Storm-Chasing-Traffic-Jam-Bob Davis Podcast 835

Summer Storms In The Midwest

Warmer weather in the Upper Midwest is most notable for severe weather. In addition all through the middle part of the US in the summer storms can be even more dangerous. Learn more in Storm-Chasing-Traffic-Jam-Bob Davis Podcast 835.

Storm Chaser

Meteorologist and Professional Storm Chaser Brian Saastamoinen joins the podcast from Midwest Intercept Now. For their Facebook page click here.

2019 Will Be More Active

Especially relevant is we all love a good storm. This year looks to be more active than past year’s in our neck of the woods. Brian will be chasing in southern Iowa and northern Missouri this weekend. For most people interested in this sort of thing, it all started with a childhood experience with a summer storm.

What Causes The Big Storms?

What are these big storms due to? How do they get started? What contributions are storm chasers making to safety and learning more about these dangerous weather systems?

Storm Chasing Traffic Jams In Oklahoma

Moreover with storm chasing becoming so popular, how do the professionals deal with literal traffic jams on roads during particularly dangerous tornadoes?

Your Money Shot May Kill You

Certainly with the advancement of technology everyone wants to get a money shot of a tornado. People don’t even realize they are risking their lives to take video on their phones. Saastamoinen chases with a full team of first responders and meteorologists. Even more, they always have escape routes and emphasize safety first.

Back Roads Are Packed

In addition in some places homes don’t have basements, so when local TV advises people to ‘take shelter’ they jump in their car to go to someone else’s house. As amazing as that sounds, it also puts lots of cars on back roads, trying to get away from the storm. At the same time chasers, professional and amateur are out there.

Safety First

Finally, it may seem unnecessary but I also asked Brian to review safety procedures. Take a look at this video striking Saint Louis airport and you’ll see why.

(Editor’s Note: Special thanks to my friend Jason Waldron at Cartridge World for his assistance on this podcast.)

Sponsored by Ryan Plumbing and Heating of Saint Paul and John D Scott Personal Injury Attorney at Hoffman Hamer and Associates

Storm-Chasing-Traffic-Jam-Bob Davis Podcast 835

 

Storm Chaser Valhalla-National Weather Service Norman-Podcast 636

Blue skies and sunshine on this Storm Chasing Trip. With no storms, it’s a good time to visit the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center at Norman, Oklahoma. The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center is where where all severe weather predictions and updates originate. We’ll go in inside, In Storm Chaser Valhalla-National Weather Service Norman-Podcast 636.

Storm Chaser Valhalla

Storm Chasers use information that originates at Norman. Why? Doppler Radar was developed here. Scientists in Kansas City spent springs here back in the day, to research storms. There was a naval air station here. So, there was plenty of room to locate a brand new radar system.

NEXRAD

Doppler Radar has been a game changer since its inception in the 1990’s. NEXRAD changed and continues to change how the world learns about severe weather. In Storm Chaser Valhalla-National Weather Service Norman-Podcast 636.

Secure Facility

The radar control center is in a secure building shared by several government agencies. One of those agencies is the department of defense. Needless to say, I could not get into this facility. Persistence pays off and after a few calls, NOAA Public Affairs Specialist Keli Pirtle invited me to come over to the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center. Storm Chaser Valhalla-National Weather Service Norman-Podcast 636.

Weather Geek Out

It’s all about weather geeks. Thanks to Keli Pirtle for inviting me in on short notice and for the history lesson. How did the radar system get built at Norman? Finally, Warning Coordination Meteorologist Patrick Marsh gives us complete rundown of how the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center works. Plus some stories about what it is like in this center when major weather is breaking.

Storm Chasers

The idea behind tax payer funded NEXRAD is data products should be available to everyone, and this is one of the reasons we get radar and other NWS products on our smartphones. However, severe weather can be unpredictable. A town, person or chaser can be right under a tornado and not be able to to see it until it’s too late. While the National Weather Service does not have an official position on Storm Chasing Even the National Weather Service is not immune as you will hear. Be Safe.

Sponsored by Brush Studio in The West End, Saint Louis Park, Minnesota

Storm Chaser Valhalla-National Weather Service Norman-Podcast 636