TORNADOES OF 2018 *** "Upload Failure"

UPLOAD UPDATE: Well, The video has been uploading for 14 hours and still isn't processing.  I deleted it and re started the process.

Currently looking likely that I'll have this bad boy uploading this evening. 

Here's my script / notes for those of you who like spoilers. 

STORMS OF 2018 - Year wrap up

(Theme ???) SHOW INSIDE LOTS OF gnarly TORNADO WARNING BOXES, “but few tornadoes? ”  

OPEN… Turtles in the road 

In tornado Alley, speeding cars blast by turtles crossing the road. To them, it must be the equivalent of severe storms gusting over. Turtles are like people… They’re individuals, that react differently to the scary winds. In the face of danger, some freeze up and crawl into their shells.

Others... have the gall to up and run for shelter

And others??? Well… Bless their hearts! (Turtle pees)  

[BAM MUSIC!!!: “Angle’s Serenade”]

3.18 Meridian TX 

4.13 Athens TX

In March and April, I observed some classic supercell structures, dramatic lightning severe hail with double rainbows… But.. no tornadoes. 

Skeletons NATS: “looks like some chasers have been waiting longer than me to see a tornado” 

5.01 Kansas

Despite some poor route choices, Kansas backroads would EVENTUALLY lead me to my first tornado of the year. 

*** License Blake Brown Wedge Footage?*** 

On the other side of this monster, Blake Brown and gang had a much better view.

5.02 Binger Oklahoma

The following day in Oklahoma, powerful positive lightning strikes were the highlight. 

Positive lightning typically originates higher in the storm and flash durations tend to exist longer than less powerful negative strikes. 

• “Dude wants to be on camera” "If lightning hits him I'm sure it'll go viral" 

5.15 New Mexico / Texas

On this day, NEGATIVE lightning was the theme. Negative lightning flashes tend to be quicker and with multiple flickers or strokes. 

5.17 NE Colorado  

[correct beetle species graphic] 

Feeding "Dung" Beetles / Sunset

5.18 Lakin Kansas

ANOTHER day of BEAUTIFUL lightning, and meager tornado potential… And Long term outlooks suggested little hope for forecastable tornadoes in the weeks ahead.  

• Daniel Shaw being goofy

5.19 North Oklahoma 

- OK Dying meso

• Following Daniel so he gets a ticket
• Getting speeding ticket

On May 19th I arrived JUST in time… to see the storm die. To my surprise decaying mesocyclone’s are actually pretty neat to watch. 

5.27 Pampa TX

Good tornado potential FINALLY appeared to be setting up in Colorado and Wyoming. I set out early the day before to insure I wouldn’t miss the events.  (DELETE THIS) 

TIT SMASHED VLOG (chop as much as possible) 

5.28 Seibert Colorado Landspout fest

• VLOG “Finally feels like tornado season” 

Landspouts… are like waterspouts! But form over land. These tornadoes do not develop from mesocyclones, rather low level vorticity colocated under a stretching storm updraft. They tend to be weaker… on the EF0 to EF1 range… but can still PACK all the beauty.  (Delete this) music instead. 

THIRSTY BULL SNAKE VLOG

5.29 NW Oklahoma  

*add radar grab

• Dan Robinson cameo?

Another day, another mean supercell. Watch this turquoise hail core become more greenish as the sunlight changes later in the evening. 

5.30 Stratford TX

The next couple days brought storms with linear modes.  

Within Squall lines, strong outflow winds often shunt tornado-genesis. 

But these storms are very capable of churning out vibrant lightning.

• Linear storms with Good high frequency lightning

6.01 Nebraska

• Yellow storm n CGs

Sometimes, even for storm chasers,    A tornado warning is the last thing you want to see.  Especially after dark in an area with only one paved road. 

• Creepy Tornado warning. "Sup Mike!" 
• NO TORNADO

6.03 Marfa TX

MARFA LIGHTS

If you’re from west Texas… You’ve heard all the tales of the Marfa Ghost lights… 

Might’ve even see em. 

But No-one has been able to accurately explain the mystery… Until now. 

6.10 West South Dakota

• cows in salad 
• Sunset time lapse 

6.11 SE Nebraska

• TOR WARN supercell… no Tornado
• Stars and fireflies 

ANOTHER day, and ANOTHER tornado warned storm that refused to reveal it’s dangly bits.  After the sun set… The lightning, stars and the FIREFLIES… were far from shy.

6.12 NW Oklahoma

*TREE LIGHTNING… Different presentation to keep original unique. LEAN MEAT!

It seemed the theme for 2018… was gnarly, tornado warned storms, reluctant to drop tornadoes. 

But there was no shortage of beautiful storm structures and epic lightning.  

This dangerous storm provided me with a shot I’ve always dreamed of capturing. 

STORM CHASE VEHICLES JUST KEEP GETTING WEIRDER AND WEIRDER

6.19 Scott City Kansas / Hooker Oklahoma

MUSIC: (Moody)

6.24 Kansas

BLAKE AND GIRL Cameo

This storm system was unlike any storm I’ve ever seen… 

Or even dreamed of seeing… or even heard of. 

It began with extremely erratic lightning discharges. Some of the lightning was striking up from the earth into the clouds. I’ve documented upward-moving lightning. Sometimes two discharges at a time. But this storm was throwing three up at time. Then a cluster of six, followed by a cluster of eight. For me, this one second made 2018 great. A cluster of 14 leaders… reaching up into the sky.

Black BANANA

6.25 Iowa

By June 28th… I had called it a season and was heading back home to Texas. 

*Masked Road Warrior on motorcycle  :D

***SPECIAL SECRET SURPRISE TORNADO FOOTAGE***

MUSIC: Glamorous Adagio

WRAP UP STATEMENT / SURF… 

2018 reported just under a thousand confirmed tornadoes in the US. 

[GRAPHIC: currently 991*]

Only 10 tornado-related fatalities were recorded… the lowest ever since records began in 1875 

And it’s the first year EVER that no F or EF 4’s or 5’s were rated

Since IMPLEMENTED ratings dating back to 1950. 

I was only able to document  6 decent tornadoes (not including several weak spin ups???)… My least productive year since 2008. 

BUT… I never got stuck in the mud… I only broke one windshield… only got one speeding ticket and was only smashed into by one crackhead. 

Though it was a lackluster year for tornado aficionados, it was by far my greatest year EVER for capturing lightning.  

When dealing with Mother Nature, ALL we can do… is try to make the best of whatever she dishes out.  [HURRICANE MICHAEL Surfing]

[GRAPHIC: TORNADOES OF 2018]

’Til Next time friends… Happy Trails (fall off surfboard)

END GRAPHICS:

• Thank you PATRONs & Sponsors

Elements... 

• Marfa Lights XXXXX
• Juans Window Replacement XXX
• Thirsty Bull Snake XXXXX
• TURTLE RXN’s
• Old Black banana
• Road warrior
• SD Cows in salad
• Blake and gal
• Glacier forrest Fire
• Black bear crossing road
• Surfing 
• Merry Go ‘Round
• Skeleton Storm chasers… “waiting forever” 
• Weird storm chase vehicle

*****************************************************************************

TORNADO 2018 research notes… 

2018 is the first year that the United States has not had a tornado rated EF4 or EF5 since we started jotting them all down. 

“With only 10 fatalities in the United States, 2018 also had the lowest number of tornado-related fatalities on record in the United States” “As of Dec. 28, there have only been 10 tornado-related fatalities across the United States, the lowest number since records began in 1875."

In North America, the only officially-rated violent (EF4-EF5) tornado of the year occurred near Alonsa, Manitoba on August 3. 

"2018 was one of the least active years on record for US tornadoes; No twister rated EF4 or higher”  

““2018 is running near the minimum in terms of number of tornadoes recorded in modern times,”” 

“As of Dec. 29, there have been 991 tornadoes across the United States in 2018. This is noticeably lower than the average of 1,287 and only slightly higher than the record low of 897 tornadoes, set in 2014."

“Not only has 2018 had a lower-than-average number of tornadoes, but there has been an absence of incredibly violent twisters.”

“This is the first year since records began in 1950 that there has not been a violent F/EF4 tornado anywhere in the U.S.” “we are currently on stretch for the longest period without an F / EF4 or 5

TORNADOES BY YEAR “Statista” website

2017- 1406

2016- 971

2015- 1177

2014- 886

2013- 906

2012- 938

2011-  1691

2010-  1282

2009-  1156

2008-  1691

2007-  1098

2006-  1106

2005-  1264

2004-  1819

2003-  1376

2002- 941

2001- 1216

2000- 1071