TWISTEX & Other Chasers

Today was forecasted to be another potentially significant day of severe weather with an increased tornado potential across the plains states. Unfortunately for all of the groups out there that are doing research, from my TWISTEX buddies, to VORTEX2, and to all of the other chasers out there, today once again turned to be a big disappointment from a tornadoes standpoint.

The tornado reports today came across eastern Kansas during the early afternoon storms that were likely triggered and aided by the morning MCS. Other reports came across the high plains of Colorado where little risk was expected, and even a stray report in Nebraska that was a very brief and likely a landspout. Sunday was expected to be a strong day for thunderstorms and tornado potential, while the thunderstorm aspect wasn't a disappointment with hail larger than 5 inches in diameter, the tornado reports that may have verified were all brief and weak. This year is the lowest since 2005 as far as tornado reports, and is nearly 200 tornadoes below the last 4-year average. While there are plenty of chasers who have still had a good year, most are still very disappointed in the year thus far.

Thus, I am not too disappointed that I have had to miss this years' activities due to the birth of my first little boy. Here's to a hope that we can continue the mediocre year well into June and into this fall over the northern plains.

While I'm on the context of other chasers including TWISTEX, I would like to give my little shout-out to the group that is chasing as a part of the Discovery Channel Storm Chasers crew. TWISTEX is being displayed as a professional and pure scientific research group, as that is what they are! Tim Samaras, Dr. Bruce Lee, Dr. Cathy Finley, and Tony Laubach among others have had some luck this year; they were able to have a successful mission out in Wyoming last week as well as many others. Be sure to follow their updates as I post them on their website: http://www.twistex.org