My Top 10 Storm Chases of All-Time
My Top 10
Storm Chases of All-Time
| Rank |
Date |
Location/Description |
Chase Partner (s) |
| 1 |
May 3, 1999 |
Chased Solo |
|
| 2 |
May 17, 2000 |
Jeff Piotrowski |
|
| 3 | June 8, 1995 | E. Texas Panhandle Outbreak | Mike Morgan |
| 4 |
May 4, 2003 |
SW Missouri Tornado Outbreak |
Rich Thies |
| 5 |
Sept. 22, 2001 |
Jeff Piotrowski |
|
| 6 | April 21, 2005 |
Chased Solo |
|
| 7 |
April 8, 1999 |
Jeff Piotrowski |
|
| 8 |
May 29, 2004 |
NC Kansas Tornado-Fest |
Rich & Ryan Thies, Rosilyn Wells |
| 9 |
June 10, 2004 |
W/SC Nebraska 2 chases/1 day |
Jeff & Kathryn Piotrowski |
| 10 |
May 15, 1991 |
Laverne Oklahoma F3 |
Jeff Piotrowski |
My
first real educated storm chase:
April 22, 1985
Near Alfalfa OK - No tornado, but did see well developed meso/funnel cloud
My first
significant tornado:
May 15, 1991
Laverne OK F3
Most
tornadoes Witnessed (One Chase Season):
28 in 1999
1999 also marked a milestone - I witnessed/chased at least one tornado
in all of the f-scale tornado intensity classifications (F0, F1, F2, F3, F4, F5)
Most
tornadoes Witnessed (One Chase): 4
on April 23, 2007
Harper Co. OK & Clark/Comanche Co. KS Chase
Most
tornadoes Witnessed (One updraft base): 3
on April 23, 2007
2 S of Protection KS (Comanche Co.)
The Biggest
Tornado Chased: April
8, 1999
Carbon-Bridgewater IA F4 Tornado (Over mile wide)
Longest
Tracked Tornado Chased:
April 8, 1999
Carbon-Bridgewater IA F4 Tornado (40+ miles)
Fastest
Tornado Chased:
November 27, 2005
Erie-Stark KS F2 Tornado (70 mph +)
Slowest
Tornado chased:
June 3, 1999
Almena KS F3 Tornado (10 mph)
Meanest
tornado chased:
May 3, 1999
Bridge Creek - Moore OK F5 Tornado
Oddest
looking tornado chased:
November
27, 2005
Erie-Stark KS F2 Tornado
Tornadoes
survived while chasing:
Sept.
22, 2001
Edgar NE F3 tornado - Outran tornado to reach Safe shelter in farmhouse
Worst
Hailstorm Encountered Wile Chasing:
April 21, 2007
2 miles north of Tulia TX (tennis ball, Baseball and some softball sized hail)
Largest
hail found while chasing:
June
4, 1999
4 - 5" diameter hailstones near Mullen NE
Most
destructive winds encountered while chasing:
Sept. 22, 2001
100mph+ winds as the F3 tornado approached and eventually hit farmstead
Most
Impressive supercells ever seen while chasing:
June 4, 1999 - Thedford NE atomic bomb supercell...absolutely incredible !!
June 2, 2005 - Limon-Arriba CO Mothership...stunning !!
Most
wicked lightning ever witnessed:
May
16, 2000
Near
Torrington WY...incredible "Dr. Frankenstein" lightning show (Night)
My
worst bust while chasing:
April
7, 2002 (no doubt about it
!!)
Shared a frustrating experience of my impatience and indecision with
Kathryn Piotrowski ...missing the Large Throckmorton Texas tornado
which struck about 90 mins. after we left the town of Throckmorton !!
My chase
partners over the years:
Jeff Piotrowski
Kathryn Piotrowski
Rich Thies
Ryan Thies
Scott Currens
Dr. Eric Flescher
Terry Schenk*
Greg Guise*
Sean McMullen*
Katie McMullen*
Dustin Wilcox*
David Hoadley*
Tom Zeitinger
Mark Cunningham
Mike Morgan
David Payne
Marla Morgan
Scott Tabor
Rosilyn Wells
Greg Kennedy
Keaton Appel
Steve Sembritzky
*Part of chase posse group