MyFox
 

Rich on the Road

by RichardRay from Dallas, TX

Last Post 3 days, 23 hours Ago


Storms as Entertainment
Apr 23, 2008 | 9:23 PM
Category: Weather
Report This Post

Watching another round of storms roll in tonight with visiting family members -- folks from California, for whom our Texas thunderstorms are truly frightening.  They rarely see anything approaching this fierceness of rain and wind.  Just looking at the radar -- all the reds and yellows and swirling systems -- clearly makes them nervous.  And the big thunder boomers make them jumpy.

 

Photo courtesy: imacmike

On the other hand, having grown up on the northern end of Tornado Alley (farm country in southern Minnesota) this seems pretty tame.  In fact, I've always enjoyed a good thunderstorm.  Angry thunderheads building on the horizon, spectacular light shows, are good entertainment.  At least, until baseball-sized hail starts knocking holes in the roof and gusts of wind begin tearing the fence down. 

Over the years, I've had a chance to do stories with professional storm chasers and the tourists who spend thousands of dollars to tag along with them in search of violent weather.  It's a growing industry.  Last spring I spent two days chasing with Martin Lisius's outfit Tempest Tours.  We went nearly to Wyoming in search of tornadoes and the storm systems that spawn them.  Actually caught a funnel cloud on tape, though it never touched the ground.

The day may come when thunderstorms lose all their entertainment value for me.  That sort of happened with my hurricane chasing career -- after I actually caught one in South Carolina -- Hurricane Hugo in the late 80s if I remember right.  Spending the night in a hurricane shelter with the windows crashing in took all the "fun" out of it.  I never volunteered for the assignment again.  Though, I was sent a few times anyway.

Here's hoping this one stays entertaining.  And, doesn't do any serious damage.

Rich

 

10 Comments |  Add a Comment

Member Comments Total Comments: 10
Page 1 of 1
ProudAmerican read my blog view my photos
Apr 24, 2008 | 8:12 AM

That is one awesome picture!!

I love the thunderstorms but last night all that lightening was too close! I went through the house unplugging everything from the walls now I just hope I have enough power bars on my cell to last the day.
skootzkitty read my blog view my photos
Apr 24, 2008 | 8:17 AM

SWEET PIC! That is awesome! And having been raised in N California, I can relate *lol* But once you grow used to them you find yourself in the garage with the door open watching in awe..... [yeah but it's a rush]
AnnaMan read my blog view my photos
Apr 24, 2008 | 12:13 PM

Rich,

I grew up in Southern Wisconsin and still have that fascination, myself, for watching the storms roll in.

I remember one summer storm (the best kind since it's usually nice and warm while it's raining) I was outside enjoying the warm rain on my face when all of the sudden there was a flash of lightning that seemed to "crack" through the atmosphere before it even lit up the sky above me. The sound was deafining and shook me to the core. Needless to say, I ran inside.

It's a fascination that we must respect. Krystle Gutierrez (Fox 4 News) is reporting, as I write this, on the damage out in Crowley from the storms last night. Wow, something like 20 homes were completely destroyed.

We pray for a speedy recovery for those families. Some of the arial photos made it look like someone had just tossed a box of toothpicks on the ground.
stormspinner read my blog view my photos
Apr 24, 2008 | 10:52 PM

Rich,

I'm on the other end of the spectrum. I am terrified of storms: the original StormFraider. LOL Wouldn't be so bad if they had underground shelters made MANDATORY in Tornado Alley.

From Ohio, originally: had a basement. 'Course, growing up, we never had a tornado, but it was there, just. In. Case. Moved to Texas 25 years ago, and boy, howdy! Where's a basement when you want one?

BTW: why do many meteorologists and NOAA wx radio say, when a warning is issued, "Get to a basement" ... WHEN NONE ARE AVAILABLE???

Pet peeve of mine - getting storm weary - want to move to Alaska, where the only storms are magnetic (Northern Lights)! LOL Wish I could afford to move, or at least put in underground shelter.

Anyway, excellent blog, love the pic - stay safe on your wx adventures, and thanks for keeping US safe.

*StormSpinner* in Burleson
RichardRay read my blog view my photos
Apr 25, 2008 | 9:22 AM

AnnaMan
I share your prayer. We have no damage here. And 15 miles east a tornado struck. Our storms are magnificent but so dangerous.
Stormspinner
You have no idea how many nights I spent in the basement as a kid. When the storms hit, that's where we went. And, you're right, no basements here at all.
Rich
stormspinner read my blog view my photos
Apr 25, 2008 | 7:38 PM

Rich,

Thank you for writing back; 'preciate it.

Just don't understand: what is one life worth? They say ground's too unstable, water table's too high - can't they work around that?? Wish I had a basement ... know of any, let me know???

*StormSpinner*
RichardRay read my blog view my photos
Apr 25, 2008 | 11:23 PM

Stormspinner
As I understand it, our geology makes basements impractical -- clay and rock and water table too shallow.
Can't give you a definitive answer but clearly you've heard what I've heard.
Rich
nived23 read my blog view my photos
Apr 27, 2008 | 12:01 AM

WOW! Do you have someone taking pictures for you or are you snapping them yourself? If so, you are doing a wonderful job and are just in the right place at the right time. Now, just don't go changing that around... wrong place wrong time. We don't want you to get hurt!
RichardRay read my blog view my photos
Apr 27, 2008 | 2:43 PM

I can't take any credit for the great photo -- and it is a great one -- it comes from imacmike's blog.
Rich
love2zip read my blog view my photos
May 1, 2008 | 8:00 AM

Awesome pic! I live high on a hill in New York, Texas and can see storms rolling in from quite a distance away. Storm chasing......not for me! I will just watch Evan's weather report for that.
Page 1 of 1


Write your comment below:




RichardRay

RICH ON THE ROAD I am blessed with a truly remarkable job that for decades now has permitted me to see corners of the world, far and near. When I'm not on the road for Fox4 News in Dallas/Fort Worth, I'm often traveling with my wife Catherine -- occasionally on mission trips in Africa or Latin America with our home church (Prince of Peace Lutheran in Carrollton). My contribution to this page began largely as a Travel-blog -- sharing current and many of my past experiences in traveling America and the globe. I'm tryng, as we go along, to wade into a wider range of topics without getting in too much trouble. Richard Ray

Member Since: 5/29/2006


 

View All Photos