Where is the weather?

[Mike Johnston]

One idea is to set yourself up for some virtual chases. In this way, you can have the intellectual challenge of a chase, but without the costs. Act as if you will be chasing on a given day. You should choose a target. Perhaps have a primary target and a secondary target. Write up your own forecast for the day. It may be a little daunting at first but keep practicing. Go ahead and share your forecast here on Stormtrack. The day of the virtual chase, try to follow what is going on very closely, I check the Rapid Update Cycle model every hour. Keep up with the SPC's mesoanalysis and try to learn some of the terms used in the many fields there. Adjust your chasing target as often as you feel the need. See how close your target is to actual tornado reports for the day

 

[Jim Keener]

One idea is to set yourself up for some virtual chases. In this way, you can have the intellectual challenge of a chase, but without the costs. Act as if you will be chasing on a given day. You should choose a target. Perhaps have a primary target and a secondary target. Write up your own forecast for the day. It may be a little daunting at first but keep practicing. Go ahead and share your forecast here on Stormtrack. The day of the virtual chase, try to follow what is going on very closely, I check the Rapid Update Cycle model every hour. Keep up with the SPC's mesoanalysis and try to learn some of the terms used in the many fields there. Adjust your chasing target as often as you feel the need. See how close your target is to actual tornado reports for the day

Thanks, Mike.

 

[Jim Keener]

This is very helpful. I especially appreciate the graduated approach.

 

[Jim Keener]

Very helpful. Thank you.

 

[MikeD]

Here’s a good example for something you want to watch for (the second photo). Note the inflow band in the second image. The third and fourth photos are the same storm, but only 10 minutes apart! This shows you have fast a storm can change in a short amount of time. Also, notice the slant of the updraft due to the shear. The first image is the radar of the storm.

 

[Jim Keener]

These are very informative. Thank you.

 

[MikeD]

Refresh your page so you can see the radar. Also, note the flanking line convection.

 

[MikeD]

The storm that I took a picture of has died. It became outflow dominant and is in the dissipating stage.

The time the storm was born: 5:03 PM

The time I took the pictures: 5:25 PM

The time the storm died: 6:07 PM

The storm’s entire life cycle: 1 hour 4 minutes