May I see your storm chaser license?

[Shane Adams]

I strongly disagree with the notion some chasers have, that since they go mobile and spend hours and miles in the plains each year, it makes them more professional than a properly trained and equally experienced Skywarn Spotter on a local basis. The internet, with it's many online training opportunities such as UCAR- METED can help equalize the playing field between Spotters and Chasers.

More professional? How about more EXPERIENCED. When you take a person who sees severe weather 20-30 times a year (and follows the storm, seeing behavioral and structural changes, not just what it looked like as it flew by them) VS a person who sees a handful of severe storms a year, there is no comparison. I've sat through SKYWARN classes, and the fact is, if you don't have much/any experience actually OBSERVING severe weather in the field, that certificate is nothing more than something to decorate a wall with. This isn't a critique, it is the simple truth.

I know it shouldn't, but it still bothers me to see people under-value the experience storm chasers bring to the warning process.

 

[Damon Poole]

Shane, I said properly trained and equally experienced storm spotters. There are spotters who DO put in the time and training to gain experience. I'm not undervaluing chasers at all, chasers have made, and, do make, many valuable contributions. However, I'm equally bothered when chasers undervalue trained and certified spotters. Spotters DO put in equal training and experience in, as you say, "actually OBSERVING", and reporting severe weather, (including any changes in storm structure, & behavior). Call it chasing or spotting, storm observation experience, is still storm observation experience. Whether you chase a system through the plains, or, stay in your own neighborhood, mobility is helpful, but it's not superiority.

More professional? How about more EXPERIENCED. When you take a person who sees severe weather 20-30 times a year (and follows the storm, seeing behavioral and structural changes, not just what it looked like as it flew by them) VS a person who sees a handful of severe storms a year, there is no comparison. I've sat through SKYWARN classes, and the fact is, if you don't have much/any experience actually OBSERVING severe weather in the field, that certificate is nothing more than something to decorate a wall with. This isn't a critique, it is the simple truth.

I know it shouldn't, but it still bothers me to see people under-value the experience storm chasers bring to the warning process.

 

[Greg McLaughlin]

I have to respectfully disagree with you Damon. Storm chasers who chase on a regular basis have a superior understanding and experience of storm structure and evolution to that of a dedicated spotter who spots what comes through their "backyard". I am not saying this as a slight to storm spotters, because they are very important in the warning process, but chasers have more experience because they see more. Its that simple. I have seen many more storms and tornadoes as a chaser than I ever would have as a spotter. Unless a spotter has chased in the past and has done so across a larger domain, then maybe one could make an argument that they are as experienced. Otherwise, there is no comparison. As far as training, that cannot really be gauged, because there are so many resources available online and through various sources of media in addition to NWS spotter training. Training and knowledge is only limited by one's desire to do the research themselves.

As far as spotter training goes, much of it is outdated and needs an overhaul.

This was briefly addressed in a paper (Tornadoes: Some Hard Realities) Doswell wrote after Vortex 1. The advances in science and understanding tornadogenesis and the tornado cyclone are poorly represented in current spotter training material. New illustrations and better video representation need to be part of spotter training. As Doswell noted, the NWS is limited by time and resources.

Back to your point though, I find it difficult to buy your statement that spotters put in EQUAL experience in "actually observing". Training?.....maybe, but actual observation, I just don't see it.