I did a remarkably good job of missing most of the popularly biggest days of the 2010s for various reasons. Sometimes I chose not to chase at all because I didn't think it would be worthwhile. Other events I was out for, but on the wrong storm or somehow missed the best part of the show. Note: these are all events I reasonably *
could have made*. I am not considering events that occurred when I was clearly unavailable or were way too far away from home for me to have ever had a chance of catching (e.g., Campo). These dates include...
Great Chase Days MISSED
1-3) 18-20 May 2013: this three-day streak remains at the top of my all-time wall of shame. Those of you who have followed me are well aware of the sequence of massively bad decisions and overall failures (on each day) that led to this.
4) 24 May 2016: talked myself out of going - didn't think it would happen; nuff said.
5) 9 May 2016: was trading divorce papers with my ex-wife this day and was an emotional wreck; did not think to head out until after the Katie tornado showed up on KOCO-5. Ended up going after a weaker, largely non-tornadic supercell in Cleveland County instead.
6) 16 May 2015: was on the Elmer-Tipton storm, initially in a perfect location to see that beast, but left too early and ended up way too far east to catch most of it. Only saw it at the very end when it was a stovepipe.
7) 16-18 June 2014: Didn't chase; I chased S NE two days prior (and busted). On each of these days I argued against going out the following day and was subsequently proven stupid.
8) 25 May 2016: Was messing around in SC KS as the Chapman tornado was beginning. Math showed I could have made it north in time to catch the later part of that tornado. Was too late to the after-dark Enid tornadic supercell as well.
9) 31 May 2013: Was home the entire time - 40 miles away. Had plans to travel out-of-region that weekend that I ended up canceling, but still did not chase.
10) 25 May 2012: had every intention to chase C KS, but my grad student advisor switched our weekly meeting to this day and would not let me skip it.
11) 16 November 2015: at one point pre-CI was literally sitting in a spot in a field that would, a few hours later, almost certainly be within the early stages of what would become a massive wedge tornado. Not only missed all tornadoes, but hit a deer in the middle of nowhere just after breaking off the chase.
12) 12 June 2017: knew I wanted to chase several days in advance, but post-doc advisor would not approve the time off for me.
Honorable mention: 28 May 2013 (Bennington): technically was busy at HWT in Norman this day, but could have cut out had I wanted to.
As a result, my actual list of best chases of the decade is likely quite different from that most others are presenting:
Best chases of 2010-2019 (in no particular order)
- 17 June 2010: this remains my lifetime best chase.
- 22 May 2010: got lucky to be out with TWISTEX and caught Bowdle despite starting the day in NW NE.
- 24 May 2010: just a weeeeeiiiiirrrrrd evolution of tornadoes in NW SD/SW ND; tornadoes everywhere.
- 20 June 2011: still a top-three chase for me. Got within 2/3rds mi. of the Henderson tornado with no other chasers between us on a paved highway.
- 14 April 2012: despite not getting the best of the event in KS, still wound up with a few nice tornadoes in NW OK, including my best shot of a rope.
- 6 May 2015: ending a nearly-two-full-year tornado-less streak and also my first tornadic solo chase. 5 or 6 tornadoes in SW OK including one from across the street from my apartment in Norman that I narrowly beat home.
- 27 May 2015: Got there a little late after much delay on the drive out, but made it in time for the big one, and in great position. Among my most well-documented tornadoes.
- 15 April 2016: This one started out lame, but persistence paid off. Had unique positioning and experience with a tornado in the OK PH and got my career best structure shot in the N TX PH.
- 28 May 2018: "The Great Colorado Memorial Day Landspout Fest of 2018" - was close enough to attempt a "field goal" maneuver between the two big ones.
- Toss-up between 22 May 2011 (Ladora, IA tornado...I was nearly alone on that one and close enough for some quality shots) and 29 May 2012 (Kingfisher-Canadian County, OK...megastructure).