*New Users. Meet and Greet Area*

[Neal Wikner]

Figured since I made post #1 I should make a quick post here. Born and raised in Iowa I've always had a fascination with severe weather. It started out with a mortal fear of thunderstorms, then to curiosity, now to a very fascinated interest and enjoyable hobby. I've definitely learned a lot already and spend most of my time reading through old threads here. There is such a wealth of information here it is amazing. Also just want to say a quick thanks to everyone who contributes their time in educating others, there are surely many more people who benefit from it than you'll ever know. Long term I hope to become active in my local EMA. Thanks for reading!

 

[CarmenTyler]

Hello Everyone,
I have been a member for almost a year. My husband (Jeff Tyler) and I are on here so often that I was shocked to realize I just made my first post. We live in North Texas and chase every chance we get. Caught four tornadoes in 2010. Not bad for only going out on weekends. I am a dental assistant, but I want my first responder cert. to be able to help should we encounter the need. This website is such a great resource. No matter what interests me (navigating, photography, first aid, etc.) I can always find info here. We have met so many wonderful people chasing and can't wait for this spring to kick off.

 

[MatthewCarman]

Welcome Mike, Neal and Carmen. Nice to see another Iowan here. It seems like there is alot of storm chasers from Iowa.

 

[Patrick Martin]

Hello Everyone!
I am an amateur storm chaser who born n raised in Southern California just moved to Colorado this last summer!

Welcome to the board and welcome to CO Mike! Lots of good folks in the Denver area on this board. If you are at ChaserCon, stop by and say hey.

 

[Todd Renshaw]

Since I've had a flurry of posts lately it's about time I introduced myself. Hopefully, I won't stick my foot in my mouth or post something I'll regret later.

You've probably heard this a million times from everyone else on Stormtrack, but I've always loved storms; the power, the beautiful fluid motion they have, the hush you get as the sky darkens and the sound of wind, rain and lightning when you're in the thick of it. Sunny days are okay, but they're like plain vanilla to me.

My interest in severe weather has crept into my life little-by-little. My career and education are in completely different fields. (I work in advertising; selling Detroit steel for one of the big auto companies.) My main hobby for the past 20 years has been Japanese bonsai trees. I've been active in a local bonsai club, written articles on the subject and teach classes at a nearby greenhouse. (Just between you and me, bonsai and severe weather do not mix well; pots and trees tend to get strewn all over the place.) I also enjoy photography, astronomy, science tv shows/magazines and cooking - I'm always on the lookout for great kitchen gadgets even though it makes my wife roll her eyes.

I think weather (as a hobby) began to creep into my heart thanks to the internet and the emergence of various weather apps that make it so easy to monitor what's happening around the country. I love looking at radar. And then there's the tv show Storm Chasers. (Is this the part I'm going to regret admitting around here?) I've loved watching that show. It's been the final push I needed to realize you don't have to sit around and wait for a good storm. (But I'm not stupid. I know they take liberties with the editing, they seem like they're reading from cue cards, etc. Reality tv is never completely real.) But none of that part of the show is what really matters to me. It's all about the storms. Having said that, I'm not sure when I'll even storm chase myself.* (Maybe I'll get the urge once I know more.) For now, I really just want to learn all I can about forecasting and understanding severe weather. Even if I never storm chase, Stormtrack seems to be the best place to do that. Right now, I'm working my way through Tim Vasquez's Severe Storm Forecasting book. (And trying to lookup and absorb all the things that you wouldn't understand without a meteorology background.) Hopefully, understanding will make me a better storm spotter too. I'm headed to ChaserCon even though I expect a lot of it will be over my head. (And the fact that ChaserCon is coming up is probably the reason I've gone from lurking on Stormtrack for months to finally posting. It's about time to start interacting.)

A final thought: there's still nothing better than the sound of rain hitting the roof as you're falling asleep.


*I have a dream of capturing a 3D photo of a supercell. (A very difficult thing to pull off.) If I ever want to make that happen, I suppose I'll have to storm chase.

 

[Donovan Gruner]

(Just between you and me, bonsai and severe weather do not mix well; pots and trees tend to get strewn all over the place.)

I hear ya there Todd. Before I moved to Oklahoma, I worked at a Japanese Garden in Rockford, IL. Last year we had a derecho haul through, and absolutely decimated the place. It was a bittersweet moment.

 

[KARI A CORBIN]

Hi Everyone,

I have been visiting this site since 2007 and I am just now getting around to posting. I am an amateur chaser/spotter and have learned SOOO much from reading everyone's posts here. Like almost everyone else I have loved storms ever since I can remember. I have lived in the DFW area my entire life and have always looked forward to tornado season. I had always wanted to chase storms, but never had the guts or any idea how to go about it. I finally witnessed my first tornado (headed towards our subdivison) in April 2007. I have to say it was one of the most terrifying yet exhilirating experiences of my life. I knew that day that I had to chase and decided to learn everything I could about severe weather, spotting and chasing. I have spent the last 4 years reading everything I can get my hands on. I went on a chase tour with Dean Cosgrove in 2008 and it was so amazing. Since then I have chased some locally on my own. My husband and I headed to Childress last April where I witnessed my first "chased" tornado (near Alanreed). I have a 5 year old daughter so it's not always easy to get out when I want to. I am the only person in my circle of family and friends that has this hobby (most of them think I am crazy), so I hope to meet others that I can chat with who share the same passion for severe weather as I do. Good luck to everyone this season. I'm ready!

 

[Ryan Realey]

Hey guy's, Ryan Realey here. I guess its a no brainer I'm new to the forum but hey, Thats what this thread is for.

I am from Cincinnati originally but currently live in Hartsville TN. Been studying weather for a very long time but at the same time I am no expert at it. Learning new stuff all the time. Armature storm chaser and also a spotter for local SKYWARN. I am a licensed Ham (KJ4ZZP). Been doing Search and Rescue work for 16 years. Our SAR site is sartk9.com if you would like to check it out. I could go on and on but I don't want to boar you. Any questions just give me a shout.

Ryan,

 

[Steven Howell]

Hello everyone.

My name is Steven Howell, I am originally from the Houston area, and have been living in Austin for 7 years now. I have been interested in weather ever since I was 10 years old when Hurricane Alicia came through my hometown, and I can remember watching all the forecasts and weathermen with all of the models, predictions, etc, when it started out as a tropical storm. Ever since then, I have been hooked. My high school research project was on hurricanes, and I was truly amazed at the amount of energy that they expend.

I used to be a volunteer at the NWS in Houston, as a licensed HAM KK5RV, and was the NWS liason for the Skywarn spotters, on quite a few events. This is where I learned how to read the radar and understand what all the data meant, I even got to run the radar during one of the events. It was quite an experience. I had always wanted to be on the chasing end, but didnt have the time, or the funds, or a reliable vehicle to go on a chase.

In April of 2007, I was in Amarillo and chased during the April 21st outbreak that had the tornado's that did quite a bit of damage in Tulia, and Cactus. I was north, so we chased the Cactus tornado, when it was in its early stages near Vega, TX, then moved across Channing, then towards Cactus.

Ready to get out there and chase with some of the new tools that I have acquired.

I work for an instrumentation company here in Austin as a technical sales engineer, and love my job.

Looking forward to corresponding with and learning from many experienced chasers out there on this site!

Thanks, and 73s

Steven

 

[April Schoen]

New to StormTrack!

I'm new to StormTrack also, My name is April, (obviously by the username!) I'v loved weather ever since i can remember.. it all started when i was very young, five or so when a Tornado came to my hometown and i was at neighbors house, but i was not in my home in MY basement with my family.. Everyone told me to get in the basement and i didn't know what was going on, i was so scared. I just knew i wanted to run next door and be with my family. I was so scared and as the storm passed i ran to my family.. I was all shook up. I picked up a Video Camera at the age of Eight (1999-2000) and whenever a Watch, Warning or Severe Thunderstorm was issued i would be outside trying to catch it on camera! And i have the videos to this day. "I'm April and i'm a tornado scientist" (although i was eight, so i wasn't that smart) And my family knows to this day how much i involve my life into weather. The first time i saw Storm chasers on Discovery, i was mad! I said to myself "They stole my idea!" but now that i'm older, i realize it's a passion and i'm not the only one that enjoys the beauty of mother nature, even at its worst. I am going to school for Meteorology, and hoping to pursue that into my future.


Thanks!

 

[Daryl Stout]

Another New User

My name is Daryl Stout. Originally from south Florida, the family moved to Arkansas in 1977, when my late father's job transferred us here. While in Florida, I was the "victim" of 2 indirect lightning strikes...but I carry no electrical charge, and can be handled safely (grin!)

The first strike occurred when I was 3 years old...we had coconut palm trees in our front yard, and one of the fronds was on the house. I had my hands on the metal frame of the plate glass window, where condensation had occurred from the storm going on outside...I was enthralled at watching the lightning dance across the sky. Suddenly, lightning hit the tree that had the frond on the house...the neighbors noted "the house was encased in a ball of fire". I started screaming bloody murder...while the strike blew tiles off the bathroom wall, and sent sparks out the back of the house. For over 10 years, you could not take a flash picture of me, as I'm scream in terror from the "flash back"...no pun intended. The second strike occurred after I had finished delivering an afternoon newspaper route on a bicycle in a thunderstorm. Just as I steadied myself on the washer inside the garage to strip out of my wet clothes, lightning hit the house again!! But, this "sparked" my interest in severe weather...and eventually into amateur radio. My original callsign in 1991 was N5VLZ -- which I said stood for "Noted Five Violent Lightning Zaps" (grin!) -- but I changed to the vanity callsign of AE5WX in 2009 -- which stands for "Arkansas' Extreme 5-Land Weather" (Arkansas is in the 5th FCC ham radio license call district).

Since I've been in Arkansas, I've been under 2 tornadic funnel clouds, within a mile of an EF4 rain wrapped tornado, seen lightning strike less than 50 feet from my front door, and in swirling floodwaters. I am a certified Skywarn Spotter, and work with the ham radio operators in central Arkansas during severe weather and winter weather. While not a meterologist per se, I am an Amateur Weather Enthusiast, and look forward to being part of this group.

 

[Ryan Realey]

Hello everyone.

My name is Steven Howell, I am originally from the Houston area, and have been living in Austin for 7 years now. I have been interested in weather ever since I was 10 years old when Hurricane Alicia came through my hometown, and I can remember watching all the forecasts and weathermen with all of the models, predictions, etc, when it started out as a tropical storm. Ever since then, I have been hooked. My high school research project was on hurricanes, and I was truly amazed at the amount of energy that they expend.

I used to be a volunteer at the NWS in Houston, as a licensed HAM KK5RV, and was the NWS liason for the Skywarn spotters, on quite a few events. This is where I learned how to read the radar and understand what all the data meant, I even got to run the radar during one of the events. It was quite an experience. I had always wanted to be on the chasing end, but didnt have the time, or the funds, or a reliable vehicle to go on a chase.

In April of 2007, I was in Amarillo and chased during the April 21st outbreak that had the tornado's that did quite a bit of damage in Tulia, and Cactus. I was north, so we chased the Cactus tornado, when it was in its early stages near Vega, TX, then moved across Channing, then towards Cactus.

Ready to get out there and chase with some of the new tools that I have acquired.

I work for an instrumentation company here in Austin as a technical sales engineer, and love my job.

Looking forward to corresponding with and learning from many experienced chasers out there on this site!

Thanks, and 73s

Steven

Wow that takes me back. I was living in Galveston during Hurricane Alicia. I was 5 at the time.

 

[Zachary Biggs]

I figured it might be a good idea to introduce myself semi-formally since... well... there is this thread for it

I have been fascinated by thunderstorms ever since my early childhood. Its crazy... Many of my best childhood memories involved thunderstorms. I can remember the first time I saw hail (very cool) and the first time I was consciously aware that a tornado watch was in affect. Most of these memories originated from the Austin Texas area. I remember the Jerrell Texas tornado day pretty well (May 27 1997 I believe). At that time I was nine years old and lived in Oak Hill which is on the southwest side of Austin. While all the tornadoes never came close to us my family and I spent the good part of three hours in the closet that day with me being the first one in. (My brothers made fun of me for being the first to chicken out but I insisted that it was because I knew more about tornadoes and what they were capable of).

In 2003 I experienced the I 20 monster of April 5th at Possum Kingdom state park with James Langford and many others at a church camp out. I did not know James at the time and was certainly not chasing.
That storm is embedded in my brain as the all time most intense storm I have ever experienced first hand. We had 70+ mph winds that nearly overturned our 30+ft RV that just happened to be facing into the wind. And we had golf-ball sized hail that punched holes in the campers skylights and cracked many a wind shield across the park. The smell of cedar trees beaten to a pulp was a pretty awesome.

More recently I have spent the last three seasons chasing with James Langford. He pretty much taught me all I know about properly shooting lightning.

 

[Dan Hildebrand]

April, where are you going to school? I'm from Northern Ohio as well and am transferring schools next fall to study meteorology at Ohio University! Best of luck.

 

[Mike Thompson]

Hello, newbie from Minnesota. I didn't see this thread when I started posting, oopsI love storms and am just getting started with storm and lightning photography.
Looks like a great place to learn about my new interest!