Planning a storm chase

[Jason Burns]

As far as equipment and vehicle preparation, I have found it beneficial to develop a sort of checklist for items I like to have along or things to remember to do before deciding on an area and heading out. I have mine grouped into things like vehicle preventive maintenance, GPS/maps, programming radio frequencies, 'weather gadgets' like a handheld anemometer or a ruler to measure hail with, and of course a camera and associated equipment.

As silly as it may seem to make a checklist just for watching weather, I have found it is easy to get excited and leave home forgetting simple mundane yet important items, like checking oil before driving hundreds of miles or misplacing a USB cable I'd really like to have several hours later.

 

[Jason Boggs]

Storm chase planning is relatively simple for me. I always have my gear ready to go at a moments notice. Here is what I grab, and the items contained within.

Duffel bag contents:
*Road maps of TX, OK, NM, KS and CO.
*Window pod
*Hygiene gear such as toothpaste, deodorant, etc...
*A notebook with libraries, Holiday Inn Express locations, WIFI Hotspots, NWS radio frequencies, Autozone stores, and other various items.
*Ruler, baseball, golfball and digital caliper for comparing and measuring hail size.
*Caffeine gum for long drives back home.
*Power cords and chargers for my still camera, vid camera and computer.

Vid camera bag contents
*Vid camera
*Extra tapes
*Extra batteries
*Firewire cable
*Instruction manual

Still Camera bag contents
*Still camera
*extra memory cards
*extra batteries
*Firewire cable
*Battery charger
*Instruction manual

Laptop bag contents
*Laptop computer
*Power cord
*GPS puck
*Sprint data card
*USB drive
*Various software such as Sprint data software, Delorme software, etc...
*Passwords for different sites just in case I forget

That's basically the stuff I grab when I go out the door. It's always packed away and ready to go. Now for the process.

Of course I look at real data and the SPC mesoscale analysis page and try to do hand analysis if I have time. I pin down a target and get ready to head out. Since I chase for a TV station, if the threat is in the viewing area, I will collaborate with the chief Met and talk about different aspects of the possible event.

I then grab my gear and put it in the vehicle. I'm not done yet!

I then go over my vehicle which includes looking at tires, especially the spare, oil level, other fluids, and I always make sure my windows are clean with rain x applied to them.

I then fill up with gas before leaving town. That's about it for me as far as chase planning and steps I go through on a chase day.

On a side note, here are a few items that stay in my vehicle at all times that may come in handy during a chase.
*Flashlights with spare batteries. Notice I say flashlights. I have about 3 with me at all times including the wind up type which requires no batteries. I also carry a spotlight to view damage and for other emergency purposes.
*A raincoat
*Lots of tools in case of a breakdown
*Extra oil
*Clear plastic and duct tape in case of shattered window due to hail or other circumstances.
*A couple of knives
*3 cans of fix-a-flat
*toilet paper
*paper towels and windex
*a backup digital camera (SONY F717)
*Portable car battery charger. I used it once this year and this thing is worth it's weight in gold!

You may think this list is a little much, but I have learned over 10 years of chasing that you can never be too prepared. Hope this helped some of you out.

 

[Bob Hartig]

Sam, I came back to this thread, and just out of curiosity I looked at your location. Geeze, man, you live in the UK.

I had been thinking how it was for me when I first started chasing, boning up on storm structure, reading SPC reports, and then just taking off after the storms and hoping for the best. When I wanted radar, I stopped at a library or an airport. Living in Michigan, my territory didn't extend into the Great Plains at the time, but I saw a lot of the Illinois flatlands, which are fantastic for chasing when there are storms to chase.

The thing is, I was hungry for storms. I knew that I didn't know schnizzle, and I expected to bust--and I did, lots, and still do--but I didn't care, because I knew that sooner or later I'd get it right, and in the meantime, I figured I'd keep reading, asking questions, learning, and trying to put it all together.

So if you lived in the U.S., I'd say this: you can't improve on the input that's been offered here, but if you want to strip it down to simplicity, then learn all you can about storm structure and then just get out there and chase storms. Read, read, read, and ask plenty of questions--learn all you can. Take all that's been said here into account. But don't wait till you've got every "i" dotted and "t" crossed before you get out and see some weather. If the SPC targets something within a couple hundred miles from you and you've got the gas money, then hop in the car and go.

HOWEVER--living in the UK, you can't afford to take so cavalier an approach. Your best bet might well be to hook up with a chase tour. I haven't been on one myself, but I'm thinking you'd boost your chances of seeing storms and you'd accelerate your learning curve as well. Check out COD's chase tours for starters. I believe that price-wise, they're on the lower end.

 

[Matt Sellers]

Sam -

Another thing you can do is watch for tornado reports in the UK during the coming fall/winter season (as that is the peak season for tornadoes in the UK); note their location and observe the meteorological conditions that were in place at the time of the report - namely the surface conditions (temperature, dewpoint, wind speed/direction), the radar presentation in the area at that time, and the proximity to any nearby low-pressure center as noted via satellite and surface observations.

While the number of tornadoes observed annually in the UK is small compared to the US, some fall/winter UK storms can advect enough warm/moist air ahead of them to create just enough surface-based instability for convective development - much like very early season (Feb-Mar) or very late season (Oct-Nov) events in the American midwest and winter events along the Gulf of Mexico coast - with more than enough shear to support localized storm rotation.

Don't attempt to chase storms there - dense population combined with rapid forward motion of thunderstorms create far too many problems than it's worth. I agree with Mr. Hartig - if you can, catch on with a chase tour.

Best of luck to you!

 

[Sarah Austin]

There are a lot of things to consider before chasing.

It's a good idea to have an updated GPS or road map of the area you are chasing in. You should have at least one decent East-West and North-South road in case anything changes. Weather can be unpredictable. Dirt roads are not the best to chase on.

If chasing in the states, to cut back on some of the hotel costs, we try to pick up hotel coupon books. They can usually be found at gas stations or some fast food places. Sometimes, we have gotten some really good deals. Wherever you stay, make sure wi-fi or some internet access is available.

Be flexible and aware of the surrounding storms, not just the storm you are chasing. You don't want to get caught by surprise by a rain wrapped tornado in a storm that snuck up behind you.

I would also recommend you read the Storm Chasers Handbook by Tim Vasquez. There is a lot of information about how to pick a target area, being safe, and the storm chase community. Tim also mentions a few places of interest to visit in case you have a few down days without storms.

Don't hesitate to ask questions. Ask on Stormtrack, or ask other chasers you meet on the road while chasing. Some chasers wouldn't mind sharing their learning experiences.

Good luck, stay safe, and have fun!

 

[Sam Kennedy]

Sam -
Don't attempt to chase storms there - dense population combined with rapid forward motion of thunderstorms create far too many problems than it's worth.

I think that might depend on where the storm is. If its in somewhere like otterburn, you can see for miles, and you only pass 1 car every 20 minutes or so. Do you think it would be alright to observe a storm from far off if it was over flat countryside?

 

[Matt Sellers]

I think that might depend on where the storm is. If its in somewhere like otterburn, you can see for miles, and you only pass 1 car every 20 minutes or so. Do you think it would be alright to observe a storm from far off if it was over flat countryside?

Certainly!

Be wary of lightning - but if you know of an open area to watch storms as they approach, go for it. Always have an escape plan, just in case.