Day.... 7 Chasing Storms....

The Last day on the road... we left Oklahoma City, heading toward the Texas Panhandle.
We get to Amarillo, Tx, stopped on the east side of town and have lunch. Then we get to the vans and wait to see what will happen. There are little storms popping up, they will be heading North East. After Lunch we head a little west.... we sit and wait a little while....

Texas Wildflowers!

It's nice to get out and stretch and see the sights around us. There are a bunch of wildflowers blooming.  There is no action yet, so we take pictures of the wild flowers and enjoy looking around the free range area, there are a bunch of cows around wondering what us crazy humans are doing...

Then the Shelf cloud passes in front of us … 

it's trying but, no tornado yet...

After it passes, we all jump in the van and rush to see what this system is going to do

it is definitely going to drop a tornado, but...... when and where is the question

Matimus Clouds over head

Every where we have gone... the cows have been very curious about us

What do you do while waiting for the front.... take pictures of cool stuff around us

We Called it a day from here.... only 4 more hours to get back to the hotel and call it an end for Storm Chasing tour #1 for Silver Lining Tours...

We couldn't safely get near the tornado that formed from this storm and be safe. Actually part of the problem was .... The amount of storm chasers out there. We couldn't go down some of the roads to follow the cell.  There were too many "Chasers" some of the roads were clogged with people. Some of the roads were like parking lots. Which causes a huge danger for others. If the direction turns... there is no where to go because of the traffic Jam... This is not good at all

I'm really glad that I went when I did. The amount of storms was very high, it was very exciting. I got some great shots. My favorite Tornado shot was from the first day. 

McCook, Nebraska

Unfortunately I see the face of storm chasing changing. There were too many "untrained" or "novice" Chasers out there. It is making it very dangerous. Like I said, some streets were like parking lots. Chasers Flying around driving erratically at very high speeds. 

The group I was with is not part of the problem, they too are very upset about the new "Chasing" Craze.  Silver Lining Tours has been doing this for 21 years. Now with Social Media there is an up-rise in the  Chasing Craze. People know the second that something is happening, and where it is happening. 

As we were heading back to the hotel after this long trip I came across this article

Storm Chasing, "It's a ticking Time Bomb"

This is sad... 

Like I said, I'm glad I went now. Because, I think the face of storm chasing will forever be changed in the near future. I am concerned though for those people like the group that I went with. This is their livelihood, they have been doing this like I said for 21 years now. Will this effect them in the long run??? I sincerely hope not. For they are the teachers to us, and the professionals.  

Would I do this again? In a heart beat... Is this for everyone? No... unless you like sitting in a van for 12 to 14 hours a day for a glimpse of a shelf cloud... that fizzles into nothing. You can't have high expectations of catching that AMAZING shot, because it probably won't happen. Is it an adrenaline High.... You bet it is..  

The inner struggles that I had during this experience was real... I didn't want to see a tornado that was a mile wide flatten a town. But, it was a possibility that I would see that. I'm glad that I didn't see that. Though those tornados were around when I was there... and did flatten towns... People were injured, people lost their lives. Nature is Nature... It is going to happen, if I am there or not... I pray for all involved.  

I learned a lot. I want to learn more about weather. I still want to capture storms, I will still run out of my house and take those lightning shots at the Lake. I will chase storms around Western New York, though they are nothing like the ones I saw on my trip.  

I long now to go and capture the Monsoons in Arizona What beauty they create!!!

Miles traveled on this Chasing Tour....

3770 Miles .... 6 days of chasing... we took one day off... 

It was tireing. It was tough on my physical body

It was exciting, accelerating and Tiring.  

I met great people... Wonderful photographers... Wondering what the heck I was doing in the same van as them.  I am blessed that I went when I did... I don't know what the face of Storm Chasing will look like in the near future for us that want to let the experts take us around. I am thankful for the experts and their zeal, for I learned so much.... and want to learn more.

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If you are considering taking a Storm Chasing Tour....

Please do your research. Pick Professionals... You are putting your life in their hands

I highly suggest Silver Lining Tours

They know what they are doing....

That is it for now...… Until My Next Adventrue !!!!

Be Blessed and Live Life to the Fullest!

for we do not know what tomorrow will bring.

...Selah...

Storm Chasing Day 5 & 6

We did a lot of driving yesterday and really didn’t find any stroms. We went up into Kansas, there were some servere storms but, we couldn’t catch up with them.  We did stop and take a lot of pictures at abandend houses and had a great time doing that. My feet got all wet from the very, very damp grounds. There is flooding every where. It is terrible.

Back in Oklahoma waiting for the storms to roll in... 

Be careful! Posion Ivy in the grass!!!!!

GoPro Video

Our Driver's Video

Parked looking at the tornado

tornado trying to form

on the edge of the Core. If we would have went deeper into the core, we would have had 

hail larger than baseballs.  Colt said at one storm.... Do you hear that rumble? That is the hail … we were miles away, but could hear the very LARGE hail falling! Wow!!!!

We got to the hotel late last night. I’m averaging about 5 to 6 hours a day of sleep. Tomorrow was going to be a down day, but, everything is looking good for some good storms so we are heading out again tomorrow.

There is major flooding in Oklahoma too.... It is really bad some places got over 12 inches in two days.  Roads are closed. They had to open up a dam

Flood Evacuations in Oklahoma

These poor people don't only have to deal with tornado outbreak but also with the floods...

Heading out at 9 am South West. We are traveling to that we will be in location to wait for the storms to come in. Roger said it’s going to be a long day and we might not get into a hotel till midnight.  I’m hoping for a good Twister like we saw the first day at McCook. That was so beautiful and magnificent …. Yes, that would be wonderful to capture…. Along with a cool abandoned house… yeah, that would be awesome.  

Day 4 Monday May 20th

There are many Severe Storm alerts out there… It’s kind of an awkward feeling. I’m here to get picture's like I did the other day of beautiful tornados … I don’t want anyone to get hurt. The News does not look good today for many people… Peoples lives may be changed forever today. Such, Such an awkward feeling… I’ve tried to justify it by saying that it will happen if I am here or not. I’m not here to see devastation… I just want to capture the beauty of the tornados, the clouds and lightning.  I was having a terrible struggle within myself yesterday trying not to feel guilty because of what the predictions were and being here now.  I’ve planned this trip for a long time. There were 3 photography tours and I chose this one.  



As it turns out… the conditions were not right for all of the severe weather that they have called for!

Thank G-d.  



We were able to see two tornado form and disapate that was soon after we started nothing much more happened with I was very glad about.  I do not have to beat myself up and carry that guilt around .

Let me tell you if you want to do a storm chasing trip be prepared to be sitting in a van for at least 8 to 14 hours a day. Getting in and out of the van to see tornados rest stops and fast food.  It isn’t glamorous at all… it’s hard on the Butt…



I’ve been making great friends on this trip. Also feel totally small with all the great photographers on the tour.   

We are heading to Selina Kansas right now. There will be some storms but, they will be a little different form the super cells we were chasing in Oklahoma. I can’t really remember what Roger Hill said about it, but, the tornado develops on the backside and not the front.  



We are driving thought Oklahoma right now, unbelievable how much everything is flooded. Just unreal…. Water is standing everywhere.

As we were waiting at one of the rest areas waiting for the storms to head our way near Lubbock, TX, I over heard this guy asking a Chaser.... "I'm not too experienced... I've only been doing this 2 years. Could I follow you today?"  The Chaser said... "No, I don't want to be responsible for you"  

This guy was going from Chaser to Chaser asking to follow.... I found the guy sitting in the parking lot.  There was such a High alert for Monday.... It looked really bad.... and this guy not knowing what he was doing was willing to risk his life for the chase... Yeah, I took him aside and talked to him, and told him if he had any doubt in his ability to chase... on all days.... today.... do not do it... He was from PA.... so I know he was truly not experienced with these killer storms from Tornado Ally... I told him to just go home.  I don't know if he did.... I know he drove up the road for a while..... He did end up coming back..... with his only radar was on his phone.... he had no other equipment…  

That is scary... How many others are out chasing like him???? 

I chose the company that I did because it was highly recommended to me by a photographer/meteorologist. The company I went with Silver Lining Tours has been in business for over 20 years. They are profession. They know what they are doing. I felt very safe and comfortable with them... They are all about safety. 

We were able to get some cool shots of a old abandoned house with some cool cloud structure's 

And we must not forget that 

After the chase.... there is Storm Chaser IPA!!!!

I’m really looking forward to today… today is day V .  I saw that licence plate before I left and it said

“Day V” so I have great expectations !

Chase Day 2... Rest Day 3....

Chase day 2 we started heading back toward Oklahoma City from Nebraska. We weren't code red today. it was an easier ride.. we left at 8:30 AM had lunch then head out again down the road. As afternoon approached we started chasing again.

There were storms in front of us... and we were heading toward them, but, then they started to fizzle...
Storm chasing is most of the time driving around from place to place, then waiting to see what will happen.  I'm just along for the ride, and I don't know much about the science of weather. That is why I am with experts.

As we were driving down to the storm, we stopped a couple of times so the experts could talk and make a plan of action of where to go.... sometimes it's a crap shoot, and you are heading toward what you think is an amazing storm..... and then it fizzles out...

As we were driving I saw a cool old abandoned house. then Roger said to Caryn, hey that looks like a house you would like Caryn... Then we all pulled over for another pow wow... Caryn decided that we'd break away from the rest of the group and go to the house.

It was very cool with the cloud structure... and I think I caught some cool G-d Rays at the house... I didn't see it till I started to develop the picture... it is super cool...

After we were done at the house we went the opposite way than the rest of the group. We came upon a huge cloud structure. It was amazing...

This was on the one side of the road

Middle of the road

Other side of the road

Do you see the green on the right side of the photograph?

that is the hail in the storm.

Then we drove on from here because the rain was heading for us. There was no threat of tornado form this storm, just a lot of rain and hail

As we drove on we saw extensive lightning, so we decided to stop and snap a few shots.

When we got out of the van and we were setting up, we saw a red glow on the clouds. There was a fire in the distance... with lightning and the beautiful star filled sky above... how glorious is this???..... Through the storms.... we can still look up in the sky and see the beautiful stars... 

We got back to the hotel around 11 pm.... 

.... in 2 days driving around.... we've gone 1400 miles... 

We got to sleep in today... it was a rest day... some people went to the movies, I just played on my computer all day. I also got a Photoshop lesson.... or I should say I watched Chuck work on one of my photos while I took notes.... pretty cool... 

Tomorrow we are heading to Lovett, Tx.

I don't know what to expect, but I think it will be pretty intense.  I'll fill you in on my experience tomorrow night....

Shalom.... Mary

Chase Day 1

We got up really early and left Oklahoma City and headed toward Nebraska. We were code Red which means... We are on a mission. Minimal stops and when we do... get back to the van asap.
Nothing much to tell about the drive except it was long.. We left at 6:30 am...

That was us most of the day..... I would say we went about 800 to 1000 miles today.... 

We met up with Roger and his crew. 4 vans and a car for our luggage.

Once we met up with Roger we hit the road again,  this time we were chasing.

After a while we stopped and watched the cloud structure hoping that something would appear

Caryn explained to me and showed me the movement in the clouds and what was making that happen, and where a tornado may form

Then we got in the van and drove some more.... and then all of a sudden Caryn yells Tornado! We excitedly pulled into a parking lot, and what did we see????

How magnificent!!!!! Wow!!! 

it soon dissipated, and we traveled on...

we saw a total of 3 tornados today. Some were just too dark and you couldn't see the contrast …. 

Wow.... what an amazing... and long day today was... 

I'm ready for bed....

We are back at it tomorrow morning... We are Heading back to West Oklahoma?? 

We will see what tomorrow brings...

Good Night!

Wow.... Just …. Wow.... 

Hello Oklahoma City... Informational Meeting

Today is the day.... May 16th, 2019...

I am here in Oklahoma City at the Base Hotel awaiting the informational meeting at 6pm.


Severe Storms 


It seems like Weather conditions are being more than favorable for us. It's a little unsettling in a way...

 I don't know which way we will be heading out tomorrow yet. The storms are all over, We could go up to Nebraska .... Grand Island Nebraska is looking like it could be very severe tomorrow... which is only 439 miles away from where we are right now.... (Interesting fact about me and Grand Island Nebraska... we passed though there on our Route 66 Motorcycle road trip in 2015. We went to the Harley dealer there.... Mike collects pins from Harley dealers... their pin has 7 tornados on it.... that dealership has been hit 7 times by tornados  Central Harley Davidson, Grand Island Nebraska )

Midland Tx looks very good for tomorrow too.... which is 412 miles from us....  Ahhhhh that is why Oklahoma City.... we are right in the Middle of it!

The flight was good. Went from Buffalo, to Chicago … which got hit by a bad storm after my plane left there... I guess the airport got damaged in the storm.... Storm damages Chicago Airport

Interesting...... When I was driving yesterday.... I saw a car with a NY license  plate and it said.... "Day V" It struck me when I saw it, that it could be a message...  So..... I will keep a extra open eye on Tuesday.... Which is day 5 of the Photography tour....   Makes me wanna go.... hummmm…..

The group I am with is Silver Lining Tours. I'm on their first Photography tour of the season. There are 5 other photographers and myself. A meteorologist who is also photographer, and the owner who is a photographer. I do not know anyone else that will be on the tour. So it will be interesting getting to know each other in very interesting and RAW conditions. We could be traveling 500 or more miles a day....   This will be very interesting on all levels.....

Stowaway!!! Hootie sneaks away with me again!

We will be going up to Nebraska tomorrow. We are leaving the hotel at 6:30am.

Sunset from the 5th floor of the hotel tonight

Sunset from the back of the hotel... 

Looking forward for tomorrow and the adventures.... 

I'm the only women beside Caryn the leader who is also a photographer.

That's it for now...… Storms are heading this way... we will be traveling to the place where they think is the best  for us to capture some amazing things.  Oh..... and they said that they haven't seen this kind of activity in a while.... "The Perfect Storm"?   

More tomorrow..... That's it for tonight.... 

G-d Bless!

The Beginnings

Storm Chasing Photography Trip

2019

Front coming into Hamburg, NY from Lake Erie

Lightning over Lake Erie

Photos By MJM Storm Folder

Ever since I was a child, I've really been into "Earth Science" Always looking up in the sky. 

Day or night. Looking around me, knowing that everything works together. 

I grew up in Hamburg, NY. At my childhood house, the front window was a huge picture window. I'd find myself kneeling on the couch, looking out that window at the storms coming in from the West. Across the street was a farm, so I always had a great view of things coming our way.

I remember traveling as a child. My parents would take us on trips around the Beautiful USA! I will never forget the one time we went  to the top of White Face Mountain in the Adirondacks. We got to the top, when suddenly a storm blew in. The rangers gathered us to go into shelter on the very top of the mountain. The building that we were in got hit by lightning 7 times during that storm. I don't remember being scared, I remember being fascinated. 

That was about 45 years ago. My fascination has not stopped. It was put on hold for a while, I raised a family, my priorities were my children. Though we enjoyed the elements together. Playing in puddles during rain showers, going to the Marina during serve wind storms (sorry about the swimmers ear Adam).  Now that they are grown men, we now enjoy storms together. 

We also have a shared love of Photography.

This is where my next journey starts. A storm chasing photography tour.

Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. 

You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. 

James 4:14

Live your life to the fullest.... You do not know what tomorrow may bring....

This is why I go out and experience things.

I also try to encourage people to live life to the fullest, and to experience life! 

Bucket List (Life List)

No Regrets!

More to come soon.... Leaving May 16th to May 24th

www.photosbymjm.com