*New Users. Meet and Greet Area*

[Nicole McMillan]

Hi everyone My names Nicole, and I currently live in Fort Smith, Arkansas. I moved here from Vancouver, Canada about a year ago with my fiance. Since I moved here I have seen some very strange (to me) weather so I decided a few months ago I really needed to know more about weather in general, but especially what we have here in AR.

Anyways nice to meet all of you, and I'm sure I'll be able to learn a lot here. Thanks!

 

[Karla Dorman]

Howdy, Nicole! Nice to meet you.

Canada, eh? I love Canada. From Ohio, originally, moved to Texas 26 years ago. Still not used to it. LOL Wouldn't bother me so much, if they had mandatory underground shelter, especially in the south and in my part of "The Alley."

I'm learning a lot by being a member here. Got a lot to learn. Everyone here seems to be willing to educate those interested in weather.

 

[Wes Carter]

Welcome Dave, Mark, Mike, and Nicole. I hope you enjoy ST as much as I have for the past few months.

 

[Dann Cianca]

I suppose I should throw my hat in the ring here and introduce myself.

Hi Dave! Will look forward to seeing your contributions!

Quick intro here.

My name is Mark Stauss. I currently live in Trimble, MO, which is about 25 miles due North of downtown Kansas City, MO.

Welcome, Mark!

Hi all. I am from OKC and after several years of lurking in the forecast threads and chasing with a few of you over the years.

Welcome, Mike ... bet you've seen some good storms while out on the road!

Hi everyone My names Nicole, and I currently live in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

Welcome Nicole ... there is plenty of interesting weather here.

 

[Paul Austin]

Hello Scott L, Chris, Bryan, Scott G, Dave, Mark, Mike, and welcome to ST! Hello once again Dennis and Nicole. Do make yourselves at home here, or as my grandparents used to say, "pull up a chair and stay a while" or sometimes "come on in and sit a spell."

 

[Paul Austin]

Chris, I don't think you would go wrong with the second or third week of May. Something is usually going on in that time frame it seems like.

But I'd recommend reading up on some of the posts on Stormtrack to learn a bit about safety, forecasting, nowcasting, and road etiquette before going out there. Also I'd get a copy of the Storm Chaser's Handbook.

Good luck and welcome!

I second Wesley's pick, and for the "money", nothing beats either the week before Memorial Day or the week of, depending on your work obligations. As for the week prior, if you already get a full week off, and your place of employ is closed Memorial day, you could end up with a week sandwitched between weekends plus Memorial Day, a nice bonus for those limited by work. If you get no paid vacation days but get paid holiday pay for Memorial Day, you could take any set of days that includes it and sacrifice only the other days you take off. It just works out as a nice bonus for many chasers. I know, not every workplace recognized the holiday, and it's difficult to take off a day everyone wants (for the long weekend), but it's worth considering. Also, bear in mind it is smack in the middle of the most crowded part of the chase season, and this year (and the next) includes Vortex2 with traveling "armies" of researchers involved. The roads of NE, KS, OK, and TX will be quite crowded during this period.

Have fun and be safe! BTW, just out of curiosity, where in AR are you located?

 

[Scott Hammel]

Hello everyone, another Colorado chaser signing on for the first time. I've been chasing for a few years now (this upcoming season will by my third) and feel like I can make a good contribution to the boards. This forum has always been one of the first places I go to to get better educated and stay in the loop if you will. I work in television (don't hold it against me) for the Versus network. I have an unhealthy love of cheesy slasher flicks and am a music nerd. Anyway I recognize so many names on here of people I have met at Spotter Training sessions, out chasing, etc. Glad to be a part of the community and look forward to seeing a lot of you guys out there this year. My month of May is pretty wide open for chasing so don't hesitate to PM me if you need someone to head out there with you. A huge thanks again to the mod's for approving my membership.

 

[SArney]

Stan and Connie Arney in Wichita Kansas

Hi everyone, I'm Stan Arney, my wife is Connie, and we took Storm Spotter training from the NWS on March 10th, 2009, here in Wichita, Kansas. My wife has always wanted to "Storm Chase" and I have always been interesting in Storm Spotting. We joined our local SKYWARN during that class, so we can be part of the Storm Spotting team in Kansas. We look forward to this Severe Weather Season, and though that class gave lots of information, there is a huge difference between slides, photos, and video, and being out there yourself, eyes on, so to speak. We look forward to gaining the knowledge we need to both stay safe and provide the best storm spotting information we possibly can. I guess we didn't realize all that was involved in storm spotting, lots to learn, to be safe, and knowledgeable so we can provide the most helpful information, but also to learn a secondary hobby, ham radio operator. SKYWARN asks, but does not require, storm spotters to also be a ham radio operator. So, we will really need to get educated in both areas rather quickly with severe storm season upon us. Thank you for your time, consideration, and cooperation, we really appreciate it.

 

[Jason.Webb]

Hello All Jason here,

I am very happy to be on ST, I have been a lurker for a couple of years and i have learned alot just reading these forums.

A little about me.

I served in the Army, then worked for Fire/EMS for 12 years before deciding to drive a truck.

I reside in Orlando,FL

I travel across the main severe areas and have had a couple of close calls, one near Meade, KS and the other near Waco, TX

Anyway I am a member of an organization called Trucker Weather Watch, a group of drivers who are volunteering as skywarn spotters.

I hope to learn a great deal more through ST and maybe meet one or two of you.


73
Jason

 

[Jason Haller]

Well as you can see by my username I am Jason Haller and I am a Stormnut! I live in Manhattan, KS and have loved all things weather fro as long as I can remember. I hope to be an active member of the message board community first a rookie asking questions and learning from my armature mistakes to eventually becoming a solid contributor to the forecast discussions and being an active chaser in the field helping proved information for the public good.

 

[SArney]

Looking for the basics

I'm new to Storm Spotting, so I'm not going to throw several hundred dollars into a hobby, I have just stepped into. Having said that, where can I find the "basics"? Your forum has a vast array of knowledge, but I'm trying to nail down the basics, of what I need to proceed. Meaning, computer software to track storms, at home and on the road, communication (cell phone I have, ham radio will be getting), netbook (yes, I have read your postings very informative), GPS (unless can put one on a netbook, will be getting).
But just as importantly, as all of this, I need to know where to begin.
I mean a two hour, information thrown at you, well like a straight line wind, is one thing, deciding were to go to storm spot when storms fire up is another.
Since I have chosen to physically go out and do the actual storm spotting, it would be great to know what to do.
There is no "Yoda" that's going to take me by the hand and show me, so give me your thoughts on how to best prepare myself and my wife for this new hobby, please. Direct me to a more specific thread(s) that I can read. Thank you for your time, consideration, and cooperation, I appreciate it.

 

[Wes Carter]

Scott, Stan, Jason, Jason, and SArney; welcome and I hope you enjoy Stormtrack as much as I have. You can learn a lot from these folks. It looks like some of you have some experience chasing as well.

SArney, here are some links and links to threads you might find informative:
http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.phpt=19803
http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?t=19617
http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.phpt=19563
http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.phpt=19012
http://www.stormtrack.org/library/
http://spotterguides.us/
http://www.theweatherprediction.com/

 

[Dann Cianca]

Hello everyone, another Colorado chaser signing on for the first time.

Hi Scott! Keep an eye out to the announcements page as us Colorado chasers sometimes have a Convergence downtown for food and drink. Welcome!

Hi everyone, I'm Stan Arney, my wife is Connie,

Welcome Stan and Connie!

Hello All Jason here,

Well as you can see by my username I am Jason Haller and I am a Stormnut!

And welcome Jason(s)!

 

[amdorrel]

Hi My name is Ashley Dorrell, I am a freshman at NCSU studying Meteorology. I am excited to be here and found the forum while looking for different info on Tornadoes and other types of severe weather. My basic goal is to be an Air Force Weather Officer. I hope to be on here alot more in the future.

 

[Scott Hammel]

Hi Scott! Keep an eye out to the announcements page as us Colorado chasers sometimes have a Convergence downtown for food and drink. Welcome!

Thanks for the invite Dann, I'm definitely in to that. In fact, you are one of the names I recognize on this forum and think I met you briefly at a Spotter Training session/Windsor case study back in October? Yeah I think that was it. Anyway, I'll check out a convergence night at Old C's for sure.