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2011 November 7 Manitou-Snyder, Oklahoma Tornado 462

by RobertPrentice 2 months ago

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The Top 20 Storm Chase Clips These are the "Top 20" storm chase clips from my "Storm Chase" Series DVD programs available at: http://members.cox.net/rprentice/shop.htm Don't forget to view the "Storm Chase Music Videos" playlist which contains my best photos and video clips set to music!

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Storm Chase 2002-May 28, 2004 by Robert Prentice These are clips from the DVD program "Storm Chase 2002-May 28, 2004 by Robert Prentice." The DVD and music soundtrack may be ordered at: http://members.cox.net/rprentice/shop.htm

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Storm Chase 2006-2007 by Robert Prentice These are clips from the DVD program "Storm Chase May 30, 2004-2005 by Robert Prentice." The DVD and music soundtrack may be ordered at: http://members.cox.net/rprentice/shop.htm

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Storm Chase 1990-1992 by Robert Prentice These are clips from the DVD program "Storm Chase 1990-1992 by Robert Prentice." The DVD and music soundtrack may be ordered at: http://members.cox.net/rprentice/shop.htm

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Storm Chase 1993-1995 by Robert Prentice These are clips from the DVD program "Storm Chase 1993-1995 by Robert Prentice." The DVD and music soundtrack may be ordered at: http://members.cox.net/rprentice/shop.htm

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About Robert Prentice's Atmospheric Images

Robert Prentice's Atmospheric Images specializes in pictures and video of violent thunderstorms and their aftermath including: tornado, lightning, hail, and thunderstorm time lapse video.

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Created by

RobertPrentice

Latest Activity

Jan 5, 2012

Date Joined

Oct 7, 2006

About this user

One of the most common questions I am asked is Why did you become a meteorologist and/or storm chaser? I grew up in Norman, Oklahoma in the shadow of the "Golf Ball" (the original research Doppler radar at the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL)). Norman lies within the heart of "Chase Alley" and my parents sent my sister and me to storm shelter many times. I have always been fascinated by storms.

The turning point was June 21, 1979 when I was 10 years old. My aunt and uncle were playing cards with my parents at our home in northwest Norman. A supercell thunderstorm formed in Kingfisher County and moved slowly south across the western side of Oklahoma City toward Norman.

I remember seeing the first tornado warnings on television and then going out to our backyard to watch the storm approach. The evening was breezy and the air was muggy with a sense of excitement in the air. Initially, the storm was too far away to see. However, as it approached an incredible spectacle unfolded.

I went to our back patio door to warn everybody about the impending storm. They gave me the normal "yea- yea, whatever" until I opened the curtains to reveal a storm which resembled the Mother Ship from the recent 1977 Steven Spielberg movie "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." Their jaws dropped and that's when they began to pay attention.

From that point on I was hooked and knew that I wanted to be a meteorologist when I grew up. I never even knew there was such a thing as storm chasing until I watched the PBS NOVA Tornado! episode while I was attending Norman High School in 1985. That program was responsible for the development of many new storm chasers. I wasn't able to go storm chasing until I was a freshman at the The University of Oklahoma in Spring of 1987. Unfortunately, 1987 and 1988 were two of the worst years in history for storm chasers. I didn't chase much and I didn't see much. However, things got more interesting the next year.

In 1989, I worked at the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) during the Initial Operations Testing and Evaluations phase of the NEXRAD (WSR-88D) Doppler Weather Radar. My job was to be a radio communicator between NSSL nowcasters in Norman and storm chase crews out in the field. I didn't get to chase much, but my knowledge of storms grew exponentially through interaction with my co-workers. It wasn't until 1990 that I experienced routine storm chase success.

Today I continue to study, chase and photograph storms. It is one thing to study weather in a textbook or on a computer. But, many meteorologists are simply lost when it comes to real atmosphere. There is no substitute for the real thing.

I love virtually every aspect of storm chasing: Utilizing meteorology skills to make the forecast; the sport of trying to predict how the storms will evolve; the excitement and anticipation of the chase; the Route 66 experience of the open highway; the ambiance of a big sky on the Great Plains; the history of the people on the Great Plains; meeting friends I only see once a year at a lonely intersection in the middle of nowhere; and the awesome power, beauty, and ambiance of storms. If I have to explain any further than this, you wouldn't understand.

Age

Hometown

Norman, Oklahoma

Country

United States

Occupation

Meteorologist (Instructor)

Companies

Atmospheric Images

Schools

University of Oklahoma

Interests

Meteorology, storm chasing, photography, videography, weight lifting, biking, football, basketball

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