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Disclaimer:
Storm chasing is dangerous. You could be hurt or killed in its pursuit, especially
if you have little or no knowledge of severe storms and their environment.
Chase hazards include but are not limited to heavy rain, flash flooding, lightning,
high winds, large hail, tornadoes, and flying debris. Hydroplaning on the road
and traffic accidents also occur. If you desire to chase, get informed and
educated about weather. Contact your local National Weather Service Office,
and enroll in a SKYWARN training class. Read and view all of the published
information regarding severe weather, thunderstorms, and tornadoes that you
can. You are responsible for educating yourself. Next, contact an experienced
chaser in your area, and arrange to travel with them, until you've gained sufficient
experience to go it alone. Even at that, veteran chasers get caught in harm's
way from time to time. Play it safe. This page is for informational and educational
use, and the authors disavow any responsibility for actions you may take.
Images and articles © 2005 Matthew Ver Steeg, Adam Frederick, and Weather
Edge, Inc.. All rights reserved.
Unauthorized use prohibited. Text, graphics, and HTML code are protected
by US and International Copyright Laws, and may not be copied, reprinted,
published, translated, or otherwise distributed by any means without explicit
permission.
What's Storm Chasing Really Like?
by
Matt Ver Steeg, WeatherEdge, Inc.
A great debate has raged the last several years about who can and cannot be a storm chaser. Most of the uproar took place following the release of the movie 'Twister.'
Some members in the storm chasing community have taken the position that anyone can chase, while others have tried to restrict access to the activity, claiming that you either have to be a degreed meteorologist, or have a scientific purpose for storm chasing.....CONTINUED
by
Matt Ver Steeg, WeatherEdge, Inc.
Myths and legend abound in the world of storm chasing, and the recent media interest in this field has only increased its enigmatic qualities in the public's eye.
At Storm Chase Magazine, we get tons of emails from people wanting to know what chasing is really like. Some emails ask what type fo vehicle they need, how long the drives are, etc. To strip the veil away somewhat, check out the STORY...
by
Matt Ver Steeg, WeatherEdge, Inc.
A lot has changed since the 'old days' of storm chasing. With improvements in technology and communications, gone are the days when you'de have to travel to a National Weather Service office to get weather information before heading out on a chase.
Tim Vasquez, owner of Weather Graphics Technologies, is now offering real-time nowcasting for storm chasers....MORE
by
Matt Ver Steeg, WeatherEdge, Inc.
(Images
courtesy Ford Motor Co. www.ford.com)
Some people go storm chasing in cars, trucks, motorcycles, SUVs, and minivans. In this article, we face off the sport utility vehicle against a minivan.
Which vehicle is better suited for storm chasing in our opinion? Check it out here...
by
Matt Ver Steeg, WeatherEdge, Inc.
The last thing that you want to happen when you're out storm chasing is to have a breakdown. Over the last few decades, we've had our share of problems while out on the road. Some time and money spent now, could save you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars later. Here's our tips....
by
Matt Ver Steeg, WeatherEdge, Inc.
Toys. Everybody likes to have them, and play with them. Storm chasers are no different. As a matter of fact, we tend to like expensive toys for chasing. Well, before your wife kicks you out of the house and files for divorce, let's take a look at what you REALLY NEED...
by
Matt Ver Steeg, WeatherEdge, Inc.
Well,
I think I've come to a change of heart regarding storm chasing vehicles. After
my last nightmare, I'm headed back to a minivan for my future storm chasing exploits.
Here's where the saga begins...
Last winter I purchased a used sport utility vehicle, with the hopes that it would come in handy during the 1999 storm chase season. I had a mechanic check it over thoroughly before I purchased it, and was assured that it was in good condition. Being used, the SUV did not come with any kind of warranty. Two days after I brought it home, things started to go seriously wrong...