Author Archive

A downgrade for the May 31st El Reno tornado

By From http://stormsrus.blogspot.com/ • Aug 30th, 2013 • Category: Blog Entries.Local

Word has filtered down via social media that the May 31st El Reno tornado (the one in which Tim Samaras and his TWISTEX crew plus local OKC residents were killed) has been officially downgraded from an EF-5 to an EF-3.  Having been chasing another…



A chase with restrictions

By From http://stormsrus.blogspot.com/ • Aug 24th, 2013 • Category: Blog Entries.Local

With a cold front was pressing south and east across Virginia I knew Friday 8/23 held potential for decent chase conditions but I was constrained in time – and thus range – by plans we already had in place for dinner guests.  When a very nice cell…



A short local chase

By From http://stormsrus.blogspot.com/ • Aug 21st, 2013 • Category: Blog Entries.Local

The models didn’t show much shear today and the instability looked marginal but enough storms fired this afternoon to make things interesting.  In fact the SPC issued a mesoscale discussion that covered SW Virginia so I had my eye on things early….



Funnel photo from August 6th chase in Bedford County

By From http://stormsrus.blogspot.com/ • Aug 20th, 2013 • Category: Blog Entries.Local

Amid a quiet interval between storminess I poked back through photos of chases earlier this month and decided this was worth posting:I snapped this still photo of the feature within the white oval at the same time my fixed videocamera was recording (se…



Four storms but only one good intercept

By From http://stormsrus.blogspot.com/ • Aug 13th, 2013 • Category: Blog Entries.Local

Given the juicy air in place today the approach of a strong cold front gave rise to hope for some good chasing, and it was a busy afternoon.  However the frustration level was high as I managed to get into good position on three out of four storms…



Aug 10 2013 Halifax VA wall cloud video

By From http://stormsrus.blogspot.com/ • Aug 11th, 2013 • Category: Blog Entries.Local

This video clip – sped up 8x – was taken 5 miles NW of Halifax VA looking eastward about 4:15 pm yesterday, Saturday 8/10/13.  This was the third wall cloud we witnessed during this chase, and the only reason we were able to get close enough to ph…



An MD, a severe TS watch, a severe TS warning, and five wall clouds

By From http://stormsrus.blogspot.com/ • Aug 10th, 2013 • Category: Blog Entries.Local

That’s the tally for today, which I thought might be a decent chase day given the instability, shear, and moisture available ahead of a cold front pressing in from the northwest.  After a mesoscale discussion (MD) was issued today’s chasing deal w…



A chase of diminishing returns

By From http://stormsrus.blogspot.com/ • Aug 9th, 2013 • Category: Blog Entries.Local

Given the heat and humidity available today storms were inevitable, and I saw evidence of it when I checked radar at 1:45 pm while in the Charlottesville vicinity.  Noticing a nice complex near Roanoke that was moving eastward I had hopes I could …



An unintentional local chase

By From http://stormsrus.blogspot.com/ • Aug 8th, 2013 • Category: Blog Entries.Local

Really, I was going to chase a cell just east of the Blue Ridge crest that exhibited rotation on radar.  It was creeping slowly northeastward toward the Montvale / Bedford corridor so I rolled down the driveway to head in that direction…before I…



Low topped rotation

By From http://stormsrus.blogspot.com/ • Aug 7th, 2013 • Category: Blog Entries.Local

I kept a close watch on weather conditions and the radar yesterday – Tuesday Aug 6th – and wound up chasing a good storm as a result.  Neither the SPC or the local Blacksburg NWS office offered hope of severe thunderstorms yesterday but curiously …