Your first chase...

[Shawn Gossman]

Hey all,

Think back on your first storm chasing experience... how did you all feel when it occurred? What emotions and feelings were present when you decided that you were going to be a long time chaser after that first chase? How does it differ from how you felt about storm chasing and/or severe weather before you were a storm chaser?

 

[Karen St John]

My first tornadic chase was March 15 of this year, the Dexter Michigan EF3. Dexter is in NW Washtenaw County, I live kittycorner in Ypsilanti, about 20 minutes SE. When the very unexpected warning came up, I was shopping in downtown Ann Arbor, which is in the middle. I got my scanner out, and iPad, and found out the position of the storm from the sheriff's department and Radarscope, including that it was heading SE, which would have been right over me. So I headed due S, then over a little SW, to get behind it. Then another warning came up, to my West heading near Ypsi. It produced a wall cloud, but that was all I saw. But the big storm pulled SSE, then, so I then repositioned myself to get out of the way, and enjoyed a nice view of some nickel sized hail on my hood, and a sort of rotating bowl...thankfully, and finally, it was moving away.

To be honest, while I had the time of my life, and have got it in my blood now, I was scared afterwards, and cried a bit. I have much to learn. I feel lucky that I didn't punch a core on my first time out.


Another thing was that I decided to sell my car then, and get another quicker, more substantial vehicle. I had a Honda Fit, and while I loved that car, it was buffeted too much by the wind, and left me very unnerved after the chase. Plus, it was slow. In May I purchased a 2012 V6 Mustang...much more mass, quite quick, and very fun to drive. Plus, it was on closeout...with some extra options because it was special ordered but the buyer fell out of the deal.

 

[Rob Wadsworth]

My first real chase was incredible, and something I am truly grateful for having experienced. I was able to chase on May 22nd and 23rd 2008 in NW Kansas. You know, the Quinter KS F-4 tornado and many others. As far south as WaKeeney KS and as far east as Stockton KS. It was a back-to-back two day 'tornadofest' - if there ever was such a thing.

I think this experience seasoned me in ways that I could just not fathom beforehand. No matter how much I read and tried to comprehend; the actual experience pressed upon me many things that just haven't been accounted for in all of the chasing 'literature' and accounts that I had read until that time.

I learned first from the chaser'a perspective, of course. It was a thrill, a hunt, and an accomplishment to experience and document with photos and film. From the perspective of those who live their lives on this portion of the Plains; I learned that it was a time filled with apprehension, fear, and even loathing. Two different perspectives and both of them quite valid. The latter perspective put it all into focus, since my only other focus had been on the chaser's perspectives.

Quinter was a newbee stormchaser best possible scenario. Lots of other chasers, convergence wasn't an issue, photogenic long-lived tornado, the TIV crew were there, and didn't have to travel far to catch the next tornado. Gave me the chance to be around other chasers (some from this forum), learn from them, and gave me the chance to actually see various things that I had only read about before.

WaKeeney is where I experienced the fear and loathing part. Caught in a gas station at nightfall with many other people, while some very large tornadoes moving and passing by and unable to see them through the blinding rain and wind. Blocking the I-70 escape route in either direction for two very long hours. The faces of those many trapped at this gas station all mirroring the same apprehension. Waiting and hoping for it all to end. You really could taste the adrenaline in that air.

There is no way I could forget those two days.