MikeUpjohn

Hi James, As Paul said you will have a cracking time, whichever tour you are on. It was my first tour out there this year and I went on Tour 1. It's safe to say the weather made it a challenge for us some days, but without a doubt this was the best 10 days of my life...period. It was the best 'holiday' I've ever been on (I'm not one for sitting on a beach in 40C for a week). It was a fantastic bunch of people, with tour leaders who really know there stuff, and get you great views while staying as safe as possible. Some of the weather events we were treated too were phenomenal. I came back and two days later, my deposit was in for the 2016 chase. Seriously, if you've even got an inkling that you might like it, book a tour, you will not be disappointed! I personally cannot wait for next year and 10-12 weeks after landing, I'm still going through photos and video of my tour! Hope this helps and maybe see you in 2016! Mike.

Tour 2 booked this evening!

Missing it already and I'm still sat in the hotel! What have you done to me! xD

Hey everyone, Absolutely loved yesterday. My first ever daylight full sized supercell. It was fantastic and I want to do it again haha! Never seen lightning drop like that before until yesterday. Never seen clouds twist and rotate like that until yesterday. Never seen it rain so hard like it did yesterday. Never seen clouds go such a turquoise colour as they did yesterday. A lot of firsts, and all set and ready to go for it all again! Enjoy the photos below1 Cheers, Mike.

Hahaha! Appreciated Tom! So much looking forward to this, I think Tuesday and Wednesday at work will be write-offs! Mike.

That sounds great to me, I'll stay on the flight I am currently on, and can hang around the airport for sure. Thanks for your help! Mike.

Hey, I fly on the 7th May and land at 1550 local time in Dallas on the 7th. Staying the night in Best Western 4100 W. Airport Freeway. Very very very excited now, final packing etc. Mobile is 07914156148 if anyone wants to get in touch. Presume flying out at day early like that is OK? I've never been to America before so this is an adventure on two counts! What is the best way to get to the Best Western from the airport after I land? Thanks and looking forward to meting everyone! Mike.

Hi, I've been lucky enough to get myself on the Weather Holidays Tour 1 with Netweather this year. I've currently got a Fuji S2950 bridge camera, which is great for general photography, but I was wondering if there are any cameras that are highly recommended for lightning, cloud structure and maybe tornadic weather? Lightning is definitely the key feature I am looking for in a good camera. I've read about the Nikon D90 but just wondered if there was anything that anyone here already uses that they would recommend? Budget is upto £300 for a camera, but flexible to other options. Also are GoPro cameras good for lightning and storm photography? Thanks in advance! Mike.

Hi, I'm having issues Private Messaging other users on the forum. It says that the other user cannot send/receive messages. Just wondering if there is any other way I can contact them? Both are new users with 1 post each. Thanks, Mike.

Hey, I'm in the same situation - first ever trip to the USA, and also looking to meet people at the airport and fly across. I'm not able to send you a message on here, but let me know if you or anyone else is interested in meeting at the airport and flying. Thanks! Mike.

Hello! I'm on Tour 1 this year. Sorting the VISA tomorrow. Anyone else flying from Manchester for this tour? Might be good to meet up? Really looking forward to it! Might need to look at upgrading my camera for this one!

Thanks guys! I booked Tour 1! Still hasn't sunk in that I'm going but so excited. Been recommended insurance, so I will look at that and flights this weekend. I am in the Manchester region. Is anyone else flying from Manchester for Tour 1 or is is it best to go from London Heathrow instead? Very much looking forward to my first ever chase!

Hi guys, Seen the great offer on this, and as a 23-year old graduate with a massive interest in tornadoes, I'm considering giving this a go. What sort of know-how do you need to go on a tour? Do you need any specialist equipment, and are you based in the same place each night or do you move around to different overnight halts based on the storm activity? Cheers, Mike.

Is this heading Macclesfield way? Seems pretty gloomy looking that direction.

In the Macclesfield area on Saturday with access to a car, which after seeing the forecast has been fuelled up. Any spots you recommend I head towards in my area to catch the storms roll in? Was thinking Mow Cop between Congleton and Stoke, as its the highest point with the clearest view for miles around?

Hi, I am hoping someone may be able to help me out here, and if this is in the wrong place, please move as you feel necessary. I am doing a Masters by Research and I have chosen the area of data mining, statistical analysis and data visualisation for climate and historical weather data. I have done a previous module in which I discussed some ideas for a basic analysis of historical weather data - correlations, associations between different data attributes. I have also given a basic overview of characterising data, clustering data and so on. The presentation went well, but to develop on this in the next module they said they wanted to see a really heavy analysis of a set of data, analysing data over time, frequency of events over time and especially causality (causes that made certain weather events happen). The question is, where do I start? How can I make the statistical analysis of weather data heavier? Are you aware of any trends that might be interesting to investigate? If you could even start to point me in the right direction, it would be much appreciated! Thanks, Mike.

This is part of the ethical justification of the project too. I should be considering maximising accessibility, but if you can tell me what sort of things make a visit for you especially helpful, please let me know and they can be implemented.

Sorry guys, I don't know how to multi-quote. @WhiteXmas - For the purposes of the project to begin with I would look at analysis (a.k.a X many tornadoes within 5 miles radius of location XXX in time period XXX). As I have ideas to do masters where it would be developed, I will state a future change could allow for forecasting and do this as Phase 2 in coming years. @Paul T - Many thanks for the comments, they will be encorporated. Owing to the nature of the severe weather data I have access to, it would be USA for severe data and worldwide for historic data. I could look at making user accounts for recording severe weather data across the world again in Phase 2. @22nov10blast - Great, thanks! If all comes off, I will post a link for you guys to look at! Warning: Design is not my forte. Regards, Mike.

Hi everyone, I am at Staffordshire University and in my final undergraduate year. As part of the final year, 3 of 8 modules are known as an FYP (Final Year Project), where each student goes through a structured process of planning, design, implementation and testing of a real world artefact, in my case in the form of a web application. For me, I should, at the end of the year, have a fully functioning web application programmed in my choice of language to solve a real world problem. They strongly advise that you base the project on an area of strong interest - for me, the weather. My idea is simple (I think). A Google Maps or similar version that displays historic weather data and maps previously recorded severe weather data overlaid on this map. Queries can be performed, for example all tornadoes in the US between 1 March 2012 and 1 April 2012, and then in some way accompanying historic weather data to give an overview of as much information for that time, in one place. I should stress, the main aspect of this, is to run a project and in my case, code a structurally sound application, as opposed to research into and develop weather forecasts. I would appreciate any feedback that anyone could give me on this, for whether you think this is something that could become valuable, whether you would use such a service and also possible changes, additions or losses to the above stated proposal. Also can you let me know if there is any objection with such feedback being incorporated into the project research. Thanks and best regards! Mike.

A moderate shower here in Macclesfield now. Thought it was thundering but not too sure, went evil black, looking like a classic summer thunderstorm. Rain with gusty winds, but feeling quite muggy, defeinately not cool, like the last few days.

Cheers for the info, oh well looks like my day of radar watching ends here. Off to watch My Family! Enjoy, although doubt it will exceed what we saw on May 9th. Enjoy! Nothing here in Macc today.

Anyone know if any of that rain in North Wales is electrically active and if its going to head towards Macclesfield. Not had anything since 28 June.

Seeing reports of thunderstorms in this area. Nothing from here, but black clouds to the SE/S and E.

Another heavy shower here, same intensity, I believe its what they call stair-rods. Very black to the SE, S and SW. Mike.

Gone very black to my South atm. Turbulent fast moving clouds. Starting to rain. Next few mins could be interesting! - Edit, heavy rain now. Cheers, Mike.