Moved out of tornado alley- how do you handle chase season?

[Bob Hartig]

Oklahoma City is only 1000 miles and a 14.5 hour drive away.

"Only 1,000 miles": spoken like a true Michigan chaser.

I just checked out the distance between Seattle and Hays, KS. It's 1,660 miles. In other words, a good two days drive just to get to tornado alley, let alone wherever your actual target may be. Obviously you've got to be pretty selective.

Where I live, while it's a long drive to get to the Plains, I can still pull off mini-chases in response to developing weather. But, since I don't imagine you're fabulously wealthy and can fly whenever you want to, that's really not an option for you. Plus, unlike those of us who live east of the alley, you don't have the possibility of tracking with the weather system on the way back home. I think your only realistic option is, as has been mentioned, to block out some chase vacation time, most likely in May.

 

[Josh Murfield]

Thanks for all the responses. I guess at this point, since I still have family in Nebraska my only chance will be to schedule visits to them in the Spring and hope action happens during that time. Money and time off will eventually come so specific chase trips may be an option further down the road. Otherwise I'll be an armchair chaser most of the time.

 

[Mike Johnston]

Thanks for all the responses. I guess at this point, since I still have family in Nebraska my only chance will be to schedule visits to them in the Spring and hope action happens during that time. Money and time off will eventually come so specific chase trips may be an option further down the road. Otherwise I'll be an armchair chaser most of the time.

Yeah, having family out there definitely helps. I'm fortunate to have family in Wichita, Kansas City, Springfield, and Pittsburg KS, so can get back there for a few weeks at a time without having to pinpoint the timing.

Otherwise, I actually enjoy the armchair chasing. It's not the same, of course, but since the forecasting aspect is infinitely challenging and interesting to me, at least I can participate to that extent.

 

[Josh Murfield]

Yeah, having family out there definitely helps. I'm fortunate to have family in Wichita, Kansas City, Springfield, and Pittsburg KS, so can get back there for a few weeks at a time without having to pinpoint the timing.

Otherwise, I actually enjoy the armchair chasing. It's not the same, of course, but since the forecasting aspect is infinitely challenging and interesting to me, at least I can participate to that extent.

Yeah, I do look forward to that. Even when I lived in Nebraska, I was limited most of the time, I would only chase events that were within 90 miles or so of Lincoln, so I did a lot of virtual chasing online, as well as watching the NOW threads here. That was fun, and not too painful because I always knew the next setup could happen in my territory.... that definitely won't be the case out here- I'll be lucky to even hear thunder once a year.
So I will take a new approach to virtual chasing this year, it will be fun.

 

[Anthony Petito]

I just moved from Nebraska to Washignton DC... So I know how you feel.

 

[Bryan Stokes]

I also know how you feel. I have to move every 3 years or so...and since falling in love with storm chasing a couple of years ago, I've been wanting to stay right here in Wichita. I thought I was going to San Antonio next, but now I'm moving to Colorado Springs this summer and couldn't be more ecstatic. I'll be there for 4 years and it's a great location that's still close to the alley! <huge sigh of relief>

Back to your original question Josh, is there no way for the two of you to take at least a 7-day vacation each year to chase? How about Memorial Day weekend? Perhaps you could take 4 days of vacation time afterwards and end up with 8 days of chasing. Or does your new jobs prevent you from taking any time of during that time of the year?

Bryan

 

[Josh Murfield]

I also know how you feel. I have to move every 3 years or so...and since falling in love with storm chasing a couple of years ago, I've been wanting to stay right here in Wichita. I thought I was going to San Antonio next, but now I'm moving to Colorado Springs this summer and couldn't be more ecstatic. I'll be there for 4 years and it's a great location that's still close to the alley! <huge sigh of relief>

Back to your original question Josh, is there no way for the two of you to take at least a 7-day vacation each year to chase? How about Memorial Day weekend? Perhaps you could take 4 days of vacation time afterwards and end up with 8 days of chasing. Or does your new jobs prevent you from taking any time of during that time of the year?

Bryan

Hey Bryan,

Congrats on the move to a great area that is still close to the alley!

To answer your question, this year will be tough since I'm new at the job with no real vacation time, but after that we definitely will have the option, if we wish, to take several days to a week vacation back to the Plains if we wish. That's a bigger committment so we'll see how that would work financially and time-wise, but it may work out to do that in the coming years. It would sure be something to look forward to each Spring!

 

[Billy Griffin]

Sorry... didn't chime in 'til today. Not to worry 'bout the move out here. There is a very broad misconception that the Seattle area is immune to severe weather, when in fact, the PSCZ is an active weather maker and offers a variety of unique chasing opportunities.

If you have the chance to get out in the eastern portions of King and Pierce counties, you'll start feeling right at home with the very flat terrain and wide open spaces.

Last year, in August; we had an EF-2 tornado near the towns of Buckley / Enumclaw!
I reside in Enumclaw, commute to Seattle every day. The "plateau" as it's referred to, is a great spotting/short chasing terrain and yes, we indeed do have our yearly events of severe weather and yes, I've been here two years now, and captured 4 tornadoes!
Albiet, these are not mile-wide Midwest monsters, but a fun challenge nevertheless.

Chin up; you'll enjoy this area. The beauty is unmatched !!!
Chase hard and good luck.

 

[Josh Murfield]

Wow, 4 tornadoes in two years in a relatively small area like that is great- I couldn't match that within the same sized radius around where I lived in tornado alley!

Thanks for the info, that is great to hear. I will do some more research on severe weather in that area, and just maybe the wife and I will get to head out there. I have not yet been to the Enumclaw area, but I've heard it's beautiful (of course so is all of this area, we just love it)- to catch a tornado or any severe weather with that beautiful scenery as the back drop would be awesome!

 

[Jeremy Den Hartog]

I guess you could say almost every place has its challenges...and most chasers would find other locations more 'ideal'. For example, I'm in Minnesota. I would love to live a little further south towards Kansas or Oklahoma - but I still get a fair amount of action without having to drive huge distances so I really can't complain

 

[Billy Griffin]

Josh,

I've talked to Keith quite a bit off and on, here on ST and via email. He has captured some good events on the south end and you will be happy to know that August has been the productive month over the past three yrs, actually; to produce significant svr wx events around the Puget Sound region. The past three yrs have produced EF-0, EF-1 and EF-2 tornadoes. The local media has even (slowly) gotten on board with more severe weather (convective-associated) coverage. You won't see much response from the local NWS office, however. For some reason, their heads are buried in the sand and they seem very set on the fact that convection around here is seemingly impossible. (sigh) My frustration may be apparent by reading this.

Anyway, I guess I'm happy in the fact that, while realizing the frequency and severity of events in no way compares to the Midwest and other parts of the U.S., the unique weather patterns (i.e. cold core systems, late-summer convective systems, PSCZ isolated events and orographic influences of the plateau / Cascades) do make for some exciting opportunities to chase locally and capture these events on film and video!

Truly, it's more of a challenge to chase due to our horrible road networks, traffic congestion and infrastructure; versus the actuality that severe weather does really occur in the great Pacific Northwest!

Great to see another ST member on here that is local to Seattle and understands the challenging weather events we have. I really don't think you'll be disappointed. And at the end of the day, at least you can be at the ocean or up on a 14,000ft volcano..... all within a couple hour's drive!

Cheers,

 

[Jason Foster]

I just moved from Nebraska to Washignton DC... So I know how you feel.

Wow, you really must have just moved...haven't even updated your profile location yet...LOL.

Where about's in DC? Did you move right into the city or one of the 'burbs'?

 

[Josh Murfield]

Josh,

I've talked to Keith quite a bit off and on, here on ST and via email. He has captured some good events on the south end and you will be happy to know that August has been the productive month over the past three yrs, actually; to produce significant svr wx events around the Puget Sound region. The past three yrs have produced EF-0, EF-1 and EF-2 tornadoes. The local media has even (slowly) gotten on board with more severe weather (convective-associated) coverage. You won't see much response from the local NWS office, however. For some reason, their heads are buried in the sand and they seem very set on the fact that convection around here is seemingly impossible. (sigh) My frustration may be apparent by reading this.

Anyway, I guess I'm happy in the fact that, while realizing the frequency and severity of events in no way compares to the Midwest and other parts of the U.S., the unique weather patterns (i.e. cold core systems, late-summer convective systems, PSCZ isolated events and orographic influences of the plateau / Cascades) do make for some exciting opportunities to chase locally and capture these events on film and video!

Truly, it's more of a challenge to chase due to our horrible road networks, traffic congestion and infrastructure; versus the actuality that severe weather does really occur in the great Pacific Northwest!

Great to see another ST member on here that is local to Seattle and understands the challenging weather events we have. I really don't think you'll be disappointed. And at the end of the day, at least you can be at the ocean or up on a 14,000ft volcano..... all within a couple hour's drive!

Cheers,

Thanks for the information- it is really interesting that you say even local media and even NWS are slow to catch on to convection out here. That boggles my mind- how can NWS, especially, not be able to predict a chance of convection? Regarding local TV weather reports, I have noticed that they are not nearly as comprehensive here as they are back on the Plains- the weather guy just screams through a quick forecast, tells temps, if it will rain, and that's about it. I got so used to the weather guys back on the Plains going on for a long time about every detail as to why things are happening as they are, even on calm weather days. Not a complaint, just an observation.

But anyway, like you said my wife and I are ecstatic to be out here- the mountains, the water, the trees, everything is just gorgeous and we love being able to go on short distance drives for sight-seeing every single weekend. If we could find a storm now and then to go along with it this will be the absolutely perfect spot for us.

 

[Keith Mullen]

Pacific NW

It's not that they don't necessarily catch on or can't predict it...

...it's more that they fail to believe in severe weather occurring if the radar grabs and data fail to line up with what is visually observed.

You need to show them video proof from ten different witnesses, notarized documents attesting to the occurrance, and a statement from your good grandmother too - before they will concede it occurred.

That's overdramatizing a bit, but essentially true.

 

[Billy Griffin]

Actually Keith, you know you're not too off-base. Very strange how much you have to go through when reporting severe weather to the NWS out here. However, working with KIRO has been an enjoyable experience and with their front office staff being from Kansas and Oklahoma ironically; they're open for new ideas in weather coverage out here.

Unfortunately, you'll find the #1 priority is always = the "commute." Marching corporate ants need their commute information (gotta be at work by 4am and stay 'til 9pm), and that takes center-stage as far as any breaking news focus. Sigh... I digress.

Anyway... you'll also enjoy chasing other types of weather systems in addition to just convective systems. The wind storms, cold core lows, flooding rains in November/December and the occasional lowland snows make for interesting challenges in forecasting and positioning yourself just right for capturing the best "action."

As you guys get settled in, feel free to PM me and perhaps we can all meet up for a fun weather event chase here locally. And Rocky; if you're reading... you still have your trip to make out here, so look us up!