*New Users. Meet and Greet Area*

[ELY M.]

Hello, I am Ely. I am from SE Minnesota. There are no or very few storm chasers here in this area. I have been into tornadoes and weather since I was little kid. Two years ago, I happened to be driving during a tornado to my work. There was never a warning. from there, I decided to learn more and start storm chasing.
I love to take pictures and videotaping of anything interesting.

 

[Matthew Evans]

Hello everyone, I'm Matthew Evans from Monroe, Michigan. I have a sharp interest in tracking severe thunderstorms, along with severe winter weather since I was 3 or 4 years old. I have experienced quite a few weather events, including the 6/5/10 Tornado Outbreak, in which 3 tornadoes (EF1, 2 and 4) all touched down within 30 miles of where I live. I will enjoy interacting with you all!

 

[owen3371]

Hi all
im owen and im from Derry ,Northern Ireland we dont get as many severe storms as you guys in the US but we have had 3 severe storms in a fortnight recently !im mainly interested in lightning photography so im hoping to get some good pics this summer!.

 

[Scott Kapser]

Hello, I'm Scott, or online I go by the tag Bluc. I'm been chasing sporadically for the last ten years but am looking to do more now. I can usually only go on one day chases so that limits my options a lot of the time, along with the depressingly long winters in ND. I like all modes of severe weather so I consider seeing a squall line or even some intense lightning a successful chase. I look forward to learning from this board and hopefully sharing some chase stories in the future.

 

[Bob Hartig]

Welcome to Stormtrack, Matthew! This is a great place to gain insights from other chasers. As has already been mentioned, where you live is as good as it gets for a home base. You ought to see plenty of action.

 

[David Vicary]

Hi Guys,

I signed up to StormTrack a while back and then completely forgot, any way my names Dave, I live in London UK. I have been chasing in the US 3 times now and I wish I did not live so far away! I am planning to chase the AZ/NM Monsoon at some point and enjoy storm photography and I am trying to improve my video work! I have a blog/site that you can check for more info (see signature) anyway I will be using the site far more to increase my understanding of all things storm related!

Cheers

 

[Bob Hartig]

Welcome to the lunatic fringe, David.

 

[Shane Adams]

This might seem a little unusual, but I feel it's necessary. I've noticed that I don't recognize most of the names I see on here anymore, so this is my attempt to try and introduce myself to the many new members of ST. I realize many of you probably know me or know of me, but I'd bet most of you don't.

I've been chasing storms for over 16 years, have seen a lot of them and a few tornadoes as well. I'm a charter member of this forum, and have been actively participating on it for over eight years. A lot has changed in those eight years, not only with Stormtrack, but in chasing as well. There has been a lot of new blood infused into the fold over the past five or so years, and I realize I've been more or less disconnected from those enthusiasts and chasers.

I'm a passionate chaser who lives to document tornadoes on video. I also love to share my work with the world, for those who would be interested. Over the years I've collected a fair amount of storm/tornado images and video, which can be seen on my website and various social media sites I use. Also, I have detailed chase summaries for many of my past events, which are located exclusively on my website. The link is in my signature, but I'll list it in this entry, along with my other places on the net:

Website (Passion Twist): http://www.passiontwist.com
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/passiontwist/videos
Twitter: @passiontwist
I'm also on Facebook

Perhaps the best way to break the ice would be for you to check out this link: http://www.passiontwist.com/about.htm

 

[Melinda Deas]

Hi all! I'm new to the board. Infact I'm new to my camera (just learned to take the lens off today). A little of how I got here, my grandmother recently passed away and I inherited her camera equipment. She was a professional photgrapher of weddings (weddings are not my cup of champagne). I have decided to start photgraphy classes and follow my passion. My passion isn't photography at all, it's STORMS! I'm obsessed with them and always have been. I inherited many cameras and lenses of which I know nothing about. Started researching today and it looks like the best one is going to be the only digital one an Olympus EVOLT E-500 with 2 Zuiko lens 14-45mm and 40-150mm. I'm hoping this can at least get me started. If you can think of anything equipment wise or otherwise that would help me got off on the right foot, I'd appreciate it. I start basic photgraphy classes this month. I live in NW Louisiana which is a huge storm and tornado producer. Our next active season should be in October so I'm hoping I will be ready to shoot by then. I'm expecting some storms this weekend when the cold front pushes through so I may do some practice shots.

 

[John A. Sellers]

Welcome to all the new STORMTRACK members and hi to everyone. I am sure you will enjoy this site along with the members. This is a great information site and if you have questions, please feel free to ask.Happy fall season,it's just around the corner,and have a fun day!

 

[Robert Forry]

Hi all! My name is Robert Forry, but my friends call me Rob. I quess I'm pretty much a Noob to chasing and to Stormtrack. I’ve had the privilege of meeting many of you over the last year or so, and many of you have been a huge help to me. I've been a weather enthusiast (NUT) since the ripe old age of 8 when the '74 Super Outbreak occurred. Living in Dearborn Heights, MI at the time, my community wasn't directly affected, but the thunderstorms that occurred in and around our area had a major impact on me. Not from a fear aspect, but from a raw power severe weather produces. From that time forward until today, I still get the same "wow" feeling when I see weather doing what it does.

I began my chase career officially in 2001 when I chased on my May 21st. That day I learned not to chase using the freeway system as the EF2 I was trying to run down near Hartland, hit the TRW Automotive Plant at Center Road and then crossed US Hwy 23. Debris from the plant, the party store next door and overturned cars and semi tractor trailers blocked the north and south bound lanes of the highway. I ended up caught in the backup in the northbound lanes of US 23 at M-59 before pulling a u-turn in the median and heading back south. Funny how things work out in life, I'm now a Supplier Quality Engineer in the very TRW plant the tornado hit.

While living in west Tennessee I spotted locally for several area storms and then got active in chasing the night of the Super Tuesday Outbreak on February 5th, 2008. I think I may be the only chaser to capture video footage of the EF4 shortly after it hit Union University. Of course, because it hit at night, our only glimpses of it came as it was illuminated and back-lit by lighting and power flashes from exploding transformers. Due to my work schedule I chased sparingly while living in south Texas from 2009 - 2011, but then became very active once returning back to Michigan in May 2011. My first Plaines chase occurred during the High Risk Kansas outbreak on April 13-14. That day I chased with veteran chasers Bill Oosterbaan and Bob Hartig. I highly recommend that to anyone new to this. Always first chase with someone who’s been doing it awhile, and knows what they're doing. Be a big sponge and learn as much as you can from these guys and gals. I owe the two of them a lot because on this trip I scored my first Plaines tornado.

I've enjoyed studying and learning the severe weather forecasting process. I call it a process because I'm a process guy. I had used to chase strictly by using the SPC Outlooks, but now delight in using them to confirm my own forecast. Nothing I'd ever boast about, but there is a sense of satisfaction when your forecast something and it actually happens.

I live stream video with ChaserTV and KDR Media, and will launch my personal website/weather blog in 2013 http://www.mi2wisterchaser.com

Come follow me on twitter: @mi2wisterchaser and on Facebook: Robert Forry

Thanks for this thread

Regards,

Robert (Rob) Forry
WX8RLF

 

[D. Vance]

Hello everyone! My name is Darin Vance, and I just signed up here yesterday. I am a 16 year old storm/nature photographer from West Virginia, and I am here to hopefully gain and contribute information, mainly about photography, but I want to learn more about weather as well. I think I've finally got the basics of storm development and lightning down, but that is only the beginning. I currently shoot with a Canon 5D Mark II and 60D, as well as a 17-40L, 100L, and 100-400L. I'll post a couple of my shots below, and does anyone know which section a video of Hurricane Sandy's blizzard in WV should be posted in?
Thanks, -Darin


Vertical Lightning_edited-1 by D. Vance, on Flickr



0002 by D. Vance, on Flickr


What we think it hit:

IMG_9988 by D. Vance, on Flickr

 

[Re_lapse_Rate]

Hello everyone I should have introduced myself first no worries. My name is Aaron Howell, I live in Michigan unfortunate its not as motivating a place as Oklahoma Ill bet storm chasing there is on another level completely the Thrill of forecasting your target area, Ive yet to draw my own charts. On Severe potential days I am constantly watching a visible sat feed or looking at surface obs to see what is happening and to theorize when and were initiation happens.
I would literally stop it nothing to come down for some real storms this spring, its getting close!! Ive only just returned to higher education at University of Mich in Ann Arbor. I need to take so many more classes before i graduate. My GPA is solid not worried but I just neglected all the graduation requirements.

My dream chase would be watching a monster like the 2011 Tuscaloosa beast. The squid like arms were so ominous and foretelling of its power. Anyway still some unknown knowledge on live storm evolution and storm scale features up close and personal

 

[Alex Heimberger]

Welcome Aaron. Don't get too down on MI. Great place to be motivated about severe weather. Lots of great chasers & weather junkies come from the mitten state(including me). You could always look into tours to get your feet wet. Great people willing to show you the ropes in the storm chasing community. See you in Plains!

 

[Francis]

Hello, I'm new here!