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Storm Chasing
I have been chasing storms for many years only I didn't know it until just a short time ago. Way back in high school, a small group of us would head out into bad weather to experience the power of nature in ways that only indestructible teenagers could - stupidly! We didn't study meteorology, or have any scientific interest in the weather. We didn't have any worthwhile goals, such as saving lives or increasing warning times. We ran the storms simply to look at the angry side of Mother Nature and embrace it.Well, I thankfully survived my teenage years and I outgrew my sense of invulnerability about the same time I graduated college. However, I did not lose the desire to experience the weather. The difference being that I no longer dared the lightning to strike me, but assumed that it would and so tried to give it the hardest shot possible.
From bad experiences come good lessons. We didn't have access to the reams of real-time data that is available today, and we seldom watched the TV or listened to the radio for weather reports. All we did was look up! We paid attention to the colour of the sky, the types of clouds, the wind, the way the air smelled, how humid it was, and much more. It was nothing conscious, no one took notes. You can just feel everything changing. After a time, you get to know what to expect in the next few hours, even if you don't realize that a sudden change in barometric pressure is responsible for making you sweat differently. Anyone who grew up on a farm or working outside a lot will know what I mean. When I head out on a chase these days, I carry with me the most recent radar images I can get my hands on, but ultimately it all comes down to the gut feeling. If things just don't feel right it's time to move on.
One thing that I am always aware of is my wife and two kids safe at home. It would be selfish and ignorant for me to place myself in a situation where my life is in jeopardy - just for a thrill! So, I do my best to always chase safe. "A picture is worth a thousand words - not a life", besides if I did get the shot and lived I can just imagine which thousand words I would hear from my wife :-)For those of you who are new to chasing, I can only stress three things; education, respect and caution. Learn everything you can before starting out. Talk to experienced chasers, read their chase logs and if possible, ride along with someone who has experience for a while. If you do go out on your own, be ever cautious and aware of your surroundings.