2011 chase logs

 February 28, 2011: Storm Chase #01: Tornado watches were up for southern Ohio. We had a few storms with heavy rain here. No chase. One storm did have a very weak rotation for a quick second. But temperatures were so cold, nothing ever brewed up. Bust chase

Miles Traveled=0 Pictures Taken=0 Minutes of Video=0 Time on Chase= 0

April 4, 2011 Storm Chase #02: Severe thunderstorm watch #88 was issued for SE Michigan and NW Ohio. As storms came thru early in the morning, they died off as they cross the border. Only a few warnings was issued for the area. The watch was later dropped before it was scheduled to expired. BUST CHASE

Miles Traveled=0 Pictures Taken=0 Minutes of Video=0 Time on Chase= 0

April 19, 2011: Storm Chase #03: Severe thunderstorm watch # 158 was issued for the late night hours for Northern Indiana and extreme NW Ohio at 2135 to 0200 Wednesday. 

Temperatures were pretty chilly for severe weather. With the storms expected to enter NW Ohio around midnight and with the speed of the storms traveling at an excess of 60mph, we decided to just see what we can get from the house. As the front approached, temperatures did not really jump like I thought and my gut said the storms  will die out. A Tornado watch #159 was issued for the southern part of the state from 2215 to 0500. The storms were far more intense down south with various tornado warnings issued.

Meanwhile, up north were we are at, a new thunderstorm watch #161 was issued for the rest of NW Ohio from 1215-0500 (Wednesday). This is the following text for this watch:

-Bow echo will continue to move EWD/ENEWD from W/NW OH into NRN OH through the early morning hours. A few damaging gusts will remain possible with these storms just N of the surface warm front.

There were a few thunderstorm warnings issued for our area. But the most interesting event occurred it eastern Lucas county (where no warnings was issued). A EF-0 tornado touched down and caused some damage.

Actually there were numerous tornadoes confirmed on this storm in Indiana and Ohio:

 12 Tornadoes have been confirmed from Tuesday night / Wednesday morning storms

1)      Franklin Co.    (Groveport)  EF1 109mph winds

2)      Licking Co. (Heath) EF 2 – 120mph winds

3)      Licking Co. (Newark) EF 1 – 109mph winds

4)      Mercer Co. (Celina) EF 2 – 115 mph winds

5)      Auglaize Co. (St. Marys) EF 0 - 80 mph winds

6)      Lucas Co.  (Oregon) EF 0 – 75 mph winds

7)      Pickaway Co. (New Holland) EF 1 – 105mph winds

8)      Ottawa Co. (4 SW of Port Clinton) EF 0 – 75mph winds

9)      Fairfield Co. (Baltimore)    EF 1 - Est Winds 80-100mph

10)    *Allen Co. (Cairo)   EF 1 - 100mph winds

11)     *Van Wert (Monticello)  EF 1 - 105mph winds

12)     *Pike County (Piketon) EF 0 - Est. 65-75mph

...VAN WERT COUNTY OHIO INTO ALLEN COUNTY OHIO...

...ALLEN COUNTY OHIO...

April 20, 2011 Storm-Chase #04

Thunderstorm warnings went up for Monroe county, MI and a little later Tornado warnings went up for Aulglaze and Hardin counties in Ohio shortly after midnight. To me these storms were to far to chase to the south and not looking very promising to the north. We decided not to chase.

April 22, 2011: Storm Chase #05: 

No watches. A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for Sandusky and Ottawa county in the early morning hours. This storm produced 1 inch hail near Rocky Ridge, Oh

Miles Traveled=0 Pictures Taken=0 Minutes of Video=0 Time on Chase= 0

April 26, 2011: Storm Chase #06: 

Tornado watch was issued for our area. We watch for the storms at home, hoping for a chase that day. Unfortunately no storms popped up in our immediate area. There were some storms in the Kalamazoo area that produced 2 inch hail.

Miles Traveled=0 Pictures Taken=0 Minutes of Video=0 Time on Chase= 0

April 27, 2011: Storm Chase #07:

No watches. A tornado warning was issued for Lucas/Wood counties. Teresa headed out herself to chase the storm Video and some stills was taken. Unfortunately the warning was canceled 15minutes later. Meanwhile in areas south, severe thunderstorms hit SW Ohio, a EF-0 tornado was record in New Carsile, OH.

Also later on this day, the state of Alabama was destroyed by various tornadoes. The death toll will be high.

Miles Traveled=9 Pictures Taken=22 Minutes of Video=13min Time on Chase= 40min

April 28, 2011: Storm Chase #:08

No watches. We were out of the slight risk area. A midnight chase was going to bring us to a line of severe storms that was producing tornado warnings for Mercer counties. By the time we got to BG, all warnings were canceled and the storm considerably weaken. We turned around and headed back. We watch the storm head north, producing sporadic lighting. After we went to bed, A wind storm came thru around 4am. Various wind damage reports came in. Peak gust was recorded at 70mph.

Miles Traveled=60 Pictures Taken=0 Minutes of Video=0 Time on Chase= 1hr

May 10, 2011: Storm Chase#: 09

Severe thunderstorm warnings was issued for various counties in NW Ohio. The team was at their various jobs, so no chasing took place. I watched the storms on radar at work. Got some reports of hail to the size of Golf balls in Sandusky county.

May 11, 2011: Storm Chase# : N/A

An early morning storm came though the area, just north of the house. We were so tired that we could not chase it. There was no serve characteristics in this storm. It had some real good lighting in it. No video or pictures was taken. Not officially a chase day.

May 12, 2011: Storm Chase # 10

A severe thunderstorm watch #290 was issued for North and East Ohio. We were not in the watch zone at the time since we were in Hocking, Ohio. No storms developed3 in our area so it was a bust chase.

May 13, 2011: Storm Chase #: 11

We had no watches out for our area. A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for Clarmount county Ohio. We were in the area. We encountered winds gusting up to 50mph, some good CG lighting, and brief heavy rain. On my Doppler scan, there was slight rotation in the storm But by the time we got three it had diminished. These storms were traveling at 30mph, but we were on the highway and couldn't intercept well. All in all the storm was mostly just a regular thunderstorm. But it is our official first chase of the season, so I give it thumbs up.

Miles Traveled=30 Pictures Taken=0 Minutes of Video=25 Time on Chase= 35min

May 14, 2011: Storm Chase #: 12

On our way back to Toledo, we encountered a tornado warning for the Piqua, Ohio area. We decided to go on a little chase. We encountered several CG, winds gusting to an estimated 50mph and very heavy rainfall. Although the velocity scan was showing a very weak rotation, nothing was seen in the area. These storms were traveling at 10mph. Several reports came in seeing funnels. It could have been cold air funnels, which last very briefly.

We finally staged at a speedway, with a news crew behind us. We did see some inflow, but that's about it. Also meet some chasers along the way. Our first convergence of many this year. Good chase.

Miles Traveled=60 Pictures Taken=0 Minutes of Video=7min Time on Chase= 90min

May 20-21, 2011:

Dense Fog covered the area both mornings. Pics were taken

may 22, 2011 Storm Chase #13

we had a slight risk for severe. Severe Thunderstorm Watch 328 and Severe Thunderstorm Watch 332 was issued for Michigan and Northern Indiana respectively. Severe storms really didn't develop in our area. But Joplin, Mo got some. A major tornado went thru the area. This was a bad one.

Miles Traveled=na Pictures Taken=0 Minutes of Video=16min Time on Chase= na

may 23, 2011 Storm Chase #14

We had a slight risk for severe once again. Our Severe Thunderstorm Watch 342 came out at 1415. The watch was extended for our area when Severe Thunderstorm Watch 346 was issued at 1600. we went chasing up in Michigan, got some possible rotation in Dundee. Will post pics and video when we get a chance. Our chase partner in Dayton, Ohio saw a funnel in those storms...

Miles Traveled=60 Pictures Taken=34 Minutes of Video=18m Time on Chase= 90min

may 25, 2011 Storm Chase #15

A moderate risk for today as well as a tornado watch #372 was issued. As soon as I got home, we tore south to intercept the cell in Hancock county. A tornado warning was issued for our storm, which we shot video/stills of a possible funnel cloud near Custar, OH. That dissipated, and we continued south to Findaly for the third storm. We encounter heavy rain, wind, and almost 1 inch hail in Findlay. Also got some vivid CG. Other areas of Findlay received baseball hail. We were fortunate to stay out of the hail core. 

Funnel clouds were reported in Ohio:

 tornadoes confirmed to have hit Ohio in the Wednesday and Thursday  

1)Fayette Co. - around 1:25am - 3miles W of Blooming burg – EF0 – Winds 70mph

2)Fayette Co. - around 1:26am - 5miles W of Bloomingburg - EF0 - Winds 85mph

3)Montgomery Co. – around 7:10pm – Near Centerville – EF0 – Winds near 65mph

4)Butler Co. – around 12:28am – Near Liberty Twp. – EF1- Winds near 105mph

5)Greene Co. - around 7:10pm - Near Bellbrook - EF0 - Winds near 70mph

6)Van Wert Co. - around 3:45-4pm - 1mile N of Van Wert - EF0 - Winds near 80mph

7)Huron Co. - around 6-6:15pm - Tracked for 8 miles from Monroeville To Norwalk - rated an EF1 with winds up to 100mph. 

*8)Ashtabula Co. -around 4:45pm Thursday - Tracked for about 1 mile near Peirpont- rated EF1   *Newest Confirmation

The NWS in CLE has confirmed that an EF0 tornado touched down in Morrow County near Marengo last Thursday, May 26th. The tornado touched down around 5:05pm and had winds up to 80mph.

Miles Traveled=140 Pictures Taken=27 Minutes of Video=1hr 25min Time on Chase= 6hrs

May 29, 2011 Storm Chase #16

A moderate risk was upgraded for our area west. A Tornado watch #395 was issued for NW Ohio and SE Michigan until 2000. Our team headed out at 1600 to intercept the storm in Fulton/Williams county. With the storms tracking at speeds up to 70mph, we were able to get out of the city and stage in Fulton county, where a tornado warning was in effect. We decided, according to radar data, stage at State Route 109 and county road L. We came across other chasers as we spotted a funnel cloud about 10 miles south of our area. This was pretty brief and became rain wrapped.

We encountered winds up to 50mph with heavy rain. Video was taken of the surf off the fields. Rain was almost horizontal. During the drive back we were on damage survey. We captured a photo of a almost dead tree blocking State route 108, just north of state route 20. Other damage occurred in various areas. More photos and video was taken.

Miles Traveled=75 Pictures Taken=108 Minutes of Video=1hr 30min Time on Chase= 3hrs

May 31, 2011 Storm Chase #17

SEVERE T'STORM WATCH # 408. FOR NW OHIO UNTIL MIDNIGHT. Storms are developing along a cold front across Michigan and Indiana. These storms will track eastward into Ohio later this afternoon and evening. While an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out, the primary threat will be from damaging winds and large hail. These storms may track outside the watch area later tonight.

These storms did not develop in our chase area, instead, they went far north. The watch was later canceled

BUST!!

June 4, 2011 Storm Chase #18

Severe thunderstorm watch #426was issued for NW Ohio. We were on the road headed south. Lucky for us because no storms developed in the area. Our Watch #428 was issued. We encountered one storm south of Findlay. We got several CG, but that's about it. We did not chase this storm and we let it go. The storm later produced tornado warnings in the eastern half of the state.

Our “target” area was Dayton, where severe thunderstorm watch #428 was in effect. Our county, Montgomery was issued a serve thunderstorm warning. We went out and videotape the lighting, since it was a night time chase. We recorded several lighting shots. Most of the time the video-camera went in and out of focus. I think I have fixed the problem. It was a very good chase.

June 9, 2011 Storm Chase #19

Severe thunderstorm watch #449 was issued in the early morning hours. Some warnings did come thru. No official reports came in. we did not pursue these storms either. We observed some lighting in this storm but that's about it. Not an entirely bust.

June 10, 2011 Storm Chase #20

We had a severe thunderstorm watch #457 for extreme western Ohio. We decided not to chase due to storms not looking promising and being long lived. Team member Amy Flowers did observed some CG in Miamisburg, OH. No chase occurred for us. Little, if any storm reports came in.

June 20,2011 Storm Chase #21

No watches were in effect. We did have a few storms pop up, We recorded some heavy rain and wind.

June 22, 2011 Storm Chase #22

Severe thunderstorm watch 538 was issued. Our area did not received many warnings. No damage was reported. BUST

June 27, 2011 Storm Chase #23

Had a slight risk for the area. The models looked fairly well for storms around NW Indiana. We decided to take a gamble and drive to just outside Chicago. Unfortunately it was a blue cloud bust.

Not even a drop of rain. The only storms to develop was a few cells in southern Ohio after sunset. Many tornado warnings were issued and a pic was taken by someone at NWS Willlimgtion.

Miles Traveled=433 Pictures Taken=0 Minutes of Video=0 Time on Chase= 10hrs

July 02, 2011: Storm Chase # 24

Severe thunderstorm Watch #583 was issued for the counties west and north of Toledo.......

July 08, 2011:

A record hi was set for today. The temperature reached 97 degrees.

July 11, 2011 Storm Chase #25

Moderate risk for severe was issued for our area. Later, severe thunderstorm watch # 625, 626, 627 and later in the day #635was also issued. The main threat was for damaging winds. I was stuck at work when the warnings came in. Top estimated wind speed was about 50mph, enough to hear a whistling sound thru the windows. Many thunderstorm warnings came thru other parts of the state. Along with it, wind damage was also recorded.

July 18, 2011 Storm Chase: #26

Severe thunderstorm watch #658 was issued for the Toledo area east and #660 for southern Ohio...

July 21, 2011

Record heat!! today's hi was 102. warmest day since 1995

July 22, 2011 Storm Chase #27

Severe thunderstorm watch #670 was issued from 1315 till midnight. We went out and staged along the Lucas-Fulton county border. This storm produced intense lighting, which we captured on film. Winds gusted up to an estimated 45mph.

July 23, 2011 Storm Chase #28

This was a solo chase. I was able to capture once again some intense lighting in these slow moving thunderstorms.

July 28, 2011 Storm Chase #29

Thunderstorm watch #695 was issued from 1600 till 2300 for counties east of Toledo. These storms produced very little of nothing. Little to no warnings was issued for Ohio and the watch was canceled early....

July 29, 2011 Storm Chase: 30

Storm watches #697 and 698 went up for our area at 0350 til 1200. No warnings was issued and the watch was canceled at 0900. some power outages was reported.

August 1, 2011 Storm Chase: 31

The area was upgraded to slight risk by noon and later a severe thunderstorm watch #720 was issued from 1330 to 2100. Storm warnings went up in NW Ohio, main threat was hail. Since all team members were at their respectful jobs, all we could do is spot and observe. At my location, wind gusts up to 30mph, a quick downpour, and a few CG's. Not many else to report. Some hail reports came in over the skywarn radio. The most intense hail came from Upper Sandusky, OH where 2.75in hail was reported.

That was all that came thru. The storms were out of the area after 1700. The watch was canceled a little later. Not a total bust since CG was observed.

August 2-3, 2011 Storm chase: N/A

Slight risk for severe was up for the area. We watch a line of storms come off lake Michigan headed toward us. A few MD was issued and a Severe thunderstorm watch #719 was issued for the counties North and West from 1725 to 0100 (wed). By looking at radar returns and looking at observations in the area, it did not look good enough to support thunderstorm development. We didn't decided to chase. As the night went on, the storms came off lake Michigan still strong enough to issued thunderstorm warnings off the coastal counties in Michigan. But as they got further inland, they diminished quickly, becoming outflow dominant..
Elsewhere a complex of storms was developing east of Chicago. These storms quickly fired up and produced a tornado warning in Illinois. As the storm tracked to the east it got a little weaker, but still severe enough to have metro Chicago under a thunderstorm warning. Another severe thunderstorm watch #720 was issued from 0150-0800 (wed) for counties south. This watch I believe did not stay up long. Storms were weaking in intensity.
So we save up a lot of gas by not pursuing these storms. No storm reports came in for the entire state. The line did stay intact and later intensified as they reached the Cincinnati area, prompting a few warnings around 8am. A severe thunderstorm watch was issued for Kentucky for most of the day on Wednesday.

August 6, 2011 Storm Chase: 32

A line for storms came thru the area. SPC put out a mesocasle discussion #187 out for NW Ohio stating that isolated wet micro-bursts and perhaps a tornado is possible. We didn't see much

We decided to stay home. I followed the storms on radar and posted updates on our face book page. Wood county had a severe thunderstorm warning. The city of Bowling Green received heavy rain.

One storm report did come in

August 7, 2011 Storm Chase: 33

A slight risk of severe was up for the area. Thunderstorm watch #738 was issued for the area. Since chaser 2 was the only active car at the time, there was no chase and kept the public updated. Many warnings came in for almost all the lake shore counties.

There was many damage reports that came in. mostly hail and heavy rain. BG once again go hit with heavy rain.

August 9, 2011 Storm Chase: 34

There was a chance for heavy storms. Slight risk also. Severe thunderstorm watch #753 was issued for NW Ohio til 10pm. Once again we decided to stay home. Many warnings was issued and some wind damage reports came in. Not much major damage was reported.

August 13, 2011 Storm Chase: 35

Slight risk for severe today. SPC put out severe thunderstorm watches #775 and #776 for our area till 8pm and 1am respectively. As of 10pm, no official warnings were issued for our area. We did chase a storm in Monroe county, MI. this storm was not officially warned. We capture a weak gust front, max wind speed was 20mph along with some impressive cloud to ground lighting. Then the sheriff and fire department reported funnel clouds and sounded the sirens. We did not see any funnels. That was the high point of the day

August 18, 2011 Storm Chase: 36

Had just a few severe storm clusters come thru the area. These were very slow movers. These storms produced very heavy rain and continuous hail on the east side of Toledo. This was a solo chase. Being the storms were moving at less than 10 miles an hour, it gave me prime chances to get into the heavy rain/hail core. The largest hail observed was about ½ inch hail. These storms also regenerated over the same area. Video and some still photos was recorded.
there was no watches or slight risk. A lone thunderstorm that kept on regenerating, moved very slowly over Lucas county. Persistent hail was observed in the east side of Toledo as well as heavy rain and wind.
Lucas county was under a severe thunderstorm warning
largest hail reported was about 2 inches. Very good chase.

September 28, 2011 Storm Chase: 37

Slight risk for severe today across much of Ohio, Lower Michigan, and Eastern Indiana. We charged up the chase equipment just in case but I didn't see much happening since a thick layer of clouds and no sun to heat up the atmosphere.

Temperatures in NW Ohio barely got into the mid 60s and dewpoints in the upper 50s. Southern Ohio had much warmer temps and dew points (70s/60s). But sill wasn't enough to triggered big storms.

Around 1800, radar showed a thin line of storms imbedded in showers headed to the state. One storm did produce a thunderstorm warning for Montgomery County. No damage was reported.

The previous day, an EF-0 tornado touchdown just north of Toledo causing minimal damage. This was produced by a cold-air funnel, which is a rare occurrence.

November 14, 2011 Storm Chase: 38
Slight risk for storms this late in the season with a 10% hatch area for tornadoes. Tornado watches covered the state at one time. We looked over the maps and figured the storms, if they go severe, will be moving at a fast clip. We decided not to chase. I stayed home and monitor the radar while Teresa went to her second job. Tornado watches 879 and 880 was issued for Ohio. There was a few tornado warnings. Nothing was confirmed. Teresa observed pea size hail falling in the Perrysburg area along with high winds. Here in Northern Toledo, all we received was heavy rain. This is probably the last chase of the year. I say it was a good chase.