This is what got me interested in severe weather

[stuart2588]

Hi

I thought I would post what got me interested in severe weather.

Last June we were at a waterpark in Seaworld in Orlando Florida. We had to be evacuated, firstly out of the water, then 10mins later to shelter and 10mins after that into toilets as a radar induced tornado was in the area. The lightning was spectacular and it was after this, that I started to gather an interest in storms.

Here is a link to a discussion that was going on in ukww during that thunderstorm that I was right in the middle of lol. At the time I didnt even know ukww existed.

http://www.ukweatherworld.co.uk/forum/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=23601&start=1&highlight=orlando&highlightmode=1

Here is a video link showing the news report for that day. Lightning strikes totalled 1850 or something and it also shows some hails pics.

http://www.clickorlando.com/weather/16562051/detail.html#related

Anyway thats what got me hooked lol.

I was browsing through some pics I took last year and came across this one. This was another storm photographed from Anna Maria Island facing Tampa Bay.



We are going back in June this year so I will be able to appreciate these storms more and will have my new camera lol.

[martinastro]

Thanks very much for posting this Stuart. I enjoyed reading it very much, you must have had a real white knuckle experience over there. What a way to get started in severe weather!. Loved the video clips, those US forecasters are incredible. Thanks also for the image, that's a severe looking cell, impressive updraught to the L with overshooting top. That cell looks a serious distance away so it must have been massive...Cheers! 

[Roman White]

The cell looks to me nice but not so much severe...   but after reading your story, Stuart, I understood that I've never experienced such severe weather.

Good luck to you in Florida  

[stuart2588]

Thanks for the replies guys. I dont think the storm in the photograph was a severe thunderstorm either although the one at the waterpark definitely was lol. It is probably something that I wont get to experience again for a long time which is a pity, because at the time I didnt appreciate it or study it as much as I would if it happened to me now.

Maybe one day I will go on one of these storm chasing tours lol. We should get a group from the forum to go lol.

[Roman White]

We should get a group from the forum to go lol.

Pity that I'm not possible to join   

[martinastro]

I would love to do that myself Stuart, some day I would like to join the tours and meet Roger Hill  . John W from this forum is already away out to the plains since last Thurs so hopefully he will bring back plenty of cool images.

That cell in the image looks to be weakening, but I bet it would have been nasty under that base. You can tell by the solid profile of the updraught and weakening anvil that it's a strong cell, and probably was producing something at an earlier stage of it's life cycle.