As I put the finishing touches on the morning forecast package, I am in Denver, Colorado, site of the 2005 National Storm Chasers Convention. Over 250 people have registered for the conference, which features two days of information about the exciting hobby. This is my third visit to the convention. Two years ago, we were shocked and saddened to learn that the Space Shuttle Columbia had blown up on re-entry over the western United States. Last year’s conference was an exciting one, with the presence of the Doppler on Wheels trucks and a jam-packed agenda. I was fortunate to win the Baron Wx-Worx satellite delivered weather radar system.
This year’s agenda features lost of informative topics. Storm chasing is not just for tornadoes anymore. There is a growing segment of chasers who track down hurricanes, with the singular goal of getting into the eye of the storm at ground level. Chasers Jim Edds will share his experiences chasing the hurricanes of 2004. Doug Kiesling will share video that his Breaking News Video Network took during the hurricanes of 2004 (and tornadoes too.)
The main course will be tornadoes, tornadoes and more tornadoes. Researcher Jon Davies will take a new look at tornado forecast parameters. That should be interesting. Dr. Greg Forbes will be here, going over the events of 2004. Structural engineer and storm chaser Tim Marshall will review his chase season. Scott Blair took some amazing video of a photogenic tornado near Mulvane, Kansas. This tornado produced some of the most striking photography I have ever seen, with a bright white, snaky funnel against the inky black backdrop of the thunderstorm as it menaced a beautiful farmhouse and barn. Other highlights will be Tim Samaras and his tornado probes, Josh Wurman with the latest on the DOW project, Howie Bluestein with new developments in Doppler Radar and Dr. Erik Rasmussen talking about VORTEX 2007, the big research project that will attempt to learn more about the formation of tornadoes.
This year’s agenda features lost of informative topics. Storm chasing is not just for tornadoes anymore. There is a growing segment of chasers who track down hurricanes, with the singular goal of getting into the eye of the storm at ground level. Chasers Jim Edds will share his experiences chasing the hurricanes of 2004. Doug Kiesling will share video that his Breaking News Video Network took during the hurricanes of 2004 (and tornadoes too.)
The main course will be tornadoes, tornadoes and more tornadoes. Researcher Jon Davies will take a new look at tornado forecast parameters. That should be interesting. Dr. Greg Forbes will be here, going over the events of 2004. Structural engineer and storm chaser Tim Marshall will review his chase season. Scott Blair took some amazing video of a photogenic tornado near Mulvane, Kansas. This tornado produced some of the most striking photography I have ever seen, with a bright white, snaky funnel against the inky black backdrop of the thunderstorm as it menaced a beautiful farmhouse and barn. Other highlights will be Tim Samaras and his tornado probes, Josh Wurman with the latest on the DOW project, Howie Bluestein with new developments in Doppler Radar and Dr. Erik Rasmussen talking about VORTEX 2007, the big research project that will attempt to learn more about the formation of tornadoes.
on February 19, 2005, 9:00 am
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