When you first started chasing what was your biggest mistake?

#1 03-12-2007, 11:05 PM

When you first started storm chasing what was your biggest mistake so to say? Or what have you learned now that you did not know then?

dean · #2 03-12-2007, 11:11 PM

a number of them but some are:
Not having an appropriate car for my local chases, make sure your car is suitable and can withstand what mother nature throws at you (and especially your wind shield wipers ;) )
Remember not to stand in front of cameras ( it gets a little cluttered as everyone tries to be in the same spot for the best view)
Charge video batteries BEFORE the chase, and check digital/film camera batteries in case they are dead
If you're meeting someone somewhere, make sure you know EXACTLY how to get there (coming an hour late to your chase partners home is not a good way to start off the day)
Make sure you bring PLENTY of money for the chase in case some unexpected things come up (hasnt happened to me yet, but it has been close)
And finally, if you're using radar, make sure you have a signal, there have been a few times when i was looking at the same radar image from 20 minutes ago and thought i was a new run
Hope these help and i know other people have other stuff to add

Josh Richardson · #3 03-12-2007, 11:56 PM

Yeah, there are probably numerous things I guess.* One of them in my book is to always be early, I hate being late for initiation.* Other than that I cant think of any major mistakes right off hand.

Dustin Wilcox · #4 03-13-2007, 01:54 AM

Don't always chase after the first storm to go up.* Know the conditions and where parameters are most favorable for tornadoes, if storms are forming in a different area or quickly exiting the favorable air while it stays in place and remains unstable be patient and wait for later development.* I used to get all worked up over the first storm to go tornado warned and would often chase after it only to get burned by later development, its not uncommon to have to let a tornado warned storm go.

Mike Shively · #5 03-13-2007, 03:45 AM

My biggest mistake when I was a newbie was to go too far west and "overshoot" the storm.* I always hate playing "catch-up" to a storm when I am too far west, and on setups early in the season, when storm motions are swift, you can forget about it.* Another problem I had (and sometimes still have) is being late.* It cost me a tornado last year.* I since then have corrected the problem ( I hope).* I take the initiation time, plus driving time, plus 2 hours, and come up with a time I need to leave.* That gives me a two hour "window"* to play with in case I need to stop to get gas, use the restroom, etc... plus allowing some room to work with in case storms fire earlier than I anticipated.