STORM TRACK: March 31, 1985 (Volume 8 Issue 3)

Sam Barricklow (K5KJ), from Texas, has sent a list of VLF/LF Weather Beacons, Ham Radio Weather Nets and other HF Ham Radio Nets. Due to space limitations, we can only include the U.S. spread. His international list will sppear in a future ST. "Not knowing how familiar you are with Ham Radio and its relationship to Skywarn activities, let me explain a little about this subject. The primary band of operation for actual spotting activities is the 'two-meter' band, 144 to 148 MHz. The two meter band is capable of 'line of sight' communications -- on the order of maybe 50 miles maximum. The HF bands are used for communication over a larger area, possible due to ionospheric propagation. The HF spectrum covers 3 to 30 MHz. The Ham bands located in this part of the spectrum are used to pass information about weather events between geographically separated groups. If a disaster of some type occurs, Ham groups will typically set up operations in the disaster area and provide supplemental communications for various relief and law enforcement organizations. ...Ham radio is an excellent source of information, when you're out chasing. Oh yes, if you witness a tornado in an isolated area and there is a need for assistance, you may be the only timely means of obtaining help, assuming you have the required equipment and license.

The HF Weather Nets usually 'meet' daily during the week and relay weather data to the Weather Service. This data includes maximum, minimum and current temperature, wind speed and direction, relative humidity, barometric pressure and sky conditions. The other nets listed are used during emergencies or for general traffic handling. Also included is a crude sketch map showing two-meter repeater frequencies in the southern plains that have Skywarn activity. -- If you're interested in purchasing a receiver to pick up these nets and beacons, let me suggest the Kenwood products, specifically one of the following: Model R1000, R2000 or the F600. Of all the general coverage shortwave receivers on the market, these are the best for the money. If you're interested, pick up a copy of QST magazine, published by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) in Newington, Connecticut. There are lots of ads for this type of equipment. If you're interested in getting your Ham Radio license, the ARRL can steer you in the right direction. Having a Ham radio transceiver in your car can be very valuable, not only as an information source but also as a possible source of help in an emergency.

Hopefully this information will be of use to you and other chasers. Oh yes, I generally use either 7.213 MHz* (an informal mobile net) at mid-day or 3.900 MHz* (Oklahoma Weather Net frequency) at night, depending on propagation and my location. Good luck."

Stephen Leitch, from Canada, wrote the Editor last December with a report on a "Toronto Tornado" ...This past summer (August 14, 1984) I had the exciting pleasure of watching a rotating cloud base develop directly over my Toronto residence. I had enough time to call our Severe Weather number, whereupon a warning was issued. I didn't get to see much after that, as heavy rain reduced visibility to less than 1/8 mile and there was no sense to giving chase on rain-slick city streets. Five minutes later, an F1-2 tornado touched down 1.5 km away, removing roofs from a few houses and warehouses along a short 4 km track. There were no reported injuries. This tornado also had the peculiarity of tracking from NE to SW, even though the general flow of precipitation echoes was from the usual SW to NE. It was suggested that the tornado occurred in the NW quadrant of a counter-clockwise rotating supercell, situated over metropolitan Toronto. An airline pilot enroute from Buffalo, N.Y. to Toronto reported a large mushroom shaped cloud top over the city."

Steve continues: "Normally in the November issue, you give the reader a breakdown of how many States receive STORM TRACK. You didn't do that this year. I was wondering if you would like to reveal to the reader: (1) How many States currently receive STORM TRACK; (2) Likewise, how many Canadian subscribers (or provinces); (3) What is your actual circulation count; (4) How long does it take to put each issue together; (5) How many pieces of STORM TRACK mail do you receive; and (6) What is the breakout of your costs for mailing, printing, etc. I'm not trying to be nosy -- just curious, and I believe that the reader would have a fuller appreciation for what you do and what actually goes into a really good issue."

In response to Steve's inquiry, ST currently goes out to 176 subscribers in 34 states, the District of Columbia, Canada and Guam. The only other current Canadian subscriber is Arjen Verkaik. A minimum of 4-5 letters come in every week. Most are subscription inquiries, but some ask questions about chasing, storm phenomena, etc. I try to answer all, as additional time can be set aside. Costs run 15c for the first original and 4 1/2c each thereafter. Therefore, for one issue's 8 page publication: (8 X 15c = $1.20) plus (176 X 4 1/2 = $7.92 x 8 pages = $63.36) plus (39c two ounce postage x 176 = $68.64) = $133.20 total cost per issue. Revenue is 176 X $4.60 = $809.60 divided by 6 issues = $134.93, almost break even. Each issue normally takes 8-9 calendar days, including the equivalent of a weekend and late evenings over one workweek, sometimes until 4:00 AM (up again at 7:00). I try not to intrude too much on "family time" so often don't begin until 8:30 or 9:00 PM. Although usually pretty well drained by the end of this period, I am sustained by the often excellent material sent to ST by you subscribers, and enjoy working over a "really good issue," knowing it will be appreciated. However, I don't have to do everything on my own. Storm Track has become a family project, with my wife and daughter gathering around a few card tables in the rec room every two months and helping me to collate, staple, tape and stamp. This can take two evenings -- and, finally, two grocery bags full of newsletters on a late night trip to the Post Office. I might add that family support doesn't just stop here.

Last May, when I took my VW Rabbit diesel in for its normal pre-trip checkover, a crack was found in the cylinder head (at 125,000 miles). This was discovered on Tuesday and repaired on Wednesday. Counting myself fortunate not to have had that problem a thousand miles from home, I authorized the expensive repairs. Relieved to have this behind me, I was then floored Wednesday afternoon by word from the garage that I must have the new cylinder head retorqued between 800 - 1,000 miles. In only two days (Friday evening), I was scheduled to be on my way. Fresh on the heels of the Carolina tornadoes and with apparent indications of a very active May, I was very anxious to leave. However, the immediate options were difficult (1) Do I drive 1,000 miles to Arkansas and then sit there all day Sunday and part of Monday (two days wasted), with possibly indifferent service from a VW dealer who knew he'd never see me again? or (2) Drive around the Washington area until Monday and lose three days -- but get possibly better service on a very expensive repair from my own dealer? or (least logical and almost impossible) (3) Drive off the 800 miles between Wednesday evening and Friday morning, when it could be returned for a brief re-torque adjustment before going to work. I figured I could put on 400-500 miles each of the two evenings after work (and into the morning). I discussed these options with Nancy, and she said with hardly a hesitation, "Why can't we drive those miles by Friday?" Wow! She was concerned that I would drive out Friday evening, thoroughly exhausted, on the usual 1,500 mile, 1 1/2 day charge west. Was I relieved! So, Wednesday evening, she gave me a sack dinner, and I headed out right after work. I drove almost to Bristol, Virginia (SW corner of State) before returning at 5:00 AM, over 500 miles later. After an obligatory three hour sleep Thursday morning, I went to work, and Nancy took over the last leg of this bizarre effort. She drove almost 400 miles more, in moderate to heavy rain and through sometimes blinding spray-wakes from passing trucks. But, we did it! Friday morning, I was first in line for the retorque job. The service manager couldn't believe we had actually driven 900 miles in just 37 hours, since picking the car up Wednesday evening. The work was finished, and I left on time late Friday afternoon. Without a true chaser's wife, that never would have happened! It's one of those little stories on us that we'll always remember. With support like that at home, you can be sure I count myself damn lucky!!