Wacky Week Indeed

May 10, 2010 will go down in history as another one of those events that I can't believe unfolded right before my eyes!  Yes, I was armchair chasing the night away!!!  (one day... the Plains!  I can't take this anymore!)  The radar images I saw were absolutely amazing, so I'm going to share my favorites.  I wish that I had moved the warning box and turned off Spotter Network before capturing these photos, but I was so enthralled in what was unfolding that I couldn't think about things like that!

First.... The Wakita, OK storm!  What a gorgeous hook on this bad boy!  Also, notice the line of chasers on that road down there!  Haha!  Lot's of chasers on this storm!

Next, came from the TDWR radar at the OKC airport, as the tornado roared through Moore and Norman, OK.  I knew this was bad, and I followed along with the news and TWC.  Rush hour through a highly populated area... I knew this wouldn't be good.  But this radar image is amazing!

The next radar image is a cell producing TWO tornadoes...  Crazy!!  One in the main hook part, and another to the north where that other tiny little hook is!

Anyway.. It was a crazy day.  I wanted to spend my week reminiscing about laboratory memories, since this is my last week as a lab rat, but weather has been taking all my attention!!  Not to mention, chemistry is rebelling against me and my career change!!  But that is for another post!  Have a good day everyone!

Edit: I would like to add that both of my targets would have put me in good position!  Enid, OK was perfect, but I could've easily shot north from Wichita Falls, TX and intercepted those cells!  Hooray for forecasting!  I'm getting better!

Great Things!

So, Stacey and I have booked our trip to the UK! Late May to early June.. Brits LOOK OUT! :) I'm very very excited about that!

Other good news, I did accept the position in regulatory! I'm very excited about it, but also extremely nervous! I have been a lab rat for as long as I remember. I have enjoyed being in the lab. I really don't know how my hyperactivity is going to handle having a desk job, but the actual job excites me. I believe I made the right choice!

First severe weather of the season hit my house... while I wasn't there to see anything!!! Apparently, GOLF BALL sized HAIL was on the menu on Friday, while I was at work. Oh well.. Next time, I'll set Rerun up with a camera, so I won't miss the action.

Granted, I am just learning how to read models, but next weekend looks to be my first chance to actually chase. I am not going to call it a chase, because that implicates I know what I am doing. Let's just say, I'm going to get into my car, drive towards a storm, and see what I can see. I won't have my laptop in my car.. Just the BlackBerry radar. Interesting, I have figured out how to zoom into street level, so it is ALMOST like having GRL3 attached to a GPS, minus the storm velocity scans, awesome resolution, and giant screen. So, I hope the models hold up and we will have a DAYTIME WEEKEND event within 50 miles of my house!

I'm so excited about this year. Going for your dreams has been everything I hoped it would be! I WILL be going to the UK, and I WILL go on my first REAL chase this year! Next year, I don't know if I will be "Plains-ready," but I'll be close!!

Been a long time, been a long time!

Well, it has been awhile. I promised not to ignore my little bloggy blog, but, alas, it has happened. Let's see here.. Last time, I was talking snow! We've had TWO significant snowfalls since that last event! One added up to be around 3.5 inches! Amazing!

I attended spotter training class. That was all kinds of fun. I wish Stacey could have been there, because the people watching was better than going to Walmart at 2am. The people were generally nice, though, and I learned a lot more than I thought I would. I thought I knew it all! HA!

School is getting tough, as it tends to do in the middle of the semester. I'm sure my posts will be few and far between.

I'm ready for spring time so I can get out there for real instead of just talking about a chase. If I hate it, at least I tried. I hope I love it!

WOOOOO!

I am hoping and praying that this snowfall will happen on Thursday! We are right on the rain/snow line! I'm trying to learn how to read the models, but I'm just not good enough yet to post those models and make sense of them. BUT PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let it SNOW! This weather nerd needs it!!

On another note, I joined Weight Watchers Online today, because I just let myself go crazy over the holidays. So I'm putting a stop to it, RIGHT NOW! Hopefully, I'll get at least 10 lbs off this month. That's my goal, anyway!!!

Interesting Data-Flood of 2009

The Peachtree City NWS just posted some interesting data about the flood that affected Georgia in 2009.

Epic Floods of 2009 http://www.srh.noaa.gov/ffc/?n=0909epicflood

This link provides information about the highest river crests during the flood. Several records were set.

This flood I will never forget. I have never seen the interstate flooded, but it was on my drive in to work one morning at the 24/75 split coming in from Georgia.

At one point, all the roads that lead to my home were closed and I wasn't sure how I was going to get home from work! Luckily, one route had opened up by the time I got to work.

Welcome!!!

I have decided to start blogging about my little adventures. First, I should tell everyone a little bit about myself. I'm a chemist who is currently in grad school for pharmaceutical regulatory affairs. Basically, it's FDA laws... That's about as simply as I can explain it! :) I am also learning all I can about meteorology, because I plan on doing some small local chases this year. One day, I'll take the plunge and head west to the Great Plains and do a large scale chase, but right now, I just want to learn all I can.

Why would I want to chase storms?? Well, first of all, I have had a fear of storms since I was a small child, but, just like many people who do chase and study storms, I turned that fear into fascination. Am I inspired by TV shows to become a chaser? Absolutely! I'm sure that influence is highly criticized, but I've been fascinated with those who call themselves storm chasers for as long as I can remember. I remember watching the special that featured Warren Faidley and countless others when I was younger. My family STILL rags me, because I was always excited for the weather report! I watched the Weather Channel for hours during hurricanes and severe weather outbreaks.

Right now, learning in my main priority. I don't want to do anything stupid. Plus, it's a subject that interests me.

What does a good science nerd do when she's out of school? Learn more science, of course!!