Hi and Stuffs? Feeling weird not posting yet...

[Dan GTX]

I'm sure I'll have a question in here somewhere. I just feel the need to post SOMETHING as I feel a little... shall I say "intimidated"... in joining here. I'm all for learning about anything and everything weather-related, yet I haven't the slightest on "how to start".

I mean, I feel my knowledge of storms and weather is above normal, yet I'm certainly no expert. Right now, I want to learn more about forecasting and all the math behind it. I want to learn how to be able to look at the data and maps and make my own predictions about weather hours or days in advance. I haven't the slightest idea how to do that now. I can make rough predictions about "oh, this storm system is going to go THIS WAY and be there in an hour." Uh, yeah, not really "predicting", I think. I'm just looking at a radar map, seeing the winds going "that way" at "that speed" and going "Oh, yeah."

I keep getting lost when it comes to figuring out what I even need to start reading... lol... I'm already all over https://www.meted.ucar.edu/ , so I guess that's the best place to start, huh?

Primarily, I'm interested in storms for the photos. I do professional photography on the side from my day job in retail, The first thing on my mind during a storm is "Where can I get the best shot?". However, I realized that it wouldn't be right of me to do just that. I'm going INTO the storms while others are getting away from them, and I knew there could be a time I'd be the first on a bad scene. I managed to get my Advanced Storm Spotting certificate this year and I do what I can to report bad weather/incidents.

I think this post is mostly me saying "Hi"... to break the ice and all... cause I feel weird joining and not posting when everything else posted in here seems out of my league...

 

[Todd Renshaw]

Don't sweat it too much, Dan. Like any complex subject, it will take a while to learn. But little by little you can do it. (Also, the search feature is your friend. A lot of questions have already been answered. But if you can't find what you need, I don't think anyone is going to jump down your throat if you post it in the Introductory weather & chasing section.)

Welcome.

The quote in your sig is really sick. I like it.

 

[Dan GTX]

Thanks for the info ^.^. I have searched this forum for tons of information already and learned a bit from it. It's how I found the MetED site.

I've gotten a lot of good feedback on the signature too. It's so true sometimes... lol

 

[joel ewing]

Hi Dan, and welcome to S. Track. It's understandable that you'd feel a bit timid, but most folks in here don't know each other at all. Some, like me, have been chasing for quite a long time, and therefore know several of the other posters in here. I'm not a meteorologist, and even though I've chased for over 25yrs, there is a ton I don't understand, and probably never will...since my college days were over almost 40yrs ago, and I won't be going back to learn about the weather. So, I understand your hesitancy to post. But if you wish to really learn, you'll just have to suck it up and ask away.....it'll get easier and you'll have a lot of fun and you can learn a ton in here.
BTW....why your last name of "GTX"? Are you into Mopars.....such as the old musclecars like the Road Runners, and Plymouth GTX's?? I most definitely am. A good friend of mine used to be a national record holder in his class and ran a 69 Plymouth GTX with the 426 hemi....about 600 plus horses. I've got a couple of rare musclecars myself, and hope to pick up a mid-1960's big block Corvette next year.

 

[Dan GTX]

Thanks for the welcome Joel. I think part of it is that I'm not sure what to ask first. I'm not worried about sounding like a noob to this stuff. I honestly feel I have a DECENT understanding of weather, but I want to get much more technical and much more serious. As I mentioned earlier, I want to learn more about the finer details of forecasting (like knowing how the systems automatically come up with their predictions as well as coming up with my own predictions just by looking at a few maps/radar images).

As for the name, I'm using "GTX" as my last name on here because it's the most recognizable by many people, both online and offline. My professional photography goes by "GTX Photography", and even my Facebook is under "Dan GTX." I get involved in a lot of weather-stuff on Facebook so I wouldn't be surprised if someone here recognizes me from that (which was one of the reasons I did "GTX" here.) However, the name doesn't come from old muscle cars (although, don't get me wrong, I love classic cars, and the Plymouth is just downright sexy awesome.) It started from an old gaming community who initialed as "GTX5" for "Gran Touring eXtreme", a racing game community (I'm big on racing stuff, and I don't remember what the "5" was for anymore). The name I used there was "GTX5_Crusader", and when the community disbanded (mind you, this was back in 2001-ish), I found that "GTX5_Crusader" would register just about anywhere (ever get stuck trying to register a nickname someone else had? No one had this one!) Eventually, it got shortened to just "GTX", and even friends who aren't online know me as that, or just "G".

The name has stuck since.

 

[John Olexa]

Hey Dan, don't feel bad. I've been a member here for a long time and not many posts LOL. Heck I was with Storm Track when you got the one or two page letter folded and Stapled... and mailed!!!

Edit: Saw your in Pittsburgh, I was born just outside Pittsburgh in Monongahela

 

[Dan GTX]

Spiffy. I'm not originally from Pittsburgh. I'm from a much smaller town North East of here. It actually shows up on a map, it's called Stump Creek (and technically, not even exactly from there.) Small pretty-much-nothing town. I came here for college back in 2003 and haven't really left because I actually have a higher chance of getting a reasonable job here... lol