School, New Laptop, and Warmer Temperatures

I have officially started the final semester of my undergraduate career. In four months time I will graduate, and officially become a meteorologist. Also, I bought myself a new laptop; one of those 2-in-1 laptops that can be used as a tablet as well. It has a touch screen, which I think will make my…

By Brian January 13, 2015 Off

The End of 2014

2014 is coming to a close. On one hand, I’m glad the year over because it means I’m that much closer to graduating and that much closer to next year’s storm chasing season. But on the other hand, I can’t believe how quickly this year (this fall especially,) went by. In review, 2014 wasn’t too…

By Brian December 31, 2014 Off

Washington, IL Tornado One Year Anniversary

One year ago today a high end EF-4 tornado ripped through Washington, IL killing three people. I missed the tornado itself, but drove through Washington an hour or two after the tornado had passed. The destruction I saw there was about as bad as what I had seen in Joplin or Moore.  The other big…

By Brian November 17, 2014 Off

SLS, and Nuri

The Severe Local Storms conference in Madison, WI is wrapping up, and I feel like I’ve learned quite a bit. There is a lot of really neat research out there, and it was cool seeing some really big names in meteorology giving talks. In other news, a new record might be set tomorrow. What used…

By Brian November 6, 2014 Off

Super Typhoon Vongfong

Here’s the most recent IR satellite loop of Super Typhoon Vongfong. It (as of 6 hours ago, anyway,) has maximum sustained winds of 170 MPH, making it equivalent to a category 5 hurricane. Its winds are actually done a bit from yesterday, where they peaked at 190 MPH.

By Brian October 8, 2014 Off

Yes, I’m still alive.

Sorry for the lack of updates in the past few months. School, work, and AMS have been taking up just about all of my time. Sometimes I even get to sleep! Anyway, the biggest weather story at the moment is Super Typhoon Vongfong in the western Pacific. Currently equivalent to a category 4 hurricane, this…

By Brian October 7, 2014 Off

A Chilly End to July

Below average temperatures are expected to continue for the last couple days of July, as well as the first week of August. (Image Missing) This will conclude a month of below average temperatures. Only five days of this month have been at or above average temperatures. With the next two days only making it up…

By Brian July 29, 2014 Off

Storm Chase of 30 June, 2014

This was an interesting day, as two waves of severe storms moved through northern Illinois. I left my house in the morning and headed towards Iowa. While there had been some discreet supercells, by the time I got to the Iowa City area the storms had consolidated into a QLCS. I found a nice, open…

By Brian June 30, 2014 Off

Nebraska Hit Hard by Tornadoes

It’s been a rough couple of days for northeastern Nebraska. Yesterday, multiple wedge tornadoes touched down, including two at the same time. Pilger, Nebraska took a direct hit from a large tornado, damaging 75% of the town. Two fatalities were reported. Today, a large wedge tornado slowly drifted southeast over the course of a couple…

By Brian June 17, 2014 Off