Page 1 of 1

Storm Chasing in NC

Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2004 5:38 pm
by NCn8ochaser
Can anyone tell me if it's really possible to chase here in NC? I'm planning on chasing this up coming season, but due to the terrain (trees, hills, etc.)... I think it would be a challenge. My forecasts are improving alot, the more I forecast, and I study for atleast 1 hour every day. I might be young, but I love severe weather, and I'm up to it, no matter what it takes. By the way, if any of you chase, maybe you can give me some pointers. I've been 'arm-chair' chasing since May, 2003. Anyway, you can find me every once in a while in #stormchase (on IRC). Thanks for your help.

Travis

Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2004 5:57 pm
by Stormsfury
For chasing, I do a few chases as time allows, but since free time is a luxury I don't have anymore. Unfortunately, I don't have any classic photos just yet to publish ...

The list of catches include an F3 tornado accompanied by baseball to softball size hail in the Upstate in South Carolina back in the early 1990's, and the Mother's Day tornado that struck Summerville, SC on May 10th, 1998. (multi-vortex F2, and NOT a classic looking tornado by any means) ....

SF

Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2004 6:40 pm
by weatherluvr
The chasers I've talked to said that doing any chasing east of the Mississippi River is a lot more difficult due to the terrain, more trees, and higher haze and humidity levels. Reliable roads in rural areas are a problem too. Tornadic storms in the east are much more likely to be HP supercells, with very poor visibility.

I never chased myself, but I did get some really nice pics of a supercell with a funnel cloud in North Hatfield, MA about 7 years ago (I was working there at the time). Ironically the storm appeared to be an LP (!) supercell, almost unheard of in this part of the country.