New chaser

[Diane Bianchi]

You didn't mention this, but have you taken a Skywarn spotting class? If not, I would recommend you start out with a Skywarn class through your local NWS office. Usually these are given late winter/early spring and are FREE. Some of the things you will learn are: Thunderstorm development, fundamentals of storm structure, identifying potential severe weather features, reporting critical information, safety, etc. You will also meet people who are interested in severe weather, NWS trainers, as well as seasoned spotters and some chasers.

You will be certified as a spotter, which if you are calling in a tornado, you should identify yourself as a trained spotter. The certification is good for two years, but it's advised to repeat the class every year. It lasts about 2 1/2-3 hours but packed full of information. Here is a link to the NWS Skywarn Storm Spotter Program: SKYWARN

 

[Jacob Tuuk]

Got to reading everything and boy that's a lot of information, but I expected nothing less, the months possibly years it takes me to be able to learn and grasp all of the stuff that has been given to me will be worth it in the long run, I definitely will have many questions along the road so to speak. thank you everyone once again for all of this information, I think my best course of action will be to start with the NWS, and those storm chasing videos that Blake brought up, oh and those weather radar videos that Johnathan brought up.

Thank you
Jacob Tuuk

 

[Mark Gressman Jr]

The depth of information is definitely intimidating, but it all depends on how you prefer to learn. I really liked the Haby Hints that Jeff and I suggested because it allowed me to learn in bite sized chunks, but everything recommended here is excellent. I'd say it took me 6 to 9 months of moderate effort to be comfortable with knowing what to look for and where, then make a forecast... but there's always something more to learn. You won't need to understand partial differential equations to be a good chaser (it won't hurt either, lol), so don't get discouraged with the mountain in front of you.

Use the search feature here on StormTrack for questions, and if you don't find what you're looking for, post a new thread in Introductory Weather. There are some brilliant minds here that I'm sure would be eager to help.

 

[Jamie H]

Got to reading everything and boy that's a lot of information, but I expected nothing less, the months possibly years it takes me to be able to learn and grasp all of the stuff that has been given to me will be worth it in the long run, I definitely will have many questions along the road so to speak. thank you everyone once again for all of this information, I think my best course of action will be to start with the NWS, and those storm chasing videos that Blake brought up, oh and those weather radar videos that Johnathan brought up.

Thank you
Jacob Tuuk

Keep at it through the next 9 months, and by next season you'll be a better place to be able to follow along with severe weather next season. It is a lot of information but most of it starts to make sense quite quickly!

 

[Blake Naftel]

Glad to read the discussion has been an encouraging one for you, Jacob! Everyone learns at different means and speeds. It’s very easy to feel initially overwhelmed with all the resources, videos and commentary out there, but take your time and it will all eventually synch up… and even when you reach that point, there will always be more questions.

When I was 15 [in 1996] and just had started to look at available forecast models via the internet from WXP/Purdue, Ohio State and NCAR/UCAR, I somewhat understood what I was interpreting because I had been watching The Weather Channel, A.M. Weather and local weather casts for years. A low, high, upper/mid level winds, some blobs of simulated precipitation on the now defunct ‘Aviation’ model; but there was a lot that I did not, nor was it wasn’t until I began actually chasing with others whom had more experience than I, both whom were/are professional meteorologists and seasoned chasers, that I finally understood how the map/simulated dynamics connected to what happened in real-time. One can watch videos until the cows come home and that can be a wonderful resource, but having someone explain a Skew-T hodograph plot directly, help plot a forecast and then venture out to see what happened was the big kick [for me] to understand why a tornado formed in a forecast zone verses a bust.

Those experiences highlight the value of human connection, which often begins like this, digitally with a lot of information all at once. As Diane noted, local SKYWARN courses from DTX [Detroit] and GRR [Grand Rapids] in the Spring time are also excellent resources for a general or in-depth overview, allow you to become part of the warning process and connect you to the forecasters locally. Express your genuine interest to those individuals as well and by networking, that will also open doors of further knowledge and experiences.

 

[JamesCaruso]

In my view, there are two different ways to learn anything -

1. the organized, structured, academic approach, building from the ground up, from basic to advanced, such as reflected in a university meteorology program

2. the experiential, learn-by-doing approach, learning individual topics as needed and going where your interests lead you

I learned the second way. I would be much better at forecasting if I had pursued the first way. This does not mean you have to go through a university program, it just means being more structured and organized; building a learning plan for yourself.

Perhaps the second method is “good enough” for chasing; it depends what you are interested in. For example, I know that the left front quadrant of an upper-level jet is a favorable area for diffluence and a source of lift for convective initiation. I also know that the character of each quadrant of the jet stream results from the Coriolis effect. But I can’t begin to describe the physics of why. Do i need to know that for chasing? No. Would I like to understand it? Sure, but probably not enough to spend the time on it if I don’t need to. But there are other things I don’t need to know for chasing either, but am curious enough about to learn. So it’s about where your interests and curiosity take you, and that will change over time. That’s the nature of curiosity, knowing a little bit is a prerequisite to becoming curious, and curiosity drives you to learn more.

I am generally interested in the process of learning, and how to optimize it. For a great book on the topic, check out “Ultralearning” by Scott Young.

 

[Jacob Tuuk]

Hello all, I've spent a lot of time studying the information given to me by convective chronicles and even have dipped my toes into chasing this recent Thursday in Illinois, I've been taking strides in this hobby and I feel like I'm on the right path. Next step for me is applying for college so I can get into real meteorology work, of course after I finish convective chronicles and the other information I have gotten. Here is a picture I took right before I had to take my escape route. Side note: Screw you McDonalds!

 

[Evan Hawkins]

Hello all, I hope this day is finding you well, I’ve been into storm chasing since I was a kid when I first watched tornado intercept. I have no idea where to post this but this seemed like the best place. I have no clue where to start with my learning, I’ve browsed the site a bit and have found mostly outdated material. If anyone can help me get my start in chasing that would be awesome!

Im trying to learn more about how to predict where the chasing hotspot is going to be, I got no idea where to get CAPE from either, calculating it is easy enough to research but I got no idea where to find that info.

Another weird question I can think of at the moment is how do you get the funds for chasing? Do you save your money for the rest of the year til storm season hits?

Any answers, corrections, clarifications are appreciated!

Thank you
-Jacob Tuuk

I am a new chaser as well but IMHP (In My Honest Opinion) I would look at the radar and see where the storm(s) are gonna hit, then get into the path of the storm (In other words play battleship with it). As of CAPE neither do I. And for funds, currently I have a side job for it to get funds but after actually chasing, you can start YouTube, get sponsors or work for local NWS stations and go from there, thats just me though, there plenty of things to do.

 

[Evan Hawkins]

I am a new chaser as well but IMHP (In My Honest Opinion) I would look at the radar and see where the storm(s) are gonna hit, then get into the path of the storm (In other words play battleship with it). As of CAPE neither do I. And for funds, currently I have a side job for it to get funds but after actually chasing, you can start YouTube, get sponsors or work for local NWS stations and go from there, thats just me though, there plenty of things to do.

You can also sell you photos/pictures (or data) to big-time chasers for good money as well

 

[Warren Faidley]

If it was me, I'd save enough money to go on one of the larger, respected tours, like Silverlining or others. (Not an endorsement). Seriously, it's the best money you will ever spend if you want to know what chasing is like. Driving for hours on end, finding people you are compatible with after eating bean burritos, safety, forecasting, logistics, etc. Storm tours do have risk, so that must also be considered.

My most important advise is 1: Avoid emulating the future Darwin Award Winning chasers seen on social media who drive into vorticies. 2: Don't think you can make a retirement level income from chasing alone. 3: Find a job you like that allows time off for chasing, which in reality is usually only a few weeks a year. 4: Have fun and enjoy the ride.

 

[Evan Hawkins]

If it was me, I'd save enough money to go on one of the larger, respected tours, like Silverlining or others. (Not an endorsement). Seriously, it's the best money you will ever spend if you want to know what chasing is like. Driving for hours on end, finding people you are compatible with after eating bean burritos, safety, forecasting, logistics, etc. Storm tours do have risk, so that must also be considered.

My most important advise is 1: Avoid emulating the future Darwin Award Winning chasers seen on social media who drive into vorticies. 2: Don't think you can make a retirement level income from chasing alone. 3: Find a job you like that allows time off for chasing, which in reality is usually only a few weeks a year. 4: Have fun and enjoy the ride.

That's some good advice. As of making money I'm thinking of paranormal investigation on the side (or part time jobs as I travel) as well as possible YouTube. I did email you earlier and the silverlining tours I am currently looking seriously into, thank you.

 

[Warren Faidley]

You can also sell you photos/pictures (or data) to big-time chasers for good money as well

There is very little money to be made selling photos now days.

I've stayed in some cheap motels that totally needed some type of exorcism --- especially the ones that look like they were vandalized by Elvis --- with red shag carpeting and water that runs brown in the shower.

 

[Evan Hawkins]

First i'd like to say sorry for your experience there. Second as an Elvis fan that doesn't surprise me honestly

There is very little money to be made selling photos now days.

I've stayed in some cheap motels that totally needed some type of exorcism --- especially the ones that look like they were vandalized by Elvis --- with red shag carpeting and water that runs brown in the shower.

 

[Evan Hawkins]

There is very little money to be made selling photos now days.

I've stayed in some cheap motels that totally needed some type of exorcism --- especially the ones that look like they were vandalized by Elvis --- with red shag carpeting and water that runs brown in the shower.

True but it's an idea.

 

[Hannah.Taylor]

Take Gabe Garfield's Tornado Forecasting Course. I am doing it now online and it's the best thing I could have ever done.