Tuesday, June 10th We made it back! After over 7,000 miles and 120 hours on the road in total for the last 2 weeks, we have made it back safely! Of course, we had to go through 3 dead birds and a dead raccoon as well as a VERY close call on the PA Turnpike... … Continue reading Home Sweet Home!
Author: MeteorologistMikeLee
I'm Mike Lee and I am a Meteorology Major at Rutgers University. I am actively involved in a program called WeatherWatcher, a Rutgers University Television (RU-tv) program where students who have an interest in the weather can generate and shoot a real weather forecast, just like a true Broadcast Meteorologist.
The Journey Home Begins…
Monday, June 9th We officially are now traveling back home to New Jersey. Lots of driving of course, but we did take a quick stop by Joplin, Missouri where a few years ago, the town was destroyed by an EF-5 tornado. The recovery has begun in Joplin, but the scars can still be seen and … Continue reading The Journey Home Begins…
The National Weather Center!
Sunday, June 8th Though there was more severe weather risk to our west in New Mexico yet again, our trip was coming to a close and we couldn't afford another trek westward - that would put us too far away from home. So instead, we visited the National Weather Center in Norman, Oklahoma! Let me … Continue reading The National Weather Center!
No more soup for you!
Saturday, June 7th Today was one of the last days for storm chasing and we were hoping for some luck. SPC is putting us under a Slight Risk for the day with a 5% chance for tornadoes in some regions. Hoping to squeeze one more twister out of this trip, we headed West back to … Continue reading No more soup for you!
Jackpot!
Friday, June 6th Well, I won't keep you in eternal suspense like a terrible two-part Russel T. Davies Doctor Who episode - YES, WE SAW A TORNADO TODAY! WE DID IT!!!! WOOHOO!!! Our successful story begins in Clayton, New Mexico. The SPC put a large area of the country, from Colorado to Georgia, under a … Continue reading Jackpot!
Crossing Paths
Thursday, June 5th Northeast Colorado was our target for the day, so we left our Holiday Inn in Lamar and drove up to Limon, CO. Though the SPC gave a greater risk for the Arkansas/Missouri border, we didn't want to drive all the way to the Mississippi River only to have to miss the action … Continue reading Crossing Paths
Visiting Greensburg
Wednesday, June 4th On May 7th, 2007, a mile-wide EF-5 tornado barreled through the small town of Greensburg, KS, leveling it to the ground. Today, we visited the town to see how it was recovering and to support the local economy. Before the tornado, Greensburg's claim to fame was The Big Well, the largest well … Continue reading Visiting Greensburg
Judgement Day… (well, close enough)
Tuesday, June 3rd Today was forecasted to be the most intense chase day of the trip thus far. With high CAPE values, fantastic shear, plentiful moisture, and sufficient lift overlapping each other almost perfectly over northern Nebraska, one epic day was ahead of us. The SPC issued a Moderate Risk for an area stretching from … Continue reading Judgement Day… (well, close enough)
Laundry Day…
Monday, June 2nd After the craziness that was Sunday, the atmosphere looked like it needed a break - and so did we. There was plenty of energy in the atmosphere - CAPE was high, CIN was next to nothing, shear was good, and moisture was plentiful, but there was absolutely no lift! No lift means … Continue reading Laundry Day…
When Chasers Become the Chased…
Sunday, June 1st It's one thing to chase a storm... it's a whole separate game when the storm chases you. That is what happened to us this past Sunday while in pursuit of our target storm. All the forecasting parameters for tornadic supercell development were looking much better than on Saturday, which was already a … Continue reading When Chasers Become the Chased…
Michael J. Lee 