So... what's the verdict... 2011 chase season

[Derek Weston]

With the main thrust of the season through in the plains, what say you?

This was one of the tougher chaser years we've had in a bit... where geography is concerned at least. (the incredible outbreaks all being further east)

The first half of May was dead, the second half was decent, though, certainly not rife with beautiful chasable storms. First half of June has been poor as well.

Of course April was rather slow in the plains...

States like TX and NEB have been very slow it seems. (has NEB even broken double digits? Maybe the last half of June will get us something... but what a slow year there)

KS mediocre... OK, pretty decent... (don't have numbers in front of me, just going off the top of my head)

Only May 24 was a classic plains setup that verified. There were a couple of other would-be outbreaks that never verified in May. (and a whole lot of borderline setups that never did anything -- no happy surprises this year it seems)

Add it all up and you've got a rather disappointing chase season for your 'classic' chaser. (those who don't get east of the Mississippi often if ever)

Despite all this... we were on a record pace at the start of June where tornado count is concerned. So for the real die-hards in the chasing community... probably not too bad a year.

I'm sensing we're growing rapidly in the chase community when it comes to the die-hard go anywhere for the action type chaser. For the first time this year I felt twinges of regret for not going into the jungles of the south east in April.

 

[Zachary Biggs]

I don't venture far from the Dallas area generally, but this year was actually the most successful one to date for me. I guess if you don't mind missing tornadoes and just want to see good supercells this hasn't been too bad of a season for Oklahoma and Texas. March was terrible down here, but April and May quickly picked up pace with some of my most favorite chases coming from this year. My first real tornado encounter occurred on April 14th with the Tushka Oklahoma event (though successful I don't think it would be my favorite). There was also the Stratford OK event which yielded a close encounter to an amazing storm. May 19th yielded some fairly impressive HP storms in southwest Oklahoma as well.

But for the chaser really after the tornadoes I can definitely see why this was one of the more frustrating seasons. I think it will be interesting to see if the high plains will begin there typical tornado production period now, or whether it has already been skipped for the most part.
Either way, no complaints here.

 

[Travis Davis]

This year has sucked for me. Got three tornados early in the season. Getting out of work late is the biggest issue I had this year.. Most good setups is when machines decide they are going to break and require attention... That and the last two weeks of May I was on vacation, which didn't help out either.

 

[Rob Wadsworth]

Hi Derek (I'm in Storm Lake for the next two weeks - BTW)
I think you summed it up fairly well - IMO.

Since this season has been anything but predictable - as far as the usual patterns are concerned - then I think that I shall stay on my toes for the month of June in Iowa and the Northern Plains. Since fatalities from tornadoes has been running high this year dare I say it - will this trend continue? I know that the tornado outbreak season is over by normal season standards; but I can't help but feel that there there is more yet possible. Simply because this season has been 'skewed' by what TWC is calling the 'La Nina Effect'. Well; not for their take on it lol!

I will continue to watch the trends and be ready to roll . . .

 

[Jason Foster]

I think in general the season has been a good one. While not everyone was able to take advantage (like myself), the numbers, locations, successful intercepts have been there.

Personally, this year was tough because I had extremely limited budget, very specific dates, and those dates happened at probably the very worst time during peak time of the season. I did manage success within the failures however. The biggest one was just getting back out. I had not been out since 2006 and I seriously was going to stop calling myself a chaser (or just say I was a hurricane ONLY chaser). Another success was in proving I am still damn good at navigation and actual chasing. I also got to chase with two great forecasters and especially for one (Mark Ellinwood) who is well on his way to become a good chaser too. I also did get a smige of good stock video that may sell later on. I also got to 'feel' what I needed for future filming & projects if I can/need to pursue them.

On the local side...done very well....but I think we're mostly (if not completely) speaking of traditional Alley / Plains chasing here.

 

[Drew.Gardonia]

I got my first tornado this year, so I can't say it sucked! Would have liked to seen more but there's always next year. I wouldn;'t count this season out as being "done". Could have a pretty active fall ahead of us yet. it's been a wacky year.

 

[Danny Neal]

7 tornadoes on 3 chases including a close range fat cone crossing a major interstate 1/2 mile in front of me. Thank work for the rest of my absence from the fun. I did the best with the three days I had I guess.

 

[Robert Edmonds]

I'll let you know when I'm done chasing...

 

[Skip Talbot]

2011 has been a fairly decent season overall for chasers if you weren't too locally biased in your targeting or restricted to one of the quieter weeks. Although the year started off with a heavy midwest/south bias in April, May saw its fair share of plains setups that produced nice tornadoes. May 24 alone should be enough to make many plains chasers happy for the whole year. If you missed that, there were other smaller events that produced nice tornadoes in the plains like May 21 and May 22. I hate to judge the season before June comes to a close though. Many of my best chases have been in the second half of June, and I'm really looking forward to chasing the gorgeous northern plains where climatology is favored this time of year and where drought conditions aren't hampering convective potential like they are in the southern plains. Personally, this has been one of my better years chasing. I've tied 2010 in terms of tornado days, but 2010 had a few big multi tornado days so I'm less than half of '10's tornado count so far.

March 22 Creston, IA:

April 9 Mapleton, IA:

April 19 Girard, IL:

May 21 White Cloud, KS:

May 22 Slater, MO:

 

[Adam Lucio]

2011 was a pretty solid season for me. It doesn't compare to the amazing season that 2010 was [I dont think any season will for quite awhile, 2010 was exceptional] but 2011 is easily my 2nd best season. Ive had allot of bad luck to overcome this year though, especially with technology and vehicle issues.

One area that lacks is good tornado video on my end. Each tornado day gave me less than 10 minutes of video. The Litchfield tornado I accidentally left auto focus on, the Haleyville, AL tornado was your typical jungle tornado, it was a beast but we only caught glimpses of it here n there, and my Canton, OK tornado had a big raindrop on the lens I didn't notice. So from a video standpoint I still feel like I need to get an amazing shot, despite witnessing some amazing tornadoes.

This year also proves why I always chase early and often, because the first 2/3 of May were mostly waste, and so far June which has always been my best time has also been a waste. April speaks for itself, what a wild month.

Something that has been absent for me this year is jaw dropping supercell structure, but we're heading into a time of year where that can change.

So it had some ups, and some downs, but overall its been a good year for me.

 

[JoelHamburger]

For me it was a great season. I hadn't been able to chase for the past 3 years and managed to get out for almost a whole week !

Was out from 5/19-5/25 and I saw supercells everyday (even on my way back to the airport) I witnessed at least 3 tornadoes. Frankly I was a little exhausted and ready for a break. Strangely enough I'm already experiencing SDS which is why I'm checking ST during my afternoon coffee break

-joel

 

[Zack Hargrove]

2011 included my first ever tornado as well, so its hard to be too upset about it. I cannot believe the success I had after seeing my first. I saw a multivortex morph into twin stovepipes during the Iowa night fest on 4/9/2011 for my first two tornadoes ever. Saw two the next evening/night in Wisconsin. Got the Raleigh and Wilson tornadoes in North Carolina and also got the Blountsville, AL tornado during Super Outbreak II. Topped it off with two Colorado landspouts and a photogenic EF0 near Topeka KS on our plains chase in the middle of May (even though we had some awful MOD busts... I know most of you guys can relate on that one). I will take 9-10 tornadoes for my first full year of chasing! Next goal is to get in better filming locations and get some more photogenic tornadoes. Its hard living in the SE, but I will hopefully be a lot closer to the plains action in grad school out West after I finish my undergrad work next year.

 

[James Hilger]

Pretty frustrating year for me as well. Seems like everytime i bag one theres lots of fatalities involved and it's hard to enjoy it anymore. For the argument of sucess though i've gotten within 3/4 of a mile of one EF5 in Joplin and im guessing 3-500 yards of the EF5 in El Reno and it had the strongest inflow i have ever seen. Numbers definately dont compare to 2010 but it's not over yet.

 

[jeremy wilson]

My best year ever. I think teaming up with someone who dosent question my chasing style and allowing them to do all the driving while I forecast/navigated made all the difference in the world. Saw an amazing amount of destruction this year which is something I hope never happens again.

 

[TrumanBoyer]

Frustrating Success

Been 2 years since I could chase in the Plains.

Missed 2009 - but so what.

Last year my dad died on the day I was to leave.

This year -
Early season 2 bust days chasing in the Mid-Atlantic,
but I have learned not to expect anything around here.

Chased the Carolina High Risk outbreak, but Northern Virginia
traffic made me about an hour too late. F--ing beltway.

Scraped together enough money and time to get out there.
8000 miles in an 85 Nissan pickup with no muffler at $4 per gallon.
(Probably against the Geneva Convention to force this on someone)
2nd week of May. Sat in a hotel room in North Platte Nebraska for 5 days.
Burning up money and time.
Then - a 2 minute landspout in Eastern Colorado.
(throw a starving dog a rubber bone)

Days later - I pick the best cell of the day when everyone else seems to be going the wrong way - but I can't catch it - I failed to realize that US Rt 75 turns to NE. I thought I was heading due North. Missed that beautiful cone at Ada OK, because I didn't take a minute to look at the map. (Left turn at Albuquerque).

May 22 Northern OK, chased the turnpike, saw a cell in Kansas heading due east, so I kept heading up I-44 to Joplin Mo to see what looked like a very large heavy precip shaft over the town with sirens blowing (that was an F5?). Too many trees in the way. Chased a State trooper past a wreck, over a median strip and further down I-44 to see the carnage at I-44 and US-71. I figured F3 damage. It was. Made me sick. I kept after the storm til dark. Didn't know what happened to downtown Joplin til morning. Big success - I saw my first F5 after 15 years on the Plains. I feel ashamed and almost ready to give up chasing. Careful what you wish for - you just might get it.

The battle fronts have been slowly retreating West and North. I think there is awesome potential for slow moving giants in the Dakotas and Minnesota in June and July. Maybe somewhere where there are no hospitals and schools. ...Please ?