Lubbock Severe Weather Meet: Part 2

Inside the Science Spectrum, it was packed with all kinds of weather exhibits and booths (NWS Lubbock,, local media) and tables where the kiddos could learn about weather and how it works. Down the hall the NWS was doing annual spotter's training.



I made my way from exhibit to exhibit and introduced myself to some of the local storm spotters. We traded cards and stories and for a moment I actually didn't resent being in Lubbock. (again I kid)

These are some of the South Plains Ham spotters:



But the highlight of the event was the showing of "Storm Spotters" in the IMAX theatre. I had seen Red Flag there a few years ago and the experience was one I'll never forget. If you haven't ever experienced an IMAX movie, please put it on your bucket list of things to do before you die, because it is pretty amazing.

As my kidnappers and me found our seats in the "sweet spot" where it feels like the entire screen envelopes you, I was surprised to see sitting just behind me another Amarillo weather chaser Steve Miller! I turned and Next to me was another chaser I knew David Drummond. We shook hands and laughed and talked about what a coincidence that we would all be at the same weather event at the same time. Actually, it made sense since we are usually (during the Spring) bumping into or passing by each other chasing the same storms.

Here is a shot of me and my kidnappers, Dale & Shelley Stanton: I'm the one with no hair and totally satisfied grin on my face.
Maybe Lubbock ain't so bad after all.




The movie was amazing, it felt almost like you were out in the storm, and except for some scenes on the Monsoons in India (which seemed out of place in a movie called Storm Chasers) it had the effect of totally curing me of the late Winter blahs.

We left sunny Lubbock and headed back north to armadillo town but not before I snapped this tornado's eye view of fellow Amarilloan and chaser Steve Miller.



Hope to see bump into Steve again - but when it happens I hope its storming.

Lubbock Severe Weather Meet: Part 1

I was kidnapped recently and dragged down to Lubbock by my sister Shelley and her newly acquired husband, Dale Stanton.
Even though the purpose of the kidnapping was to get me out of my dreary apartment and out of town ( I have the tendency to mope when it isn't storm season) I balked when I found out their plan was to spend the day in our sister city to the south.

The song "Happiness is Lubbock Texas in my rear view mirror" kept sounding in my head as they drove south with me hog-tied in the trunk so I couldn't escape (Just kidding Lubbockians) and open the door and bolt for it.

However, once we arrived in TT land I suddenly became docile enough (to unleash) and actually began to have fun.

We started by visiting the Windmill Museum, which was fun - then we went to my favorite place to eat - Fudruckers - where I enjoyed a wonderful Chipoltle Barbeque 1/2 pound burger. It was wonderful.

Then we went to the Lubbock Science Spectrum - and much to my surprise (and delight) it was "Severe Weather Awareness Day" the perfect place for a weather junkie like myself to hob-knob with my fellow weather wizards.

Outside of the Science Spectrum on display were some brand-new shiny (hail-dent free) storm chase vehicles.



I peered inside and licked on the glass as I saw them packed with all kinds of weather gizmos, and as anyone knows, I love weather gizmos!

This one was a scout vehicle for Texas Tech's Severe University Severe Weather Research Team. Get a good look at it now,, because the next time you see it, it should be covered in hail dents.



To the uninitiated it looked like someone had spent a lot of money on plumbing supplies at Home Depot, cobbled them together with some model airplane parts and strapped them to the roof.

In actuality this funky looking array of pipes and probes were weather sensing devices helpful in getting Tech's brand spanking new 38 GHz super duper digital portable doppler on wheels to the right storms (this season) at the right time.

Josh Wurman eat your heart out!



Much more compact, efficient and capable of higher resolution radar data than your average DOW, this (first of two) new radars on wheels represents the cutting edge in mobile weather sensing technology.



After talking (at length) to the engineer in charge of the Texas Tech radar project, I made a mental note to contact my friends at Popular Science Magazine about this new doppler darling because I'm sure it would make a good Tech (no pun intended) story for the mag.

I'll post more photos of this new DOW and what went on inside soon.

-Steve

Sweet Tweet and Sunset

This blog isn't just about weather - as the name implies "Panhandle Skies" has everything to do with what flies, floats or passes through these Panhandle Skies, including the odd bird and (or) aircraft.

I caught this T-37 "Tweet" today out at Rick Husband (Amarillo) Int. Airport doing some touch and gos. Not the fastest bird in the inventory but one every military jet pilot knows well. A T-37 is likely the first jet-powered aircraft any budding Top Gun first flew.

Enjoy- Steve Douglass