Who is chasing with minimal technology?

[Greg Flint]

Just curious if there are any old school chasers her who leave technology completely out of their cars and simply look at data in the AM, put together a forecast and bring only a camera out on a chase using only visual cues to guide them?

Lately, I've been wondering if this would be worth trying as a way to minimize distractions behind the wheel and also test skill level. Wouldn't it be MORE exhilarating and in a way more satisfying if you Did some homework before you went out and as a result scored a beautiful supercell T-storm without all the electronic assistance? I'm certainly not saying I am even close to the point where I can do this; but I certainly would have HUGE amounts of respect and admiration for those who get by with less out there.

I would love to hear if anyone does thid style of chasing anymore or if anyone has given it a try.

 

[Brad Dormer]

I've chased in Southwest Iowa a couple of times and for some reason I get very limited, if any data, I usually don't use any technology when I'm down there but I do check things out before I leave and occasionally stop at truck stops/gas stations to check up every one or two hours after leaving, I've only had luck not using technology once, storm blew up right in front of me and moved right towards me but I waited too long to move and got hailed on but it didn't cause any damage. My new goal when I chase is to not use technology while driving, and if I do need to use it I'll be pulling over or stopping at a truck stop or gas station, etc.

 

[Dan Robinson]

I like the thought. One alternative to technology is a nowcaster, meaning someone who is home on a computer periodically relaying information to you via phone. Back in the pre-mobile internet days, a nowcaster was invaluable. Tim Vasquez even had a paid service that did this. I think I would likely sign up to something like this if it was available and reasonable.

 

[Kevin R Burgess]

I do.
I make a final forecast,from my PC,then 'Hit the road',
I will,occasionally stop at a public library,to get up-dates,then proceed on.

I 'LOVE' this kind of challenge....
P.S., I will bring my Wx band radio.

 

[TJ Schulte]

All u really need is RadarScope and the SPC mesoanalysis on you. Lol once you get the right cell just follow it home


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[Adam R Davis]

I've had a laptop, and now simply an android tablet, for accumulating data in the earlier parts of the day. I try to go visual as much as possible though. I seem to be at my best when reading the sky. It is nice to have access to radar in situations where visibility is hampered.

 

[Adam Ploessl]

There are couple times I've gone out without anything but my phone. I just had the GPS on my phone turned on to share location and used the Zello app with some other friends out in the field and at home. Kinda like chasing with 2 way radios.

 

[JamesCaruso]

Interesting topic as a broader question of, what is the right balance of technology? What is the equilibrium point of enough technology to improve the odds of success, while still keeping it challenging enough to maintain the satisfaction of a sense of accomplishment? If numerical weather prediction and other technologies available to us progressed to the point of knowing exactly when and where the best tornado of the day would form, would you even want to chase anymore?

When I started chasing, it was in the days where you had to get through the day with the data you looked at in the morning, unless you stopped at a NWS office or went to a truck stop and plugged in your phone cord for a dial-up connection. (I feel like an old man telling kids how he used to walk a mile uphill in a blizzard to get to school LOL). Now, I constantly struggle with becoming too immersed in the data while out in the field, to the point of getting lost in the weeds and becoming blind to what is actually happening. (I will always remember seeing a veteran chaser who was pretty advanced with technology already back in the late 90s / early 2000s, showing me all this tech in his car and then suddenly sticking his hand out the window and saying "Oh, it's raining" [emoji57][emoji1]. And I remember chasing with another veteran who, before tablets, had both the weather radio and a portable TV going in the car, the TV kept getting static-y, sliding across the dashboard, it was driving me crazy).

But part of chasing's appeal to me is the meteorology, so I love to have the technological window into what's going on - in my immediate area and elsewhere - that technology provides.

BTW, I happen to know that Jack "Thunderhead" Corso, one of the originals, still chases the old fashioned way. He looks at data in the hotel, and off he goes with his 35mm camera and stack of paper maps. When I have seen him in the field and try to show him the latest data, he all but ignores it, he's got his own picture in his head of what's going on, and a sense of gut instinct. "Old school" and great to see.




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[Justin Hassie]

I use an Android tablet with RadarScope and Storm Eye (I like the range rings) using a CD player mount and an Android phone with Waze/Google Maps on a dash mount.

 

[Greg Flint]

If numerical weather prediction and other technologies available to us progressed to the point of knowing exactly when and where the best tornado of the day would form, would you even want to chase anymore?

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That is a fascinating question. The answer for me, in all honesty, would be no. I enjoy the hunt/chase, tracking initiation and then positioning accordingly, not to mention the entire build up of "IS THIS STORM GOING TO PRODUCE" type moments. But i guess "best tornado of the day" is also subjective.

If forecasting becomes so precise, that we could predict exactly where the storm will put down a tornado, storm chasing would not interest me nearly as much and as a result the new storm chasing experience would be kinda watered down for me. From a "what's best for lives/society" standpoint, obviously it would be an added benefit if the forecast was accurate to the point we knew where tornados were going to form, and which were best/largest. No matter how great technology is, i don't see how that could ever be a possibility but you never know.

 

[JamesCaruso]

Greg, I agree completely on all counts!


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[Tim Vasquez]

Tim Vasquez even had a paid service that did this. I think I would likely sign up to something like this if it was available and reasonable.

The old Chase Hotline was closed out around 2007-2008 once data started pouring out into the field and iPhones and Blackberries became a staple of chasing. The VIP part of the Chase Hotline service has still been running annually for the past 10 years, though, and I have a couple of longtime customers who sign up for it with their 2 week chase vacations. The VIP service is essentially like what you see with big chase teams where you have your own nowcaster and you get texts and calls in the field.

 

[Eric Hassfurther]

The old Chase Hotline was closed out around 2007-2008 once data started pouring out into the field and iPhones and Blackberries became a staple of chasing. The VIP part of the Chase Hotline service has still been running annually for the past 10 years, though, and I have a couple of longtime customers who sign up for it with their 2 week chase vacations. The VIP service is essentially like what you see with big chase teams where you have your own nowcaster and you get texts and calls in the field.

Tim, out of curiosity, what is this VIP service cost?


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[Greg Flint]

Tim - I'd be curious to know the cost as well. IMO whatever it is, it's probably LESS than I would be willing to pay for a service like this, meaning I'm such a fan of the idea I would overpay (let's keep that between you and me):

 

[Shane Adams]

I suppose you could still consider me "older" school. We tried the computer in the car thing for a few years between 2010-2012, but the tech was more hassle than benefit. I have always felt that too much information is worse than not enough; I like to build the picture in my head of how the day will unfold, and I don't want any outside info/opinions to influence that. I'd rather bust on my own plan than just react to constant data. Granted, we do have smartphones with "My Radar" aps, but that only shows precipitation and if a storm is warned. It's not at all useful for close-range intercepts/storm analysis. For that, I still rely on the best tool I've ever had - my eyes. I personally just don't enjoy plugging into "The Matrix" and being pulled towards tornadoes by a data string. They wouldn't be satisfying to me if I didn't have to work for them; it would be like being a tour guest or just riding in a car with chasers not really contributing anything other than gas money.

Aside: I have always used paper maps, as I hate having to babysit tech and the one year we tried Street Atlas it just kept crashing, and was never reliable. I'm sure the issue was computer power or whatever, but there's only so much crap I'm willing to plug in on a chase. In fact, I spent $80 on maps a few weeks back to get ready for 2017.