Posts

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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