NZ Weather Forum

Anyone planning on heading over this year? Il be there 18th till the 30th. Still haven't got my flights from LAX yet, but prob start in either Denver or Dallas

I'm flying over on Waitangi day to Chasercon in Wichita KS. Then again May 15th, but not to chase initially. I'm going with a good friend to Hamvention in Xenia (Dayton) OH, then a few days in Ireland before returning before (hopefully) a late chase trip.

03Stormchaser wrote:Anyone planning on heading over this year? Il be there 18th till the 30th. Still haven't got my flights from LAX yet, but prob start in either Denver or Dallas

Not unless I win lotto or win some $ haha


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tgsnoopy wrote:I'm flying over on Waitangi day to Chasercon in Wichita KS. Then again May 15th, but not to chase initially. I'm going with a good friend to Hamvention in Xenia (Dayton) OH, then a few days in Ireland before returning before (hopefully) a late chase trip.

Actualy kinda of jealous your attending chasercon. Hope to get there one day!

At this stage I have no plans to go to the US in 2019. Will aim for 2020.

Last active tornado season was 2016 so some activity due you would think.

Chasercon would be interesting. I am guessing Roger Hill is no longer organising it as it is in Whichita.

I'm pretty sure he is, I see him promoting it on Facebook

NZstorm wrote: ↑Tue 08/01/2019 07:48I am guessing Roger Hill is no longer organising it as it is in Whichita.

Yes he is. It was a difficult decision, but with the input of the chaser community he has put his gonads in the vice so to speak and taken the gamble again this year. He has indicated he would like someone else to get involved as Roger & Karen are close to retirement and it is difficult to take that financial gamble themselves these days. Google it. it shouldn't be hard to find.

Decided to start in Vegas this year so I can knock off a couple new states and see a few new sights on the drive east.

I'm heading over 3rd May through to 13th May, for my first US chase. Doing the Great Plains Cyclone Tour with Roger Hill.

GreggWard wrote:I'm heading over 3rd May through to 13th May, for my first US chase. Doing the Great Plains Cyclone Tour with Roger Hill.

Nice stuff, he does a great tour!

Woken up to Freezing Rain here in Wichita this morning. Currently being forecast to continue for 100 minutes, I was worried about the drive back to DFW, looks like it will be a challenge. Luckily Kims vehicle is a 4WD with great tyres.

Busy day yesterday. Some great panels, Reed Timmer representing a Tour Guide & Tornado Interceptor vehicle, An Emergency Operations Manager & 3 different Law Enforcement agencies representatives from KS & OK.

Tim Marshals usual presentation was tipped to have him appear as Chewbacca, we had a Chewbacca join us, but Tim later came in as Hans Solo. The presentation being thinner on chasing as 2018 was a quiet year, but did include the Volcanic activity over in Hawaii. Tim is close to retirement, having completed training his replacement.

Dr. Greg Forbes has retired, but will return to the Weather Channel for the final time to cover the Severe Weather Season this year. His presentation was shared with Roger Hill for the first time.

Brilliant Keynote speaker was Mike Smith, the last of the original storm chasers. We'd sat with him for the evening meal, fantastic speaker, if you are going to watch anything, watch that! He has retired and effectively handed over to all of us. The history was extremely interesting.

Forecasting seminar starting in less than an hour, looking forward to it.

Sorry about poor pics, I bought my Point & Shoot, not DSLR. Mistake as poor lighting to allow for projectors means inability to focus accurately & long exposures being subject to movement blur.

Regardless of the quality that photo shows how cold it looks

Back in Wichita Falls now. Just done my online check in for the flight home tomorrow. Forecasting was interesting & Informative, but way too much for me to take in in one session. They didn't stream or record it, but are apparently looking at making a Video available at reasonable pricing to recover costs. Although Tim Marshal did seem to be making his own recording of the material. There will be another ChaserCon in Denver CO next year, but it may be the last.

I thought I had posted these earlier, maybe in the wrong topic? The view from our Suite on the top (18th) floor of the hotel when we arrived. You can tell it's below freezing outside, anywhere it had got wet was frozen slick and largely iced. Later the officer from OK commented during the panel that KS obviously has more money for salt as the highway changed from black to white when you crossed the border. Go to YouTube & search ChaserCon 2019, should be up by now to watch some of the program.

Was the forecasting session by Rich Thompson? There's a great series of his lectures on Youtube, reminds me I need to finish them...

Sorry, I met so many people I'm having trouble with names. Will need to check and info is in my checked bags. Currently @ gate in DFW for flights home. The crew I chased with last year will understand why I'm gutted the bar near the gate we were at last year has recently closed. Will get back to you on that. It seems the free WiFi is blocking Facebook Youtube etc. The name is most certainly familiar to me.

tgsnoopy wrote:Sorry, I met so many people I'm having trouble with names. Will need to check and info is in my checked bags. Currently @ gate in DFW for flights home. The crew I chased with last year will understand why I'm gutted the bar near the gate we were at last year has recently closed. Will get back to you on that. It seems the free WiFi is blocking Facebook Youtube etc. The name is most certainly familiar to me.

That’s a shame Neil. You said they had true Guinness on tap. Didn’t try the old tinder at the gate game again did ya?


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jamie wrote: ↑Tue 12/02/2019 20:58That’s a shame Neil. You said they had true Guinness on tap. Didn’t try the old tinder at the gate game again did ya?

No Tinder on this trip, don't think Kim would have appreciated that Yes, US has genuine St James Gate brewed Guinness. My last being at Applebees with a Steak/Shrimp near the gate inside the airport. Forecasting class was by Jon Davies.

Rogue wrote: ↑Tue 12/02/2019 12:25 Was the forecasting session by Rich Thompson? There's a great series of his lectures on Youtube, reminds me I need to finish them...

I have watched a couple of those, very good.

Another great way of learning forecasting is to study previous set ups. I particularly like looking at events where unexpected strong tornadoes occured such as 25/5/16 KS and 14/4/17 TX.

Sad if next year will be the last chaser con. I would like to get to one but that won't happen next year.

A severe thunderstorm set up tomorrow for Dixie tornado alley. Looking likely mainly elevated storms but if surface temps warm into the 20's, tornadoes become possible.

I see a record snowfall for Flagstaff Arizona yesterday with 90cm at the local airport.

A few tornadoes reported but the set up underperformed on the SPC forecast.

tgsnoopy wrote: ↑Mon 07/01/2019 21:21 I'm flying over on Waitangi day to Chasercon in Wichita KS. Then again May 15th, but not to chase initially. I'm going with a good friend to Hamvention in Xenia (Dayton) OH, then a few days in Ireland before returning before (hopefully) a late chase trip.

As of last night Ireland is now off. It seems the young lady I had intended to catch up with has relocated to somewhere in England & my friend I was going with has had a change of employment circumstances. So I am looking at what I can get refunded etc before I need to make hard decisions. Am hoping I can join someone for a chase this year. I can get by with just the Friday at Dayton Hamvention (17th May, actually at Xenia OH) and should be able to travel to meet on Sat 18th May.

NZstorm wrote:A few tornadoes reported but the set up underperformed on the SPC forecast.

Unsure if any chasers got any tornadoes. Looking at the radar speed up it would have been very differcult to correctly pick when one was going to form. Glad I don't have to deal with storms days like this in late may!