John Homenuk

Storm Chase 2017 Day 1: Cap concerns, analysis and more

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It’s hard to describe what the first day of storm chasing feels like. A rush of blood and a little bit of pain. We’re heading out on the road, with a pit stop in Minneapolis’ North Loop neighborhood for breakfast and a coffee. While we’re on the topic — can’t speak highly enough about this city. A true gem in the middle of the country. We’ve taken time this morning to dive into a more detailed analysis of what to expect over the next few days and have narrowed down our targeting.

Saturday (Today)

After much discussion and deliberation, we have decided to head into Northern/Northwestern Wisconsin this afternoon. Confidence in the development of severe convection is currently extremely low. Uncertainties stem from the presence of an elevated mixed layer and capping. Essentially, these are functions in the atmosphere that act as a lid to prevent air from rising to form thunderstorms.

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John Homenuk

Storm Chase 2017: Second day model analysis and much more

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When I was in the 10th grade, I bought my first cell phone. I mean I actually bought it, with my own money from my own work. It was a hell of an accomplishment for my teenaged self, and I was proud of it. I was more proud that it was a first edition iPhone, and I couldn’t believe the power of what I had in my pocket. It took some getting used to, but soon enough I could access the internet and send text messages with my thumb!

More than 10 years later, I’m preparing to use my 7th edition iPhone as a tool to enhance a localized internet connection in my car. What a time to be alive. The mobile hotspot has been the discussion point of the day, and we’re making sure that we have it properly set up to have access to the internet at all times during our chase. This is a critical part of our operations and so we’re being fairly hard-nosed with it. We want it to be exactly right.

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John Homenuk

Storm Chase 2017: First day of planning, prep, and targeting

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They say the excitement builds early for these things. I suppose that excitement was found this afternoon in Home Depot, when I finally located the power inverter I was looking for. Safety and precautions are a long, drawn out process and we aren’t taking any shortcuts with this one, but in all seriousness we are having fun preparing for the weekend ahead. With safety in mind, we are making sure that all of our proverbial ducks are in a row. Who would’ve thought the thrill of the chase would begin in a warehouse?

These things can seem a bit monotonous at first, but in reality it is all part of the fun. We’re taking our time to “dot every I” and “cross every T” along the way. Cell phone service checks, mobile internet hotspot reassurance, spare tire backups, personalized essentials. It’s all part of the plan that begins earlier than the first day of actual chasing. With the checklist dwindling down a bit, we are starting to get anxious to get out there.

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John Homenuk

Storm Chase 2017: Our very first as a team

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There are certain trips that you dream of when you are kid. Before they even occur, they are replayed many times over in your imagination. For many, it’s the magic of Disney World. For some, the warm glow of California or the mysteries of visiting Europe. For weather enthusiasts, hobbyists and meteorologists, it’s the first legitimate storm chasing trip. The moment has finally arrived for our team: this weekend will be our first organized trip together, and we couldn’t be any more excited to get it started.

It’s worth mentioning that this isn’t the first trip for all of us. Doug traveled to the Plains with his Rutgers storm chasing group a few years ago, lucky enough to witness several supercells and tornadoes. For John, it’s his very first stab at the supercells of the Plains. You read that right, we’re rolling into the High Plains with a combined 1-year of storm chasing experience. You have to start somewhere.

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