Now this doesn't really make a chaser does it?

[Jeff Turner]

http://jeffturnerbooks.wordpress.com/2012/04/27/my-first-and-only-storm-chase/

My first "chase". April 3, 2012 in Fort Worth. I am not sure it qualifies as a real chase but I will let the readers decide.

 

[samuel stone]

I enjoted your post jeff, good read, i always like hearing about the different varieties of weather nuts out there. Ive done my share of chasing but im very low on cash right so now ill be joining your ranks on the sideline for most of the rest of the year unless i win the lottery.

april 3rd was definently an interesting day to watch, i was a little caught off guard by it as well. I'd like to do a little more analysis on the mesoscale conditions that occured right around DFW before i jump to any conlusions about it. Thank god there werent more injuries and deaths. could have been much worse

 

[Shane Adams]

Jeff, great read. Your story reminds me a lot of my own humble beginnings. If there's a spark in you somewhere to chase, you're definitely on the right path.

 

[Tom Dulong]

Jeff...You have a great writing style. Many "chasers" started out the way you have. I spent many of my early years in Dallas, arriving well after the April, 1957 tornado. This is where I developed my passion to chase, although it was usually
from the perspective of my front yard. I did not even see my first tornado until 1985 - a landspout near Parker, Colorado.

Please don't be intimidated by all those threads about what it takes to be "tagged" as chaser (e.g., number of lightbars or antennae, 10,000 miles or more in a season). If the interest and passion are there, you are one!

 

[Bob Hartig]

Nice account, Jeff! As for whether your experience qualifies you as a chaser, my opinion is, who cares. "Storm chaser" is a label that gets appropriated and misappropriated, and if you've read any of the discussions on that topic in this forum, you'll realize that the definition of a chaser is pretty subjective.

What's really important is, did you enjoy your experience? Did you learn something from it, or did it prompt you to think about what was going on meteorologically? Obviously you've been doing your homework, which says a lot about your level of motivation. Moreover, what I pick up on from your writing is respect for storm chasing. You're aware that there's something more to it than serendipity and impulse, something that separates storm chasers from mere opportunists; something that involves passion, focus, self-education, and commitment.

If you've got those qualities--and I'll bet you do, though some may be formative--then you're off to a good start. Keep at it and don't worry about the merit badge. It'll come.

 

[Jeff Turner]

Thanks Samuel, Shane, Tom, and Bob. The comments are greatly appreciated. You also might like my "Tornado Sirens In The Dark" which is also on my blog.

 

[Jeff Turner]

The comments are all very thoughtful. Chasing does take some effort and education to avoid running into a wedge on some dead end road. I have always liked the weather. Have I seen a tornado? Well my daughter and I once saw a funnel in the distance while we were out trying to see "Mr. Roadrunner", and once again with my daughter some type of circulation went over my house in March (some cold core thing?). Once I saw one here at my house while in my swimming pool drinking a beer - I heard the sirens go off and then I saw it going from south to north a few miles west of my house. But the most interesting thing I saw twister wise was in high school. While a ton of us were playing flag football at the stadium a long funnel dropped down, flanked by two smaller ones. None of which touched down. Another early March event. As an aside twice in my life an event took place I really do not know what to call. Clouds (cumulous) were moving rapidly from due east to due west and there was an audible, constant roar from the clouds above - high speed winds above I am guessing. There may have been some scattered showers around decaying. Not sure what you would call that but it got our attention.