*New Users. Meet and Greet Area*

[Scotty Mitchell]

Hi everybody. I just thought I would introduce myself. I live in Big Lake,Mn. I have been around Skywarn for a while(1985 to 2000). I have some field experience and went on a couple of chases this summer. I'm ex just about everything-fire,ems,and law enforcement. I found this site earlier this summer and started reading. I have learned so much, some I get, some I don't. I just keep reading and learning every day. Thanks to everyone for allowing me to be part of this great community! By the way, I own and operate a Dairy Queen.

Thanks, Scotty

 

[Jesse Risley]

Hi everybody. I just thought I would introduce myself. I live in Big Lake,Mn. I have been around Skywarn for a while(1985 to 2000). I have some field experience and went on a couple of chases this summer. I'm ex just about everything-fire,ems,and law enforcement. I found this site earlier this summer and started reading. I have learned so much, some I get, some I don't. I just keep reading and learning every day. Thanks to everyone for allowing me to be part of this great community! By the way, I own and operate a Dairy Queen.

Thanks, Scotty

Welcome to the community, Scotty.

 

[KendraReed]

*Waves* Hi Scotty!




~The message you have entered is too short. Please lengthen your message to at least 20 characters.

 

[Jason Hobbs]

Hi!
I found this site back a couple years ago, while I was stationed in Egypt with an Army Aviation company. I did get registered and ready to post up some stuff back then, but Army concerns kind of took the wind out of my sails. Now, having completed an A.S., I'm looking at moving onwards to a B.S. in either Meteorology or Environmental Science.

I'm here now because, honestly, I am rather tempted to get my feet wet in chasing (smartly), brought on by my school status and a rather interesting storm that blew through Camp Ripley, MN back the middle of July this year. (What do Army National Guardsmen do when they hear the tornado sirens? Run outside and start taking pictures. Junkies, the lot of us. I also rode laptop, calling out the parts and the waves of that storm as best as I could tell from public radar that's about ten minutes behind!)

Truth be told, I'm here to get a bit more educated before the 2011 season starts. I'm also looking to becoming a Spotter for 2011 as well, so, we'll see if I can't actually be useful here, too, eh?

 

[Jason Foster]

Welcome New Comers. We may be seeing an influx of new names pop-up here due to the attention based on a Stormtrack member that was part of a TV series (Yes, I'm being vague on purpose) shown tonight (Wednesday, November 3rd, 2010) & likely with additional repeats of the show.

This is the first place you should post. It is important to tell us about yourself. It is optional. Please also take the time to read, read, and read some more throughout this site. 90% of new member questions have already been answered within the forum postings, or by also going to:

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

I'm not a staff member or owner, so take this next part as just personal opinion and I speak for no one else:

This site is generally for dedicated storm chasers, or those that have a deep interest in chasing, or are serious about learning to chase. We are generally a tight-nit group and have high expectations of our members to post well written content.

Please think before you post, please use the SEARCH feature of the site extensively.

Be sure to real ALL rules. There are different rules for different sections. Some are more loose than others, while some have high demands for structure, content, and more.

Again...welcome.

 

[Brandon Copic]

Well, I'm not too new, but never posted here, I got onto stormtrack back in April but never used it as frequently until now...so better late then never? Well I'm Brandon Copic, storm chaser in Northwestern Ohio had my first official season this year, I've studied meteorology on my own time and with the help of a local meteorologist since I was in 7th grade (I am currently a Junior or 11th grade) I was ten miles north of the Lake Township/Millbury, OH EF-4 Tornado the night of June 5th, 2010. That event encouraged me, if I ever come upon something like that I want to be able to help, so I am getting some EMS training at my high school. I had a great season chasing visually, got a Wall Cloud, Shelf Cloud, and Inflow Tail, only small hail, some good straight line winds, but I just enjoy being out with nature. I am co-owner of the Toledo Tornado Trackers/Meso Media with James Gustina we just felt like having a connection so why not a team? I'm a member of the Lucas County Skywarn have been for a good 3 years now. I love being in nature and all its elements and I plan to chase as much as possible so I can have the full experience and not killing myself in doing that. I'd also like to thank all of those who will help out if I have any meteorological problems I might need help with!

 

[Jesse Risley]

Welcome aboard Brandon!

 

[Keith Hosman]

Welcome to the forum Brendon, we're practially neighbors heh.


I guess I should introduce myself also since I've not done so yet.

As you can tell my name is Keith, I work for the Henry County Ohio EMA and am a severe weather enthusiast. I have been chasing/spotting locally for close to 20 years. I am also a amateur radio operator and an ARRL VE. I have been deployed all over the US on large disaster operations starting with Hurricane Andrew (Hurricanes, floods, tornados, the tragic events of 9-11) working with both the American Red Cross and FEMA.

I'll be the first to admit I do not have the knowledge of forecasting and science many of the members here have, but I am always trying to learn more.

 

[Jasson Dotts]

Hello everyone.

Not off to a good start here by misspelling my own name! The S stuck. Been a life long weather lover. I'm located in Angola In. Been lurking here for awhile and learning a lot. Will be taking my basic Skywarn and advanced course's in February and March. Look forward to learning from all of you.

 

[RogerPemberton]

I've been here for a bit but must have missed this thread. I've been interested in weather since I was a kid. The normal story, had a bad experience as a child that fostered fear of storms for a long time. Finally decided to learn more about them to combat the fear, blah blah blah.

Looking forward to my first full chase season. I did some spotting and unofficial chasing as a first responder/fire fighter for a while. I'm located in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas.

I've really enjoyed reading the forum for a while now. Lots of great information here.

 

[Keith Hosman]

Welcome Jason, the IMO Skywarn group out of Angola are a great bunch of people. I've worked with Bill, and Sharon for years.

 

[LinkeS]

Another StormTrack newbie here....

Hi all,

My name is Shane Linke and I'm a 31 year old currently living in Windsor, CO (near Fort Collins). I graduated from Colorado State with a CIS degree with a concentration in Comp Science and have been working as a software developer ever since. My hobbies are golf, hiking, computers, photography, doing just about anything active outdoors and just recently storm chasing .

My first severe weather experience was as a 5 year old when my brother and I were a watching a late May storm from our bedroom room window. Just as the hail/rain stopped and the storm seemed to be over, a bolt of lightning struck the 45 ft Cottonwood tree in our neighbors yard, splitting it clean down the middle. Even being only 5 years old, it was a moment that left me in awe of nature's power and one I'll never forget. Ever since that day, I've looked forward to the late spring/early summer months when the storms roll over the continental divide. Years later, my fascination with weather was cemented when I witnessed my first tornado while playing in a high school golf tourney near Aurora, CO.

Following high school I wanted to pursue an education in weather/meteorology and actually started as an Atmospheric Science major before switching to CIS/CS after my freshman year . It probably sounds bad but the main reason was that I had to pay my way for college so I wanted to switch to a major that could get me in the work force asap after graduation and IT positions were practically being handed out at that time . After college I started working as a contractor where typical work weeks were 60-80 hours, leaving little to no time for pursuing weather as a hobby. It wasn't until a tornado hit close to home in 2008 that I realized I was missing out on experiencing something that had always captured my interest. The F3 tornado that hit Windsor did do a moderate amount of damage to our house but it also renewed a passion that I had nearly forgotten.

Fast forward to 2010, where I finally tried to make time to learn the fundamentals of severe weather forecasting and storm chasing. I lurked around on the public facing part of the ST forum since early summer and picked up Tim Vasquez's Severe Weather Forecasting and Storm Chasing handbook (which are great BTW!) to help get started. I felt a little intimidated to join being a true beginner while in the midst of severe weather season so I used sites like MetEd, NOAA, COD as well as learning sections of chasers personal blogs/sites to anonymously gain a basic understanding . Anyhow, I thought the Colorado winter would be a perfect time to join and really take advantage of the educational resources available here before the 2011 severe weather season starts in my area. I'm sure I'll be taking more from the site than giving but I at least hope I can give back in subjects that I'm more knowledgeable like computers, wireless/mobile devices and hardware/software.

Almost forgot....I did go on a few chases last year relying on my beginner level knowledge in picking a target area and my eyes as a guide once I got there. I didn't get out on my first chase until the very end of June so I missed the prime time for chasing. Overall, I had some great experiences with the highlight being a rope tornado near Brush, CO on 8/16/2010 and I'm already looking forward to next year.

Here's an album with some of my favorite pics from my short chase season in 2010:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=28702&id=1721404486&l=9ed16644cd

Thanks in advance for all the information the ST community provides!

Yikes, just realized how long my fisrt post was...sorry for rambling

 

[Bryan_Knitter]

New here. Just wanted to say Hi. I'm here to get a better understanding of how weather works and maybe get out on a chase or two. TONS of info to read through!

Bryan

 

[Kris Harmon]

Another new guy

My name is Kris Harmon and I'm a 39 years of age. I live in Tahoka TX, which, for those of you who are not familiar with the area, is about 30 miles south of Lubbock. I am a former police officer and was working for a small town about 40 miles from Jarrell TX when the F-5 wiped out a large portion of a subdivision there. I was on a response team that volunteered to do search and rescue. That storm peeked my interest in severe weather.

I have always enjoyed photography and in the last year decided to start doing some severe weather photography. My main interest is in lightning photography, but would love to get a tornado on film. I found this site and thought it would be a good place to get information, tips, tricks, and inside info from the pro's and other amateurs with similar interest. I look forward to gathering information from folks here, and when the spring time rolls around maybe sharing a cup of coffee with the guys that come to this part of the south plains to chase.

K. Harmon

 

[Keith Wilson]

Seasons Greetings from Florida

Hello to all.
I reside in the Panhandle of Florida, but I was born and lived in Paducah, Ky for 22 years before moving here. I have been a chaser/spotter for over 25 years.
I have always had a keen interest in the weather, and did quite a bit of chasing in Western Kentucky, S. Illinois, and SE Missouri in the 80's. I have found it much more difficult to chase down here due to the terrain, erratic road system, and the rarity of super cells as opposed to the abundance of pulse and sea breeze storms.
I am always watching for the next hurricane and have experienced several, with Opal ('95) being the strongest for me.
Chasing and technology has come a long way since the 80's. My kids are now grown men and I want to do more chasing now that I have a little more freedom (and money) to roam, but I almost feel like I'm starting all over again.
I have also recently caught the photography bug, and I've noticed that there is no cure for it