Well, tonight is the night you get to see our work from our chasing in Kansas.
Appropriately enough, many of you, like myself, have been glued to chaser and home video footage from the violent weather the past few days.
Almost everyone has a camera with them 24/7 now with high resolution camera phones, many of which can shoot HD video. Because of this, it's safe to say that lately these tornadoes are some of the most documented of all time.
From every conceivable angle, and a few even inside.
Some of the video you've seen has been shot safely, some of the video from people caught in their homes/businesses in the path with nowhere else to go.
I hope tonight's story can entertain, but I hope it does not necessarily inspire everyone to dive head first into the next storm that swings near your home.
Chasers and spotters are important, as they can provide even more vital information to us on the air than even Doppler radar can, but it needs to be done by those with proper training.
If you would like to get such training, the National Weather Service offers spotter classes all around the state each spring. They are done for this year...but keep it in mind for next year and you can help us keep people safe!
Unfortunately, some of this video has been shot rather irresponsibly with "chasers" (sounding more like untrained news photogs to me) that are fueling the fire of promoting the image that its OK for everyone to go stand in their yard and shoot until the tornado is a block away or so.
I'm sorry, but sending out your photographers to stream video and having them, ON AIR, ask the meteorologist back at the station, 'can you tell us what we're seeing,' 'are we in the right spot?' while the tornado is literally less than a mile away throwing debris into and over the car, is reckless at best and purposefully negligent at best. And if they are actually trained, from what I've seen maybe a few are in need of a little refresher.
I'm all for capturing the best shot and having the best video, but make sure you do it with someone who is trained, not one who has to wait for someone to check out the video feed to determine if you're in grave danger or not. And any meteorologist who praises such great video, not pointing out that they shouldn't want anyone out doing this or trying to replicate, is being equally negligent.
Tornadoes are deadly enough that we don't need to add to their toll next time by driving people into the updrafts of tornadic supercells and under wildly dangling powerlines. It's one thing to be caught in a bad spot while chasing and need to quickly retreat. It's another to wait for a 3/4 mile wide tornado to get right on top of you before you decide to move, setting an awful example for the next guy who needs to top it.
Sorry for the lecture. Hope you can enjoy the piece, in spite of the devastation that has taken place the past week with our neighbors to the south.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
#13chasers Western Ks watching storm
#13chasers Leaving Wichita heading northwest
A wild ride on Kansas backroads Tues. Getting ready for Wed. severe wx.
Geared up and ready to go!
It's Wednesday and we're looking at the a forecast that looks good for some severe weather. I think we're ready to capture it.
We brought with us three of Sony XDCAM EX cameras, the cameras we use every day to shoot news. We'll make the best use of those we can. We also have a camera dedicated to streaming video, another small HD camera mounted inside a car to roll on a storm as we drive and another, the GoPro Hero camera the can be mounted anywhere we want it, inside or out. It's wide-angle lens gives us an almost panoramic view of the horizon ahead.
We also have four laptops, one we can use to stream video, another to watch radar and other weather information and the others to edit and store the video we shoot.
We hope with all these tools we can capture not just great video of a storm as it happens but also the essence of the phenomenon of storm chasing as it happens.
We brought with us three of Sony XDCAM EX cameras, the cameras we use every day to shoot news. We'll make the best use of those we can. We also have a camera dedicated to streaming video, another small HD camera mounted inside a car to roll on a storm as we drive and another, the GoPro Hero camera the can be mounted anywhere we want it, inside or out. It's wide-angle lens gives us an almost panoramic view of the horizon ahead.
We also have four laptops, one we can use to stream video, another to watch radar and other weather information and the others to edit and store the video we shoot.
We hope with all these tools we can capture not just great video of a storm as it happens but also the essence of the phenomenon of storm chasing as it happens.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Day 2 and some history lessons
Hi again,
Day 2 saw an early start for us in Grand Island, Nebraska (more on that place in a bit) as we hit the road for the 4 1/2 hour trip to Wichita, KS. In Wichita we met up with the rest of our chase team from WQAD in the Quad Cities and photographer Jim Reed who lives here.
After some planning and saftey discussions on how our caravan will work tomorrow when there should be plenty to chase (we hope), one cluster of storms moved into the area and we had a little bit of a practice run within a half hour of Wichita.
We got out in front of the storm, which shortly thereafter earned a severe t'storm warning and rode it out, looking for some hail. The storm had too high of a base to drop any tornadoes, and probably dumped most of its hail just south of us, but we did get some cool lightning, and got all of the little webcams figured out. Then it was back to the hotel to digest the model info and get some shut-eye for the big day tomorrow.
We have also been on a "greatest hits" tour for lack of a better phrase of tornado history.
Grand Island, Nebraska, of course, was the site of a significant tornado outbreak in 1980 in which 7 tornadoes, yes SEVEN, touched down in or very near the town. Grand Island outbreak.
If you or your kids ever had to read the book Night of the Twisters, or saw the made-for-tv movie, that is the actual event. In addition to the rarity of a town taking that many hits at once, about half of the tornadoes were rare "anti-cyclonic" tornadoes--meaning they spin clockwise instead of counter-clockwise like most. The tornadoes weren't straight either, usually looping back over their own paths!
We also drove through Andover, Kansas, site of a 1991 F5 tornado that killed 13 people. The tornado was featured in the Weather Channel documentary "The Enemy Wind" and is the same tornado in the clip of the guys that hide under the highway overpass after the tornado chased them down the turnpike. You've likely seen the clip and it's why many think that is a safe place to hide. Actually, it couldn't be any worse! The overpass acts as a wind tunnel and actually enhances the tornado's winds! DONT try this at home.
In 1991, camcorders (remember those) had really started to take hold and Andover was one of the first times widespread tornado footage was captured and helped launch the fascination with chaser videos. So it's fitting this is where we're going to start tomorrow.
--Brett
Day 2 saw an early start for us in Grand Island, Nebraska (more on that place in a bit) as we hit the road for the 4 1/2 hour trip to Wichita, KS. In Wichita we met up with the rest of our chase team from WQAD in the Quad Cities and photographer Jim Reed who lives here.
After some planning and saftey discussions on how our caravan will work tomorrow when there should be plenty to chase (we hope), one cluster of storms moved into the area and we had a little bit of a practice run within a half hour of Wichita.
We got out in front of the storm, which shortly thereafter earned a severe t'storm warning and rode it out, looking for some hail. The storm had too high of a base to drop any tornadoes, and probably dumped most of its hail just south of us, but we did get some cool lightning, and got all of the little webcams figured out. Then it was back to the hotel to digest the model info and get some shut-eye for the big day tomorrow.
We have also been on a "greatest hits" tour for lack of a better phrase of tornado history.
Grand Island, Nebraska, of course, was the site of a significant tornado outbreak in 1980 in which 7 tornadoes, yes SEVEN, touched down in or very near the town. Grand Island outbreak.
If you or your kids ever had to read the book Night of the Twisters, or saw the made-for-tv movie, that is the actual event. In addition to the rarity of a town taking that many hits at once, about half of the tornadoes were rare "anti-cyclonic" tornadoes--meaning they spin clockwise instead of counter-clockwise like most. The tornadoes weren't straight either, usually looping back over their own paths!
We also drove through Andover, Kansas, site of a 1991 F5 tornado that killed 13 people. The tornado was featured in the Weather Channel documentary "The Enemy Wind" and is the same tornado in the clip of the guys that hide under the highway overpass after the tornado chased them down the turnpike. You've likely seen the clip and it's why many think that is a safe place to hide. Actually, it couldn't be any worse! The overpass acts as a wind tunnel and actually enhances the tornado's winds! DONT try this at home.
In 1991, camcorders (remember those) had really started to take hold and Andover was one of the first times widespread tornado footage was captured and helped launch the fascination with chaser videos. So it's fitting this is where we're going to start tomorrow.
--Brett
Monday, May 9, 2011
Storm Chase Day 1 In The Books
Hi everyone,
Well Monday is in the books -- sort of -- for the WHOHD crew on this week's storm chase. There was a lot of driving, and, well, a lot more driving. As expected, today was pretty uneventful as the atmosphere was pretty well "capped out."
I'm sure you noticed the heat and humidity crank up today...well there is even more on the way, especially when it comes to the humidity. So while it certainly felt like it could storm, the depth of the warm air was just too deep in the end to have storms. We need cold air on top of warm air to really get the fireworks going, but that just was not going to be the case in Iowa or Nebraska.
South Dakota, on the other hand, presented a chance. Definitely a long shot, but a chance at something, and we decided we'd rather chase after blue sky and see nothing, than head south to set up for tomorrow only to have storms break out and miss them.
Early in the afternoon we arrived in South Dakota and drove along I-90 all the way to Chamberlain. Much of the data I was looking at did show some decent weakening of the cap throughout central SD so there was a glimmer of hope something may fire, but nothing ever did.
The cap actually strengthened as more warm air streamed into the area, and there just wasn't anything that could trigger the storms.
We needed a little bit of a push, but the main center of the overall storm system is hanging out around the panhandle of Nebraska into CO, so just not enough oomph to get the storms popping.
Such is the life of a storm chaser. Lots of driving, lots of waiting, hopefully 30 minutes of excitement.
--Brett
Well Monday is in the books -- sort of -- for the WHOHD crew on this week's storm chase. There was a lot of driving, and, well, a lot more driving. As expected, today was pretty uneventful as the atmosphere was pretty well "capped out."
I'm sure you noticed the heat and humidity crank up today...well there is even more on the way, especially when it comes to the humidity. So while it certainly felt like it could storm, the depth of the warm air was just too deep in the end to have storms. We need cold air on top of warm air to really get the fireworks going, but that just was not going to be the case in Iowa or Nebraska.
South Dakota, on the other hand, presented a chance. Definitely a long shot, but a chance at something, and we decided we'd rather chase after blue sky and see nothing, than head south to set up for tomorrow only to have storms break out and miss them.
Early in the afternoon we arrived in South Dakota and drove along I-90 all the way to Chamberlain. Much of the data I was looking at did show some decent weakening of the cap throughout central SD so there was a glimmer of hope something may fire, but nothing ever did.
The cap actually strengthened as more warm air streamed into the area, and there just wasn't anything that could trigger the storms.
We needed a little bit of a push, but the main center of the overall storm system is hanging out around the panhandle of Nebraska into CO, so just not enough oomph to get the storms popping.
Such is the life of a storm chaser. Lots of driving, lots of waiting, hopefully 30 minutes of excitement.
--Brett
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
"A Tornado Coming Behind You"
Over the years I had covered the aftermath of a number of tornadoes in Iowa. It started with covering the anniversary of tornadoes which struck Algona and Manson Iowa in 1979. Since that time I have seen tornado damage near Inwood, IA, a fatal twister at Elkader, one struck the town of Lawler IA. Also near the towns of Scranton, and New Providence. In more recent years the anniversary of the Bradgate Tornado, Fruitland, Iowa City, Creston, and Sully. The same monster tornado hit Parkersburg, New Hartford, and continued to Hazelton. This season already near Winterset, near Pocahontas, and the town of Mapleton.
Saturday April 9th, my wife and I skipped going out to eat so I could keep an ear on the scanners. Heard about the heavy damage at Mapleton I decided to head northwest from Ames to shoot a little lightning video. Was ready to drive back to Boone to send some video to the station. Brett McIntyre told me on the phone that it would be possible to catch up to the storm, I couldn't believe late in the evening a storm would still have punch. He told me it was moving slow with the temp over 70 degrees. So I kept driving to Rockwell City, when I learned that tornado sirens were going off in Pocahontas. Heading north on Highway 4 about 5 miles south of Pocahontas a flash of lightning showed the clear outline of a funnel on the ground and beyond that a big black blob. After the third lightning flash I stopped in disbelief to get some video. The small tornado was gone. Was unsure what the big black blob actually was. I thought it could be a rain shaft. Later, I would learn this was a big tornado which leveled farms west of Pocahontas. I followed that big blob as it lifted off the ground and crossed Highway 4 north of Pocahontas.
Brett and Jeriann were talking to me while they were on the air to describe what I was seeing. Brett called it a wedge cloud, and that is what it looked like. Then he said to me "we should tell you Roger, we think there is another tornado coming behind you. " So I turned my car around and got back into Pocahontas where the tornado sirens blared outside the Pocahontas Hospital.
Stopping at the Caseys trying to make my next plan the manager hollered at me to hurry if I wanted shelter from the tornado, she was going to lock the door. I was directed back by the restrooms for shelter. Here there were 10 or 12 people. Had my camera so I was able to get some interviews. Once the sirens finally stopped a Pocahontas police officer told me there were going to look for people to the southwest. I followed an emergency command center out to a farm which had been totally leveled. Decided I would be in the way of search and rescue so I left.Heard the story of a man at that farm was trapped in his leveled house. He called his son in Arizona from inside his ruined home - to tell him he was "ok'"
At the Kum and Go I got some much needed coffee and made some calls to confer with Executive Producer Paul Leppert. He was telling me that Mapleton was badly damaged and he wanted to know if it was as bad as Parkersburg. So I drive down there through yet one last severe storm with hail to Mapleton, The town was closed, so I went to Sioux City to regroup.
Did not get actually into Mapleton until around 10 am. Lots and lots of damage. Talked to a woman who said she had plenty of warning, but didn't think it would affect her. Glass was all blown from her building. Was struck by all the crews lined up to get into town to help. Reminded me of the huge lines streaming to Parkersburg the day after.
Sent an email to our church worship team leader, to let him know I would not make it to our
rehearsal or to lead worship on Sunday. My overnight was spent in northwest Iowa. So it was a weekend I will not forget.
Saturday April 9th, my wife and I skipped going out to eat so I could keep an ear on the scanners. Heard about the heavy damage at Mapleton I decided to head northwest from Ames to shoot a little lightning video. Was ready to drive back to Boone to send some video to the station. Brett McIntyre told me on the phone that it would be possible to catch up to the storm, I couldn't believe late in the evening a storm would still have punch. He told me it was moving slow with the temp over 70 degrees. So I kept driving to Rockwell City, when I learned that tornado sirens were going off in Pocahontas. Heading north on Highway 4 about 5 miles south of Pocahontas a flash of lightning showed the clear outline of a funnel on the ground and beyond that a big black blob. After the third lightning flash I stopped in disbelief to get some video. The small tornado was gone. Was unsure what the big black blob actually was. I thought it could be a rain shaft. Later, I would learn this was a big tornado which leveled farms west of Pocahontas. I followed that big blob as it lifted off the ground and crossed Highway 4 north of Pocahontas.
Brett and Jeriann were talking to me while they were on the air to describe what I was seeing. Brett called it a wedge cloud, and that is what it looked like. Then he said to me "we should tell you Roger, we think there is another tornado coming behind you. " So I turned my car around and got back into Pocahontas where the tornado sirens blared outside the Pocahontas Hospital.
Stopping at the Caseys trying to make my next plan the manager hollered at me to hurry if I wanted shelter from the tornado, she was going to lock the door. I was directed back by the restrooms for shelter. Here there were 10 or 12 people. Had my camera so I was able to get some interviews. Once the sirens finally stopped a Pocahontas police officer told me there were going to look for people to the southwest. I followed an emergency command center out to a farm which had been totally leveled. Decided I would be in the way of search and rescue so I left.Heard the story of a man at that farm was trapped in his leveled house. He called his son in Arizona from inside his ruined home - to tell him he was "ok'"
At the Kum and Go I got some much needed coffee and made some calls to confer with Executive Producer Paul Leppert. He was telling me that Mapleton was badly damaged and he wanted to know if it was as bad as Parkersburg. So I drive down there through yet one last severe storm with hail to Mapleton, The town was closed, so I went to Sioux City to regroup.
Did not get actually into Mapleton until around 10 am. Lots and lots of damage. Talked to a woman who said she had plenty of warning, but didn't think it would affect her. Glass was all blown from her building. Was struck by all the crews lined up to get into town to help. Reminded me of the huge lines streaming to Parkersburg the day after.
Sent an email to our church worship team leader, to let him know I would not make it to our
rehearsal or to lead worship on Sunday. My overnight was spent in northwest Iowa. So it was a weekend I will not forget.
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