I decided last night to try my hand for the first time to really take a serious starfield picture, and in that process hoped maybe to capture a Perseids Meteor.  I was out for about 3 hours taking dozens of images with my Canon digital SLR.  While I was out I saw between 30 and 40 meteors.  I was rather disappointed as I was hoping for more from all accounts I had read on what was expected.  The area in West Texas where I was has exceptional viewing and according to the light pollution maps is in the second darkest areas. Nonetheless, the overall amount I saw wasn’t that much, with many of them being faint.  I didn’t see any really bright ones and no fireballs.

What I did learn was that I have a lot to learn and a lot of practice ahead, so there is much room for improvement.  That said I did catch one of the brighter meteors and got one other star trail image that I liked, so I thought I would share those with you here.

You can click on the images to get a bit larger one.

Judging by the amount of emails I received, it hasn’t gone unnoticed that I took a self-imposed Sabbatical toward the end of May. Thank you for all that wrote in concern!

Yes, I haven’t even posted on my blog here in nearly 3 months, and rarely on Facebook and Twitter during that time. What happened?

The 2010 chase season got into its stride and as many know, I opened Dryline Media up to representing other storm chasers video just before the season started. Without getting into all the dirty details of why, around mid-May I decided to shut down that extension of Dryline Media. There were a myriad of reasons, but the bottom line was that it was causing me an unreal amount of stress and taking it’s toll on me physically, emotionally and mentally. I have to take care of myself first, and although it was a hard decision, I realized that continuing the way things were was severely detrimental to my health and things had to change.

This all came along with what seemed to be a peak in stress with storm chasing in general. Some of it was self imposed, because of how hard I’ve been pushing the media aspect of it further and further. Other parts were allowing myself to get caught up in all the extensive drama in the storm chase “community”, which believe me, this year was in epic proportions. Due to the Storm Chasers TV show, the constant publicity of the Vortex 2 project and the constant and real time updates by the latter as well as most all other “storm chasers” has caused the ranks of storm chasers to grow exponentially. I put “storm chasers” in quotes in this context, because many of the people on the roads of late aren’t your typical dedicated storm chasers, but rather locals who saw all this coverage and wanted to get out and be a part of it I guess.

The end result is that it’s been a cause for some very frustrating and stressful chases for me, particularly in Oklahoma, but certainly not limited to there. While I recognize that everyone has the right to go out and look at clouds if they so choose, the sheer numbers have fundamentally changed what I loved for so many years about storm chasing. The lonely rural drives, sitting out on the side of a desolate highway, just me and perhaps a couple of other dedicated storm chasers, just enjoying the weather. Now it’s large traffic jams on those rural roads and some pretty terrific driving stunts by some of them. On bigger days it’s even getting difficult to find a place to pull off to the side of the road to watch a storm.

This growth has not been lost in the social aspect of storm chasing. It seems not a day goes by any more that some “chaser” isn’t bashing some other “chaser”. The Storm Track forums are now mostly populated by local storm spotters and weather enthusiasts, rather than the dedicated chasers that were there before. Well, some of them are still there, but you see them less and less. Especially veteran chasers who rarely post there any more, as well as many academic and professional weather folks who have left that venue. The staff at Storm Track are pretty quick to pounce on the flame wars that seem to start every few days, but now it just spills right over to facebook and blogs where it continues unmitigated. I used to post on Storm Track daily and was very active, but I’ve gotten to where I only breeze through Storm Track and read threads that interest me and rarely post there any more. I just want no part of all the drama.

Another element of storm chasing that seems to be growing is that of the fraudster. Websites and Facebook pages of “storm chasers” are popping up all over the place. In some cases well designed websites, even storm chase tour companies, all with almost NO experience, but yet proclaiming all sorts of untruthful things. I’m sorry, but if you have been chasing for 10 or 15 years like you say on your website, either you are a horrible chaser, or you would have at least one or two tornado pics to throw up on your site, rather than a crappy shot of a scud cloud misidentified as a wall cloud or a funnel cloud. Seriously, there is no shame in being new at an activity. We were all new once. This coming in making false proclamations about your chasing isn’t doing you any favors. Come in with a spirit of humility and learning and in 10 years you will have a REAL track record to be proud of, not some fake stuff you threw up on a website trying to garner some instant respect.

The point is that lying is a growing element in chasing and it’s getting harder and harder to know who you can trust. Some of these “chasers” are stealing photos and videos from one another, mooching off others to chase, etc etc. A large influx in recent years of some very negative elements in storm chasing to be sure.

Chaser drama…why? What is it about storm chasing that either causes the drama or attracts those types of people that have to continually start crap with people? I’ve never in my life been involved in any activity that has as much back-stabbing and attacking, often on those who are successful in the activity. In my struggle the last few years to learn why storm chasing is becoming so stressful to me, I’ve come to the conclusion that it is that very element that I hate so much about it and it is that same element that I need to distance myself from for my own sanity and well being.

This has caused me to have to block a few people on Facebook and unsubscribe to a few Twitter and blog feeds or set them to ignore status on Storm Track and other things. In some cases it meant distancing myself from some people I considered friends. I’m sorry guys, but I no longer want any part of all the drama and crap. If it comes my way, it gets an instant wall put in front of it. If you are the type of person that must generate or propagate drama, I’m not going to be associating with you. I’d rather have positive people around me.

Storm Chasing…the actual chasing of storms, I dearly love. The adventure on the plains, the drives, the crazy things I see. Witnessing up close the awesome power of nature. I love chasing for KCBD because I love the people there and l love helping the viewers be informed. But all this negative extra-curricular junk in chasing that is severely causing me to no longer enjoy storm chasing. The only way I can continue to chase is to block that stuff out and distance myself from those doing it.

Well, that went to a darker place than I intended when I started this post. I’m sorry about that, just letting my thoughts flow.

I’ve had a break from things now, had time to think outside the box for a while, and have reached some clarity and some level of peace with what I want in the future from storm chasing. In the end, it’s ingrained into me to the point it’s part of my identity. As such it’s not just something I can walk away from and not look back. That said, there are other things in life I want to explore, so storm chasing is going to start having to allow room for that.

So now I am back to keeping things updated again (not that there is anyone still checking for updates here heh). I have a lot of work ahead of me on some video and photography stuff I’ll be posting in the months to come. We’ll also have to see what happens on the hurricane front as well, so far it’s be relatively quiet. Since this is my personal website, you might see a few of those other activities pop up from time to time around here.

I will still be storm chasing when the opportunity arises, but things are going to be different where I am concerned. Let’s see where this adventure takes us now….

Another potent day on tap for most of Western OK and down in to parts of North Central Texas as a dryline will move to along the eastern TX Panhandle/OK state line, and a warm from is lifting north across Oklahoma.

The warm front is currently situated along the I40 corridor with what we call a triple point (where the warm front intersects the dryline) currently in the vicinity of Wheeler County, TX.

The northward extent of severe weather will be tempered by the eventual location of the warm front by mid-late afternoon, but even farther south along the dryline, isolated monster supercells capable of extreme size hail larger than baseballs, strong tornadoes and damaging winds will still be possible.  Storms following the warm front in particular should be especially dangerous!

Today has the potential to be yet another tornado outbreak for much of Oklahoma and even parts of North Central Texas.  Everyone have your weather radios on today and pay attention to local media sources.   Storms will be moving much slower today than they did during the last outbreak on Monday, which means you may have more lead time on warnings, but this unfortunately also means that giant hail and tornadoes will have more time over a given area to do more damage.

I’ll be heading out the door shortly for far western Oklahoma, and will be streaming LIVE this afternoon on the LIVE ChaseCam, with AUDIO!

Very potent severe weather day is shaping up for the Texas Panhandle and South Plains area with the possibility of tornadoes and hail to the size of softballs!

Morning surface analysis shows dewpoints in the upper 50s across the area, which is more that sufficient moisture in the higher terrain of West Texas up on the caprock to get good storms going and forecast models show this increasing into the 60s by late today.

A dryline should tighten up near the Texas/New Mexico state line by afternoon and provide a focus for storms to initiate.  Additionally, some old outflow boundaries from previous convection could also provide a focus, especially anywhere those intersect the dryline.

Wind profiles should increase favorably for supercell development as the day wears on. RUC forecast model shows more than sufficient instability for tall, strong storms of the type to produce very large hail,  and the low level EHI (Energy Helicity Index) has a nice bullseye just west of Lubbock by 22z.  Any supercells today that interact with any of these  boundaries will certainly be capable of producing tornadoes, maybe even a strong one.

From a storm chasing perspective, at least the storm motions will be relatively slow so they should be easy to keep up with.

People living in the area should have your weather radios on today, and tune in to KCBD 11 for up to the minute information if you are on the South Plains in the Lubbock viewing area.

I will be out in the field by early afternoon streaming live on the LIVE ChaseCam page!  Be safe today everyone!

I had no time to get a forecast posted yesterday as I had to get on the road. Initially targeted Wheeler County, TX for storm initiation but got tempted by the triple point up on the OK/KS border and incredible cape, and was concerned about the cloud debris inhibiting heating further south.   Short story was, I bailed from the outflow dominant storm at the KS border and caught the tail end charlie storm at Clinton, OK just in time to get the tornado in the video above crossing over I40.  When things finally settle down I will post more in-depth recaps of the better days.

Today will take me to the Permian Basin, Trans-Pecos region, one of my favorite chase areas because of the photops the terrain provides with the storms.  Warm front is hanging out down there and shear is sufficient for a couple of supercells and perhaps a tornado or two.  In fact, there is already a Severe Thunderstorm Watch out for the area north of where I am going for the elevated hailers underway currently, north of the front.

I will of course be streaming live this afternoon on the LIVE ChaseCam page.

No time to post much of an update from yesterday.  Chased the central part of Oklahoma and ended up on the Moore tornado that is all over the news, so you probably already know what happened there.  Last stop was the massive damage on I40 east of  Tinker Air Force Base.  When things settle down I have a ton of pics and video.

Today presents one of my favorite chase opportunities that involves a nice slow moving boundary, ample moisture and heating and slow storm speeds.  While there is a stout cap that could prevent storms from forming, should one form near the boundary it could be a repeat offender in the tornado department.  Since I am already near the target area and planning to be out here chasing tomorrow too, might as well give it a shot.  I’ll be live streaming later this afternoon on the Live ChaseCam page.

Today is one of those days when it’s hard to be excited about chasing. Storm Prediction Center has issued a high risk for a large portion of Oklahoma and southern Kansas, and more than one long track, violent tornado is a distinct possibility. Hail could be larger than baseballs.

While I’m certainly excited by what Mother Nature may have to offer for viewing, I’m equally apprehensive about the fact that someone is likely to lose life and property today. If you live in these areas, be certain to have your weather radios and to be paying attention to live news sources, because once storms fire, things are going to be happening quickly and storms will be moving fast. Have your plan now, because warning times are going to be short and you may not have much time to react.

I’m heading out to Oklahoma today to chase this set up, of course. But I expect it will be difficult to due to fast storm motion and what is sure to be a very large amount of storm chasers on the road.

Shortly after noon, I will be live streaming video for the remainder of the day on the LIVE ChaseCam page.

Storm Prediction Center has issued a HIGH RISK for Arkansas for this evening, with a high threat for tornadoes. The above graphic indicates the highest tornado threat currently.

PEOPLE IN AND NEAR ARKANSAS NEED TO HAVE YOUR WEATHER RADIOS ON, AND TUNED IN TO LIVE NEWS SOURCES NOW!

Numerous tornadic storms are across Arkansas right now. They are fast moving, most likely concealed in rain and darkness.  DO NOT HESITATE TO TAKE SHELTER if you are put under a TORNADO WARNING.

One particular tornadic storm is threatening Little Rock right now, and has reportedly already caused damage and injuries in the East End area south of Little Rock.

I’ll update this post as I have more info.

04/30/10 8:46PM CDT  UNCONFIRMED: Fatalities reported in Conway and Van Buren Counties.

04/30/10 8:56 PM CDT I40 closed near county line of Lonoke/Polaski County line on east side of Little Rock due to debris on hwy.

04/30/10 9:01 PM CDT  Arkansas Emergency Management confirming 3 fatalities in Scotland in Van Buren County.  Also 25 serious injuries and countless minor injuries.  They report this is the most serious damage they are aware of at this time.

04/30/10 9:16 PM CDT  East End, AR near Little Rock is confirmed hit hard by tornado.  Fire Dept. was hit. Likely the only FD there, as it’s a small community. Fire truck was damaged and trapped in the station. Firefighters took shelter in the bathroom and survived.  Major gas leak in the area.

04/30/10 9:27 PM CDT Polaski County Sheriff’s Office reports major damage in the SE part of the county near 530.  Reporting houses destroyed but not injuries or fatalaties at this time.

04/30/10 9:43 PM CDT Image of Fire Department in  East End, AR

04/30/10 10:29 PM CDT  National Guard has been dispatched to East End, AR.  More tornadic storms headed directly at that area now!

04/30/10 10:54 PM CDT Saline County  multiple homes were damaged, some people were trapped, 8 injured, 1 critical. Trees are hindering access to damage.

04/30/10 11:09 PM CDT Forestry Crews are being dispatched to the hardest hit areas because of so much tree damage causing difficulty for emergency crews getting to the area.

04/30/10 11:25 PM CDT  EM from Conway County, AR reporting damage in that county is confined to the north and west part of the county.  A door to door search is being done in the Center Ridge area.

04/30/10 11:30 PM CDT National Guard deploying 50 troops to Scotland and 50 to East End, AR to help with search and rescue and security.

05/01/10 12:48 AM CDT  All tornado warnings for Arkansas have finally expired.  This concludes the ongoing updates for this blog post.

I didn’t even have time to get a forecast post up yesterday.  I was mostly covering severe weather in our viewing area for the TV station, so I wasn’t able to head to the more obvious tornado target in the eastern Texas Panhandle where so many other chasers scored multiple tornadoes.

The only confirmed tornado on any of the stuff in our viewing area happened out north of Matador and Paducah.  I thought sure we were going to have one there north of Matador, but it waited another 20 miles or so before producing.  I missed it though as I headed back to cover more developing activity by Lubbock.

All was not lost however as I got some nice lightning lit shots of a supercell out by Spur that looks like it came REALLY close to producing a tornado.  The structure of the storm was outstanding and in one photo it appears we probably had a funnel cloud there as well.  The cold front line of storms caught up with it after that and that was about it!

You can click on these and get a slightly bigger version.

Best storm of the day got going just NW of Lubbock, TX and matured east of Abernathy.  Had some of the best structure to it I have seen in a quite a while, looking like a bomb had gone off over the West Texas landscape.

Dropped quite a bit of hail up to golfball size before everything came together as one big complex of storms just off the caprock.  Did find some 2.5″ hail north of Quitaque that had been there for about 15 minutes, so it probably was the baseball size hail that had been reported before it melted  a little.

Treated to a great sunset once again with the storm towers taking on all sorts of colors as the sun went down!  Was hoping for some lightning shots, but the electrical activity died down as dark set in.

Another, better shot at chasing today!