I had heard grumblings about the downsides to storm chasing for a long time - poor driving habits, traffic jams as cars converge near violent storms, and the dangers of rogue chasers and hobbyists. It had always been on my mind, but four years of venturing to the Plains had taught me it was just something I'd have to live with. I always brushed it off as an unavoidable byproduct of chasing.
But Monday was different. I witnessed firsthand the practices that will drive me away from the sport I once loved with my entire being. The past week of storm chasing has been eye-opening. In just seven days, I've encountered:
--Chase vehicles parked perpendicular to roads blocking major intersections
--Multiple chasers with red/blue police lights "pulling over" others to clear their path to the storm; in 70 mph winds and egg-sized hail and less than a mile from a tornado, this could have been deadly
--Traffic jams 200 cars deep
--Chasers parking on/in the road to take pictures, blocking traffic
--Chasers barreling down a one-lane road at 90 mph
--Chasers driving on the wrong side of the road
The dangers speak for themselves.
There's a reason why my biggest fear about storm chasing isn't weather-related; it's not the softball-sized hail, it's not hurricane-force winds, and it's not even lightning or the tornado. It's other chasers. On Monday, when a large tornado passed by Mangum, Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported just one injury, not from wind but "involving two vehicles with storm chasers."
The perils have been manifest before. Three storm chasers were killed in an accident in Texas on March 28, 2017, when a pair of Weather Channel contractors blew through a stop sign at 70 mph. In 2013, veteran storm chaser Tim Samaras fell victim to a tornado near El Reno, Oklahoma; his son Paul and chase partner Carl Young also perished. A Weather Channel vehicle was tossed 200 yards, breaking the driver's neck. Scores of other chasers cheated death that day.
But so far, the storm chase community has been incredibly lucky. On its current track, storm chasing is a ticking time bomb.
More here
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
11 comments:
And ? What did they expect ?
Get a real education and job with NOAA
No matter the event, there's always no shortage of idiots to make it more dangerous for others.
Hilarious read
Thank you
Most chasers are not aware that NOAA employees are under a military gag order.
They are not allowed to reveal the plans for these storms - all of which are completely manufactured and steered.
Weather is no longer left to chance.
There is an agenda and money to be made from rebuilding towns and subdivisions.
Yes, weather is a weapon
Manufactured and steered? BWAHAHAHAHAAHAH I needed that huge laugh as I sit here and watch the storm come across the Assawoman Bay. HAHAHAHHA, hey honey the military is steering this storm right down my way. Get me the bourbon, this should be fun!!! HAHAHAAHAHAH
Early TGIF to all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
you must be on medical Marijuana dude
It's true he who controls the weather controls everything. Best weapon ever.
Do you think they don’t have the technology / capability?
Or do you think they have no interest in controlling the weather?
Finally, are you 12 years old or just naive?
That is so stupid 5:24. Sounds like you're saying home improvement & building contractors are paying the government to create damaging storms in there areas of business for profit. Get off that stuff pal, it's affecting your thinking process.
actually the usa russia and china have all been doing research on controlling the weather for many years now. The US has HARRP up in alaska where they were researching how to cause natural disasters in other parts of the world with directed energy. Kind of hard to fight an enemy when your cities are falling down! that's why i don't buy the global warming bs! the governments of the world have been at this a long time now. As for steering the weather no they haven't quite got that far yet! producing droughts ......well.......only the government knows for sure, and I wouldn't trust the bastards no matter what they said!
10:13
Go to
Geoengineeringwatch.org
Learn the truth my friend
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