Stormchase USA 07

NZstorm · Unread post by **NZstorm** » Sat 03/03/2007 14:09

Video here of the Enterprise tornado

http://www.myfoxal.com/myfox/pages/Home ... geId=1.1.1

Manukau heads obs · Mon 19/03/2007 07:17

What we could see if we are lucky, photo by a UK storm chaser, Lorraine Evans
They said theyhad chased this storm for some time and it was not doing much but then suddenly activated in front of them!
It would be good to be able to meet up with the UK chasers if we can

Manukau heads obs · Mon 19/03/2007 16:53

here is a system we are invited to participate in:
http://www.stormtrack.co.uk/gps/Main.aspx

NZstorm · Unread post by **NZstorm** » Mon 19/03/2007 20:57

GPS realtime storm tracking looks interesting.

Yes, nice photo of a tornado there from 2005. I think that one occurred in June in west Kansas.

Willoughby · Unread post by **Willoughby** » Mon 19/03/2007 22:51

NZstorm wrote:GPS realtime storm tracking looks interesting.

Was thinking if we just get two cheapo GPS devices and plug it into google earth with radar overlay it'd be very cool. (even to track our two vehicles) Ricky may already have one. (?)

Think the opportunities with this sort of thing are endless in the states.

Left a couple of comments on the weatherzone forums and those Aussies are quite intent to meet up with us.

p.s, spwill, sounds good!

NZstorm · Unread post by **NZstorm** » Sun 25/03/2007 08:12

Yes, good meeting.

Final costing on two vehicles is US$290 per person. (inlcudes full insurance and 1 extra driver per vehicle). Fuel coud be around US$150 per person, depending on amount of driving.

Manukau heads obs · Sun 25/03/2007 15:15

check out this new report of the tornadoes in New Mexico:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070324/ap_ ... co_tornado

Manukau heads obs · Tue 27/03/2007 07:17

re the internet connection, I asked for help on the WD forum
this last posting looks like a winnner:
http://www.weather-watch.com/smf/index. ... cseen.html

Willoughby · Unread post by **Willoughby** » Tue 27/03/2007 11:59

Yeah! Have just ordered one(at the moment) Kyocera KPC650 Alltel and external antenna on ebay. We probably wont have to visit the Alltel store in Denver, if hobbytalk can activate it for us!

Ricky, are you sure your Telecom CDMA card will work over on any networks? I think all these aircards have individual telco serial numbers on them.

Otherwise i'll just get another Alltel KPC650 (only US$26!)

Here's the Alltel plan:
http://www.alltel.com/business/enhanced ... ss.html?bm
Termination fee on the 12 month contract is US$200.

As I said at the meeting, I don't mind paying for the whole service and termination fee on one data card (As myself and steve will then use it)

Then for the second unit it could get subsidised between 5, NZ$72 according to calculator.
If we do it this way, we probably will avoid high roaming data charges with contact between the two vehicles over larger distances with instant online messaging.

Just got a Garmin USB 18 GPS unit too which can be plugged into Google Earth.

Feedback re 2nd data card please.

ricky · Unread post by **ricky** » Tue 27/03/2007 18:22

yeah much better to get the card with the external antenna I think.. that will make all the difference out on the road!

NZstorm · Unread post by **NZstorm** » Wed 28/03/2007 06:12

Feedback re 2nd data card please.

I think this is a good idea. What do the others think? My thoughts are that it is likely the vehicles will become seperated during a storm chase so we will be better off with two connections.

The lack of coverage in NW Oklahoma is a big negative in the Altel coverage.

ricky · Unread post by **ricky** » Wed 28/03/2007 08:07

Definately need one in each...

here is a GSM network coverage map for comparison, note that it is not all from one provider! are there any major differences where we are likely to be?

NZstorm · Unread post by **NZstorm** » Wed 28/03/2007 09:58

I think most of our storm chasing will be in Kansas, western half of Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle. NW Oklahoma is a prime area for storm chasing so coverage in that area is highly desirable.

Willoughby · Unread post by **Willoughby** » Wed 28/03/2007 18:24

I have just ordered the 2nd card and 11db gain antenna.

Hopefully it will provide a connection in NW OK where the Alltel coverage seems a bit vacant.

There is coverage on the GSM network, but there would be extra $$ roaming charges on that one.

The service looks excellent through Kansas, and northern Texas looks pretty good as well.

44 days.

NZstorm · Unread post by **NZstorm** » Thu 29/03/2007 17:46

Yes, looked to be a good day for tornadoes. I see the SPC site clocked up 64 reports which is a big day.

Some photos on this link to stormtrack

http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?t=11696

spike_01 · Unread post by **spike_01** » Fri 30/03/2007 16:20

I took these pics off the TV while watching CNN...

spike_01 · Unread post by **spike_01** » Fri 30/03/2007 16:21

Damage...

NZstorm · Unread post by **NZstorm** » Sun 01/04/2007 14:50

what about radar programs, are we buying one,

GRlevel3 certainly looks worthwhile. Most chasers use it.

http://www.grlevelx.com/

NZstorm · Unread post by **NZstorm** » Mon 02/04/2007 22:06

Parts of the Texas Panhandle and Oklahoma have just recorded their wettest March on record. A change from the very dry dusty environment we experienced last spring in that area.

Willoughby · Unread post by **Willoughby** » Mon 09/04/2007 21:15

http://www.deanostorm.ch/USA2006/Limon%20Hysteria.wmv

Ohhhh man... total awe!!

32 days now!

One question I have spwill, why aren't we supposed to declare ourselves as storm chasers on our reason to visit.. it might look awfully strange with us carrying in all our heavy technology!

spwill · Unread post by **spwill** » Sat 14/04/2007 11:34

High risk of severe weather for Eastern Texas today.

I see baseball size hail being reported in the Dallas/FortWorth area currently, that could be doing a lot of damage.

03Stormchaser · Unread post by **03Stormchaser** » Sat 14/04/2007 14:54

Feels like already there, got streaming Noaa radio, aswell as GRlevel3 running!!

NZstorm · Unread post by **NZstorm** » Thu 19/04/2007 20:32

This is what happens to a car sales yard in spring in Texas!

http://www.mesoscale.ws/07-documents/070414.htm

03Stormchaser · Unread post by **03Stormchaser** » Thu 19/04/2007 22:41

This weekend is shaping up to be a period of Tstorms. Then next week aswell isnt lookiong to bad, but this far out who knows.

I've started this blog aswell if anyone wants to add it to there favourites:

http://03stormchaser.com/blog

NZstorm · Unread post by **NZstorm** » Fri 20/04/2007 20:03

Certainly looking active for the next week before ridging kicks in about 28th.

more extremes....floods/snow etc...yes?

Yes, they have been getting snowfalls in the NE states up until this week!