02.10.11
Thoughts on 2011 Tornado Season
The long-range GFS model is hinting at a pattern change that could soon bring spring-like temperatures and higher dewpoints to the Southern Plains. The wishcasting GFS model (i.e., so long-range that it can change every run and is virtually meaningless) is hinting that I could be chasing storms in Texas by the end of the month.
With the storm season just around the corner, I’ve been in a mad rush to get everything ready. I finished my 2010 chase logs and posting of photos on the website (I may post some video clips later, but all the best video is on the DVD anyway). I am finally starting to finish up posting chase logs and photos from 2007 and prior years (March 28 is up now, including photos of a beautiful, long-lived Texas Panhandle tornado). I only have 9 more of these old chase logs to post, and I plan to finish up within the next couple of weeks. I’m planning on getting some more practice soon with settings on my DSLR and HD camcorder, so I can take better photos and videos this year. I’ve already looked into a couple of equipment upgrades for this year, including data cards and mobile phone antennae, but I may just go with the setup I’ve got.
March 28, 2007, Briscoe County, Texas
In the meantime, I’ve also been busy with my paying job, which has had me programming in Perl and VBA. It’s actually been a lot of fun. I’ve got to finish up some research work on my lightning project by the end of the semester (mid-May), and then I’ll be on to the next chapter of my life. I don’t know just where I’ll be or what I’ll be doing come June, so I plan to chase every opportunity until then. This may be my last spring in which I can chase whenever and wherever my finances allow, so I hope to make the most of it!
I’ve heard a lot of different predictions on what this year could be like in terms of storms, but just like any year, it’s impossible to say if it’ll be a busy year or not and just where the hotspots might be. I’m hoping for more Southern Plains action, of course, with some good Texas Panhandle chases and hopefully a trip or two to southwest Kansas.
Stay safe everyone! Here comes spring!