CHASE2019 Season Summary

Here is the overall plan for my 2019 storm season (which I’ll update as events warrant):

CHASE 2019

DAILY JOURNAL

SEMINARS/CLASSROOM TRAINING:
DATE DAY START END MILES REMARKS
______ Sat Bolingbrook,IL Wheaton,IL 26 DuPage OHSEM Advanced Spotter Training (seminar)
http://www.dupagesevereweather.com
______ Thu Naperville,IL Bolingbrook,IL ___ NEMA Radar Class #1
http://www.napervilleema.org
______ Thu Naperville,IL Bolingbrook,IL ___ NEMA Radar Class #2
http://www.napervilleema.org
______ Sat Bolingbrook,IL Downers Grove, IL
Bolingbrook,IL
26 Basic Spotter Training (review)
DuPage Area Radio Club (DARC)
GREAT PLAINS CHASES:
CHASE2016-01:
DATE DAY START END MILES REMARKS
08May Thu Bolingbrook,IL ____ Prologue
09May Thu Bolingbrook,IL O’Hare Airport
Bolingbrook,IL
____ T-4: The British Contingent Arrives
10May Fri Bolingbrook,IL Chicago, IL
Springfield, IL
Versaille, MO
Springfield, MO
____ T-3: 103 Up then Out
11May Sat Springfield, MO El Reno, OK
Oklahoma City, OK
____ T-2: Oklahoma Bound
12May Sun Oklahoma City, OK Oklahoma City, OK ___ T-1: Around OKC, 2019
13May Mon Oklahoma City, OK _________________ ___ DAY 01
14May Tue _________________ _________________ ___ DAY 02
15May Wed _________________ _________________ ___ DAY 03
16May Thu _________________ _________________ ___ DAY 04
17May Fri _________________ _________________ ___ DAY 05
18May Sat _________________ _________________ ___ DAY 06
19May Sun _________________ _________________ ___ DAY 07
20May Mon _________________ _________________ ___ DAY 08
21May Tue _________________ _________________ ___ DAY 09
22May Wed _________________ _________________ ___ DAY 10
23May Thu _________________ _________________ ___ DAY 11
24May Fri _________________ _________________ ___ DAY 12
25May Sat _________________ _________________ ___ DAY 13
26May Sun _________________ _________________ ___ DAY 14
27May Mon _________________ _________________ ___ DAY 15
28May Tue ??? ??? ??? EPILOGUE
 
COLOR CODE
Plan was to not chase SILVER
Planned Chase Day (future) WHEAT
Available to chase; no weather (“blue-skied”) BLUE
Chase Day (available and expect stormy weather) GREEN
Weather Stormy, but not available for chasing PINK
BUST DAY – no severe storms where we looked! ORANGE
Training Day WHITE

Accommodations
Restaurants
Tools
Web Links

2016 Season Summary

08Here is the overall plan for my 2016 storm season (which I’ll update as events warrant):

CHASE 2016 DAILY JOURNAL

SEMINARS/CLASSROOM TRAINING:
DATE DAY START END MILES REMARKS
22Jan Fri Bolingbrook,IL Norman,OK ChaserCon 2016
23Jan Sat Norman,OK ChaserCon 2016
24Jan Sun Norman,OK ChaserCon 2016
12Mar Sat Bolingbrook,IL Wheaton,IL 26 DuPage OHSEM Advanced Spotter Training (seminar)
http://www.dupagesevereweather.com
24Mar Thu Oak Brook,IL Naperville,IL
Bolingbrook,IL
26 NEMA Radar Class #1: Rochelle, IL F4
http://www.napervilleema.org
07Apr Thu Oak Brook,IL Naperville,IL
Bolingbrook,IL
26 NEMA Radar Class #2: TX outbreak
http://www.napervilleema.org
21Apr Thu Oak Brook,IL Naperville,IL
Bolingbrook,IL
26 NEMA Radar Class #3: Mesovortices
http://www.napervilleema.org
GREAT PLAINS CHASES:
CHASE2016-01:
DATE DAY START END MILES REMARKS
12May Thu Bolingbrook,IL ??? Prologue
13May Fri Oak Brook,IL Kearney, MO 469 mi
(60694-61163)
DAY 01: To the “Show Me (Cheap Gasoline)
14May Sat Kearney,MO Oklahoma City, OK
(via Medford,OK; Wakita,OK;
El Reno, OK)
527 mi
(61163-61690)
DAY 02: The Unexpected
15May Sun Oklahoma City, OK Oklahoma City, OK 7 mi
(61690-61697)
DAY 03: Around OKC
16May Mon Oklahoma City, OK Plainview, TX 593 DAY 04
17May Tue Plainview,TX Ozona,TX 350 DAY 05
18May Wed Ozona,TX Van Horn,TX ??? DAY 06
19May Thu Van Horn,TX Raton,NM ??? DAY 07
20May Fri Raton,NM Limon,CO ??? DAY 08
21May Sat Limon,CO Kimball,NE ??? DAY 09
22May Sun Kimball,NE Dodge City, KS ??? DAY 10: Murky tornado
23May Mon ??? ??? ??? DAY 11
24May Tue ??? ??? ??? DAY 12
25May Wed ??? ??? ??? DAY 13
26May Thur ??? ??? ??? DAY 14
27May Fri ??? ??? ??? DAY 15
28May Sat ??? ??? ??? DAY 16
29May Sun ??? ??? ??? DAY 17
30May Mon ??? ??? ??? DAY 18
31May Tue Bolingbrook,IL Epilogue
 
COLOR CODE
Plan was to not chase GRAY
Planned Chase Day (future) WHEAT
Available to chase; no weather (“blue-skied”) BLUE
Chase Day (available and expect stormy weather) GREEN
Weather Stormy, but not available for chasing PINK
BUST DAY – no severe storms where we looked! ORANGE
Training Day WHITE

Accommodations
Restaurants
Tools
Web Links

06April2016 – The Sound of Thunder

“I woke last night to the sound of thunder. ‘How far off?’ I thought and wondered.” – “Night Moves”, Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band.(https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_Moves_(song) )


Actually, I woke at 4 AM this morning to a flash of lightning (and, yes, the sound of thunder).
The chase season is here. My vacation is coming soon, and I am counting the days. I watch the checking account for the deposit my tax refund that will fund my next adventure.

Month of May, please come soon!

ChaserCon 2016 – Friday -Day 1

0230 – alarm sounds

0300 – depart home; gas up car

0340 – arrive at offsite ParkWhiz Nguyen for Chicago Midway

0410 – arrive at airport via parking shuttle

0556 – on board flight WN2653, bound for Dallas

0611 – De-icing treatment  

0620 -wheels up

0710 – daybreak. I snuck in a short nap.

0730 – sunrise reflected the off whitecaps 

0820 – arrive in Dallas

0850 – waiting on my flight to OKC. I would grab a Whataburger, but the airport price is $7. Too much for a burger!

1030 –

1200 – met by Lynda Whitfield and Cori Krehm, my regular ChaserCon homegirls. We headed to the Twistex Memorial

Later – …

CHASE2014: Season Plan/Summary

Here is the overall plan for my 2014 storm season (which I’ll update as events warrant):

CHASE 2014 DAILY JOURNAL

DATEDAYSTARTENDMILESREMARKSSEMINARS/CLASSROOM TRAINING: 14 FebruaryFridayBolingbrookILDenverCO-ChaserCon2014-minilogoChaserCon 2014 – day 1 (convention)
http://www.chasercon.com/15 FebruarySaturdayDenverCO—ChaserCon2014-minilogoChaserCon 2014 – day 2 (convention)
http://www.chasercon.com/16 FebruarySundayDenverCOBolingbrookIL-ChaserCon2014-minilogoChaserCon 2014 – day 3 (convention)
http://www.chasercon.com/11 MarchTuesdayBolingbrookILNapervilleIL-nexradNaperville EMA
Radar class (#1 of 3)
Weather Command Class I
http://www.napervilleema.org12 MarchWednesdayBolingbrookILNapervilleIL-nexradNEMA Spotter Training (mandatory)
http://www.napervilleema.org15 MarchSaturdayBolingbrookILWheatonIL-nexradDuPage OHSEM Advanced
Spotter Training (seminar)
http://www.dupagesevereweather.com26 MarchWednesdayBolingbrookILNapervilleIL-nexradNaperville EMA
Radar class (#2 of 3)
Weather Command Class II
http://www.napervilleema.org09 AprilWednesdayBolingbrookILNapervilleIL-nexradNaperville EMA
Radar class (#3 of 3)
Weather Command Class III
http://www.napervilleema.orgTBAPOSTPONEDBolingbrookILNapervilleIL-first-aidBlood-borne Pathogens (mandatory)
http://www.napervilleema.orgSOUTHERN/GREAT PLAINS CHASES: mid-May: 4060 miles / 11 days

 09 MaySaturdayBolingbrookIL––Prologue10 MaySaturdayBolingbrookILOklahoma CityOK–TRAVEL11 MaySundayOklahoma CityOK—PLAYING TOURIST12 MayMondayOklahoma CityOK______DAY 1: ORIENTATION; DEPART BASE13 MayTuesday_________DAY 2: _14 MayWednesday_________DAY 3: _15 MayThursday_________DAY 4: _16 MayFriday_________DAY 5: _17 MaySaturday_________DAY 6: _18 MaySunday_________DAY 7: _19 MayMonday_________DAY 8: _20 MayTuesday_________DAY 9: _21 MayWednesday_________DAY 10: _22 MayThursday_________DAY 11: RETURN TO BASE23 MayFridayOklahoma CityOKBolingbrookIL___Homeward bound24 MaySaturdayBolingbrookIL   EpilogueIL/IA CHASES/SPOTTING: Chaser/spotter fun within 300 miles of home
(TBA)(TBA)BolingbrookIL(TBA)– VIRTUAL CHASES/SPOTTING: Like chasing without leaving home (or the office)
(TBA)(TBA)BolingbrookIL(TBA)–


COLOR CODE
Plan was to not chase GRAY
Planned Chase Day (future) YELLOW
Available to chase; no weather (“blue-skied”) BLUE
Chase Day (available and expect stormy weather) GREEN
Weather Stormy, but not available for chasing RED
BUST DAY – no severe storms where we looked!
ORANGE
Training Day
WHITE
Accommodations Restaurants Tools Web Links

NOTE: The restaurant and accommodations links will be dead until I get out in the field.

2013 Season Summary

Here is the overall plan for my 2013 storm season (which I’ll update as events warrant):

CHASE 2013

DAILY JOURNAL

DATE DAY START END MI. REMARKS
SEMINARS & TRAINING (WEATHER/SAFETY): 25+ hours of classroom training on weather
(especially radar interpretation), first aid, and CPR
[163 miles travel]
16 March Sat. Bolingbrook IL Naperville IL 20 lightning DuPage OHSEM
Advanced Spotter Training
http://www.dupagesevereweather.com
27 March Wed. Bolingbrook IL Naperville IL 20 nexradNaperville EMA radar class
(#1 of 3)
http://www.napervilleema.org
25 March Mon. Bolingbrook IL Naperville IL 20 first-aidNaperville EMA:
Blood-borne Pathogens
http://www.napervilleema.org
03 April Wed. Bolingbrook IL Naperville IL 20 nexradNaperville EMA radar class
(#2 of 3)
http://www.napervilleema.org
06 April Sat. Bolingbrook IL Batavia IL 43
33rd Annual FermiLab/Skilling Severe Weather Seminar
08 April Mon. Bolingbrook IL Naperville IL 20 CPRNaperville EMA:
CPR/AED Certification
http://www.napervilleema.org
17 April Wed. Bolingbrook IL Naperville IL 20 nexradNaperville EMA radar class
(#3 of 3)
http://www.napervilleema.org
SOUTHERN/GREAT PLAINS CHASES: early MAY: 3,362 miles

Tempest Tours #2013-2B:
Jim Reed Photo Tour

May 2013 chasing with Jim Reed, Bill Reid and friends
in the Southern/Great Plains.

Tempest 2013T2B Gang (minus Bill Reid, behind the camera)
Tempest 2013T2B Gang (minus Bill Reid, behind the camera)

Our team was from all over:

usa-flag australia-flag
USA AUS
Jim Reed (KS [KD0TVZ]) – photo guru
William Reid (CA [KG6FWX]) – lead
Danny Gonzales (CA) – guide/driver
Ron Riemersma (WI) – guide/driver
Martin Lisius (TX) – CEO, Tempest Tours (5/1)
Jenna Blum (KS) – media guest
Lisa Beal (IL [KC9BST]
Kristin Heil (OH)
Stacy Williams (CA)l
Patti Schulze (TX)
Nathan Chester (Brisbane)
Belinda Cripps
Lee Cripps
Michael Thompson (Shellharbour)
Priscilla Yeo
DATE DAY START END MI. REMARKS
29 April Mon. Bolingbrook IL PROLOGUE
30 April Tue. Bolingbrook IL Oklahoma City OK  60 TRAVEL: Flight + 60 miles around OKC
01 May Wed. Oklahoma City OK Breckenridge TX 230+ DAY 1: Spider lightning as a monster cold front passes
02 May Thu. Breckenridge TX Terlingua TX 451+ DAY 2: Down to the Border
03 May Fri. Terlingua TX Santa Elena
Canyon
TX  37RT DAY 3: Rugged Road to Santa Elena Canyon
04 May Sat. Terlingua TX Marfa TX 208RT DAY 4: Rolling Thunder and F5 Girls
05 May Sun. Terlingua TX Van Horn TX 192+ DAY 5: Old McDonald Had a Telescope?
06 May Mon. Van Horn TX Plainview TX 459 DAY 6: New Mexico Storm with Great Structure
07 May Tue. Plainview TX Dodge City KS 326+ DAY 7: 3 States of Mind: Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas
08 May Wed. Dodge City KS Clinton OK 237+ DAY 8: Time to Get Outta Dodge
09 May Thu. Clinton OK Fredericksburg TX 448+ DAY 9: Okie Dokie
10 May Fri. Fredericksburg TX San Antonio TX 426+ DAY 10: Mini-Haboob!
11 May Sat. San Antonio TX Oklahoma City OK 469+ DAY 11: Long Drive North and a Czech Stop
12 May Sun. Oklahoma City OK Bolingbrook IL    0 DAY 12: Departure
13 May Mon. Oklahoma City OK Bolingbrook IL    0 Epilogue
IL/IA CHASES/SPOTTING:
(TBA) (TBA) Bolingbrook IL (TBA) Chaser/spotter fun within 300 miles of home

COLOR CODE

Plan was to not chase GRAY
Planned Chase Day (future) YELLOW
Available to chase; no weather (“blue-skied”) BLUE
Chase Day (available and expect stormy weather) GREEN
Weather Stormy, but not available for chasing RED
BUST DAY – no severe storms where we looked! ORANGE
Training Day WHITE

Season Plan Accommodations Restaurants Tools Web Links

NOTE: The restaurant and accommodations links will be dead until I get out in the field.

 

18 April 2013 – Call to action

Two phones ringing and several alarms (computers and weather radio) are sounding.

Naperville EMA has activated the weather unit, but I’m shaking from head to toe, due to sleep deprivation. Lots of flooding going on in the area! I expect to see dozens of these today:

20130418-062453.jpg

I needed to get to work before water bars my way! 

On the way home, I checked out the flooding about a mile from home

Bolingbrook Flood - 17 April 2013
Flooding of the East Branch of the DuPage River at Bolingbrook, Illinois – April 17, 2013