But everyone has the same goal in mind: to witness one of nature's most mysterious, fascinating and destructive events. The movie “Twister,” starring Hollywood actors, doesn't go that far in chasing a tornado, but the film glosses over some of the effort and challenges involved.
that's what it is real Likes to live the life of a storm chaser.
Chasing the storm of reality
Imagine throwing a pot of water on the stove and trying to predict where the first bubble will pop. Storm chasing is a bit like this – the sun is cooking the lower atmosphere and we're trying to figure out how it convects or transfers heat.
But it won't be easy. The Earth is a rotating system with uneven heating, harsh terrain, and bodies of water. Each level of the atmosphere behaves differently, with different wind speeds and directions, temperatures and humidity. We're trying to predict where vortices that might be as wide as a football field might form.
It is both an art and a science. New storm trackers, or even inexperienced meteorologists, may follow weather models and “official” forecasts, afraid to trust their own instincts. Veterans can smell hidden surprises in the atmosphere.
Regardless, Storm Chasing is frustrating and disappointing about 80% of the time. have many Long days spent in the car, no tornado sightings, eating gas station food and ending the day smelling like rain and sweat. But 20% of the time, it's the most amazing thing in the universe. That's why we keep going.
how i chase the storm
Being a good storm chaser means staying in touch with the atmosphere around you at all times.
A few days in advance, I will start planning which part of the country I might need to visit. Ozarks or Corn Belt? About a day or two ahead of time, I can usually narrow down my target states. What region of the state – central or eastern Nebraska, for example – the night before. I drove there, booked a cheap motel, and started analyzing the latest weather maps.
The next morning, I woke up early and wolfed down the free budget breakfast as soon as the doors opened at 6am.Then, I hit the road before 10 a.m.
Around noon, I started narrowing my target down to an area that was maybe a few counties wide. Model becomes less useful, instant observation – what is happening Now –more important.
Winds closer to the surface will come more from the east, increasing low-level rotation? Where is the highest humidity—which helps fuel storms? Where are the closest boundaries where conflicting air masses can help the air rise and spin? Once I've done my analysis and identified the position, I get into position.
What follows is a waiting game. Usually, it needs to sit under the blue sky until the “hat” breaks. This is a lid for warm air at high altitudes, preventing warm, moist air from rising. Only when the lower atmosphere receives sufficient sunlight does the air near the ground have enough buoyancy to rise and break the lid.
intercept tornado
When a storm arises, it's a game of using real-time observations to determine which storm is most likely to intensify and persist the longest.
If I'm ready to intercept a healthy storm, I'll be in position. Many storms move at 30 or 40 mph, so failing to keep up with the storm can mean falling behind. This can end a chase quickly.
I tried to position myself east of the storm. Most people move northeast, so the east provided me with an ideal view. From that location, rain and hail could be seen falling on the right side of the storm, as warm, moist air spiraled into the updraft. From the updrafts emerges a wall cloud – a long-hanging, craggy cloud. This is a clear sign of the storm's rotation. This is where a tornado may eventually sprout.
Shortly after, conical lowlands may appear over the rugged lowlands where clouds gather. It burrows into the ground. Sometimes, dust kicks up on the surface as invisible loops reach the ground. Once this happens, a tornado is born.
How close I am to danger depends on how quickly and predictably the tornado moves.
If a storm is moving quickly, it's harder to safely follow and get a good view, but its movement is easier to predict. With fast-moving storms, you can only get a close pass; after a tornado has passed you by, it's often difficult to get ahead of it again.
If a tornado moves slower, it's easier to approach and have time to maneuver carefully—but slow-moving tornadoes are generally more unstable.
ensure safety
No matter how tempting the storm may be, the ultimate goal is always to live to chase another day. Tornadoes sometimes appear to be sentient, hurling the full fury of the atmosphere at those who dare to venture close. Huge hail and pinpoint lightning strikes make approaching tornadoes dangerous, and the tornadoes themselves can quickly become blanketed in rain or do unexpected things.
When a storm approaches, I always consider multiple escape routes. If I lose radar coverage or lose sight of a tornado, I abandon the storm.
No storm chasing battle is without risk. But experienced meteorologists and storm chasers take precautions.
after the storm
When I drive to the hotel after a chase, I'm usually soaked from the rain and exhausted. Pulling into the hotel parking lot, a strange feeling came over me. The chaos and beauty I saw seemed like a distant memory, replaced by the twinkling stars in the clear night sky behind the storm.
Stepping into the crisp night sky and listening to the chirping of crickets, I took a deep breath—and headed indoors for the next chase.
