7 May 2005

Chris Howell and Nancy Bose met up in Detroit on Saturday morning (5/7), 
taking the last leg of the flight to Kansas City together, where they were 
met by photographer Allan Detrich and meteorology student Joshua Jans.  
Al and Nancy represent two of the three remaining chasers from that first 
chase so many years ago that fostered MESO, a nonprofit group dedicated 
to severe weather disaster preparedness.

MESO has grown tremendously since its inception in 1998.  Known as a 
friendly helping hand in a disaster, MESO also has published articles on 
its website that have reached tens of thousands of people, and has given 
weather safety presentations to thousands of school children.  But every 
spring, MESO gets together in the Central Plains, and "cuts loose".  
Originally a chase team, and now staffed by hardcore storm chasers, MESO 
unites on the great plains of the US for two weeks of doing what they do 
best:  Storm Chasing.  

The original team was the product of the imagination of Nancy Bose and 
J. Bender (no longer a member).  Their thought was to create a "dream 
team" of storm chasers, comprised not just of weather geeks, but varied 
in talents and abilities.  The best forecaster they could find, but also 
the best photographer, the best reporter, the best navigator... on and on.  
There was a level of professionalism and ability expected in each member.  
The first team was comprised of J. Bender, Brian McNoldy, Nancy Bose, 
Allan Detrich, Bill Steigerwald, David Ott, and Geoff Mackley.  Over the 
years, others have been allowed to "share the dream".  Some have been 
keepers, some have not. 

On this May morning, Al and Josh have already been out on the plains 
chasing when they pick up Chris and Nancy. There is no time for a gentle 
reminescence over coffee and grits -- severe weather is in the offing, 
some 359 miles to the NW.  There is no question; we are on the way.  Ideal 
indices?  They aren't there... only a whisper of a chance of seeing Nature's 
most glorious show is enough to us flying across the plains, chasing that 
which most people run from.

By now, this seasoned team has become adept at teaching as we go, taking 
time to explain who MESO is and what we're all about.  We draw the 
inquisitive, and need to be prepared to answer questions.  Sure, there 
are the inevitable "I seen y'all on TV", and "have you ever got sucked 
up into a twister?" questions, but most people show genuine interest, and 
we're always happy to share knowledge.  A catch phrase we've developed 
over the years, though, always brings laughter from all... when people 
tell us, "Have a good day", we inevitably answer "You don't want US to 
have a good day..."

Before long, the team reaches central Nebraska, just as the cells start
"popping", meaning forces existing that inhibit storm formation start to 
erode, and the storm cells start to appear, pockets of convection expanding 
outward and upward.  First day out together and the team finds itself in a 
position where they are on the wrong side of the storm to view any tornado 
development, which traditionally occurs in the SW quadrant of the storm.  
With our very high tech equipment, we are able to determine that the hail 
embedded within the storm is not lethal in nature, so we punch right through 
the core of the storm to get to where we need to be to view developing 
conditions.  The winds rock Allan's SUV, the hail beats down, filling the 
truck with an incredible din, and the smile on everyone's face is evidence 
of a mutual awareness that yes, we're back.  

Despite numerous reports of a tornado, we saw nothing on radar or visually 
that indicated that these storms were tornadic.  Didn't happen, at least 
not by our reckoning.  MESO is unique in that we never use the term BUST.  
OK, almost never.  Any storm we catch is a treat, a tornado just being the 
"brass ring".  Each storm has its own beauty, its own signature, and carries 
within it something to learn, something to see, something to remember.  
These storms were no exception.  The setting sun backlit one of these 
supercells, emitting rays from the top that went horizon to horizon, and 
a gently setting red-orange sun drifting down from the base.  That same 
storm later provided us with a lightning show that was amongst the most 
incredible we've ever seen; nearly nonstop intracloud lightning that had 
us frozen in silent awe for over an hour and a half.  

We've been chasing here and there since, mostly in South Dakota, Nebraska, 
etc, but nothing huge until Tuesday.  Tuesday's update will be published 
with Wednesday's, as we are again hitting the ground running from a crazy 
mad day on Tuesday to a moderate risk day again on Wednesday.  We'll be in 
western Kansas.

Please go to www.allandetrich.com for the latest photos.  Check back there 
daily for updates.


Thanks for your support and interest,
Nancy Bose and the rest of MESO