In things related to storm chasing, the year would have been poor for me, with a mostly unactive season in the local area, and even long distance chases proved to be difficult for many storm chasers to capture that elusive tornado.  I say would have been poor for me except for the one exceptional intercept in Floyd County, Texas on April 29th, when we intercepted at close range, not one but TWO tornadoes.  That event made my whole chase year!  If you haven’t seen it, here it is:

By the time June rolled around I had mostly written off storm chasing except for anything I needed to cover for KCBD.  I was burnt out and needed a break from weather.  So one day, on a day I wasn’t expecting to chase, a relatively decent supercell popped up just to my south and I got on it for the station.  Turned out to be a prolific hail producer and slow mover dropping copious amounts of hail for longer than an hour in the same location.  I thought that was pretty cool, but little did I know what was to come.

Later that night as the storm was dying and I had called off the chase, the storm gave one last punch of lighting which struck a tank battery and ignited a fire on the south side of Lamesa, TX.  The subsequent explosion that I capture on tape of course has now been seen all over the world and kept me busy for quite a while dealing with media stuff surrounding it.  It also of course was the end of my chase vehicle, and I ended up with a new one.  If you haven’t seen that incredible video yet, here it is :

**ADULT LANGUAGE ON VIDEO**

For the rest of the year, I took a big break from the storm chasing/weather stuff, and did a ton of work around my property that had been on my to-do list, including building 100′ of fence, a new storage shed, tearing down an old garage, and building an addition to the house!  At the beginning of 2009 I said I would be happy to get one of those things done.  It was a major accomplishment to get them all done!

I also like to take stock of my financial situation this time of year.  As some of you know, I have been working towards a debt free life.  I’m not quite where I could have been, only because I did do all that work, but it was productive nonetheless and improved life around here, so it’s ok with me.  Last year at this time I had planned to be completely debt free by now.  While I am much closer than I was, I didn’t make it, a big part is adding the new vehicle to replace the one damaged in the explosion.  However looking forward, I see no reason I shouldn’t be debt free by the end of 2010.  I can’t tell you how great it feels to get some of that paid off!

I also start looking ahead toward storm chasing season.  To-do lists have been written and many things need to be done by March 1st, my “official” start date to storm chasing season.  Hard to believe only a month and a half away.  Looks like I’ll also be working with KCBD again this year.  This will be the 6th year chasing for them.  Wow has time flown!

I’m also determined to get all the past chase accounts on the website.  This has been my yearly failed project for the last few years and I am determined to get that done! I am kicking myself for not keeping up with it, because as time passes, memory and details fade.  Any of you younger chasers reading this, this is some of the best advise I can give you: write logs for all your storm chases, promptly after the event!  One day you will be happy you did.

The other major storm chasing related project is to get my entire video library over the years archived digitally.  I recently purchased two 1TB hard drives for this purpose.  This will be major and tedious work, but I need to get it done.  A by product of that is that I am going to be posting all the good stuff on my YouTube channel for you to watch!  Maybe even a DVD or two in the future!

But first, I absolutely must get the Explosion DVD produced.  This has been put off too long and many people are waiting on it, so that is now top priority!

Of course mother nature knows this and seems to be working up a huge trof in the western US which may bring some severe weather to Texas by the end of this week.  More on that later…

How is your New Year starting out?

The long range forecast from the National Weather Service in Lubbock, Texas!  Great work  Jordan!

IT IS THE MORNING OF CHRISTMAS AND I AM BACK IN THE CHAIR
TO BRING YOU THE LONG-TERM DISCUSSION WITH A BIT OF CHRISTMAS FLAIR.
THE MAIN STORM IS PAST AND WHAT SNOW WILL REMAIN ON THE GROUND
WILL DETERMINE HOW TEMPERATURES MANAGE TO REBOUND.

THE CLOSED LOW OVER THE GREAT LAKES WILL BE SLOW TO MOVE OUT
AND NORTHWESTERLY FLOW ALOFT THROUGH LATE SATURDAY ISN/T IN DOUBT.
ALL THESE CONDITIONS TOGETHER WILL LIKELY KEEP TEMPERATURES COOL
SO GOING ON THE COLD SIDE OF MOS TEMPERATURES WILL BE THE RULE.

TEMPERATURES STAY COOL WITH MID TO UPPER 40S FOR HIGHS
AND LOWS IN THE TEENS TO NEAR 20 IS WHAT I CAN SURMISE.
ANOTHER WEAK FRONT SUNDAY KEEPS WARM AIR AT BAY
BUT CHANGES ARE ON THE HORIZON STARTING EARLY ON MONDAY.

A DEEPENING TROF IN THE WEST WILL CHANGE THE FLOW UPSTAIRS
SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW ALOFT BY LATE MONDAY IS WHAT THE NWP DECLARES.
RETURN FLOW TRIES TO SET UP AS THE TROF PUSHES EAST
AND I REMAIN UNSURE HOW MUCH MOISTURE THE GULF WILL RELEASE.

THE TIMING REMAINS SIMILAR BUT WITH A WEAKER APPROACHING TROF…
WILL IT REMAIN JUST AS WEAK OR WILL IT CUT OFF?
I HAVE MY DOUBTS BASED ON MODEL PERFORMANCES THIS LAST TIME
FEW CHANGES WERE MADE EXCEPT TO NICKLE AND DIME.

POPS REMAIN LOW FOR TUESDAY INTO MIDWEEK…
AND I WARMED TEMPERATURES A BIT AS MODELS REMAIN QUITE OBLIQUE.
SNOW COULD FALL EARLY THEN SWITCH TO A MIX OR ALL RAIN…
THE RIGHT FORECAST THIS FAR OUT REALLY IS QUITE A PAIN.

COOLER WEATHER WILL SLIDE IN AFTER THE PASSAGE OF THE STORM
BUT THE MODELS DIVERGE AFTERWORDS…THEY JUST WON/T CONFORM.
THURSDAY THE TROF AXIS IS OVER THE CENTRAL PLAINS
BUT DIFFERENCES IN SURFACE WINDS ARE CAUSING ME GREAT PAINS.

NORTHERLY IN THE EURO BUT WESTERLY IN THE OTHER TWO…
GFS AND CANADIAN FAVOR WARMER SO I WILL WAIT AND REVIEW.
ANOTHER STRONG TROF THURSDAY THE EURO IS STARTING TO MAKE…
FAVORING COOLER TEMPERATURES WHICH HOPEFULLY ISN/T A MISTAKE.

THE LAST THE DAYS OF THE FORECAST WILL BE LEFT COOL AND DRY
TO SEE HOW THE MODELS CHANGE…FLIP-FLOP…AND TRY TO COMPLY.

LITTLE SLEEP I HAVE HAD AS SHOWN BY MY RED EYES…
SO IF I HAVE LEFT SOMETHING OUT I DO APOLOGIZE.
WE STRIVE TO DO OUR BEST IN ALL THAT WE DO
EVEN THOUGH THE SCHEDULE IS STRANGE AND OUR SLEEP IS ASKEW.

FORECASTING IS FUN FOR MY FELLOW FORECASTERS AND I…
THE SHIFT WORK IS HARD WHICH I CANNOT DENY.
BUT WE ARE HERE TO SERVE YOU AND WILL CLOSE OUT AS I CITE
MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM NWS LUBBOCK AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!

JORDAN

I wanted to post an update about the status of the explosion video for those that inquired about getting a copy.

First, because of a contractual arrangement with a production company, I can’t release it until a certain program airs, so that is the reason I haven’t had it available as fast as I thought I would. It will be as soon as it airs. (No, I can’t say which one yet either).

Secondly, the cost of getting a copy…

I had full intentions of making this freely available on a DVD for any official fire department who wanted it.  What I didn’t take into account and completely underestimated was the sheer amount of requests I would receive.  Well over 500 at this point.  This basically makes it economically impossible for me to give them away free of charge.

My alternative is a minimal charge that covers cost to produce them and shipping. With that in mind, that is the best I can hope to do and still be able to get a copy to everyone that wanted one.  I don’t have the final cost yet, but it will be very minimal and should easily be within reach of anyone (think less than $10). My apologies now that I am unable to do a free one are in order, but as you can see, the postage alone would be a significant amount.  This wasn’t a decision I wanted to make or take lightly.  But it had to be done nonetheless.

Once I am able to release it I will make a big deal about it here and do my best to let everyone know that emailed about it that it is available.  The fire departments that were involved in the fire still will get free copies.

As many of you know, I own and operate Dryline Hosting.  We are in our 7th year in business now, thanks to our great customers.  I’ve been working really hard to rollout a whole new look for us, as well as some new features, package upgrades, and even a new billing system that should be coming online the beginning of 2009.

Dryline Hosting started in November of 2002, and originally was targeting only the storm chaser niche.  However as time went on, this has spread out to photographers and artists, and even some church organizations and a few businesses now.   We hosts sites from all across the U.S. and from several other countries as well.  Despite the economic news, hosting business is great!

The new site and forum look went live a couple of days ago.  We were able to upgrade all our hosting packages (some substantially) without raising prices!

Also brand new is our new Site Builder.  A much requested (and needed) feature for those new to building their own website.  It’s very cool and you can try a demo online at http://sitebuilder.drylinehosting.com.  If your already a customer, it’s available now in your control panel.

Just wanted to take a moment for a shameless plug in the blog here for one of my other projects.  If you’re in need of great webhosting, check us out.  I am a little biased of course, but you can see right on the main page a rotating list of testimonials.  Almost all of these were garnered from public comments made by customers on forums or their own websites!

After the new year, be sure to watch for monthly specials on our services!

Dryline Hosting – Blowing You Away with Service & Support!

Today while we were about 3/4 of the way around the route we always take, I spotted some kids at the edge of the park playing with a full grown pit pull.  I know of too many stories about these dogs attacking in my area, as many people will raise them and train them to fight other dogs.  In fact I lost my previous dog to a Pit Bull that came up to our fence, and tore it up dragging my dog through it.  So I immediately was alarmed and started adjusting my route way around where the other dog was, around some trees.  I was hoping it would not see us and we could get by.

Then I saw her running full speed right for us and started yelling at her to get back and she started circling.  Of course my dogs, who think they are much bigger than they really are, sensed her intent and hit the end of their leashes barking at her and that was it, she lunged for my dogs.

All I could think of was if she got one of them in her mouth, they would be dead. She would either snap their neck or crush their trachea with her jaws and they would just be rag dolls to her.

I immediately let go of their leashes knowing I could not hold them apart alone.  They didn’t attack but they were doing plenty of barking trying to warn the other dog away from me.  When I let go of them I immediately grabbed the Pit Bull by the neck was was trying to get a good hold on her, while screaming at the kids to come and get their dog.   The finally made it down there, saying it wasn’t their dog.

There is a free RV park nearby in the park there and an older couple came running from there, the man had a big board.  I just started hollering at them to grab my dogs and get them out of there before the Pit got loose from me.  They got one and the other, not about to leave me side, slipped out of his harness.

Somehow I managed to get my cell phone out of my pocket and tossed it to the lady begging her to call 911.  I dawned on me about that time she probably wouldn’t be able to figure out my phone since is one of those newer touch screens.

The teenage girl there said she would call on her phone and did.
So I don’t know how long of time is going by, but I am getting weaker and weaker trying to restrain this 80 pound dog that is bent on killing my dogs and chomping on me in the process.  All I could think of is if she got loose from me, my dogs would be dead.

I finally asked the girl to call again, and put the phone to my ear and when I heard the dispatcher I started yelling at her, we needed the cops there NOW, that I didn’t know how much longer I could hold on and this dog was not only going to kill my dogs, but who knows what she will do to the rest of us there.  Then we started hearing sirens.

A cop about as big as me was the first one there, and he came over and managed to get the dog from me without getting bit himself, and started asking me if I was bit.   I didn’t really know at that moment.  I went over and re-secured my other dog and asked the older couple to hold them for me for a little bit and went back over to talk to the cop.

By then another cop had arrived and had a rope and restrained the dog and I was finally able to check myself up.  I was scratched up pretty good and had a good bruise I have no idea how I got that in the scuffle, but I somehow managed to not get bit, and to keep my dogs from getting bit.  It makes me sick to my stomach to think how close I came to losing them.

They of course took it to the shelter and plan on putting a needle it…good riddance.

If I had not been 6’2″ and well over 200 pounds, no doubt that would have been a much different outcome.  My dogs would be dead. I would be dead or in the hospital and who knows about those other people.

This is the second attack of a pit bull in just the last two weeks in my little town.  Lubbock itself has had quite a number of them this year, where owners dogs were killed and the owners themselves ending up in the hospital.   One place with miniature horses has a couple of them killed by Pits.

I have read all the arguments from some pit owners who think they are great dogs, and it’s all in how they were raised.   I’ve had plenty of experiences with them, none were good.

My mother-in-law and brother-in-law both had pits, that appeared to be GREAT dogs, until one day they were in the same house together and damn near killed each other.  My mother-in-law’s dog bloodied my step-daughters nose one day.

We had a neighbor who had one that was neglected so bad it was nearly dead by the time we were finally able to get animal control out to get it.  Then there was that other attack we had I mentioned above.

I hate these damn Pits and wish they would finally outlaw them completely.  It’s clear they are a dangerous animal and at the very least should require a special license or permit to own one.  At least then you could track down the owners, because it’s a felony in Texas now if your dog attacks another person outside of its own property.  A law brought on by the Pit Bull attacks.

I’m ok now, although still shaken, but so grateful my dogs are safe.  I don’t know if we will ever go walk in the park any more.

I could understand this behavior if people were starving and trying to get at food, or something along those lines.  But to SHOP?  Give me a freakin’ break already!

I came across this story just now, where a Walmart worked was KILLED by a stampeding crowd that busted the doors down before the storm opened.

The police should have locked that story down and not only not allowed anyone to leave until the end of the day, thus causing them to miss all the shopping deals on their itenerary today, but they whole bunch that went in should be criminally charged, with anything from trespassing, to breaking and entering, to murder.

What the hell is wrong with people?

I am going to enjoy a quite day of playing some xbox360 and if I feel the need to buy something today, I can do so from the comfort of my desk chair and the internet and get as good of deals, if not better. Newegg.com, Amazon.com and even Walmart.com had some amazing online deals today.

HOUSTON (AP) – Texans hitting the road for Thanksgiving are finding retail gas prices at levels to give thanks for.

The weekly AAA Texas gasoline price survey released Wednesday found self-serve, regular was averaging $1.75 per gallon. That’s 13 cents lower than last week.

Nationally, the average price per gallon fell 16 cents to $1.86 per gallon.

The most expensive gasoline this week was in El Paso, where it averaged $1.92 per gallon.

The cheapest gas is in Amarillo, at $1.66 per gallon.

AAA Texas spokeswoman Sarah Schimmer says the auto club expects 7.8% of all U.S. travel during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend to be in Texas. Schimmer says 2.5 million Texans plan to be driving.

Note the line I bolded there.  Currently gas in Lubbock, which is easily checked at texasgasprices.com, is averaging $1.50/gal.  So obviously Amarillo does NOT have the cheapest gas in the state.

I could understand not checking lots of small towns, but Lubbock is at least as big as Amarillo, if not bigger, and certainly has received plenty of national attention in the sports arena lately.

Normally I would have passed this off as a slip up or even rushing to do the report and not having complete facts, but every time they release one of these, which seems to be weekly, it’s the same thing.

What gives AP?

On the national level major history was written tonight as America elected it’s first black president. It was just a little over 4 decades ago this country rose to the occasion and black people were given equal rights.  How far we have come as a country in 40 years, despite how bad some people would like to think we as country have become as a whole.

President elect Obama was not my choice (neither was McCain), but if he can get done half of what he’s talked about, we can’t help but be in a better condition in 4 years than we are now.  I will give him that he’s well spoken, something we haven’t always been able to say about George Bush.  He seems quite intelligent, and I expect to see that shine in him.

On a local level big history was made where I live tonight that spans back even further than that.  You see, the county I live in is a dry county. For those that don’t know, you can’t buy alcohol in the store or restaurants here, in any shape, form or fashion.  It’s illegal.  This was voted only two other times in our entire history and struck down both times.  On November 13 it will, for the first time ever, be legal to sell alcohol in Brownfield, TX, Terry County.  Of course it will take 60-90 days for permits and whatnot, so we won’t be seeing beer at Allsups til after the first of the year probably.

I’m not a big drinker.  But I do like an occassional wine cooler or some wine or even a strawberry margarita with some mexican food a couple times a year.   I am looking at this from a local economy standpoint.  This is a small town at some pretty major crossroads and it’s been dying a slow ugly death for a long time.  We have very, very few regular restaurants and half dozen fast food joints.  This could bring in some more and better places to eat.  It definitely will bring in a few new businesses.  Not to mention the large amount of vineyards that have been going in, most of which want to become wineries and sell wine, and now they can!  West Texas is actually becoming the state’s new wine country as the climate is ideal for the grapes.  Yes, this will be a good thing for us.

In other local news, a man I deeply respect, retired Texas Ranger Larry Gilbreath has won the job of Sheriff of our county after previous failed attempts on the ballet.  The man that previously held the job has been there for a long time.  I am very happy to see Larry take this.  He has a lifetime of experience and you couldn’t meet a nicer man.  He’s always respectful of everyone he meets. Good things will come from that.

So yeah, I am excited to see some major changes. Let’s see where they lead…   How were things in your neck of the woods?

As I am sure is no secret to you readers by now, gas prices have been in a near freefall since late summer, with oil having dropped per barrel nearly 50%!

This is of course great news for the average folks like me, who it really puts a sting in the bank account when you have to fill up from near empty and it costs nearly $90!  No longer though, gas is now at the nearby convenience store down to $2.35 as of this writing, and that fillup I will need soon will only be about $45.

This is of course great news for getting out and shooting some winter weather soon, or even some late fall lightning.  I have been closely watching the daily oil barrel prices, and how they react to various news.  Today they are currently at $63.41 as I write this, bouncing around all day between $64 and $61.  I still feel like they are going to edge down through the end of the year into the $50s range.  My personal opinion after watching this for a few months is that prices were way higher than the market could sustain, inflated by speculative investors.  I think that has happened in a lot of markets, and just as all things do, they eventually balance themselves out, and that’s what is going on now.

Pump prices are still catching up to this, and I truly think we will see sub-$2/gal gas by the end of the year.  It’s already showed up in a place or two around the country, and areas around Oklahoma City are close to that now.

I actually think this will be good for the upcoming holiday shopping numbers.  Mostly because a large chunk of our population will now have quite a bit more money to spend on Christmas that was going to get us back and forth to work.  Judging by Halloween sales, which have evidently not be curtailed by the daily economy doom and gloom news, I think the Christmas spending is a given.  Halloween spending really isn’t a must, but it’s hard to skip out on Christmas.  Not to mention just not having that $4/gal gas staring us in the face every day just puts you in a better spending mood.

Gas will of course go up some in the spring, as it always does when they switch over to the more expensive summer blends. But I think will still be under $2.50 come prime storm chasing time, and that is great news for next season.

Now if only mother nature doesn’t decide we need a big death ridge in the middle of the country in May!

Fact is this thing has gotten bigger than I ever imagined and now it’s on the news so I guess it’s time to let the cat out of the bag.

I am running for President this year!  It’s true!  Here is a recent news story.