-trailer on I-95 in Broward county right in front of my vehicle.
The storm was a small HP storm ahead of an unusually active squall line at about 6:30 AM (yes - a morning tornado)!
It was still dark, power-flashes to my SW, then it hit. The lights went out, winds went to strong easterly, rain stopped, rig overturned in front of me, ears had pain as they popped, then 100+ MPH west winds and debris and horizonatal rain (RFD!) - My pickup (Dodge Dakota) truck partially lifted as well ... Video is dramatic and can be seen on my web site at the link below...
http://www.sky-chaser.com/tflipvid.htm
Now, if you listen in the video - I am not sure if it is edited out in this clip - But I scream "Oh my God, tornado just went right over my head!" ... Then, as the RFD hits, I am like "Myyy God, oh my God, heaven help me!" as I was still not in a sane frame of mind, although the tornado already passed.
My voice is shakey, like I could barely talk for a few seconds. Throat dry, ears hot, tunnel vision, even my crotch tingling! The same feeling I would get in the principle's office back in Middle School when I new my parents were on their way to take me home!
Fear - To "fight or flight"!
I also listen to this every now and then, makes me sound like a "sissy" but goes to show how the hand of God can make a sissy out of the toughest dudes out there - it's not fear, per se, but utmost respect ... And regret that you most likely got yourself into something that you wish you never had gotten yourself into!
This was back in 1998 during the intense El Nino winter in S Florida, where a strong F1 (with 110 MPH winds) overturned a semi-trailer on I-95 in Broward county right in front of my vehicle.
The storm was a small HP storm ahead of an unusually active squall line at about 6:30 AM (yes - a morning tornado)!
It was still dark, power-flashes to my SW, then it hit. The lights went out, winds went to strong easterly, rain stopped, rig overturned in front of me, ears had pain as they popped, then 100+ MPH west winds and debris and horizonatal rain (RFD!) - My pickup (Dodge Dakota) truck partially lifted as well ... Video is dramatic and can be seen on my web site at the link below...
http://www.sky-chaser.com/tflipvid.htm
Now, if you listen in the video - I am not sure if it is edited out in this clip - But I scream "Oh my God, tornado just went right over my head!" ... Then, as the RFD hits, I am like "Myyy God, oh my God, heaven help me!" as I was still not in a sane frame of mind, although the tornado already passed.
My voice is shakey, like I could barely talk for a few seconds. Throat dry, ears hot, tunnel vision, even my crotch tingling! The same feeling I would get in the principle's office back in Middle School when I new my parents were on their way to take me home!
Fear - To "fight or flight"!
I also listen to this every now and then, makes me sound like a "sissy" but goes to show how the hand of God can make a sissy out of the toughest dudes out there - it's not fear, per se, but utmost respect ... And regret that you most likely got yourself into something that you wish you never had gotten yourself into!
Paul Redmond
EF2
(sorry for the length)
My first oklahoma city chase was during the memorial day weekend of 2004. It took me seven hours straight driving just to get up to OC from San antonio. My timing was perfect. There was a beautifull classic supercell gradually approaching the city. My cell phone connection radar was running perfectly, I had a full tank of gas and all photo equipment was functioning perfectly. My only weak spot was that I was very unfamiliar with OC and I had a very poor gas station map of the area. Ok the chase is going perfectly, I got a nice parking spot at the west edge of the city with both south and east options. I am videoing tube after tube. Other chase groups show up, with a bunch of people getting out high fiving each other and yelling look at the tornadoe. Ok I am a happy camper and the gust front is getting closer and closer.
Now this was a pretty slow moving storm for some time. I had a good 55 minutes of video of the storm dropping multiple tubes as it approach. Suddenly it starts approaching very fast. The van in front of me fills up and heads east and north on a road option I was not even aware of. The gust front is getting closer and closer. Stacatto flashes are starting to occur around me. Yup its time to head east. I headed east a little bit, debating whether to go back to I35 or anothe road option. So I delayed at some point to check my meager map and reload the tape.
Big mistake. I should have been blasting east the whole time. The next thing I know, I am completly rain wrapped. I am heading east trying to get back to I35. The next thing I know, I am hearing a low moaning sound and I am gradually starting to notice things like building material racing from south to north otherhead. Hmm, this does not look good. Well I actually did not say it that way, it was more like ^&$#%$#@#^^&*. Well you get the picture. I screached to a halt, and shout *&%^*&$# I am in the blankety blank thing. Looked in my rear view mirror to see if anyone was behind me and floored it in reverse for about 50 feet, did a u turn and floored it again looking for a south option.
Several hundred yards further west, I found a south option and at the same time the precipitation had all but stopped. I headed south maybe a quarter of a mile and found the road covered with branches and the tops of numerous small trees. So I had to leave the car, and I have nice video of a fat fellow (me) frantically dragging numerous large branches out of the road with my pants (sans belt) falling down (dont ask, it was a last minute decision to chase that day). So I soon made my escape to the south with my heart rate off the rhicter scale and a monsterous blood pressure to match. It took me a whole five minute to calm down, but with fresh tornadoe warnings on this storm, I still wanted to chase this storm. I started heading east again and eventually reached I35, but the storm had already crossed the interstate. I decided that I had had enough. It was after sunset, and I had a seven hour drive ahead of me. I made it back at 5:30 AM and was still too wired to sleep untill 7 Am and only after a couple of beers.
I looked at the video later, and saw some rather large objects, including portions of a tin roof, at a height of 15 feet above ground traveling south to north. I do not think they were the result of straight line winds, I strongly suspect that I was inside a weak circulation that clipped some roofs and trees to my southwest. I did not notice any air pressure changes (no ears popping at the time), and count myself very lucky for displaying such foolishness and not heading south at the first chance. I was luckier still for not having experienced any hail, for there were some large hail reports associated with that storm. Moral of the story, stay out of the precip if you can, be aware of the storm structures (i.e. dangers), and have handy safe road options nearby.
My first oklahoma city chase was during the memorial day weekend of 2004. It took me seven hours straight driving just to get up to OC from San antonio. My timing was perfect. There was a beautifull classic supercell gradually approaching the city. My cell phone connection radar was running perfectly, I had a full tank of gas and all photo equipment was functioning perfectly. My only weak spot was that I was very unfamiliar with OC and I had a very poor gas station map of the area. Ok the chase is going perfectly, I got a nice parking spot at the west edge of the city with both south and east options. I am videoing tube after tube. Other chase groups show up, with a bunch of people getting out high fiving each other and yelling look at the tornadoe. Ok I am a happy camper and the gust front is getting closer and closer.
Now this was a pretty slow moving storm for some time. I had a good 55 minutes of video of the storm dropping multiple tubes as it approach. Suddenly it starts approaching very fast. The van in front of me fills up and heads east and north on a road option I was not even aware of. The gust front is getting closer and closer. Stacatto flashes are starting to occur around me. Yup its time to head east. I headed east a little bit, debating whether to go back to I35 or anothe road option. So I delayed at some point to check my meager map and reload the tape.
Big mistake. I should have been blasting east the whole time. The next thing I know, I am completly rain wrapped. I am heading east trying to get back to I35. The next thing I know, I am hearing a low moaning sound and I am gradually starting to notice things like building material racing from south to north otherhead. Hmm, this does not look good. Well I actually did not say it that way, it was more like ^&$#%$#@#^^&*. Well you get the picture. I screached to a halt, and shout *&%^*&$# I am in the blankety blank thing. Looked in my rear view mirror to see if anyone was behind me and floored it in reverse for about 50 feet, did a u turn and floored it again looking for a south option.
Several hundred yards further west, I found a south option and at the same time the precipitation had all but stopped. I headed south maybe a quarter of a mile and found the road covered with branches and the tops of numerous small trees. So I had to leave the car, and I have nice video of a fat fellow (me) frantically dragging numerous large branches out of the road with my pants (sans belt) falling down (dont ask, it was a last minute decision to chase that day). So I soon made my escape to the south with my heart rate off the rhicter scale and a monsterous blood pressure to match. It took me a whole five minute to calm down, but with fresh tornadoe warnings on this storm, I still wanted to chase this storm. I started heading east again and eventually reached I35, but the storm had already crossed the interstate. I decided that I had had enough. It was after sunset, and I had a seven hour drive ahead of me. I made it back at 5:30 AM and was still too wired to sleep untill 7 Am and only after a couple of beers.
I looked at the video later, and saw some rather large objects, including portions of a tin roof, at a height of 15 feet above ground traveling south to north. I do not think they were the result of straight line winds, I strongly suspect that I was inside a weak circulation that clipped some roofs and trees to my southwest. I did not notice any air pressure changes (no ears popping at the time), and count myself very lucky for displaying such foolishness and not heading south at the first chance. I was luckier still for not having experienced any hail, for there were some large hail reports associated with that storm. Moral of the story, stay out of the precip if you can, be aware of the storm structures (i.e. dangers), and have handy safe road options nearby.
Earl Faubion
EF3
David, I’m very glad you are okay. I've read your harrowing story several times and each time I get this eerie feeling because I was not very far from you when all this happened, and being a far less experienced chaser I realize luck was very much on my side that night.
That day my wife went chasing with me for the first time. At about 4:30 pm we were at the junction of 283/70 and watched Mother Nature put on a beautiful show. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbELuEGG5zs We hung around the general area for a while and around sunset decided to go to Perryton to refuel. After that we realized the worst of the storms were to our south and getting back into position would not be easy. Two attempts to drive south on highways 70 and 83 resulted in us returning to Perryton each time after it became obvious those routes were going to be too dangerous. I learned later both routes were flooding at the time and we’d most certainly have not made it through.
It's now 10:00 pm and we decided it was time to head home and after much debate we decided to go east on highway 15 after I calculated we could beat the worst of the storm that you were on. At Booker the rain and lightning intensified dramatically, more so than I anticipated, but we kept pressing on, and at Darrouzett conditions were continuing downhill in a hurry and I was very worried about road flooding and hail and the drive soon turned into a slow-speed white-knuckle affair with me focusing on the road and my wife peering through her side window to see if she can see any sign of the tornado, which is now being reported to our south by Miami NOAA radio. I was keenly aware some of the reports were several minutes old and the tornado could be a lot closer to us. Several blasts of high wind gave us pause and for a few minutes I seriously began to wonder if I’d finally pushed my luck too far. It’s one thing to place myself in danger but another to place my wife’s life in danger too. If anything happened to her it was going to be my fault, no question about it.
Finally a little before we reached Follett the rain began to decrease and it became apparent we were nearing the front of the storm. I was able to increase speed and soon we found ourselves on a dry road and with the lightning all behind us. It was a joyous occasion indeed, so much so that we paused for 15 minutes in Shattuck to admire the electrical display of the storm as it passed just to the northwest of the town.
I didn’t keep an accurate log of times but I do know we left Perryton a little after 10pm and we arrived in Shattuck, OK at 11:30 so I estimate it was 10:30 to 11:00 when we were between Darrouzett and Follett.
After reading your story I realize just how lucky we really were. The tornado was not far behind us and we could easily have gotten caught up in it with disastrous results. What my wife and I experienced was stressful enough, but it was nothing compared to what you went through, not even close. Thanks for posting your story David, it took guts to write and I admire you for sharing it. I view that night as one where luck and a whole lot more was with me. Next time the outcome might not be as pleasant, a fact I will definitely keep in mind on all future chases. No atheists in foxholes is right.
That day my wife went chasing with me for the first time. At about 4:30 pm we were at the junction of 283/70 and watched Mother Nature put on a beautiful show. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbELuEGG5zs We hung around the general area for a while and around sunset decided to go to Perryton to refuel. After that we realized the worst of the storms were to our south and getting back into position would not be easy. Two attempts to drive south on highways 70 and 83 resulted in us returning to Perryton each time after it became obvious those routes were going to be too dangerous. I learned later both routes were flooding at the time and we’d most certainly have not made it through.
It's now 10:00 pm and we decided it was time to head home and after much debate we decided to go east on highway 15 after I calculated we could beat the worst of the storm that you were on. At Booker the rain and lightning intensified dramatically, more so than I anticipated, but we kept pressing on, and at Darrouzett conditions were continuing downhill in a hurry and I was very worried about road flooding and hail and the drive soon turned into a slow-speed white-knuckle affair with me focusing on the road and my wife peering through her side window to see if she can see any sign of the tornado, which is now being reported to our south by Miami NOAA radio. I was keenly aware some of the reports were several minutes old and the tornado could be a lot closer to us. Several blasts of high wind gave us pause and for a few minutes I seriously began to wonder if I’d finally pushed my luck too far. It’s one thing to place myself in danger but another to place my wife’s life in danger too. If anything happened to her it was going to be my fault, no question about it.
Finally a little before we reached Follett the rain began to decrease and it became apparent we were nearing the front of the storm. I was able to increase speed and soon we found ourselves on a dry road and with the lightning all behind us. It was a joyous occasion indeed, so much so that we paused for 15 minutes in Shattuck to admire the electrical display of the storm as it passed just to the northwest of the town.
I didn’t keep an accurate log of times but I do know we left Perryton a little after 10pm and we arrived in Shattuck, OK at 11:30 so I estimate it was 10:30 to 11:00 when we were between Darrouzett and Follett.
After reading your story I realize just how lucky we really were. The tornado was not far behind us and we could easily have gotten caught up in it with disastrous results. What my wife and I experienced was stressful enough, but it was nothing compared to what you went through, not even close. Thanks for posting your story David, it took guts to write and I admire you for sharing it. I view that night as one where luck and a whole lot more was with me. Next time the outcome might not be as pleasant, a fact I will definitely keep in mind on all future chases. No atheists in foxholes is right.
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David Schuttler
EF5
Thanks for sharing with us David and glad you're ok physicaly.
I had the closest run in for me on April 21st this year. I was slowly headed E. on rd. 1573 N. of Cactus and Sunray,Tx. in hopes of catching the Cactus tornado as it moved up. That didn't pan out and later after edging E. when hail would allow me too I decided I was done being on the west side of it all and wanted to make it to the other side. I had not had any radar updates for awhile and I made a guesstimate
on what cell might be where. So thinking I would be able to fit between the cells using my guesstimation 
I made a run for it. Once I got pass the 1573 & 1060 intersection and just started the curve south the wind started blasting. After a few seconds I decided to turn around and go back West to wait it out. I figured it was just straight line winds until I just finished my turn around and got a brief glimpse of a funnel/tornado ( depending on ones definition) to my south ,by a perfectly timed (very short) lightning flash. I don't know how close it was but I could not see the cloud base where it started from due to roof. I didn't see any debris under it though so it might have been lifting. At that point is where you can hear "oh S#%$" on the following video. That was the only time I saw it as I started gunning it west, turns out if I had kept my wits I might have realized I was better off to have continued East before and not afterwards. I ended up driving closer to where damage did occur ( 3 telephone polls down and one highway sign) If I had not seen what was to my south I would have drove slower thinking it was just straightline winds and maybe ended up in the wrong spot when the poles went down. I ended up going back north on 1060 until the winds had stopped, I figured if I went north and it went northeast(hopefully) sooner or later the distance would increase. When I went back I spoke with the sheriff who was making sure the the cows where off the road. He told me the weather service figured it was just straight line winds. I don't know if they changed their minds but they have the tornado #3 on the PNS ending pretty close to there if I am estimating the distance correctly. Anyway it was a terrifying time for me no matter what it is officially.
Here is the YouTube Video of this moment I'll never forget.
Not as bad as David D's night though but I thought I'd share this mistake of mine.
Here's a couple of photos from when I went back
I had the closest run in for me on April 21st this year. I was slowly headed E. on rd. 1573 N. of Cactus and Sunray,Tx. in hopes of catching the Cactus tornado as it moved up. That didn't pan out and later after edging E. when hail would allow me too I decided I was done being on the west side of it all and wanted to make it to the other side. I had not had any radar updates for awhile and I made a guesstimate
on what cell might be where. So thinking I would be able to fit between the cells using my guesstimation I made a run for it. Once I got pass the 1573 & 1060 intersection and just started the curve south the wind started blasting. After a few seconds I decided to turn around and go back West to wait it out. I figured it was just straight line winds until I just finished my turn around and got a brief glimpse of a funnel/tornado ( depending on ones definition) to my south ,by a perfectly timed (very short) lightning flash. I don't know how close it was but I could not see the cloud base where it started from due to roof. I didn't see any debris under it though so it might have been lifting. At that point is where you can hear "oh S#%$" on the following video. That was the only time I saw it as I started gunning it west, turns out if I had kept my wits I might have realized I was better off to have continued East before and not afterwards. I ended up driving closer to where damage did occur ( 3 telephone polls down and one highway sign) If I had not seen what was to my south I would have drove slower thinking it was just straightline winds and maybe ended up in the wrong spot when the poles went down. I ended up going back north on 1060 until the winds had stopped, I figured if I went north and it went northeast(hopefully) sooner or later the distance would increase. When I went back I spoke with the sheriff who was making sure the the cows where off the road. He told me the weather service figured it was just straight line winds. I don't know if they changed their minds but they have the tornado #3 on the PNS ending pretty close to there if I am estimating the distance correctly. Anyway it was a terrifying time for me no matter what it is officially.Here is the YouTube Video of this moment I'll never forget.
Not as bad as David D's night though but I thought I'd share this mistake of mine.
Here's a couple of photos from when I went back
Doug Lee
Dave, others have said it's a good thing you wrote this story. I'll go a bit further and say you needed to write it. An experience like that affects you to your very core. You had feelings that you had to let out to preserve your own sanity. In cases like this, writing can be theraputic.
I had an experience of similar emotional intensity. In 1978, my National Guard unit went to the New Mexico desert for summer camp. This was an unusual camp for us, and not just because of the setting. My company ran several ranges for the entire batallion, including the hand grenade range.
I missed throwing the hand grenade in basic training. I had a chance to pass on doing it there, but I did it! I had always been kinda soft growing up and I guess I wanted to see if I had it in me to pull this off.
As I came off the range, the emotions came out and I wound up bawling like a baby. While I was crying, a sargeant came up and told me I was a man and not to let anyone tell me otherwise. That sargeant had earned 4 or 5 Bronze Stars in Vietnam, so I guess he knew what he was talking about.
Later on, someone asked him what it was like being a hero. He said he wasn't a hero, he was just doing his job. I have heard similar things from other decorated veterans.
The best definition of courage is doing what needs to be done in the face of danger and fear.
I'm also glad you're alright. You're one of the best, and we need you around. Maybe your story will help keep a few more of us around.
I had an experience of similar emotional intensity. In 1978, my National Guard unit went to the New Mexico desert for summer camp. This was an unusual camp for us, and not just because of the setting. My company ran several ranges for the entire batallion, including the hand grenade range.
I missed throwing the hand grenade in basic training. I had a chance to pass on doing it there, but I did it! I had always been kinda soft growing up and I guess I wanted to see if I had it in me to pull this off.
As I came off the range, the emotions came out and I wound up bawling like a baby. While I was crying, a sargeant came up and told me I was a man and not to let anyone tell me otherwise. That sargeant had earned 4 or 5 Bronze Stars in Vietnam, so I guess he knew what he was talking about.
Later on, someone asked him what it was like being a hero. He said he wasn't a hero, he was just doing his job. I have heard similar things from other decorated veterans.
The best definition of courage is doing what needs to be done in the face of danger and fear.
I'm also glad you're alright. You're one of the best, and we need you around. Maybe your story will help keep a few more of us around.
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Joey Ketcham
I watched the video, as you were driving back west I noticed a car going in the opposite direction to the area you were just at.. did they keep going or did they turn around to or did they end up getting swiped by the tornado?
Terry Tyler
EF5
that is an amazing story david...i am glad your okay...
chasing here in the south...i get very scared sometimes...storm motions are very fast here, and the terrian is very dangerous...there have been times that i knew if a tornado was in the area i could be in a potentially life-threating situation and it has been enough to almost make me stop a chase...some days are okay, but the stratiform days like 2/24/07 when cloud ceilings are above the trees and you see clouds moving at a high rate of speed really scare me, especially because i have no way of recieving warnings in my vehicle...
chasing here in the south...i get very scared sometimes...storm motions are very fast here, and the terrian is very dangerous...there have been times that i knew if a tornado was in the area i could be in a potentially life-threating situation and it has been enough to almost make me stop a chase...some days are okay, but the stratiform days like 2/24/07 when cloud ceilings are above the trees and you see clouds moving at a high rate of speed really scare me, especially because i have no way of recieving warnings in my vehicle...
David Draun
EF5
Wow, David, what a story. I've always admired your passion for storms. Even when you've been narrowly missed by lightning a number of times, or that time in 03 or 04 where the tornado almost drops on top of you. Anyway, I'm glad you're alright. Those storms on the 23rd were some of the most severe weather I have ever seen in my life. Earlier in the day, long before the explosive convective initiation, my team had elected to stay the night in Enid, OK. We got south of the supercells as we went down Rt 70. On the way, we did end up punching through an RFD from what was the tail-end storm at the time. That was quite scary with the misty rain and small hail being blown around us at speeds of what was likely over 65 mph. As we got south of the storms, we elected not to go NE for a while. Probably a good decision since our limited data access would likely not allow us safe passage through a storm system with multiple TVS's as Bob Schafer was telling us. The 60mph inflow alone was enough to know that those storms meant business. Thanks again to him for navigating us away from that mess. Anyway, from the lightning we saw many of the same features that others saw. It seemed there could have been a tornado anytime. We ended up going SE then N a couple hours later, narrowly missing another HP meso going outflow dominant near Shattuck, OK.
Chasing can be scary, but it's still so much fun!
I thought I saw the WX5TVS-mobile the previous day in KS, that was cool. I was like, "Yeah, that's Dave Drummond. This storm has got to be the one." LOL, and it was.
Chasing can be scary, but it's still so much fun!
I thought I saw the WX5TVS-mobile the previous day in KS, that was cool. I was like, "Yeah, that's Dave Drummond. This storm has got to be the one." LOL, and it was.
Bill Tabor
EF5
Yeah David, that was a tough time man. Glad you are alright. Your experience kind of saved you, but it also kind of got you in trouble. I agree the man upstairs probably was looking out for you - likely cause you asked for help.
I personally know that chasing at night can be terrifying. I typically often chase alone, and have been in so many bad situations at night it's hard to remember them all. I just know that I have kind of a built in phobia now when certain situations start coming together like a second sense knowing that stuff is starting to get bad and start looking for alternatives. I can't say that I've been quite as close to disaster as you in this case but I haven't been all that much further away either in a few instances.
Night can be terrifying because of the unknown. We just can't always see what is out there. We may think we can, or we may think we understand what is going on, but then we may also think - yeah, but what if. In your case...what if it turns right, - which it did. Threatnet and radar are ok for daytime, but at night they aren't pin point enough detail wise, or time wise for us to know exactly what we are dealing with. As you just learned, all it took was for a bad break or so (the mud road), and the assumption you could make it. Of course at night things appear further away than they really are I have heard.
Anyway, I'm just saying all this, because this is stuff I have done. I've thought I was ok, but then it gets crazy, things change quickly, there is no time for a decision. What is the right decision? In your case you were at the east road option (15) was it right to go east, or go north, slowly proceed to the turn at 15 or do a 180 away from the intersection and head back south into all precip and big hail you mentioned. As you found out, (and I'm sure you've experiened before) sometimes you just don't have much of an idea of what the right thing to do is. At some point you just have to pick and hope. That is a terrible feeling and I've been there many times. All I can say is when we chase close, - particularly at night we will get scared at times (or worse). I've had experiences where I didn't even intend to chase close at night - from a day chase trip and just got pinned. It's good to remember that wherever the high speed wind is headed is likely the direction of the tornado. Your head for the core tactic was also likely a good choice except for the fact that you potentially cross in front of, in, or right behind the tornado as it passes. Also we have to remember that supercells and tornadoes are dynamic and there are no guarantees. There is no guarantee that it will remain on the same course, there is no guarantee that Threatnet presents an accurate picture, there is no guarantee that the storm won't change and merge with other cells that we are unaware of, or perhaps merge into an HP tornado near / in the core (where we just ran for safety) or that the whole tornadic area we are in won't become a two mile wide tornado enveloping us. Scary yes! Have I been scared? Yes, many times at night. Probably not quite as bad as you here, but not that far. I've definitely been in panic mode a few times and that is not good.
I'm certainly not going to criticise you. Chasing tornadoes can be serious stuff, and everyone needs to be aware of what they are dealing with. I guess I am just sharing the fear with you man. I know there are a lot of other chasers that have some nightmare night chase stories for you too, but I admit - yours is one of the worst short of actually taking a trip to Oz. I think it's particularly scary because from my experience I really have the imagery to imagine it happening to me.
As for you quitting chasing...I doubt it. The fear often fades in the light of day, but will reawaken in a similar situation. Chasers like you and me don't usually just walk away, - chasing gets in the blood and becomes part of who we are. It is always difficult to deny ourselves, but of course we can if we try hard enough on principle or revelation.
I personally know that chasing at night can be terrifying. I typically often chase alone, and have been in so many bad situations at night it's hard to remember them all. I just know that I have kind of a built in phobia now when certain situations start coming together like a second sense knowing that stuff is starting to get bad and start looking for alternatives. I can't say that I've been quite as close to disaster as you in this case but I haven't been all that much further away either in a few instances.
Night can be terrifying because of the unknown. We just can't always see what is out there. We may think we can, or we may think we understand what is going on, but then we may also think - yeah, but what if. In your case...what if it turns right, - which it did. Threatnet and radar are ok for daytime, but at night they aren't pin point enough detail wise, or time wise for us to know exactly what we are dealing with. As you just learned, all it took was for a bad break or so (the mud road), and the assumption you could make it. Of course at night things appear further away than they really are I have heard.
Anyway, I'm just saying all this, because this is stuff I have done. I've thought I was ok, but then it gets crazy, things change quickly, there is no time for a decision. What is the right decision? In your case you were at the east road option (15) was it right to go east, or go north, slowly proceed to the turn at 15 or do a 180 away from the intersection and head back south into all precip and big hail you mentioned. As you found out, (and I'm sure you've experiened before) sometimes you just don't have much of an idea of what the right thing to do is. At some point you just have to pick and hope. That is a terrible feeling and I've been there many times. All I can say is when we chase close, - particularly at night we will get scared at times (or worse). I've had experiences where I didn't even intend to chase close at night - from a day chase trip and just got pinned. It's good to remember that wherever the high speed wind is headed is likely the direction of the tornado. Your head for the core tactic was also likely a good choice except for the fact that you potentially cross in front of, in, or right behind the tornado as it passes. Also we have to remember that supercells and tornadoes are dynamic and there are no guarantees. There is no guarantee that it will remain on the same course, there is no guarantee that Threatnet presents an accurate picture, there is no guarantee that the storm won't change and merge with other cells that we are unaware of, or perhaps merge into an HP tornado near / in the core (where we just ran for safety) or that the whole tornadic area we are in won't become a two mile wide tornado enveloping us. Scary yes! Have I been scared? Yes, many times at night. Probably not quite as bad as you here, but not that far. I've definitely been in panic mode a few times and that is not good.
I'm certainly not going to criticise you. Chasing tornadoes can be serious stuff, and everyone needs to be aware of what they are dealing with. I guess I am just sharing the fear with you man.
I know there are a lot of other chasers that have some nightmare night chase stories for you too, but I admit - yours is one of the worst short of actually taking a trip to Oz. I think it's particularly scary because from my experience I really have the imagery to imagine it happening to me.As for you quitting chasing...I doubt it. The fear often fades in the light of day, but will reawaken in a similar situation. Chasers like you and me don't usually just walk away, - chasing gets in the blood and becomes part of who we are. It is always difficult to deny ourselves, but of course we can if we try hard enough on principle or revelation.
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Mark Farnik
EF5
David:
Hearing your story brings back memories of my near disaterous encounter with a nighttime tornado northwest of Bird City, KS on March 28th. I was in a nearly identical situation to yours, except for the fact I was able to seek shelter in an abandoned farmhouse just off Highway 161 moments before the tornado hit. The sounds I heard as the tornado passed over the farmstead are permanently engraved in my mind. I don't think I've ever prayed as hard as I did when I was huddled under the kitchen table of that Kansas farmhouse as the tornado roared over me. I was extremely shaken up by that experience, and when I emerged from that house and saw in the lightning flashes that the outbuildings less than 50 yards east of the house had been trashed, but the house had largely been spared, I knew God had been looking out for me and my guardian angel had done its job.
Strangely enough, it didn't make me want to give up chasing; maybe it's because I'm young and crazy, I dunno. Instead, it gave me a newfound respect for ol' Ma Nature, and I am now much more cautious when I chase after dark. I guess the bottom line is this: We make mistakes. To err is human. Every chaser, whether a newbie or a veteran, will inevitably find themselves in a dangerous situation, whether it be a gorilla hail core, a flooded country road or in path of a tornado, at one point or another during their chase careers. Ma Nature as a rule is largely unpredictable. We as chasers attempt to extrapolate the few predictable variables and try to second guess Ma Nature. We think we can outsmart her with technology, and many chasers have become FAR too dependent on it. This overreliance on technology and underreliance on instinct is usually what results in dangerous situations like this.
On March 28th my gut told me not to go south on Highway 161. I almost stayed put in Benkelman, but I ignored my gut and drove south towards Bird City thinking that since it was well after dark, the tornado threat had transistioned to a large hail/damaging wind threat. I was gravely misstaken. I could have gotten myself badly injured or killed.
To sum it up: A mistake like this could happen to any of us at anytime. And people, for God's sake listen to your gut and don't put your whole meteorological faith in GRLevel 3 or Mobile ThreatNet- it might just save your life.
Hearing your story brings back memories of my near disaterous encounter with a nighttime tornado northwest of Bird City, KS on March 28th. I was in a nearly identical situation to yours, except for the fact I was able to seek shelter in an abandoned farmhouse just off Highway 161 moments before the tornado hit. The sounds I heard as the tornado passed over the farmstead are permanently engraved in my mind. I don't think I've ever prayed as hard as I did when I was huddled under the kitchen table of that Kansas farmhouse as the tornado roared over me. I was extremely shaken up by that experience, and when I emerged from that house and saw in the lightning flashes that the outbuildings less than 50 yards east of the house had been trashed, but the house had largely been spared, I knew God had been looking out for me and my guardian angel had done its job.
Strangely enough, it didn't make me want to give up chasing; maybe it's because I'm young and crazy, I dunno. Instead, it gave me a newfound respect for ol' Ma Nature, and I am now much more cautious when I chase after dark. I guess the bottom line is this: We make mistakes. To err is human. Every chaser, whether a newbie or a veteran, will inevitably find themselves in a dangerous situation, whether it be a gorilla hail core, a flooded country road or in path of a tornado, at one point or another during their chase careers. Ma Nature as a rule is largely unpredictable. We as chasers attempt to extrapolate the few predictable variables and try to second guess Ma Nature. We think we can outsmart her with technology, and many chasers have become FAR too dependent on it. This overreliance on technology and underreliance on instinct is usually what results in dangerous situations like this.
On March 28th my gut told me not to go south on Highway 161. I almost stayed put in Benkelman, but I ignored my gut and drove south towards Bird City thinking that since it was well after dark, the tornado threat had transistioned to a large hail/damaging wind threat. I was gravely misstaken. I could have gotten myself badly injured or killed.
To sum it up: A mistake like this could happen to any of us at anytime. And people, for God's sake listen to your gut and don't put your whole meteorological faith in GRLevel 3 or Mobile ThreatNet- it might just save your life.
Paul Redmond
EF2
Speaking of flooded roads, I have had two chases abruptly ended because of flooding in road ahead this year, while trying to come up behind passing convection. On both occasions, I came abruptly to inpenetrable water running across roads. I mean ersatz rivers crossing the roads that would be suicidal folly to cross even in a boat, never mind a passenger sedan. An yes I did stop and turn around in the face of such hopeless situations. The slogan of turn around dont drown takes on a painfull and ironic meaning in such circumstances. I am curious, about stories of others who have encountered such uncrossable spontaneous rivers in their paths.
tom hanlon
EF2
Glad you are alright.
I hauled south through Canadian looking to get south of that beast.
I was calling for hotel reservations in OK while the weather radio was reporting the tor warnings on that storm. I NEVER even thought about chasing it. I was glad to get south of it before it cut across the highway. Even then I was prepared to go East on good roads if before things got too bad.
I had the luxury of time because once the sun sets I begin to plot my escape. The radar stays on if I have it, the NOAA radio stays on and I move from "chasing storms" to "avoiding storms" .
I miss tornadoes due to this, but who cares. Night time is time to get away from the storms.
I am not saying you did anything wrong. We each must do whatever we feel is correct. For me at night I leave. Some folks push a little further. When the road options are sparse. Things can get hairy real quick.
--
Tom
I hauled south through Canadian looking to get south of that beast.
I was calling for hotel reservations in OK while the weather radio was reporting the tor warnings on that storm. I NEVER even thought about chasing it. I was glad to get south of it before it cut across the highway. Even then I was prepared to go East on good roads if before things got too bad.
I had the luxury of time because once the sun sets I begin to plot my escape. The radar stays on if I have it, the NOAA radio stays on and I move from "chasing storms" to "avoiding storms" .
I miss tornadoes due to this, but who cares. Night time is time to get away from the storms.
I am not saying you did anything wrong. We each must do whatever we feel is correct. For me at night I leave. Some folks push a little further. When the road options are sparse. Things can get hairy real quick.
--
Tom
SteveCarter
EF2
Great story, good ending...(you were safe), and I wonder what I would have done...hmmmm. Don't really know.
The most scared I've ever became was in Dumas, Arkansas on Feb 24, 07. I didn't remember pulling over to the side of the road for 7 minutes just outside of Dumas, until I saw the replay of my mounted video that was on for over an hour. Glad I did tho. When I got into Dumas, light debris was still falling out of the sky, and several buildings and businesses were completely destroyed, overturned semis's, etc. While helping people, I forgot about any more storms even POSSIBLY coming back into the are, but they did. Ken Hughey called me to warn me of another cell, tornado-warned...that was 25 miles to my SW, and moving at 65 to the NE. This may have been exciting to a point any other time, but after being so shook up over all the damage and everything in Dumas, I was already rattled. There was simply no where to take cover at that point. The sky in the WSW had REALLY darkened and turned that sickening green color, and there I was heading out of town...going no where. I would have went south, but the roads were closed, and debris was still everywhere from the first tornado. Sirens went off, police cars and emergency vehicles were going every direction, and I could see a lowering heading right for me...maybe 5 miles away. I looked for the first structure made of brick, and drove up to the door. It was public housing, but I really didn'y care. the hail was getting heavier, and I ran to their door, and they let me in, and we all hunkered down. After about 5 minutes, it was over, and another tornado passed within a mile of there, although it was not a big one, and the TD was very breif. Still, it was seeing what Dumas looked like just minutes before that, that had me so spooked already. Later that night, I had tornadoes following me all the way back to my hotel in MS. I would NEVER chase at night, but that issue has already been talked about on another thread. After seeing what a tornado can do, up close and personal, makes a LOT of difference in how you feel immediately after that. I said I would never get that close again, and 5 days later I was in Alabama chasing just like I always did, and so will you...most likely. Naturally, what we DO go through enables us to be more knowledgible about the same things later on, so it won't happen again.
The most scared I've ever became was in Dumas, Arkansas on Feb 24, 07. I didn't remember pulling over to the side of the road for 7 minutes just outside of Dumas, until I saw the replay of my mounted video that was on for over an hour. Glad I did tho. When I got into Dumas, light debris was still falling out of the sky, and several buildings and businesses were completely destroyed, overturned semis's, etc. While helping people, I forgot about any more storms even POSSIBLY coming back into the are, but they did. Ken Hughey called me to warn me of another cell, tornado-warned...that was 25 miles to my SW, and moving at 65 to the NE. This may have been exciting to a point any other time, but after being so shook up over all the damage and everything in Dumas, I was already rattled. There was simply no where to take cover at that point. The sky in the WSW had REALLY darkened and turned that sickening green color, and there I was heading out of town...going no where. I would have went south, but the roads were closed, and debris was still everywhere from the first tornado. Sirens went off, police cars and emergency vehicles were going every direction, and I could see a lowering heading right for me...maybe 5 miles away. I looked for the first structure made of brick, and drove up to the door. It was public housing, but I really didn'y care. the hail was getting heavier, and I ran to their door, and they let me in, and we all hunkered down. After about 5 minutes, it was over, and another tornado passed within a mile of there, although it was not a big one, and the TD was very breif. Still, it was seeing what Dumas looked like just minutes before that, that had me so spooked already. Later that night, I had tornadoes following me all the way back to my hotel in MS. I would NEVER chase at night, but that issue has already been talked about on another thread. After seeing what a tornado can do, up close and personal, makes a LOT of difference in how you feel immediately after that. I said I would never get that close again, and 5 days later I was in Alabama chasing just like I always did, and so will you...most likely. Naturally, what we DO go through enables us to be more knowledgible about the same things later on, so it won't happen again.
- Status
