Saturday, November 16, 2013
A Break From FaceBook (11/15)
Facebook can be a great place to show and tell, as well has chat and connect with friends. It allows you to share status and post content for many to see ... With 'for many to see' being a nasty 'catch' sometimes. I've made some mistakes on there, showing a little too much emotion at times, and posting some rhetorical comments and joking (and even sarcastic) content. It appears I have offended some people. So I decided to deactivate my Facebook Account for a while (as of November 12, 2013). NO link to any archived information has been provided. I decided to take DOWN the link to the archive, since I learned that Facebook backup posts PRIVATE messages as well - BAD (VERY bad)!
Typhoon "Haiyan" Violence (11/8)
Super typhoon Haiyan carved a path of death and destruction from the central Philippines and into northern Vietnam - With the most devastating effects in Tacloban City and the southeast tip of Samar. About 2,500 people are dead and Tacloban City (with nearly a half a million residents) has been almost completely destroyed after being hit with a massive storm surge and winds gusting around 200 MPH! This is one of the strongest tropical cyclones to make landfall at such intensity. Damage inflicted by the wind alone can be on par to a violent tornado. Afterwards, lack of food and water, as well as massive civilian un-rest, looting, and desperation followed. In the graphic below, three unbelievable satellite and radar (base reflectivity) views of the storm during its first landfall play out. The symmetry (annular, "truck-tire" appearance of the cyclone core area) and intensity (195 MPH winds) make this storm both a terrifying and breathtaking sight.
In the lower part of the image, the main damage inflicted to Tacloban City appears to be disintegration of nearly every structure, including trees (with some trees even showing violent tornado-like damage, such as debarking). How anyone can survive being in something like this is hard to understand (including the group of chasers I know that actually were in the northern part of Tacloban City - Maybe that area of Tacloban City was a bit north of the strongest winds)? Even more alarming was the sense of complacency before the storm. The chase groups there reporting people drinking and playing pool at bars, restaurants still busy, and markets still had all their supplies (no long lines) nor any evacuations. These poor people had no idea what was coming just hours later. All chase teams (iCyclone group, CNN, and Jim Edds) fared OK during the storm, but one member was injured saving the lives of some locals at their battered hotel. All were airlifted out of the area to Cebu City, and eventually made it out of the area. I'm both envy of them, but at the same time, grateful they're OK and hope they don't get mentally perturbed on what they did and / or saw.
The onslaught of typhoons in the western Pacific basin continues. In early November 2013 super typhoon Haiyan (with category-5 winds) blasted its way into the Philippines after skirting just north of the island of Palau, eventually making landfall in Vietnam. Some folks from the iCyclone team (who live in Hong Kong as well as California) and Jim Edds have been intercepting these storms as the tropical Atlantic remains stone-dead. These folks were there for this beast in the Philippines and barely got out afterwards.
Wind shear and dry air were nowhere to be found in the western Pacific in 2013! In the IR satellite image above, super typhoon Haiyan (with at least 190 MPH winds) is just about to make landfall in the Philippines on November 8, 2013. And YES - The arrow points to the location a group of storm chasers in Tacloban City just about when they were to take a direct-hit with the right-quadrant of this storm! This is one of the strongest tropical cyclones to make landfall in history. If the Atlantic remains quiet the next few years, I will have to consider heading out for these storms myself!
In the lower part of the image, the main damage inflicted to Tacloban City appears to be disintegration of nearly every structure, including trees (with some trees even showing violent tornado-like damage, such as debarking). How anyone can survive being in something like this is hard to understand (including the group of chasers I know that actually were in the northern part of Tacloban City - Maybe that area of Tacloban City was a bit north of the strongest winds)? Even more alarming was the sense of complacency before the storm. The chase groups there reporting people drinking and playing pool at bars, restaurants still busy, and markets still had all their supplies (no long lines) nor any evacuations. These poor people had no idea what was coming just hours later. All chase teams (iCyclone group, CNN, and Jim Edds) fared OK during the storm, but one member was injured saving the lives of some locals at their battered hotel. All were airlifted out of the area to Cebu City, and eventually made it out of the area. I'm both envy of them, but at the same time, grateful they're OK and hope they don't get mentally perturbed on what they did and / or saw.
The onslaught of typhoons in the western Pacific basin continues. In early November 2013 super typhoon Haiyan (with category-5 winds) blasted its way into the Philippines after skirting just north of the island of Palau, eventually making landfall in Vietnam. Some folks from the iCyclone team (who live in Hong Kong as well as California) and Jim Edds have been intercepting these storms as the tropical Atlantic remains stone-dead. These folks were there for this beast in the Philippines and barely got out afterwards.
Wind shear and dry air were nowhere to be found in the western Pacific in 2013! In the IR satellite image above, super typhoon Haiyan (with at least 190 MPH winds) is just about to make landfall in the Philippines on November 8, 2013. And YES - The arrow points to the location a group of storm chasers in Tacloban City just about when they were to take a direct-hit with the right-quadrant of this storm! This is one of the strongest tropical cyclones to make landfall in history. If the Atlantic remains quiet the next few years, I will have to consider heading out for these storms myself!
Friday, September 27, 2013
No Hurricanes & My Mom Gone (9/30)
The tropical Atlantic remains a MAJOR and DISGUSTING "disappointment" (from a "chasing" perspective. There were little or NO "Cape Verde" season as we head out of September and into October. Shear and dry air is the norm ... So I ain't got much to say about any hurricane chases this year, and this really is "painful" after losing my mom ...
... My mother, Geraldine Collura, has passed away on Thursday Night, September 12, 2013 at 11:26 PM EDT at age 71. Services will be held at Our Lady of Mercy Church on Military trail in Deerfield Beach, FL on October 3, 2013 (Thursday). She did nothing but put inspiration and guidance throught my childnood up until now. This has been a VERY though month - God bless HER ... And "screw" 'September 2013'!
... My mother, Geraldine Collura, has passed away on Thursday Night, September 12, 2013 at 11:26 PM EDT at age 71. Services will be held at Our Lady of Mercy Church on Military trail in Deerfield Beach, FL on October 3, 2013 (Thursday). She did nothing but put inspiration and guidance throught my childnood up until now. This has been a VERY though month - God bless HER ... And "screw" 'September 2013'!
My Mom Passes Away (9/12)
My mother, Geraldine Collura, has passed away on Thursday Night, September 12, 2013 at 11:26 PM EDT at age 71. Since early June 2010, she fought lung cancer that spread to her brain, causing seizures. She refused any chemotherapy - And radiation / surgery earned her nearly three and a half years of quality time on this planet. During the week of September 1, 2013 she needed chemotherapy as some of the cancer came back. That was the last weekend (after skydiving) when I hugged her and felt a feeling that told me something bad was going to happen ... Leaving in tears. She got a cold later on the following week, and shortly after, on September 6 (that Friday) was in the hospital (North Broward Medical Center in Pompano Beach, FL) with a pneumonia. On Saturday, she slid into a rapid descent with her health, entering a coma and her vitals completely shutting down, starting with the kidneys.
The last words she said was "mom..." (my grandmother). She continued on on life support and had no responses to anything in terms of improvement. Late on Thursday, September 12, she was removed from life support and brought into hospice where she passed away rather quickly, and peacefully, at 11:26 PM local time. This was very difficult - She was the closest person in my life EVER - And now she's gone. I guess God has her in his hands now... I will miss her so much. A memorial web page will be constructed for her as well soon.
The last words she said was "mom..." (my grandmother). She continued on on life support and had no responses to anything in terms of improvement. Late on Thursday, September 12, she was removed from life support and brought into hospice where she passed away rather quickly, and peacefully, at 11:26 PM local time. This was very difficult - She was the closest person in my life EVER - And now she's gone. I guess God has her in his hands now... I will miss her so much. A memorial web page will be constructed for her as well soon.
TS Andrea (6/6)
The first tropical system of 2013, tropical storm Andrea, was intercepted in NW Florida north of Tampa on June 6, 2013! More information about this chase and many others can be seen in the STORM CHASING section of my web site.
You can go right to the chase log for tropical storm Andrea at the link for it below.
http://www.sky-chaser.com/andrea13.htm
You can go right to the chase log for tropical storm Andrea at the link for it below.
http://www.sky-chaser.com/andrea13.htm
El Reno Violent Tornado Tribute (6/2)
We have lost three fantastic storm chasers and friends of mine and many others - Tim and Paul Samaras, and Carl Young - Perished on Friday, May 31, 2013 in the violent El Reno, Oklahoma tornado while they trying to document it. These three were the cutting-edge of the storm chasing community and our hearts and prayers will always go out to them and their family.
THE CITIES OF MOORE OKLAHOMA AND EL RENO HAVE SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT TORNADO DAMAGE ... BOTH TORNADOES RATED EF-5 WITH THE EL RENO TORNADO BEING 2.6 MILES WIDE WITH 296 MPH CORE FLOW WINDS ... THREE GREAT CHASERS HAVE BEEN LOST ... PLEASE KEEP OKLAHOMA IN YOUR HEARTS AND PRAYERS
In addition to these three, the El Reno EF-5 tornado claimed more lives in the city itself - This was a dark and tragic day to say the least - With the tornado itself not only rated EF-5 (the strongest on the enhanced Fujita scale of tornadoes), but was an awe inspiring 2.6 miles wide with winds in its core at least 296 MPH! The El Reno, Okhaloma tornado is the widest / largest tornado in US history.
A documentary video of this extreme tornado event, as well as myself being nearly killed in it, has been provided at the link below!
http://www.sky-chaser.com/m14vid2.htm
THE CITIES OF MOORE OKLAHOMA AND EL RENO HAVE SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT TORNADO DAMAGE ... BOTH TORNADOES RATED EF-5 WITH THE EL RENO TORNADO BEING 2.6 MILES WIDE WITH 296 MPH CORE FLOW WINDS ... THREE GREAT CHASERS HAVE BEEN LOST ... PLEASE KEEP OKLAHOMA IN YOUR HEARTS AND PRAYERS
In addition to these three, the El Reno EF-5 tornado claimed more lives in the city itself - This was a dark and tragic day to say the least - With the tornado itself not only rated EF-5 (the strongest on the enhanced Fujita scale of tornadoes), but was an awe inspiring 2.6 miles wide with winds in its core at least 296 MPH! The El Reno, Okhaloma tornado is the widest / largest tornado in US history.
A documentary video of this extreme tornado event, as well as myself being nearly killed in it, has been provided at the link below!
http://www.sky-chaser.com/m14vid2.htm
Chase Expedition 2013 (6/2)
My main yearly chase "expedition" trip to the central USA was from May 18 through June 2 for a full 16 days of storm chasing! Storm activity was extremely active during this period in mid-late May!
Be sure to check my STORM CHASING section for MIDWEST 2013 on this site as the chase trip is completed and my log has been updated. You can also go right to that area by clicking the link that is provided below.
http://www.sky-chaser.com/mwcl2013.htm
Be sure to check my STORM CHASING section for MIDWEST 2013 on this site as the chase trip is completed and my log has been updated. You can also go right to that area by clicking the link that is provided below.
http://www.sky-chaser.com/mwcl2013.htm
Severe Storm Season 2013 (5/9)
The severe weather season of 2013 is upon us and I am getting ready to not only chase local storms in Florida, but head to the Central USA towards late May anticipating an active pattern after a slow start to May 2013!
The picture above shows an anticyclonic funnel cloud, rotating clockwise, over Miami-Dade county in South Florida on the afternoon of May 9, 2013. See my chase logs for 2013 in my STORM CHASING section of this site, plus many others, or jump to the link for it below.
http://www.sky-chaser.com/stplog4.htm
The picture above shows an anticyclonic funnel cloud, rotating clockwise, over Miami-Dade county in South Florida on the afternoon of May 9, 2013. See my chase logs for 2013 in my STORM CHASING section of this site, plus many others, or jump to the link for it below.
http://www.sky-chaser.com/stplog4.htm
First 2013 Chase (4/10)
The first chase trip of the 2013 season was done from April 6 through the 10 in the central USA. Numerous supercells and some small tornadoes were observed during this trip, especially in Kansas and Colorado from April 7th through the 9th.
A chase log is now ready in my STORM CHASING section of my website under MIDWEST CHASES FOR 2013. A direct link has been provided as well below.
http://www.sky-chaser.com/mwcl2013.htm
A chase log is now ready in my STORM CHASING section of my website under MIDWEST CHASES FOR 2013. A direct link has been provided as well below.
http://www.sky-chaser.com/mwcl2013.htm
"Niagara Faller" Project (3/23)
This was a rather cool attempt to send a GoPro camera, mounted on a custom designed "platform" that was tethered with a 100' rope for retrieval, over the edge of Niagara Falls in late March of 2013. Two GoPro cameras were used in two attempts, with the first one having its case damaged from water impact, but the second one successfully retrieved (barely) after going over the edge.
A section on this has been provided in my OUTDOORS section of this side, and a link for it has been provided below.
http://www.sky-chaser.com/outdoors.htm
Please visit the LINK BELOW for a POV Video of the camera as it reaches the edge ofg the falls!
http://www.sky-chaser.com/outnfpv1.htm
A section on this has been provided in my OUTDOORS section of this side, and a link for it has been provided below.
http://www.sky-chaser.com/outdoors.htm
Please visit the LINK BELOW for a POV Video of the camera as it reaches the edge ofg the falls!
http://www.sky-chaser.com/outnfpv1.htm
ChaserCon 2013 (2/17)
The National Storm Chaser Convention, or "ChaserCon" in Denver, Colorado was again attended during the weekend of February 15-17, after a 2 week trip to California ... This continued to be another fantastic yearly event that brought in storm chasers from all over the US (and beyond) to collaborate in a three-day event in the mile-high city.
You can also jump right to the area for storm chasing events in 2013, including the storm chaser convention, by clicking the link provided for it below ...
http://www.sky-chaser.com/picnic13.htm.
You can also jump right to the area for storm chasing events in 2013, including the storm chaser convention, by clicking the link provided for it below ...
http://www.sky-chaser.com/picnic13.htm.
Sexual Abuse Is Never OK (1/1/2013)
Happy new year to all ... Do you know that child / sexual abuse is REAL - And January is the month where child abuse occurs the most? This is a horiffic and sad part of many lives unfortunate to have to cope with this, and it's after effects.
This is a BIG problem that goes virtually un-noticed until the unfortunate victim suffers many years later. More on this subject, including MY personal experience with such abuse, can be seen at the link below.
http://www.sky-chaser.com/america.htm
This is a BIG problem that goes virtually un-noticed until the unfortunate victim suffers many years later. More on this subject, including MY personal experience with such abuse, can be seen at the link below.
http://www.sky-chaser.com/america.htm
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