Write a Letter To Yourself

[Shane Adams]

A few more I thought of during the day....

May 5, 2001 The south storm doesn't always become the storm...think about that.

June 13, 2001 While you're sitting in Seward, NE scarfing down Big Macs for lunch, might wanna think about pitching a tent.

May 5, 2002 Even though the sign says "Canyon", don't take that blacktop road south before you get to I-27.

May 4, 2003 Just stay home. You'll barely have enough money between the four of you to get yourselves home, let alone the guy following you around all day solo.

April 22, 2004 Just run the ***** off the road, she's going to cost you a tornado.

May 22, 2004 You've already been sitting there three hours...what's one more?

March 21, 2005 You don't even deserve a head's up for this one...anyone who stares at a computer screen and forgets to look out the damn window deserves to bust.

May 9, 2006 Hang out with Jeff another minute, he's going to see a tornado from where you're sitting right after you leave.

April 23, 2007 Do what you did last time; I gotta love a guy who sticks to his target instead of opting for a last-second speed run to join the other 400 chasers on the storm of the day....that isn't succeeding, that's just breaking the law to save your ass.

 

[afischer]

I like to learn from past mistakes (even the painful ones), so here goes...

May 7 2002: You've already driven 2 hours toward the SW KS anvil canopy; keep going, you're almost there

April 18 2003: Cold core set-up? What is that?
May 8 2003: The warm front was, in fact, a stupid target

May 12 2004: Your instinct about the southernmost storm WAS correct (only consolation being that sometimes instincts are wrong)
May 24 2004: Pay closer attention to the timing of shortwave energy
June 11 2004: Don't bother trying to chase between mid shifts
June 12 2004: Don't bother trying to chase between mid shifts
August 25 2004: DO bother trying to chase between mid shifts
August 26 2004: DO bother trying to chase between mid shifts

April 10 2005: After looking at the 12Z obs/guidance, go and chase, rather than be unimpressed and choose to do yardwork etc
November 12 2005: Don't make a single wrong road decision the rest of the day when you've already been driving your ass off for 2 hours and the storm of the day is currently moving overhead in Stuart IA at 50mph; also, remember, it's Iowa, so you won't see a tornado anyway

March 12 2006: keep chasing after dark when extremely favorable tornadic conditions are expected after dark
April 2 2006: if you're going to chase on no sleep, don't be bummed about making a wretched forecast

March 28, 2007: Don't bother trying to chase between mid shifts
May 5 2007: typically, don't stick with storms that have looked extremely cold and outflow dominant for the past hour or more
August 21 2007: again.. when it's late August, you chase

April 24 2008: when chasing an event that looked like it might produce tornadoes well after dark... actually keep chasing well after dark
May 10 2008: sometimes, you'll make a really bad forecast.
May 22 2008: sometimes, tornadoes really really like to form to the immediate cool side of a warm front, even though the adjacent warm sector looks pretty darn good too
May 25 2008: You do have to work tonight and it doesn't look THAT GREAT north and east of Des Moines, but remember it's Iowa and what will probably happen if you pass on the chase...
May 29 2008: sometimes a 2-hour hail mary drive will actually pay off!

 

[Derek Mohr]

Mine for this year is very, very short but also very useful:

Any time from Early May to Late June: NO MATTER WHAT EXCUSE YOU MIGHT COME UP WITH, GO GO GO! YOU HAVE ONE SHOT THIS YEAR AND YOU DON'T WANT TO PASS IT UP THIS TIME!

Sorry for the All Caps, but I don't want past-me to think I'm joking around.

 

[David Draun]

May 23, 2007:Looking up briefly to see the flying tumbleweeds while near Buffalo, OK may have raised your trip tornado count to two.

June 25, 2007: Always have a camera ready. You are in Florida and there are thunderstorms with two outflow boundaries colliding with a sea-breeze. The tornado/waterspout/rainbow combination was beautiful and your vantage point would have made for great photos.

May 26, 2008: Stay parked at the Pratt Super 8, you'll still see the tornado and avoid the hail dents, it is a rental after all. No need to double back west to Greensburg. The tornado will practically pass overhead.

May 29, 2008: Don't abandon the storm if you still see a clear slot cutting in from the west, you would have caught an even better tornado. Light outflow winds don't necessarily mean the storm is done.

June 6, 2008: You should have headed north into Wisconsin. The storms were not going to backbuild south and west

June 7, 2008: A Plains-caliber cyclic tornadic supercell is developing in the SW burbs. Chase, damn you! You can catch it on I-57!

 

[Maggie Kahman]

June 4th 2008
1. Dont do your first chase solo
2. Dont core punch an HP sup
3. Should have gone West BEFORE hitting the interstate
4. Dont leave home without your purse, which has your drivers license in it
5. TAKE MORE PICTURES!!

I learned alot of really good lessons that day

 

[Brian Stertz]

Some of my recent calamities....drops this list in mail

May 3, 1999....take some photos. This may be that one chase of a lifetime.

April 7, 2002....the shear sure looks strong at Throckmorton...be patient will ya !!

May 22, 2004....remember to hang out south of Lincoln.

May 29, 2004....stay put at the Wellington KS library...do some surfing and do NOT move !!!

June 24, 2004....call in sick and head north...way north !!

June 12, 2005....get south dum*ss...don't be late !!

April 2, 2006....MO Bootheel has fantastic EHI and bulk shear....hmmmmm.

March 28, 2007....sleep & work is more important....grrrrrr. TX Panhandle looks like a sure thing target.

May 4, 2007....call in dummy. You have great luck in early May.

Spring 2008....wtf are you doing ??!!!!

 

[Laura Duchesne]

March 28, 1998 (Ontario)
- Don't head towards those clouds. They aren't storm clouds. Really, rookie.

May 12, 2000 (Ontario)
- Maybe your partners should have listened to you... head south or get cored!

August 9, 2000 (Ontario)
- No matter the size of the storm and lack of warnings, there will be surprises. Just wait.

2003 season (Ontario)
- Never quit the chase early! And get your butt out there sooner!

May 23, 2004 (Ontario)
- Never assume your partner has brought a video camera along and leave yours at home.

May 29, 2006
- Never use the kit lens that came with your digital rebel to take lightning pictures!

June 5, 2006
- You will find that your partner Ron really is uncanny.
- Stay in SD, grab a bite at Dairy Queen and head west.
- If you would have had your video camera on the tripod, you would have had more still images.

June 2, 2007
- Chase tornadic supercell now, book hotel rooms later!

June 3, 2007
- Maybe you should just let Ben take all the video of the tornado... get some stills instead!

July 8, 2007 (Ontario)
- Do whatever it takes to get your partner to agree on chasing! Otherwise you may end up crying at home.

April 11, 2008 (Ontario)
- You really should listen to the RUC... no moisture, no storms! After all, that's happened to you before.

May 26, 2008
- You will find that getting up close and personal does not always offer the best photogenic opportunities.

May 29, 2008
- Keep the radar zoomed out so you can see what else is going on! It will cost you a good tornado or two in KS.

May 31, 2008
- Always double check your camera settings before attempting lightning shots! Time will soon be running out.

June 5, 2008
- Don't bother chasing high risk setups... it's not like you had much luck with them anyway.

 

[Dann Cianca]

May 5th, 2007: Don't hang out on the dryline in WaKeeney ... get south and east to Great Bend. Later: You are looking at a tornado ... it would be your first if you only knew what you were looking at. Don't be afraid, you are southeast of it an it is heading northeast.

August 23rd, 2007: Your driver's rear window will malfunction when you are in the horizontally driven hail core on the Palmer Divide. Bring extra towels and for God's sake, take video!!! ... you'll want to share with people what exactly it is like to be in a popcorn machine.

 

[Gerrit Gulden]

Pre-Spring

March 10 2006 - dont get so excited next time you see yellow in the radar, it doesnt always mean there is lightning and thunder, may will come soon

April 21 2007 - why did you leave the camera at home. Your nightmares alone of not having a camera during a storm should have been enough so you wouldnt miss the first thunderstorm of the season

Summer

Oct 4 2006 - Next time , Dont sit at home watching radar to see if the TVS indicated storm with 70dbz is going to come your way, get moving

July 22 2008 - dont forget the video camera and think youll capture the storm just fine, youll regret not having video for this day

 

[Dann Cianca]

June 2nd, 2008 - It doesn't matter that she has homework and wants to be back at a reasonable hour. You can make it if you don't stop to take pictures of the amazing, sweeping RFD outflow shelf. Keep driving east on 36 ... get in position. This storm is so classic that you can place yourself even with the low-resolution radar on your phone. This is the night you've been waiting for. If there is a tornado there, there will be nobody to see it but you and her. There are no buildings, no towns, no eyes except those of the animals. Just drive east and see if it's there ... right on the county line ... it should be perfect. Get there and wait for it ... because if you don't, you'll still be sitting at home in December wishing you did.