midsouthchaser's Xanga

4/15/11: Severe Weather - MS/AL

Sun, 17 Apr 2011 07:59:39 GMT

I intercepted multiple tornadic supercells across the TN valley today scoring numerous tornadoes. Forgive the poor image quality; I no longer have the expensive equipment I once owned. All these photos were taken using two cell phones. In my 6 years of storm chasing; these storms were among the best organized and fiercest storms I've ever seen. I'll get onto producing some more content for the page once I get straight.

Northern Lowndes County, MS near Tibbey looking West from 45 Alternate.

More shots of the Tibbey Supercell.

Crazy RFD.

Rain-Wrapped Tornado

This storm was flexing some multi-vortex action !

More storms were blowing up ! It was getting a little crazy out there !

That shit was crazy, but I needed my equipment for a stream. I got some video from inside the heart of the tornado I need to get up somehow. Its got tree limbs smacking into the car, suction vortexes rending trees to toothpicks, shit so close you could reach out and touch it. Best chasing of my career, but no way to get it out to folks. So far my 1st quarter has been well played. I just scored a hundred. Looks like an even bigger event is shaping up next week if you can believe that.

Just remember where you saw this material, then remember to come back for more each time severe storms are out.

- Terry

4/4/11: Severe Weather - MS/AL

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 09:02:07 GMT

December, 2010:

Fixated on visions of being successful; Terry Tyler continued chasing his childhood dreams and growing as an individual. God provided him with life-taught lessons he needed in order to survive: losing, loving, learning, and above all maintaining. The young man faced new and unprecedented challenges never before seen. The loss of loved ones, severe financial hardship, homelessness, helplessness, and almost...hopelessness. The only chance to maintain was to auction off the instruments he worked years to obtain.

In his mind, each piece of equipment was a piece of the puzzle, a tool. Each tool performs a different task with the ultimate goal of reaching peace, success, and stability. Losing the tools meant failure, failure is something more feared than death. The spark of hope buried deep inside left that day.

I auctioned off my storm equipment and lost my only ride. Honestly, I didn't expect things to turn out the way they did and I didn't expect to be writing this today.I dont want pity, and I dont give a shit about attention. I want people to know the truth, and as Scott Olsen said - "Follow my rise to Power".

I knew the chances of being a starter in 2011 without tools were slim at best. I had the skill, but I didnt have shit but a couple cellphones. From a coaches point of view, I saw that point in my career an appropriate time to shut this shit down for my names sake. I felt attempting to make big plays first quarter going in raw dog was disrespectful and would show fans I was falling off instead of matching the bullshit hype I talked late 2010. After 6 years, if I spent first quarter 2011 as a bench-warmer - I didn't need to chase storms because it would embarrass me.

but thats a pussies attitude and daddy aint leave no pussy

2011 AND WE STILL HERE !!!

God has blessed me with heart and a rare passion - It would be disrespectful to let something Ive spent my life on pass without trying to flex something. Working with ghetto ass shit is very familiar to me - Its how I began and I dont mind going back to my roots if the forecast calls for it. Working from the bottom to the top makes each score twice as rewarding. The fact %95 of your name-brand chasers began halfway to the top just makes me hungry. With that said, lets eat - You are here reading this shit, so you must have been watching the game play out. If you havent, you must have been asleep or not paying attention. Believe me when I say, I am going to walk on 2011 whether im broke or not - No Radar, No GPS, No Cameras.

watch me score 100

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4-4-11: The severe threat came into the area early and actually come close to verifying for a change. There have been several high-end systems lately that produced very intense energy in one or two spots. Each had the potential to run-D on this region, but they did not establish into the widespread outbreak some expected.

I scored a Severe Warned storm near Tupelo and a Tornado Warned storm outside of Centerville. Thats alot better than anyone else did if there was anyone else actually chasing.

Severe Thunderstorm above Tupelo, MS

Tornado Warned storm Southeast of Centerville, MS

I took these with the blackberry and image quality is much better than I thought. If the pictures look like this, Im going John Woo on that shit with a phone in each hand.

Keep an eye out for more storms !

- Terry

Severe Storms Likely: 2/24/11

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 14:09:44 GMT

The chances for a fairly significant severe weather event are increasing. Although there are minor inconsistencies with some of the models. It appears that discreet storms and a strong squall line will be possible late Thursday across AR, Southern, MO; Western, TN; and Northern, MS.

500MB Heights/Winds

Keep an eye out closer to Thursday for more updates.

Severe Weather: 11/25/10

Thu, 25 Nov 2010 19:10:09 GMT

Severe Storms will be possible today across Northern, MS and the OH valleys until the early evening. The main threats will be damaging winds and isolated tornadoes. 0-1km helicity values from 250-450m2/s2 and 120kt+deep-layer shear make the environment conducive to storm organization; however the minimal to non-existant instability profiles with this system will make it nearly impossible for storms to get surface based and organize.

With that said; medium range model runs are showing another system coming in early next week. This next system is going to be similar to this one, but much stronger. The best timeframe for Severe Weather appears to be Monday through Tuesday across Southern LA/MS/AR. The activity will be most intense within 300 miles or from the Coast. Sometimes deep moisture and Instability can be "Advected" or pulled in off the Warm Gulf waters. Since it is difficult to do this time of year, the best air-mass is usually farther south. If instability and moisture and timing come together with this one; it could be a serious situation.

- Terry

Slow Start: Second Quarter 2010

Sat, 13 Nov 2010 05:47:58 GMT

All long range model runs are looking a bit disheartening for an active second quarter. Your looking at the current GFS @ 240hrs out. This image basically reflects the earlier 240 hours of runtime. There is no sign of any severe weather activity for atleast 2 weeks. We are in another strong "La Nina" year according to the NWS. There are a few large troughs, but for the most part they are lobed out and not the type you need when it comes to strong storms.

More information on the 2010 La Nina including the CPC's 3-month outlook can be found at http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2010/20101021_winteroutlook.html

I'll post something if anything changes, but right now there just isn't anything going on.

10/26/10: Report

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 18:23:29 GMT

I got into some decent storms on Tuesday and nailed countless tornado warned cells. There was an impressive low forming in MN/IA, but I wasn't sure if it could effect the storms down here. At 977MB, it was taking on a twisted angelic appearance typical to strong lows as they bomb out. Initiation had just occured in Central, MO and I was trying to get a feel on how the next day was going to take off.

The main line was flying across AR at a high rate of speed. About 7AM, I was starting to get concerned. I knew if the line didn't slow down, the window was going to close for activity in my area. There was a solid deck of low clouds in the area and surface heating hadn't took hold yet. My main concern was the speed and proximity of the line. I have seen similar events clear out a region before it even has a chance.

As it approached, the main line started to stall out and slow down approaching the MS river. The Storm Prediction Center in Norman, OK issues a High Risk for Severe Storms.

At this point, I got more confidence in the set-up but I still wasn't feeling the atmosphere. The low clouds made the sky look grungy and instability profiles were non-existant. I was banking on the chance of a few tail-end charlies, but that was about it. After a while, I decided I was riding up to Corinth; I noticed a crazy looking band of clouds on the radar forming ahead of the main line. On the national radar mosiac; It looked something like a dual-tiered cold front which was in process of forming a third-tier. At first look, I figured it was a stratiform rain complex that was going to jack up the day. The new Spotter Network client won't work on windows 7, so no one could see where I was. It pissed me off, but didn't hurt me operationally aside from getting additional stream viewers.

Out of nowhere, everything began to jump off the chain. As the sun beat down on the earth; a weak morning cap broke into pieces and released an explosive line of storms literally at the minute-to-second level. Within just two scans, the storms completely filled in the back-end of the rain band. Even though the new storms were in line-mode, I began to wonder if this rain-band was the focal point for pre-frontal activity. In true real-time; all of the low-clouds in the area began to burn off and break apart.

The new scans coming in blew me out of the box. All of the low-clouds in the immidiate area, even the squall-line itself were being broke into pieces by the intense evaporation and heating. The damaged squall-line began to disintegrate into a broken areal formation of discrete supercells which filled the remnant gaps. At this time, I can clearly see that I am looking at a pre-frontal band and the storms are not playing no games. I bought a data feed from allisonhouse for security and to boost my confidence. I double checked my stuff and got my mind prepared before I went down there.

A Tornado Warning was in effect for my area and I was on the lead cell. I basically rolled on the storm and this is what I got.

Photo near Biggersville, MS:

At this point, I am starting to get fired up. Tornado warnings are literally coming out of the woodwork. I start heading South down towards Tupelo and I saw a few additional cells off in the distance that were also getting warned as they headed into TN. When I get on 78E, I get out near Hamilton, AL and get ahold to another tornado warned storm including a lush wall cloud.

Near Hamilton, AL:

Hamilton, AL Timelapse:

At this point in time, I am running through tornado warned storms right and left. Elevated LP's, Rotating Wall Clouds, and stunning RFD cuts were common as trees in Northern, AL. The reality of the situation was it wasn't even noon yet, and maximum destabilazation had yet to be realized !

We had some insane storm motions, but it was a cake walk on the interstates. When I looked at the latest radar scan; I literally could not believe my eyes!

Additional Storms formed across Cooridor-X and tracked into better directional shear in NE, AL.

The triple-tiered frontal boundary that moved across the area began to stall out and disintegrate into popcorn convection. The popcorn convection began to develop into three distinct boundarys draped out across MS/AL/TN. These three boundarys contained an almost continous wave of training low-topped LP supercells. These two supercells were riding one of the boundarys. The 'baby' storm was just as powerful as the larger one and followed an identical track.

It was a stunning radar image and had some interesting visual coorelations.

Catch that cut !

The major problem, which may have ultimately been a good thing for the people here in the South was these storms seemed to be very elevated. The dewpoint spreads around the area were fairly broad and storms just struggled to get established in my areas. There was extreme rotation up in the clouds, but there has been no ground confirmation at this time of tornadoes in MS/AL. There was however multiple reports of wind damage.

Video capture of trees being ripped apart by 50-60mph Straight-line Winds:

Here is some of the HD footage I shot out there. This clip is in Bluray format and is fresh in from the Severe Weather Event across Mississippi and Alabama !

LIVE: Chase In Progress

Tue, 26 Oct 2010 12:13:15 GMT

The Feed Is Here: http://www.chasertv.com/api/static_pages/lite/285_terry-tyler.php

SPC has upgraded to %15 hatched. We have 1000-1500 j/kg of cape, a 3 on the fixed STP and 500-550 of 0-1km helicity. Whatever is going to happen in my area is going down in the next 3 hours whether it takes off or not. Alot of these cells are staying the linear mode and the window is closing. I will probably ride the line South as the day progresses and see whats up.

Chase Possible: Still at last minute

Tue, 26 Oct 2010 11:30:46 GMT

Today is a High Risk day in IN and OH with a Slight Risk extending down into Central, MS. An extremely powerful 968mb low is driving extremely intense energy into the storms with a 130+kt jet-stream. Check out the 500MB heights !

As far for here in the South, we are seeing the line come in right now. It is still up in the air as to how the storms will perform because its too early and they are being confined to the front. STP values are approaching on 3, but it dont mean anything if the storms cant use them. If the line will slow down just a little bit to buy some time to get some kind of destabilization, I am hoping we could get a few tail-end charlies. If it moves through too fast, it won't materialize into anything in this area. I don't like going into some of those areas because of the topographial issues.

Anyway - Keep an eye out for LIVE streaming and a report if I go out. I will know within the next hour or so.

- Terry

10/24/10: Storm Report

Tue, 26 Oct 2010 01:44:04 GMT

Things didn't get going on here in Northeast, MS until later on in the evening. Yesterday was a decent severe weather event in terms of balance and coverage. Lots of large hail and damaging winds, but a few tornadoes formed in TX, AL, and TN. There were multiple waves of squall lines training across a frontal boundary including some areas of discreet development.

I was watching a squall line that formed about 90 miles away from here. I watched on radar, and figured I would check it out.

The storm had a really nice shelf cloud ahead of it and featured nearly continuous lightning.

I wasn't expecting much in the way of a tornado because of the linear nature of the storm, but there were several embedded areas of rotation within alot of the storms out there. A tornado emergency was recently issued for Columbia, TN which isnt far from here. Any time I see tornadoes actively being reported with a system, I pay closer attention. There was a tremendous amount of energy in the environment, it wasn't likely but it was possible.

Look at the 0-1KM helicites for the area.

I was watching the line come in from a clear spot on HWY 371 South of Mantachie, MS when something striking appeared on the radar. It's very common for storms in this setting to change shape rapidly on radar, so I always look for consistancy.

The notch on the leading edge of the line coincided with an extremely well defined couplet. It changed shape alot like everything else, but it didn't not look like an anomaly because of the consistancy. Check out these loops, It shows what appears to be a embedded meso on the line that could have possibly had a tornado or atleast something good with it.

I looked out to the storm as it passed about 2 or 3 miles of me. I didn't see a tornado or wall cloud, but I didn't know if it may have been this structure I saw behind the shelf cloud. When somethings embedded in a line like that it's often wrapped in rain. At the same time though there is alot of scud, trees, and chaser bias. With that said, this looks pretty interesting with contrast editing.

The left image is fresh off the camera looking that way, the right image is edited. Im looking at the thing behind the shelf cloud. The possibility of it being a tornado has been ruled out, but it is still an interesting look alike. There was really no way to tell for sure I still wonder if it may have been something rain wrapped in there but I dont know.

It was pretty cool to experience the storm though. It had alot of lightning and a nice shelf cloud; plus I didn't have to go far. I got some small hail when it came over and some pretty intense winds.

Thats about there is to say about that. Hopefully tomorow will be better.

Holiday Season

Sun, 24 Oct 2010 18:14:16 GMT

This is why I love Fall in the South.

It's been a long time coming, but we are finally getting into storm season. There is a very potent upper-air system moving into the South right now. We've got some substantial convection taking hold with decent shear profiles and several discreet supercells in the region. I've been out of the loop for a while so it's taking me a minute to get back to running this site. It's all good though, check out this map. North, MS and West, TN appear to be in the firing line. If something comes, I might ride out but right now it looks like it is going to be a night time deal.

The thing is about night time set ups like these is, sometimes they die out; but other times they really get going. Sometimes, especially here in the south. We get something called a Low-Level Jet. Its a small, but intense jetstream near the surface that gets strongest at night. It advects moisture into storms and can sometimes make them deadly and long lived.

The magnitude of the dynamics in play aren't to the level of a major severe weather outbreak, but this is a classic late season severe weather set-up. There are alot of discreet cells taking off in the Arklatex right now and they will be moving this way overnight. There are mid-60's dewpoints, 70kts deep layer shear, 100-200 m2/s2 0-1km helicity, 2500+ CAPE.

Going into the overnight sucks, but thats how it goes sometimes with these late season systems.

- Terry