Poll: How Many Chasers Here would actually Chase a solid 3 day setup Given a weeks notice next week?

[James K]

I'm out of work due to it still being closed, so in theory I could 'just go' with no notice.
But I'm also one who in general wouldn't feel comfortable going more than a couple hours drive time from home...

(in some ways I think it'd be cool to to go out watching storms, camp somewhere overnight, get another storm the 2nd day, then head back home, but (especially for me just being out by myself) that is far far outside my comfort zone, so aint gonna happen .lol. )

 

[Jeff House]

If traveling one does have to make a decision about a Day 3-8 forecast. Decide Day 1. Travel Day 2. Begin chasing Day 3.

I do prefer 3-5 chase days. Maybe 2 if one looks really good or both are pretty solid. Usually it's 3-4 chase days out of 4-5 total Plains days. Down days we see friends (preferred) reposition (boring) etc. Then add travel days and it's a 7-day trip.

Day 3-8 forecast is defined as my/our own with chase partner(s). In April and May, when setups are synoptic, we usually agree with SPC or don't diverge far. Late May and June meso-scale sometimes the chase outlook differs from the public SPC outlooks. Forecast thoughts may actually be similar; however for a local chase set-up, perhaps a public Day 4-8 is not necessary or practical.

I/we actually thought about that week briefly (June 8-12) but punted well before a decision was required. Fortunately I have flexibility of a floating chase vacation at work; but, did not use it this year.

Usually we go in May. April is arguably the most predictable with a large synoptic system; however, it might be just 1-2 days with fast motion etc. May is (was once upon a time) peak. June predictability drops, but June can yield true gems.

We've thought about going in June, for less traffic. However it's usually shorter or more spread out sequences. May crowds could force the issue. Learn to deal with June uncertainly / gamble on the trip. We'll see in 2021.