I was in a small one as a child in Knox City, Tx. It blew my swingset in the neighbors yard and that was always the significant thing for me. But I remember viewing it in the distance though I didn't really know what I was looking at at the time. I also remember hiding in the closet and the loud noise. I was about 3 or 4. I have relatives in Clyde, Tx that were killed by a tornado. I believe that was back in the 50's.
Oh, the above was obviously non-chasing. I thought that's what this thread was about. As for chasing, I don't think I've ever been in one - at least none that I recall at the moment. I've been real close to being in one I don't know how many times. Sometimes it's hard to tell how close you are to being 'in' because it's dark. I nearly drove into one May 12, 2005 as I tried to beat it to a town, but I turned around. It filled up 3/4 of my windshields at the time to give an idea. Another time (offhand I forget the date), Gene and I were in the Tx Panhandle. It was the day (early 2000's) where the storms were moving 70+ mph and Gene got shocked. We raced away at 100mph (my speed governor wouldn't allow more) with the tornado just to our right rear. About 13 (or was it 30?) power poles were blown down behind us per storm logs we read later. We were nearly blown off the road at that speed and I was afraid of running over the poles - fortunately they didn't go down til we were cleared. I'd have to think for awhile for other close calls.
Guess having Gene as my partner is either a great blessing or a curse depending on how you look at it.
He's been in a number for torns and close calls on many, but he's also still around and maybe the stats and what he's learned are in his favor now.
PS: Oh yeah, reading the post above reminded of the Caldwell, Tx (F2 or F3) I nearly drove into in bad visibility. It crossed the road in front of me and the winds shot from 0 to very fast in seconds. I did a 180! Many other close calls but still don't think I was in one chasing. I suppose that's a good thing, right?
PSPS: Hmm...ok, there was also last Spring (with Gene and David D) as we were in the genesis area of a developing tornado. It came down probably 1 to 3 miles to our ENE within the next 10 to 15 minutes. It wasn't a tornado, or down yet, so doesn't count, but it was interesting so I thought I would mention.
PS: I'm also now remembering the night in Kansas with the MESO team and Geoff Mackley. We drove into a storm in tornadic conditions without current radar and encountered extreme turbulence so we pulled under an overpass in our vehicles. I downloaded a radar, and learned that there was a couplet directly over us. The winds were intense. We later left and semi's were turned over. Later, some of the MESO team went back and found a tornado damage path as I recall 140 yards or so from the overpass.
PS: The above then reminds me of the time Geoff Mackley and I were in OK in the hilly SE part of the state and after only catching funnels during the day storms turned more tornadic at night. Geoff really wanted a tornado and to film one nearby. For some reason, I accomodated him and headed due west as the light was fading from twilight to darkness and we went head on with a developing tornadic warned storm circulation approaching. At last minute I decided I was crazy and turned around. As we made our way back east and away the circulation caught up to us and we saw what we thought was a small vortex pass in front maybe 1/4 mile or less ahead. As it passed winds intensified and my Tahoe got whacked with something fairly big and loud that wasn't hail, but fortunately it hit the metal and not the glass.
PS: Then there was this day:
http://www.tornadoxtreme.com/Chases_By_Year/2003_Chases/April_15th/april_15th.html. It was a close call where I crossed the path of and somehow managed to avoid a previously reported tornado to my SW that later appears to still be down (or almost) after it passes NE of my previous position. (Not in a tornado - but another narrow miss).
