First "chase" yesterday

[Ben Corby]

Hi everyone, first time here. I've been lurking around the site for some time now, but recently moved to Denver and found myself in a place where chasing is practical (unlike, you know, San Diego and Phoenix). We went on our first "chase" yesterday, though I hesitate to call it that. We weren't planning on doing so until I noticed the cell outside, which was dropping hail, also seemed to have some rotation. Checked the radar and it looked like a possible supercell over Denver (I'm still not positive on ID'ing borderline supercells, though), and a couple minutes later it was tornado-warned, so we took off.

The whole thing fell apart within 15 minutes of us taking off to catch it on the northern end, so we instead used the trip as an exercise in learning the local road network, getting an idea of where to position ourselves on a storm, and me learning how to navigate based on an iPad radar app, GPS maps (though I plan to buy a proper book next time I'm at a bookstore) and visual cues as to where the storm was headed. Good practice, though I'm still kicking myself for not persuading my wife to go after that "little cell near Walsenberg," which would later blow up into a tornadic supercell.

Just ordered the Storm Structure 101 DVD, and I attended a Skywarn class last month at Metro State, so I'm hoping that some practice this year will leave me ready to go next. I know there are plenty of active chasers in and around Denver, and my job gives me some flexibility on schedule if something good comes up, but I'll probably have to be mostly a weekend warrior. That said, if any experienced weekend warriors are out there looking for a rookie navigator (I *just* bought my car last week...I'd rather not get it covered in golf balls yet if at all possible) who can help with gas, meals, lodging and company, please get in touch! The more experience I can get at this point, the better!

Alright, I'll shut up now. Hope to encounter some of you on the plains.

 

[GregMoore]

I have to ask, as a Denver based chaser, why, with northern storm movement, did you head to the north end. The meso base was on the southern end, and that's where the funnel clouds were. I was lucky enough to chase on Tuesday and caught 3 tornadoes out of Flagler. Figured Weds would be quiet at home with my little one, and what do you know! Backyard funnels!

 

[Ben Corby]

My goal was to get ahead of the storm's movement, which was overall northerly to that point, and try to position due west of it for a good view of the base. Considering the amount of hail coming down (and the size of it) when we left, I didn't think that driving right through the core to try and get to the warned area would be safe or intelligent.

In retrospect, we probably should've just taken 120th clear across to Commerce City and set up shop in that area, but we didn't feel like having a golf ball come through our windshield or a rogue landspout spin up on top of us on our first try. Going north and hoping the storms held together and intensified up that way seemed like the best move at the time.

 

[Eian Greene]

I have to ask, as a Denver based chaser, why, with northern storm movement, did you head to the north end. The meso base was on the southern end, and that's where the funnel clouds were. I was lucky enough to chase on Tuesday and caught 3 tornadoes out of Flagler. Figured Weds would be quiet at home with my little one, and what do you know! Backyard funnels!

I could honestly agree with you, Greg. Today, I was working on my car and got chased in by a rapidly intensifying thunderstorm. A few moments later, a brief, weak 'spout was reported just east of Security-Widefield. I couldn't see it from my location due to precip and being inside my house.

Tornadoes and 'spouts typically occur on the rear flank of a t-storm, not the forward flank, where there's outflow and precip. RFD development and a clear slot often precede TOR development, and the RFD is thought to assist in dragging a circulation down to the surface.

Of course, that doesn't always apply, however a good 95% of the time, the rear-side tornado rule holds true. Look up book-end vorticies and squall line tornadoes for nature's exception.

 

[GregMoore]

I could honestly agree with you, Greg. Today, I was working on my car and got chased in by a rapidly intensifying thunderstorm. A few moments later, a brief, weak 'spout was reported just east of Security-Widefield. I couldn't see it from my location due to precip and being inside my house.

Tornadoes and 'spouts typically occur on the rear flank of a t-storm, not the forward flank, where there's outflow and precip. RFD development and a clear slot often precede TOR development, and the RFD is thought to assist in dragging a circulation down to the surface.

Of course, that doesn't always apply, however a good 95% of the time, the rear-side tornado rule holds true. Look up book-end vorticies and squall line tornadoes for nature's exception.

It's not always a rear side rule, you're correct about that. It's usually safe to assume though. Squall lines are the main exception for me. I'll have to look up book end-vorticies.

Fun day locally either way. I wish the temps would have broken 60. We could have had some great fun around here.

 

[Mike Moore]

Welcome aboard Ben!

As far as first chases go that doesn't sound all that bad... no bail money was required at least. ;-)

 

[Jennifer Palmer]

Congrats on your first chase, Ben! I've only been doing this for about 2 years, so you did WAY better on your first chase than I did! I think I just ended up with a rain shower!!!

But I look at every chase as a learning experience! Take what you learned on that first chase and use it to improve! Nothing is a bust, IMO!

You are lucky living in Denver, because there does seem to be quite a few chasers in your area. I can't say enough about going out with someone who is experienced, as I learned this year.

 

[Patrick Martin]

Welcome aboard Ben. Whereabouts are you in Denver? There are a lot of Denver based folks on the board, and many times we will group up or meet up. Aside from my chasecation coming up here in a week and a half, my work obligations this year mostly relegate me to weekends. If you are interested, drop me a PM and we can see about meeting up for coffee, beer, etc to see if potentially teaming up in the future is a good fit.

 

[Ryan McGinnis]

Congrats, Ben! It's quite addictive.

Many people think of the plains as being the only show in town for tornadoes, but Colorado has some of the most beautiful storms (and tornadoes) in the country. I never chased upslope stuff until 2009 and let me tell you, it's an eye-opener. Wide open country, beautiful vistas, and isolated supercells.

 

[Ben Corby]

Thanks all,

Patrick, I sent you a PM, but I'm not sure if it went through or not. If it didn't, let me know and I'll try again. I'm in that "blob" area where Denver, Westminster, Thornton and Northglenn all kind of blur together, and you're never quite sure which city you're in at any given moment. I'd definitely be up for coffee or something.

 

[Steve LaBelle]

Congrats Ben. This is my first time posting as well (lurked for a couple of years) and I'm happy to say that I had my first legitimate "chase" on 5-29-11 up here in Michigan. It was an impressive line of cells stretching from Indiana up to and beyond Grand Rapids, MI. I've always had a fascination with weather and recently became a SKYWARN spotter so I've been itching to get out and apply some of my knowledge. The Sunday of Memorial Day weekend I finally had my opp with these cells getting tornado warned early in northern Indiana traveling northeasterly. I tried like heck to get south of these cells to get in a position for some RFD but it wasn't going to happen. Stopped in Coldwater for gas and a tornado touched down about 10 minutes later. We missed it though as we had turned back to another warned cell to the northwest. The rain curtain traveling across the highway was impressive. It looked like a sand storm coming at you because of the sideways and extremely dense nature of it. The first drop of rain to hit our car was like a dump truck of water being opened on us. It was certainly a white knuckle moment! 3 confirmed tornadoes in the region but there was no way of getting eyes on them. Totally rain wrapped. I was certainly excited to recognize a pretty definitive hook on the radar and the damage path coinciding with this path confirmed what I thought my eyes were seeing. Lots of straight line wind damage that I can hopefully elaborate on in the Target area (with permission of course). I'm totally hooked now and loving it. ---- Steve