Skip Talbot

@AdamLucioWX These days I make it about one chase before f it mode kicks in

**Long Tweet Alert** Am I the only one that goes through mindset transitions throughout the season? I start off starving, hunger, eager for anything. That 12 hour drive to the jungle is totally worth that 10 second view. The winter is long, I want to see storms, lightning, the works. Im pretty sure this is born out of desperation after winter... Then (typically) after a few of these trips, and only that 20 second view to show for it. I stop caring. It no longer becomes worth it. I start yearning for more open views, relaxed, slower paced chases. The secondary targets become much more enjoyable. Maybe its because Ive been solo grinding more than ever in the last 3 seasons, Im discovering new tolerance levels. Anyone can be a road warrior when the drive is split up between 2 or more people. Maybe its age? Maybe its feeling like I don't need to prove myself, or even caring what people think to begin with. Maybe its because the last couple season's my bag has been filling up quicker and I get satisfied (or bored?) I've just noticed the last couple years I've been going through these mindset swings, where as before I was purely GOTTA BE IN THE MOST EXTREME SCENARIO EVERY TIME. Does anyone else go through this?

You may have heard that hundreds of employees were just cut from NOAA and the National Weather Service (NWS). These agencies were already critically understaffed, and these firings will have real consequences—for public safety, disaster response, and even the economy. But here’s the bigger picture: This looks like the first step toward privatizing the NWS, which would be a disaster. Why? Because the NWS is a public service that keeps us all safe. Privatization could mean paywalls for tornado warnings, delayed hurricane alerts, and profit-driven weather forecasting. 🔎 Here’s why the NWS (and NOAA) should NEVER be privatized: ➡️ Private weather companies RELY on NWS data. -The Weather Channel, AccuWeather, and local meteorologists don’t generate their own raw data—they use NOAA & NWS resources like satellites, radar, and observation stations. 📡 -Without the NWS, private companies would either have to build their own billion-dollar infrastructure or work with incomplete data. 💰 ➡️ Public safety should NEVER be paywalled. -The NWS provides free, immediate alerts for hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and severe storms. ⚠️ -Privatization could mean delays in warnings, paid subscriptions for life-saving information, or companies selling critical data before the public gets access. 💲 ➡️ The NWS is a national security asset. -FEMA, the military, emergency responders, airlines, and shipping industries depend on NWS forecasts. 🛑 -A privatized system could prioritize corporate clients over public safety, leaving vulnerable communities without real-time warnings. 📊 ➡️ The private sector would ignore rural and low-income areas. -The NWS operates 120+ local forecast offices, including in rural areas that private companies would have no financial incentive to serve. 🌎 -A for-profit model could leave small towns with incomplete or delayed weather data. ⏳ ➡️ Weather research & climate science would take a massive hit. -NOAA and NWS are key players in climate research, hurricane forecasting, and extreme weather tracking. 🌡️ -Universities, farmers, environmental groups, and global partners depend on free, accurate weather data. Privatization could restrict access or commercialize it. 📉 ➡️ The NWS is already funded — privatization would just make weather forecasting more expensive. -Tax dollars already pay for the NWS, meaning everyone gets equal access to critical weather info. 💵 -If privatized, private companies would still rely on government-funded data but charge consumers and businesses to access it. ⚖️ ➡️ International cooperation would be disrupted. -The U.S. provides free weather data to other nations, helping global disaster preparedness. 🌍 -If that data is monetized or restricted, it weakens global storm tracking and emergency response efforts. 🚫 ⚠️ The Bottom Line: Privatizing the National Weather Service is dangerous, unnecessary, and purely profit-driven. Weather data belongs to everyone, not corporations. Cutting NWS staff is already putting public safety at risk, and if privatization happens, we will all feel the consequences. This is a conversation we need to be having. If you care about public safety, disaster preparedness, and free access to life-saving information, share this post and make your voice heard. 🗣️💙 #ProtectTheNWS #NOAA #NationalWeatherService #PublicSafetyNotProfit #KeepWeatherFree ⚡

Sean Casey's back chasing, and with a new chase vehicle youtu.be/KgMOXD0wrbY

@donkeydownburst @skydrama @Thiellaos @MarkSefried @wx9jc I was too young and naive to get really bent up about missing that one. I don't even think I had radar at the time. Man, 20 years

11 years since El Reno, we still chase Oklahoma, even High Risks. But we've changed since then. How we chase, where we chase, and who we are as chasers youtube.com/watch?v=ww-yHv…

@JTAllen3 @JLaDue @tlyzawx I totally would if I were closer! I just got down from a flight, and this would make a great platform for surveys with configurable camera mount locations. I flew over a couple of paths last season and could find some swirl marks in the corn

@JLaDue @tlyzawx Maybe someone should do a flyover - suspect there might be some interesting swirl behavior.

@JennBrindleyUbl @lorigraceaz @TimBacaWeather Subarus are junk now, but they still have a rabid fan base

@lorigraceaz @TimBacaWeather Def ask @SkipTalbot about the subie lol

Detailed breakdown of the accidents that occurred April 4 last year, along with recommendations for safer storm chasing: youtu.be/6PWtNkh-MPE

@OHWXisweird I wrote all the software to make those animations using c# and Direct3D. Those are Google map layers on that one, but I now use Mapbox to get the transparent road overlay layer and base terrain layer.

Hey @SkipTalbot I was wondering how you made this radar overlay with the roads on top of the reflectivity and with the certain opacity. If you could help me and allow me to use it, it would be very helpful :)

A monster lurking in the corn. Shots from Sunday in Illinois: youtu.be/IWPkAIz-0Z4

Beaver, OK Supercell: Smash or pass? Big Smash! youtu.be/E0QUcbQpJWs with @JennBrindleyUbl

Now I know why they call it meteorology. We found the meteors! The craters in this van have their own craters.

@aaronjayjack My stupid Subaru toasted two batteries sitting long enough in the garage. The electrical system is defective on several models: torquenews.com/1084/updated-s…

Been having some issues with electrical in the Subaru. Leave a light on or door open for a short while and battery dies. Battery putting out about 12.6V with LOLcar off, and 15V with it running. So seems battery and alternator are both working properly. Any ideas? Maybe a short somewhere sucking the power?

Join us live in a few minutes for a storm chasing safety briefing. I'll be discussing escape route planning and going over some scenarios you might find yourself in someday.

This is an issue of competency on the most basic level 1. Escape as soon as you recognize you're in the path. 2. Escape away from the path, not across it. Failure may result in death. All chasers need to understand this before they ever take to the road. youtu.be/ea8DgOA-mr0

@ReedTimmerAccu Loved it except for the jerk gas station cashier that locks the young storm chaser outside during the tornado.

Gizmo and I are settling in to watch the new storm chasing movie, Supercell! She will be pissed if there are no storm chasing dogs featured in this.

"Supercell" movie releasing March 17. I played a small part in the film as a gas station cashier where the main characters stop before the location is struck by a tornado! Super fun to be involved. Official trailer: youtu.be/U1zBYtFHMx4