We made it through the storm!

Unfortunately didn't see a tornado last week but we came through one hellhuva storm we wouldn't have experienced in sunny Glasgow.

We'd driven a 1000 miles to Nebraska, chasin a BIG storm front. On Wednesday things looked realy good, the radar indicated a tornado watch and then a warning for 20 miles west of us, so we headed in that direction. You can see how the clouds were forming.

It was very bright and sunny then it became grey and dark, the rain was heavy and like a drum on the van. Y ou could feel the wind pushing us, the radar indicated it was 92 miles per hour. I was so excited I could have pissed my pants. I felt like a kid who'd had 2 liters of coke.

Then the radar indicated 4 spinning discs Probable Tornado Formation and it was happening right in our safety zone. I'd told my mum and everybody we'll be watching from a distance don't worry. The atmosphere in the van was amazing everybody was so excited, laughing and shouting, I've never experienced any thing like that nervous expectancy comming from a small confinned group.

This is a shot of the radar image when the tornados were potetialy forming. If you look closely the icon representing our van in right in the middle.

later I thought about the town of Greensburgh in Kansas. It was hit by an F5 tornado in May we drove through the town on tuesday, the road had only been opend that day, a month after the tornado completely destroyd the town were 1600 people lived. Tornados maybe exciting to me and other weather geeks, but they are destuctive creature of mother nature. I was shocked by the destruction of this town.

We aint in Kansas anymore toto !!!!!!!!

Hi'yall, Anne Marie First time blogger here...we have had a very cool and interesting week ...a bit freaky at times too...lots of good laughs and at times hysteria from thundering up and down the USA in a van chasing clouds. Thanks for the birthday wishes Kirstin...it was an interesting one!! We have some good stories to tell. Been to Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska and KANSAS, where we went a bit wizard of oz daft....even went to Dorothy's house!! sad but true.. Didn't see a twister but some FAB super cell storms and amazing lightening shows.
Now back at base camp( how geeky is that)..and heading off to Nashville tomorrow for some more yeeha and cowboys...as if we haven't met enough of those already, but before that a night out at a country bar in Oklahoma city with some of the crazies we met this week...
Stay tuned for the next enstalment...
Y'all come back now!!!!!!!

Lubuck to Liberty

Had to turn around and head north yesterday, as all the storms would be heading for Nebraska on wednesday. A 1000 mile drive.But a high chance of TORNADOS. We'll be crossing 4 states, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska.

Lubuck Texas was the home to Buddy Holly, we had a walk down Lubucks walk of fame and sang Bye Bye miss American pie.

Mostly a driving day yesterday but we stopped off at a few tourist sites. Spent a bit of time at the amazing canyon below, Pulo Duro, it's the 2nd larrgest in America.

Spent the night in Liberty, Kansas. The locals at the Neon Moon ahad a few new faces to liven up the bar.

Toto I don't think we're in Glasgow

Hi you all we eventually made it. Stayed in the Saddle back Inn Oklahoma City on Saturday night, thought we'd check out the hotel bar called Rustlers. Well it was karioky night, Anne Marie and I had a good time people watchin some scary people. Serious Glaswegian karaoke with a stetson!

Our first tour day was a long 12 hour haul. Spent a bit of time at the site of Oklahoma City bombing, huge space and impressive memorial to the 160 people who lost their lives. We were headin for Texas. Via Amarillo and Lubuck. I couldn't resist it hand had to sing out " Is this the way to Amarillo".

The "scooby" van, is full of multi cultural storm geeks, 3 Auzzies, 1 German , 1 American an English guy and 2 Weegies.

The navigator tracks the storms via a radar computer software package and we head into the suck zone.

The storms we were chasin didn't really come to anything,and all the stronger storms were to far away.

We followed this storm until dark and it produced some amazing thunder and lightening. Wait for it the van got hit by lightening and fried the radios for about 10 minutes. The wind and rain we torrential and there some huge lightning bolts. Couldn't get any pics it was just to wet and windy. Just waiting to hear were we're headin for today, Steve who runs the tour will check out the storm prediction center and we'll be off. Check out the web site. Storm predication center: http://www.spc.noaa.gov

Have a look you may see us waving

Kansas

Wichita

Tornadoes are awesome !

This is what we
are looking for

Thunder storm in Yoker

You wouldn't believe it. Just getting organised for my flight tomorrow and there was a thunderstorm in sunny Yoker. I hope this isn't the last one I see this holiday. I didn't think I could get more excited than I already was.

Ewen is busy telling me I could have saved 2 grand and seen a storm in Glasgow. You can imagine my reply.