New Skywarn Presentation

[Glenn Dixon]

My county ham radio assoc. put on a Skywarn class last weekend and I got to see how the class has been updated over the last several years. I was very impressed with the new graphics. I also got a chuckle out of recognizing the names of most of the chasers who supplied pictures and video that was being used. I even recognized one of the storms!

I actually sat down for the advanced part and used it as a good refresher. One thing that came up was a 'Key Parameters and Values' slide which listed several criteria for severe wx. I liked it so much I put it into a spreadsheet for quick down-n-dirty chase day decision-making.

If you haven't been in a few years I highly recommend you attend one soon. Who knows what nugget you might pick up that you will need out on the plains this year?

 

[Andrew Herron]

I wonder if we had the same presentation. Were there lots of pics by Phil K and even one by Mr. Miller?

I too liked the revamp and it was really nice to see them really attack the meat of what helps to cause tornados. They got fairly deep into how horizontal shear plays a role in mesocyclone creation. One thing they really focused on was how the RFD appears to play a large role in tornadogenisis.

Overall I was very pleased with this years (and next since they use the same for 2 years) Skywarn training.

 

[David Williams]

I would be interested in going to a presentation. I live in Tulsa, OK. Any chance of a presentation coming this way any time soon? Thanks.

 

[Chris Nuttall]

I would be interested in going to a presentation. I live in Tulsa, OK. Any chance of a presentation coming this way any time soon? Thanks.

Here's a link to NWS-Tulsa's spotter training schedule:
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tsa/wcm/spotter2009.htm

 

[terra seright]

I wonder if they all use the same presentation?

Out of curiosity, was there some footage of a roadway in Maine that was eaten away by floodwater currents? .......And the newbie chasers who got out of their vehicle during a Nebraska hail storm, only to end up crouching and crying behind the car doors? (Even I knew better than to do that! LOL).

The presentation we had was quite cool to watch.

 

[Lou Ruh]

I wonder if they all use the same presentation?

I know that our local office (Mount Holly, NJ) creates their own training presentation. This is done because they want to include as much locally submitted material as possible. They use other material as well, but, it helps to see recognizable landmarks, etc. to show the kinds of things that spotters are probably going to see in our area.

 

[terra seright]

I see what you mean, Lou. Our NOAA trainer had footage and pix from all over the country...thought it might be a standard presentation because of that.

Out of curiosity, was there some footage of a roadway in Maine that was eaten away by floodwater currents?

Should have used the correct term here--"flash-flooding"

Just wanted to clarify!

 

[joel ewing]

Did those newbie chasers have names? And where in Nebraska were they during the aforementioned hailstorm? I'm originally from Nebraska, and enjoy hearing about different storms in my old homeland.
PS...It's 91 in Tucson, Az. today. I'm running around in shorts and a sleeve-less t-shirt. S'cuse me....would you please hand me the suntan lotion? Thanks Joel

 

[Chris Nuttall]

We put together our own presentation at AMA. Like Lou mentioned, offices like to make their presentations fit in locally. For example, a few years ago I saw a presentation from an office in the Rockies and had a heavy emphasis on winter weather. Similarly, I'm sure spotter trainings in Florida would have a big section on hurricanes.

 

[John Wetter]

Every office that I know of puts together their own presentations. They share material, but they're all unique.

 

[terra seright]

Did those newbie chasers have names? And where in Nebraska were they during the aforementioned hailstorm? I'm originally from Nebraska, and enjoy hearing about different storms in my old homeland.
PS...It's 91 in Tucson, Az. today. I'm running around in shorts and a sleeve-less t-shirt. S'cuse me....would you please hand me the suntan lotion? Thanks Joel

A comfy 77 and slightly overcast today here, was a very nice day!!

I have hunted all over and cannot find that video, it was insane! They got out of the car! Windshield was being smashed and they got got out of the car!

Maybe it was Reed and Joel, LOL! They're crazy enough.

 

[Glenn Dixon]

The Fort Worth office focused on tornados and hail and flash flooding. No hurricane or blizzard material.

Pics were from a LOT of people, but I took notice of Steve Miller, Amos Magliocco and of course Eric Nguyen (RIP). I recognized others as well.

I really did get a good education on horizontal vorticity and vortex lines and RFD. Also a good update on the concept of a Descending Reflectivity Core. Just fascinating!

 

[Chris Nuttall]

Also a good update on the concept of a Descending Reflectivity Core. Just fascinating!

For those that don't know, ST's very own Aaron Kennedy has done some research on the subject of descending reflectivity cores.
http://www.ejssm.org/ojs/index.php/ejssm/article/view/16/28

 

[Chip Redmond]

With the severe thunderstorm/tornado threat in Southeast Ohio/West Virginia (KRLX) area so low our advanced spotter training goes over all flooding criteria. Kind of boring since thats not where my heart is, but its still something to attend. They used the the road being eaten away in whatever state it was (may have been Maine...) and I think I wrote down the URL somewhere. I'll have to go look for it. I am rather excited to go to a advanced spotter training in Dayton, OH this Saturday as it will be based off the convective severe weather in western Ohio on June 3, 2008 outbreak/training of storms that we chased. Hoping some of our footage/pictures made it into the talk.

Chip