"Storm Chasers"

Earlier today, I posted about yesterday's little weather adventure featuring an unusual January tornado, which the National Weather Service has confirmed as an EF-2. I mentioned that it was the second time in less than a year that we've had such a close encounter.

Below is an entertaining narrative I put together and emailed to my family following another close call with an EF-2, back in May of 2009. Enjoy!

The Storm Chasers

Yesterday began much as they always do, with my efforts to wake my family from their nightly slumber in order to prepare for a glorious day of work and school. On most days, this involves the relentless whip-cracking of my children and allowing a mutant cat to attack my wife's foot. And although this morning was slightly unusual due to the fact that it was thunder, rather than my alarm, that first brought me to consciousness, routine quickly reasserted itself. Showers are taken, lunches are made, and the tenets of dental hygiene are dutifully followed. Soon, the boys and I are on the way to school, while my wife prepares herself for the nice, quiet, peaceful morning commute I never get to enjoy. It is critically important to deposit the boys on time, so that I can get to my next cup of coffee at the office as soon as possible.

As I sat down at my desk with mug in tow, I glanced over the news headlines while my email began its laborious effort to bury me alive in miscellanea. Within moments, however, the phone rang. My wife informs me that she has been stranded on the interstate, our faithful Chrysler van the unfortunate victim of a seized transmission. Mounting my noble Japanese import, I rode off with chivalrous daring-do to rescue my beloved maiden and to keep her company while waiting on a tow to carry the Chrysler to the dealer and to whatever taxpayer-supported warranty remains. Traffic was heavy, and the roar of vehicles kept me engaged as I looked through my side mirror for rescue - more than once feeling convinced that any moment some imbecile was going to ram into the back of my car at a high rate of speed. Clouds overhead started to get darker, and the rain began to fall.

During a lull in the traffic, a new sound tickled my ears. Sure enough, the tornado sirens were signing their tune. In a flash, my beloved maiden transformed before me into the technological superhero she is, quickly pulling out her smart phone, connecting to the Sling box attached to a Dishnet satellite receiver at her brother's house, and in no time was watching the local weather station on her phone, complete with radar, commentary, and storm paths. We quickly deduced that a rotation was approaching from due west, and that we lay directly in the projected path of the storm. Visually, there was nothing to see, but soon the car radio broke in with news of a sighted funnel cloud, and we knew that perhaps things were going to get a little dicey. For you see, the van was stranded just short of the on ramp to Research Park Blvd, to the north. To the west was the interstate. There were no other options. I continued to look in my rearview in vain for any sign of the tow. Still nothing. Damage reports of fallen power lines, snapped trees, and broken rooftops began to fill the airwaves. The car began to shake side to side as the wind gusts began to increase in strength and frequency. The storm path, according to my wife (Inspector Gadget has nothing on her - she'd kick his butt), had the rotation going just to our north. So I had to choose: stay put and hope for the best, barrel straight west down the interstate into the tail of the storm, or turn north right into the path of the tornado.

I selected option 2. I pulled out onto the interstate from a dead stop, and together we hurtled into the southern tail of the storm cell. Winds were very gusty, but fortunately the rain was only moderate. Janet looked to the north, but couldn't see anything except dark clouds and rain. I kept my eyes on the road. We flew down to the next exit not far from the airport and then turned back, figuring by the time we got back to the van the storm would be past. I confess to a certain thrill in knowing that for a moment we were driving right toward the storm, but common sense and safety did reassert itself at some point. We returned to the van, the tow soon arrived, and after dropping my wife off at her office, I returned to my desk with a new cup of coffee and a mountain of email which I proceeded to ignore.

Storm facts: The National Weather Service has declared the Madison tornado as an EF-2, with 115 mph winds. The path was about 10 miles long, 75 yards wide. The funnel cloud disappeared into the sky near Research Park Blvd, about 2.5 - 3.0 miles from our previous spot by the side of the road. Nobody was hurt, damage still being assessed as of Thursday. Nothing came too close to our home, and we are all perfectly okay.