STORMTRACK 1977-1987 now online

[Tim Vasquez]

We have just completed placing the first ten years of ALL Stormtrack Magazine issues online. You may find them here:

http://www.stormtrack.org/archive

This consists of about 420 articles and 460 illustrations.

In the months ahead we'll add more volumes to the archives.

Enjoy!

Tim

[Tim Vasquez]

Within this collection let me recommend a true gem: of the most fantastic and unique serial articles I've ever seen. This will give you a fresh new perspective on weather forecasting.

The History of Thunderstorm Forecasting, by John Weaver
http://www.stormtrack.org/archive/0516.htm - Part 1
http://www.stormtrack.org/archive/0522.htm - Part 2
http://www.stormtrack.org/archive/0534.htm - Part 3
http://www.stormtrack.org/archive/0545.htm - Part 4
http://www.stormtrack.org/archive/0556.htm - Part 5
http://www.stormtrack.org/archive/0566.htm - Part 6
http://www.stormtrack.org/archive/0617.htm - Part 7

Says Tim Marshall, "This series is entirely John's idea and was prompted by his concern that 'this very interesting and instructive progression is being ignored and slowly forgotten by the meteorological community'. " Indeed that is correct... even now in 2007, the research and academic sectors seem to discard anything that isn't mathematical or quantitative in nature, including its very own history.

Tim

[Jeff Miller]

Great work, Tim. Really enjoying the Funnel Funnies as a start.

Incidentally....

did David Hoadley have a premonition of the TIV? ;)

http://www.stormtrack.org/archive/0353.htm

[Jason Boggs]

Great job with this Tim. These articles will give me a lot to read since the season is at a standby for right now.

[Angie Norris]

Tim, awesome stuff there!!!! Thanks very much!!! I now have a constructive way to spend my break!!!! :D

[Tarmo Tanilsoo]

Great work!

[Jim Hunt]

I've been to DQ many times and never seen a chaser. hhhhmmmmm.....

[Darren Addy]

This is absolutely GREAT! Thanks so much for putting the mag. online!

I was sort of surprised, when I looked at the archives, that the original magazine was not simply scanned in as full page PDFs (ala The Realist (http://www.ep.tc/realist/41/) ). This is much more advantageous, as it can be searched (and indexed) but it must be a lot of work. Is someone actually re-typing all of the articles in? That sounds a wee bit tedious!

[Tim Vasquez]

I was sort of surprised, when I looked at the archives, that the original magazine was not simply scanned in as full page PDFs (ala The Realist (http://www.ep.tc/realist/41/) ).

Full PDFs are actually available if you get the CD from Tim Marshall (see the Stormtrack shop (http://www.stormtrack.org/shop/)).

What we did is scan each page, extract the graphics and allow the text to be OCRd (with proofreading). The HTML and PDF versions were rendered from this. The El Cheapo way would have been to scan each page and make PDFs with embedded full-page graphics files, but that would have made the set unsearchable and unindexible.

Tim

[Skip Talbot]

Hey Tim, this thread should be a sticky. It would be a shame to lose this wealth in the heap.

[Scott Overpeck]

Thanks for posting the archives. It has been interesting to see how things have changed or not changed through the years. I enjoyed the storm accounts as well as the write up about Hurricane Alicia in 1983. Also thought the comments about the use of laptops and dial up modems was funny. Phone booth = Wifi Hot spot 20 yrs later?

http://www.stormtrack.org/archive/10312.htm

[Bob Hartig]

This is great! I've been wanting to read those old editions. Thanks a million.

[beaudodson]

Great work. I used to get this in the mail when I was a kid!!!

[Tim Vasquez]

Also thought the comments about the use of laptops and dial up modems was funny.

Yeah, it's funny how we're PAST that. It's always cool when predictions come true and then become archaic. The Funnel Funny (made in 1986) probably was most true around 1993, when laptops were becoming ubiquitous and acoustic couplers still were the shiznit. How far we've come since then... in several years there will probably be affordable satellite-delivered WiFi.

Tim

[Brian Stertz]

Still miss the old hardcopy ST days though.:rolleyes: ..but they could only hold so much. Given the chaser community has grown by mammoth proportions, it is probably best served for the amt. of information that can be provided. Keep up the great work Tim and thanks for the archives of memories.

[Ryan McGinnis]

Man, this is making me really wish I hadn't thrown out my old issues of Stormtrack that my dad subscribed me to when I was a kid, almost 20 years ago.

[Dave Gallaher]

Wow, what great memories!

I still have the paper copies, but haven't viewed them in several years. I was pleased to find the Sept/Nov 1982 mentions Dave Hoadley gave to my fumbling early efforts, and to the two funnels that were sighted by my daughter (one complete with one of his priceless illustrations).

I'm going to have to find the Funnel Funny that showed (IIRC) a speaker pointing to a large photo of a large wedge with the caption "This is not virga." Always wanted a t-shirt with that emblazoned on the front...

Thanks to any and all who labored to get this online.

[Jay McCoy]

I've been to DQ many times and never seen a chaser. hhhhmmmmm.....

Thats because 90% of the small town DQ's have been replaced with Sonics :(

Thanks for bringing back so many memories Tim. I miss the old hard copy. Especially all the funnies.

[Jim Leonard]

Great work Tim. Looking at these old issues brings back some great memories. Its hard to believe its been 25 years since that famous May 19th 1982 Pampa tornado event. That was when I really first learned about cyclic supercells. It is really nice to see some of the old names are still active to this day. Dave Hoadley's art work is priceless.

[Jeremy Miller]

Thanks Tim, I started recieving storm track mag during its last few years. It's awesome to be able to go back and see what I've missed. Thank you as well to all the chasers who contributed to the magzine as well.

Has there been any talk about possibley re-starting ST?. I know it was discontinued for some reason, but can't quite recall exactly why.


If anyone has any imput I'd appreciate it.

Jeremy

[Tim Vasquez]

Has there been any talk about possibley re-starting ST?. I know it was discontinued for some reason, but can't quite recall exactly why.

It was discontinued because up until about 1996, a paper magazine was the only way for the community to share material. It was an absolutely vital link. This was turned upside down by the Internet, which made it possible to share a far greater amount of material in a more timely manner with less effort. Not surprisingly, the number of paper subscribers dwindled every year after about 1997 and never recovered.

A paper Stormtrack is not feasible and neither David, Tim M, or myself plan to resurrect it.

Tim