Author Archives: tornatrix

The situation gets serious

Posted on 21 May 2013 by tornatrix

I am still getting my bearings back after three straight days of tornadoes. Yesterday, I watched the Moore tornado form from the controls of the KOUN radar on the north side of Norman. It was my first time to see … Continue reading →

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Quality, not quantity

Posted on 19 May 2013 by tornatrix

Yesterday is already wrapping up to be one of my best chases in years. I witnessed two long-lived tornadoes – one at 6:30 p.m. CDT near Rozel, Kansas, and the second at about 8:00 p.m. just north of Sanford, Kansas … Continue reading →

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Fun with a Texas dust devil

Posted on 29 April 2013 by tornatrix

The Texas panhandle was crawling with dust devils near yesterday afternoon’s dryline. We were en route back from Boulder, when one of them passed over U. S. Hwy. 87 in front of our car. My husband grabbed my Sony Bloggie … Continue reading →

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Minnesota Skywarn Workshop recap

Posted on 23 April 2013 by tornatrix

It’s been a busy month! Immediately after the VORTEX2 science workshop, I traveled north to deliver a keynote talk at the 7th Annual Minnesota Skywarn Workshop. What a difference 15 degrees of latitude makes! Minnesota greeted me with a refrigerator … Continue reading →

Posted in Media, Travel | 1 Comment

VORTEX2 science workshop recap

Posted on 21 April 2013 by tornatrix

It’s been nearly three years since the field phase of VORTEX2 ended. Two weeks ago, a group of about 30 PIs and scientists reunited at a retreat near Austin, Texas. I was asked to send a few tweets from the … Continue reading →

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2013-04-17: Wall clouds in SW OK

Posted on 20 April 2013 by tornatrix

It was my first day back at work after a long week of travel that spanned nearly 15 degrees of longitude. (More on that later.) I went into work extra early, and managed to scramble a chase partner (Gerry C.). … Continue reading →

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A storm observer’s pledge

Posted on 31 March 2013 by tornatrix

Inspired some behavior I’ve witnessed on YouTube recently… As a research meteorologist, storm chaser, and an admirer of the atmosphere, I hereby pledge that: I will conduct myself professionally, regardless of whether or not I am observing a storm as … Continue reading →

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Minnesota Skywarn Workshop

Posted on 25 March 2013 by tornatrix

Just a heads up that I will be giving a keynote talk at the 2013 Minnesota Skywarn Workshop on Saturday, 13 April 2013. As many of you know, I grew up in the Twin Cities, so this venue is a … Continue reading →

Posted in Media, Travel | 3 Comments

New pub

Posted on 8 February 2013 by tornatrix

This month’s issue of Monthly Weather Review contains my newest paper,

Posted in Radar, Research | 2 Comments

2001-06-11: My first tornado, Benson, Minnesota

Posted on 15 January 2013 by tornatrix

The “my first tornado” meme circulating on Facebook prompted me to dust off my first chase log book and relive the Benson, Minnesota tornado – my first ever. I kept an astonishing amount of detail, and it helped me reconstruct … Continue reading →

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