Dustin Wilcox
EF5
Is it too late to add January 7 2007? Not that chasing 50mph storms through the hills of SW MO is all that fun, but its not every year you get the oppurtunity to add a January Tornado to your list!!
Shane Young
EF1
Awesome topic!
I really would have wanted to have been out on May 3 99, but didn't start chasing until fall 2000, so that axes that. Pampa, Andover, Jarrell, and even the historic Union City storm all would make the list too probably.
That leaves:
May 29, 04 - Harper County, KS (had to be in Florida, going crazy, knowing I was missing the show)
June 12, 04 - Harper County, KS (in Tallahassee on my way back to Norman, basing people, and knowing I was missing the show once again)
May 22, 04 - Hallam (about to leave for Fl, and had made some recent long hauls, decided it wasn't worth it :-/)
May 29, 01 - Tx Panhandle (Turkey) (back in Florida for the year already, but really wished I had been able to see this)
March 12, 06 - "Quad state supercell" (NE Oklahoma to NW Indiana... at school in Florida)
I'm sure there's others. I repeat, great topic!
I really would have wanted to have been out on May 3 99, but didn't start chasing until fall 2000, so that axes that. Pampa, Andover, Jarrell, and even the historic Union City storm all would make the list too probably.
That leaves:
May 29, 04 - Harper County, KS (had to be in Florida, going crazy, knowing I was missing the show)
June 12, 04 - Harper County, KS (in Tallahassee on my way back to Norman, basing people, and knowing I was missing the show once again)
May 22, 04 - Hallam (about to leave for Fl, and had made some recent long hauls, decided it wasn't worth it :-/)
May 29, 01 - Tx Panhandle (Turkey) (back in Florida for the year already, but really wished I had been able to see this)
March 12, 06 - "Quad state supercell" (NE Oklahoma to NW Indiana... at school in Florida)
I'm sure there's others. I repeat, great topic!
James McCormick
EF0
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2007
- Messages
- 12
1) June 27, 2005 - Nebraska Panhandle. Must not have been anticipating this beauty.
2) March 28, 2007 - anything in the high plains. School commitment.
3) April 20, 2007 - Moorefield/Gothenburg, NE. Not sure why I didn't chase this night.
4) June 10, 2005 - Big Springs, NE. Didn't even think about heading that far west.
5) June 9, 2005 - Hill City, KS Tornadoes. Left late and took a bad angle on the storms. Just didn't get there in time.
2) March 28, 2007 - anything in the high plains. School commitment.
3) April 20, 2007 - Moorefield/Gothenburg, NE. Not sure why I didn't chase this night.
4) June 10, 2005 - Big Springs, NE. Didn't even think about heading that far west.
5) June 9, 2005 - Hill City, KS Tornadoes. Left late and took a bad angle on the storms. Just didn't get there in time.
Jay Barnes
EF1
In chronological order:
1. March 1, 1997 - Arkadelphia AR
2. May 27, 1997 - Jarrell TX
3. May 30, 1998 - Spencer SD
4. May 3, 1999 - OKC
5. May 4, 2007 Greensburg KS
1. March 1, 1997 - Arkadelphia AR
2. May 27, 1997 - Jarrell TX
3. May 30, 1998 - Spencer SD
4. May 3, 1999 - OKC
5. May 4, 2007 Greensburg KS
Darrin Rasberry
Who'd wanna chase the Tri-State tornado, or even a carbon-copy of it nowadays? That thing was moving 70+mph!
If "since I've been chasing" is a rule, which would now include anything from June 1 onwards, I'd say:
1) The Manitoba tornadoes
2) Today's and yesterday's tornado event - I'd planned and even stocked up for a trip to Northern Missouri to set up watch for tonight, since it's in my self-designated "night watchman" boundaries (as you can see by the time of this post, I very often have nights I stay all the way awake through due to day-night reversal syndrome). However, I was locked in by fog - and before you laugh, it was dense fog, and frozen fog, and blocked routes to both Missou and Indiana. There's about an eighth-inch layer of ice on EVERYTHING here now
3) October's main show.
If "since I've been chasing" is a rule, which would now include anything from June 1 onwards, I'd say:
1) The Manitoba tornadoes
2) Today's and yesterday's tornado event - I'd planned and even stocked up for a trip to Northern Missouri to set up watch for tonight, since it's in my self-designated "night watchman" boundaries (as you can see by the time of this post, I very often have nights I stay all the way awake through due to day-night reversal syndrome). However, I was locked in by fog - and before you laugh, it was dense fog, and frozen fog, and blocked routes to both Missou and Indiana. There's about an eighth-inch layer of ice on EVERYTHING here now
3) October's main show.
Bill Tabor
EF5
May 27, 1997 - Jarrell Tx F5 - Had chased the day previously, and gotten nice tubes in OK the day before (26th) was on my way back home on this day. I was a clueless forecaster back then, and delayed because of showing my video to my brother in law, having a leisurely lunch, and then getting stuck in construction traffic and detours in Denton, Tx when the event began warming up. I attempted to race home - literally racing a Porsch down IH35 in my BMW 535is almost all the way to Waco. Still caught some action in Waco - I believe I saw a tornado east of town, but missed the highly touted unusual event. Perhaps this is good, because I probably wouldn't have understood a backbuilding storm then anyway. Plus traffic on IH35 could have been a safety issue so near the metro area.
May 3, 1999 - OKC F5 - A day that will live in chase infamy for me. I knew how to forecast somewhat by now, and all day since at least early morning had my bullseye set to OKC as the target. This may have been mainly luck for me, and the fact that at the time I thought OKC was the center for all severe weather. Anyway I had a major software release going into production that day and I was the primary database administrator responsible for doing it. All day I kept telling my team mates something extraordinary was going down - and turns out I was right. I was pulling out my hair and chomping at the bit so much to go. They probably thought I was crazy, though they did think tornadoes and chasing was cool.
June 12, 2004 - Mulvane, KS F4 This was a tough day for me because I felt I made a great forecast and was further north awaiting a big outbreak. However when it started happening the Mulvane storm became primary and I believe cut off much of the flow and action to the north. I was amazed, but eventually recovered and raced south as the storm developed an atomic mushroom cloud. I did get on this storm as dusk began setting in and saw much of the features and extreme lightning, but missed the tornadoes though I did film some night features - perhaps possible embedded, rain wrapped tornado further east. It was made even more of a loss later when I saw all the beautiful shots others chasers got of this storm.
June 3, 1999 - Almena, KS F3 Ah, yes, almost forgot this infamous (for me) tornado, that made quite a bit of news the next day on TWC. I was hanging out this day with the MESO crew and allowing them to forecast. Back then they weren't always so good, and forecasting is a bit tricky sometimes. Anyway we ended up in a blue sky bust about 75 to 100 miles south of Almena, KS. We were all hanging out everyone trying to figure out what to do next. About this time I look north and on the horizon I see the huge supercell top just sticking up. About 2 secs and I decide I know where I am going. They couldn't make up their minds and thought they couldn't catch but I knew I was quick. I raced north at 'chase speed' unfortunately running into about 25 miles of detour / construction. To this day I swear I would could have made it. The whole time the radio was saying large, 1/2 mile tornado on the ground!! Ah!! But the construction did me in. I got a spectacular view of about 3 super large supercells to the north each around 60k to 65k in height with Almena being the furthest south. To add insult to injury I once again ran into Gene Moore at a Hotel with the Discovery team and he asked if I got any tubes. Well, I started to say and then heard what he caught. Oh well. Almena was up to 3/4 mile wide at times. http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~357367
http://www.chaseday.com/tornado-almena.htm
http://www.chaseday.com/tornado-almena2.htm
May 17, 2000 Brady NE F3 This was another chase with the Meso team. I saw this event coming and drove up from Austin leaving the previous evening at 11pm and drove all night and day to reach the area near Brady, NE sometime that afternoon right when the storms were firing and ginning up and coming across from CO. The MESO team was distracted and at first primarly concerned with finding a hotel to stay in. I waited as storms were developing. Later we stopped at a gas station and everyone was going to the bathroom and getting snacks. I was monitoring the severe weather the whole time, and was telling Geoff Mackley that a big tornado was likely in progress nearby just across the county line on the other side of the core of another storm cell. I was advocating leaving immediately to him and the Meso crew. They ignored me for quite awhile. Eventually when I was going to break and head for it anyway, that reluctantly decided to go ahead. The result was the famous Jeff P footage of the Brady torn. However we missed it because we screwed around too much. We did catch all the damage, and assisted some victims of the tornado.
May 3, 1999 - OKC F5 - A day that will live in chase infamy for me. I knew how to forecast somewhat by now, and all day since at least early morning had my bullseye set to OKC as the target. This may have been mainly luck for me, and the fact that at the time I thought OKC was the center for all severe weather. Anyway I had a major software release going into production that day and I was the primary database administrator responsible for doing it. All day I kept telling my team mates something extraordinary was going down - and turns out I was right. I was pulling out my hair and chomping at the bit so much to go. They probably thought I was crazy, though they did think tornadoes and chasing was cool.
June 12, 2004 - Mulvane, KS F4 This was a tough day for me because I felt I made a great forecast and was further north awaiting a big outbreak. However when it started happening the Mulvane storm became primary and I believe cut off much of the flow and action to the north. I was amazed, but eventually recovered and raced south as the storm developed an atomic mushroom cloud. I did get on this storm as dusk began setting in and saw much of the features and extreme lightning, but missed the tornadoes though I did film some night features - perhaps possible embedded, rain wrapped tornado further east. It was made even more of a loss later when I saw all the beautiful shots others chasers got of this storm.
June 3, 1999 - Almena, KS F3 Ah, yes, almost forgot this infamous (for me) tornado, that made quite a bit of news the next day on TWC. I was hanging out this day with the MESO crew and allowing them to forecast. Back then they weren't always so good, and forecasting is a bit tricky sometimes. Anyway we ended up in a blue sky bust about 75 to 100 miles south of Almena, KS. We were all hanging out everyone trying to figure out what to do next. About this time I look north and on the horizon I see the huge supercell top just sticking up. About 2 secs and I decide I know where I am going. They couldn't make up their minds and thought they couldn't catch but I knew I was quick. I raced north at 'chase speed' unfortunately running into about 25 miles of detour / construction. To this day I swear I would could have made it. The whole time the radio was saying large, 1/2 mile tornado on the ground!! Ah!! But the construction did me in. I got a spectacular view of about 3 super large supercells to the north each around 60k to 65k in height with Almena being the furthest south. To add insult to injury I once again ran into Gene Moore at a Hotel with the Discovery team and he asked if I got any tubes. Well, I started to say and then heard what he caught. Oh well. Almena was up to 3/4 mile wide at times. http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~357367
http://www.chaseday.com/tornado-almena.htm
http://www.chaseday.com/tornado-almena2.htm
May 17, 2000 Brady NE F3 This was another chase with the Meso team. I saw this event coming and drove up from Austin leaving the previous evening at 11pm and drove all night and day to reach the area near Brady, NE sometime that afternoon right when the storms were firing and ginning up and coming across from CO. The MESO team was distracted and at first primarly concerned with finding a hotel to stay in. I waited as storms were developing. Later we stopped at a gas station and everyone was going to the bathroom and getting snacks. I was monitoring the severe weather the whole time, and was telling Geoff Mackley that a big tornado was likely in progress nearby just across the county line on the other side of the core of another storm cell. I was advocating leaving immediately to him and the Meso crew. They ignored me for quite awhile. Eventually when I was going to break and head for it anyway, that reluctantly decided to go ahead. The result was the famous Jeff P footage of the Brady torn. However we missed it because we screwed around too much. We did catch all the damage, and assisted some victims of the tornado.
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Matt Ziebell
EF0
I'll go chronologically as I'm unable to rate these by importance.
May 31, 1999: "Forgotten" CO tornadoes I'm surprised no one has listed CO yet (not even the 10 May 2004 event!), so I need to give this state some much overdue credit. Everyone remembers the Meade/Sitka tornado this day, fewer recall the southwest OK tornadoes, and even fewer know of the tornadoes in CO. I was chasing with the university crew this day and we ended up too far northeast of the Sitka supercell, but decided to watch what would become the Russell supercell to our north at sunset. This storm did have some great structure and even produced a tornado after sunset, but the real sting was seeing TWC show footage that night of the tornadoes in CO. I had no clue that area was even within a favorable setup and I guess it's these overlooked targets that weigh so heavily on my mind. Someone was out there chasing and getting footage, but I have yet to discover who.
July 5, 2000: Northeast CO monster supercell and tornado Yes, another CO event. This storm needs no explanation...just look at Ian Wittmeyer's photos and mind your drooling!
May 10, 2003: Lima, IL wedge I was returning to IL from having chased OK the day prior, but if it wasn't for work this afternoon I could have easily made the jog northwest to chase any one of the supercells that developed. Two of my co-workers on the midnight shift were able to chase this tornado and their accounts were nothing short of Scott W's awesome footage.
May 15, 2003: Stratford, TX tornadoes I had just finished a midnight shift this morning and was well aware of the chase potential, but if it wasn't for a mandatory post-shift meeting I could have easily made the haul out to the TX Panhandle for a chase. I think Mike H was on to something by quitting the rat race!
May 30, 2003: Clinton, IL wedge tornado Finally a day when work didn't interfere, but instead I was stuck waiting for UPS to deliver my digital camera...which didn't arrive until 5pm. I was so upset by that time that I wrote off the day's chase. For that stupid move, I deserved what happened next. I ended up missing out on this evening's tornadic supercells near Lincoln (multiple tornadoes were viewed by the NWS staff) and the wedge later on near Clinton. This supercell was only two hours away from where I was living at the time...ouch.
May 31, 1999: "Forgotten" CO tornadoes I'm surprised no one has listed CO yet (not even the 10 May 2004 event!), so I need to give this state some much overdue credit. Everyone remembers the Meade/Sitka tornado this day, fewer recall the southwest OK tornadoes, and even fewer know of the tornadoes in CO. I was chasing with the university crew this day and we ended up too far northeast of the Sitka supercell, but decided to watch what would become the Russell supercell to our north at sunset. This storm did have some great structure and even produced a tornado after sunset, but the real sting was seeing TWC show footage that night of the tornadoes in CO. I had no clue that area was even within a favorable setup and I guess it's these overlooked targets that weigh so heavily on my mind. Someone was out there chasing and getting footage, but I have yet to discover who.
July 5, 2000: Northeast CO monster supercell and tornado Yes, another CO event. This storm needs no explanation...just look at Ian Wittmeyer's photos and mind your drooling!
May 10, 2003: Lima, IL wedge I was returning to IL from having chased OK the day prior, but if it wasn't for work this afternoon I could have easily made the jog northwest to chase any one of the supercells that developed. Two of my co-workers on the midnight shift were able to chase this tornado and their accounts were nothing short of Scott W's awesome footage.
May 15, 2003: Stratford, TX tornadoes I had just finished a midnight shift this morning and was well aware of the chase potential, but if it wasn't for a mandatory post-shift meeting I could have easily made the haul out to the TX Panhandle for a chase. I think Mike H was on to something by quitting the rat race!
May 30, 2003: Clinton, IL wedge tornado Finally a day when work didn't interfere, but instead I was stuck waiting for UPS to deliver my digital camera...which didn't arrive until 5pm. I was so upset by that time that I wrote off the day's chase. For that stupid move, I deserved what happened next. I ended up missing out on this evening's tornadic supercells near Lincoln (multiple tornadoes were viewed by the NWS staff) and the wedge later on near Clinton. This supercell was only two hours away from where I was living at the time...ouch.
Marko Korosec
EF4
Here is my list...
1) Manitoba, Canada - June 23, 2007
2) Manchester, SD - June 24, 2003
3) Stafford Co, KS - May 5, 2007
4) Greensburg, KS - May 4, 2007
5) Mulvane, KS - June 12, 2004
Oh man, if only...
1) Manitoba, Canada - June 23, 2007
2) Manchester, SD - June 24, 2003
3) Stafford Co, KS - May 5, 2007
4) Greensburg, KS - May 4, 2007
5) Mulvane, KS - June 12, 2004
Oh man, if only...
Michael O'Keeffe
Here are just a few of the storms I wish I was on.
1. March 13, 1990 Hesston, KS Tornadic Supercell that produced not one, but two F5 tornadoes.
2. June 8, 1995 E TX Panhandle Tornadic Supercell Outbreak
3. June 23, 2002 NE South Dakota WedgeFest
4. June 24, 2003 E South Dakota Tornado Outbreak
5. July 13, 2004 Roanoke, IL Perfect stovepipe F4
There are some notable storms as well: May 5 2007 Macksville, KS Tornado Machine, we headed south towards it then turned around and stayed on the storm we were on, Stupid move!!! January 7, 2008 SW Missouri Tornadic Insanity my dad couldn't get outta work, but if he could have we would have gone...thats a stinger.
1. March 13, 1990 Hesston, KS Tornadic Supercell that produced not one, but two F5 tornadoes.
2. June 8, 1995 E TX Panhandle Tornadic Supercell Outbreak
3. June 23, 2002 NE South Dakota WedgeFest
4. June 24, 2003 E South Dakota Tornado Outbreak
5. July 13, 2004 Roanoke, IL Perfect stovepipe F4
There are some notable storms as well: May 5 2007 Macksville, KS Tornado Machine, we headed south towards it then turned around and stayed on the storm we were on, Stupid move!!! January 7, 2008 SW Missouri Tornadic Insanity my dad couldn't get outta work, but if he could have we would have gone...thats a stinger.
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Ben Prusia
EF4
April 15, 2006 - KC Metro Area
Where in the world was I? Several tornadoes reported near Bonner Springs, Kansas and in Ray County, Missouri.
February 28, 2007 - Mound City, Kansas
Nothing beats a local chase, and I was in Gardner at the time; at most an hours drive from the action.
April 23, 2007 - Protection, Kansas
I had the day off too. But it was made up the next day at Nickerson.
May 4, 2007 - Greensburg, Kansas
I told my co-worker that I might be calling out on that day, 8 days in advance. But I showed up to work, and without a doubt, called out the next day!
January 7, 2008 - SW Missouri
Yes, I could have went.
Where in the world was I? Several tornadoes reported near Bonner Springs, Kansas and in Ray County, Missouri.
February 28, 2007 - Mound City, Kansas
Nothing beats a local chase, and I was in Gardner at the time; at most an hours drive from the action.
April 23, 2007 - Protection, Kansas
I had the day off too. But it was made up the next day at Nickerson.
May 4, 2007 - Greensburg, Kansas
I told my co-worker that I might be calling out on that day, 8 days in advance. But I showed up to work, and without a doubt, called out the next day!
January 7, 2008 - SW Missouri
Yes, I could have went.
Bryan Smith
Enthusiast
1. March 18, 1925 Tri-State Storm
2. April 11, 1965 Elkhart Co., Indiana double wedge
3. May 29, 2001 Turkey, Texas striated mothership meso
4. May 27, 2001 Fort Supply, Oklahoma - People Chaser Derecho
5. May 24, 2004 Nuckolls Co., Nebraska supercell (12+ tors)
2. April 11, 1965 Elkhart Co., Indiana double wedge
3. May 29, 2001 Turkey, Texas striated mothership meso
4. May 27, 2001 Fort Supply, Oklahoma - People Chaser Derecho
5. May 24, 2004 Nuckolls Co., Nebraska supercell (12+ tors)
Dean Baron
Supporter
1. August 24th, 2006 Southern Minnesota
2. March 12, 2006 Missouri
3. May 5, 2007 South Dakota/Nebraska
4. August 5, 2006 Abeerdeen Storm OR late afternoon Fargo storm
5. June 7, 2007 High Risk in Wisconsin
2. March 12, 2006 Missouri
3. May 5, 2007 South Dakota/Nebraska
4. August 5, 2006 Abeerdeen Storm OR late afternoon Fargo storm
5. June 7, 2007 High Risk in Wisconsin
Fabian Guerra
EF1
1. Hallam, NE - May 2004. We were in Nebraska but on the wrong storms. The day before I witnessed my first tornado after 3 years of busting.
2. Utica, IL - April 20, 2004. Sadly, I was in front of a computer working all day but decided it would be a junk day after looking at morning data. Had I done even a quick check in the early afternoon I would, could and should have been on this one.
3. Roanoke, IL - July 13, 2004. Close but no cigar...
4. Mulvane, KS. You guys know the one. I was unable to chase this day but it looked like such a perfect tornado. Wish I was on it.
5. Central IL, May 30, 2003. I don't think there were any long lived tornadoes but a lot of them were reported and I didn't get any of them. Chalk this one up to inexperience.
2. Utica, IL - April 20, 2004. Sadly, I was in front of a computer working all day but decided it would be a junk day after looking at morning data. Had I done even a quick check in the early afternoon I would, could and should have been on this one.
3. Roanoke, IL - July 13, 2004. Close but no cigar...
4. Mulvane, KS. You guys know the one. I was unable to chase this day but it looked like such a perfect tornado. Wish I was on it.
5. Central IL, May 30, 2003. I don't think there were any long lived tornadoes but a lot of them were reported and I didn't get any of them. Chalk this one up to inexperience.
nickgrillo
EF5
Here's the top 5 storms and days that I wish had captured since I've started chasing (May 2003).
1. Greensburg, Kansas -- 5/4/2007:
I couldn't chase at all in 2007 due to personal stuff (as in totally uncalled for retarded stuff). I missed out on a seemingly decent year for quality setups leading to a healthy number of tornado days.
2. Roanoke, IL -- 7/13/2004:
I missed out on an incredible tornado, but then again I probably wouldn't of gotten it even if I did decide to target central IL that day.
3. Hanover, KS -- 4/6/2006:
After driving a total of about 5,000 miles in less than a week -- only for it to have yielded absolutely nothing besides me chasing after moisture-starved / high-based or elevated convection which moves at incredible speeds -- I decided not to drive out to KS again from Detroit. I had gotten a good looking supercell in OK just a few days prior, but then watch it go to crap due to shallow moisture in the BL (again, from convective mixing earlier). Moisture was forecasted to be halfway decent, but I had a bad feeling it would get mixed out by the early afternoon, and even though the moist layer was incredibley thin, there was still this storm (Hanover) that yielded great results for numerous different chasers.
4. IL/WI/MO -- 1/7/2008:
Personally, I hadn't paid much attention to anything wx-related since last summer, up until around 10am that day. No clue on where my exact target would have been if I had actually chased and driven out to the area the night before.
5. Mulvane, KS -- 6/12/2004
!
1. Greensburg, Kansas -- 5/4/2007:
I couldn't chase at all in 2007 due to personal stuff (as in totally uncalled for retarded stuff). I missed out on a seemingly decent year for quality setups leading to a healthy number of tornado days.
2. Roanoke, IL -- 7/13/2004:
I missed out on an incredible tornado, but then again I probably wouldn't of gotten it even if I did decide to target central IL that day.
3. Hanover, KS -- 4/6/2006:
After driving a total of about 5,000 miles in less than a week -- only for it to have yielded absolutely nothing besides me chasing after moisture-starved / high-based or elevated convection which moves at incredible speeds -- I decided not to drive out to KS again from Detroit. I had gotten a good looking supercell in OK just a few days prior, but then watch it go to crap due to shallow moisture in the BL (again, from convective mixing earlier). Moisture was forecasted to be halfway decent, but I had a bad feeling it would get mixed out by the early afternoon, and even though the moist layer was incredibley thin, there was still this storm (Hanover) that yielded great results for numerous different chasers.
4. IL/WI/MO -- 1/7/2008:
Personally, I hadn't paid much attention to anything wx-related since last summer, up until around 10am that day. No clue on where my exact target would have been if I had actually chased and driven out to the area the night before.
5. Mulvane, KS -- 6/12/2004
!
