Lab Exercises

Goals:

• Learn about storm warnings and sources of other meteorological data.
• Learn where to find storms.
• Learn how to identify storm characteristics.
• Learn storm chase safety, courtesy, responsibility.

Method: Independent work by the students, utilizing web-based tutorials and other links.

A. Storm Chase Tips

1. What is the difference between Storm Spotting and Storm Chasing? (StormTrack , SPC FAQs , NSSL , Doswell , Brewster ).
2. List 5 recommendations or tips for storm chasers. (Doswell2)
3. What is the greatest threat to storm chasers? (StormTrack) and (Doswell2)
4. Is it safe to stop your car under a bridge when a tornado approaches? ( NWS-Norman , SPC safety)
5. Where can you get info on how to build tornado-safe rooms? (rooms)
6. What is a "core punch"? (Storm Spotter's Glossary , Doswell -scroll to "Number 3" )

B. Storm Warnings and Meteorological Data Sources

1. What is the Weather Radio, and what frequencies are used (answer for USA: NOAA Weather Radio, frequencies , or for Canada: Weatheradio Network .)
2. What is the SPC, and what does it do? (Storm Spotter's Glossary), and (SPC FAQs) .
3. Define (according to the US National Weather Service SPC, or for Canada )
   1. watch
   2. warning
   3. watch box
   4. severe thunderstorm watch
   5. tornado warning
4. List today's date and time. What type of storm warning (closest to your location) is currently active, and in which US state (or Canadian province) is it? (NWS IWIN in USA , or EC in Canada)
5. Observation data can be plotted "on the fly" to help identify storm threat areas. Compare contour plots of dew-point Td from these 3 sites: ( SPC , U.Wyoming , "Storm Machine" )
6. Computertized weather forecast models such as the "NAM (WRF)" model can provide forecasts of vertical soundings that are useful for identifying environments conducive to storm formation. Use the "Storm Machine" (Northern Illinois Univ.), and then select "THE FORECAST MODEL (TEXT or IMAGE) SOUNDING MACHINE" to create a text version or a thermo diagram of an NAM model SOUNDING based on a 24 hour forecast over a location of interest specified by your instructor (or over your own location, such as Vancouver Canada: CYVR). What info does it give you that is relevant to severe storms?
   

C. Where to Look for Storms

1. What is a "loaded gun" sounding? (Storm Spotter's Glossary fig 6)
2. What forecasting tools can be used to help predict where the storms are? (StormTrack)

D. Identifying Storm Characteristics

1. What type of thunderstorm is responsible for producing the most severe weather, and what are its primary characteristics? (Storm Spotters Guide), (Severe Storm Watcher's Handbook, EC), also (Storm Spotter's Glossary).
2. What is a:
   1. rain free base (Storm Spotters Guide)
   2. wall cloud
   3. bear's cage (Storm Spotter's Glossary)
   4. MCS
   5. derecho
   6. beaver tail
   7. rear flank downdraft (RFD)

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Resources

Storm Spotter Info

• Tips and Resources for Beginning Storm Chasers, & Strategies (StormTrack)
• GettingStarted as a Spotter (Keith Brewster, CAPS)
• Storm Spotters Guide (National Weather Service - Norman, OK).
• Storm Spotters Glossary (National Weather Service - Norman, OK).
• Storm Chasing and Spotting FAQs (Storm Prediction Center, OK)
• Storm Chasing opportunities (National Severe Storms Laboratory)
• Other Frequently Asked Questions FAQs (Storm Prediction Center, OK)
• Frequently Asked Questions ( StormTrack)
• Frequently Asked Questions (Tornado Project , and more)
• Policies and Rules for Chasers (NWS & StormChase)
• Radio Frequencies used by SKYWARN Spotters (Keith Brewster)
• Info for Storm Chasers (College of DuPage)
• Weather Watcher Handbook (EC) .

Safety Info

• Storm Chase tips, safety, courtesy, and responsibility (Chuck Doswell)
• Storm Chase facts, tips and safety (StormTrack), and ethics (Alan Moller)
• Tornado safety (SPC-Norman)
• Tornado safety (NWS-Norman)
• Tornado safety (Federal Emergency Management Agency)
• Trends in tornado deaths , and history of spotting (Doswell et al)
• Tornado safety (Tornado Project)
• Do NOT seek shelter under highway overpasses (NWS & NSSL)
• NOAA Weather Radio .
• Severe weather safety guide (Environment Canada)
• Severe weather awareness (Environment Canada)

Storm Warning and Weather Data

• USA
  • Current Watches and Warnings (NWS IWIN system)
  • Live Watches and Warnings (SPC)
  • Listing of Current Watches (SPC)
  • Summary of Storm Warnings (NWS-Norman)
  • Maps of Storm Watches and Warnings (Texas A&M Univ)
  • Examples of a past tornado watch and tornado warning.
  • Satellite, radar, and warnings directly from the NWS source.
  • The Storm Machine (NIU)
  • Radar Images USA (NWS)
  • Large list of links to weather data for storm chasing (StormTrack).
• Canada
  • Current Warnings, Advisories, Summaries .
  • Warnings for Prairie provences
  • Definitions of advisories, watches, warnings.
  • Other weather data for Canada (U. Mich.)
  • Radar images Canada (Environment Canada)

Storm Photography

• Storm photography tips (WeatherPix) .
• Storm chasing books, videos, info (Weathergraphics).
• Links to many film, video, and storm photography tips (in StormTrack, go to "More Storm Chaser Basics")
• Video tips (David Blanchard , Chris Novy )
• On selling your own video images (StormTrack)

Storm-Chase Organizations, Clubs, & People

• SKYWARN
• National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL)
• StormTrack
• The Tornado Project
• Chuck Doswell's FAQs
• TORRO , a British tornado organization
• Texas Severe Storm Association (TESSA)
• Australian Severe Weather (with great photos)
• Links to many storm chase organizations (StormTrack)

Tours & Businesses

• Silver Lining Tours
• Cloud 9 Tours
• Spacious Skies Tours
• Tornado Alley Safari Tours
• StormProductions .
• StormChaser .
• PrairiePictures .
• North American Storm Interceptors .

Lists of Other Good Links

• StormTrack
• National Weather Service - Norman, OK
• Storm Prediction Center - Norman, OK
• Info for Storm Chasers (College of DuPage)
• Tornado and Severe Weather (Disaster Center)
• Storm Images (NOAA)

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http://www.eos.ubc.ca/courses/atsc201/A201text/BrooksCole/MetSciEngr/index.html
Copyright © 2005 by Roland Stull
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