Idea

[David Williams]

I wanted to pass this idea along to all the chasers out there that get that classic question from beginners: "what do you recommend I read." As a novice I too began thinking about asking this question when all of a sudden I realized that it's probably posted weekly somewhere on the forum. So, what do you say to everyone chipping in their advice for two tools/resources that they found most helpful in their experience. And perhaps, an administrator can make it a sticky post at the top of the beginners page. So, when people want to know the information that is available they can just be directed toward that post.

 

[mikegeukes]

University of Illinois
http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/home.rxml

Weather Prediction
http://www.theweatherprediction.com/

I would recommend getting some of Tim's Books:
http://www.weathergraphics.com/

More stuff on the internet, you can also do a search on Stormtrack Forum
Mike

 

[Aaron Dooley]

Unisys

There are many sites but this one gives a good overview of what to look for in each model and pressure/height.

http://weather.unisys.com/model/details.html

 

[Paul Austin]

If you're looking for educational material, I would start with the skywarn spotter guides as a first resource:

http://spotterguides.us/

And follow that up with the MetEd modules put out by the COMET program. You have to create a user account, but the modules are free and very well-constructed with animated graphics and clear explanations. They start relatively simple but provide content for more advanced students as well:

http://www.meted.ucar.edu/topics_convective.php

 

[Jason Foster]

Carry a business card.

I tend to tell them, "There is no one place to start." I usually offer my card, and say I can give some great resources to start if you email me. On my card is my website URL too. Which in itself will guide them to start looking. If you have a site with good resources, that might be the way to go.

 

[Chris Lott]

Before the site was reformatted, their used to be a section called "Library", where you could find all sorts of links a good resources to help you out but that portion of the site has dissappeared. I used to love it and I found a lot of info there. I have to go along with Mike in saying theweatherprediction.com has been a valuable site in my learnings of the weather, along with some of the others listed.

 

[Aaron Dooley]

And...

I forgot this one...

http://spotterguides.us/

 

[Chad Cowan]

I tend to tell them, "There is no one place to start." I usually offer my card, and say I can give some great resources to start if you email me. On my card is my website URL too. Which in itself will guide them to start looking. If you have a site with good resources, that might be the way to go.

You seriously have a storm chaser business card?

 

[Jeff Richardson]

A book I'd recommend is Storm and Cloud Dynamics by William R. Cotton & Richard A. Anthes. It's published by Academic Press. Pretty advanced content, especially in the math dept, but it's been a great source of info on cloud dynamics and mesoscale systems. As mentioned earlier, all of the books from Tim Vasquez are top notch...I can't recommend those highly enough.

 

[Sam Stone]

Thanks for the links guys! Going through the COMET stuff now, it's excellent--animations, clear 'points', etc. It's like going to college, but more fun and with less homework and pesky due dates (well, the final is due around mid-May of next year ;-)).

Sam

 

[David Williams]

Hey Chris,
Is this what you were looking for?

http://www.stormtrack.org/library/faq/

 

[Chris Lott]

Hey Chris,
Is this what you were looking for?

http://www.stormtrack.org/library/faq/

Thanks David, but that's not it. It had an article about dryline chasing, numerous links to other weather sites, etc. I can't seem to find it anymore.

 

[Jason Boggs]

Is this it Chris? TECHNICAL LIBRARY

 

[Chris Lott]

Is this it Chris? TECHNICAL LIBRARY

That's it Jason, thanks. I used to find a lot of useful info in there, with the data pages, the library, links to case studies, etc. Now tell me, how did you find it. I know it's probably right in front of me somewhere.