Pecos Hank

Sneak Peek - Pork Lightning Cicada Stew

New Video Churning Away

July Teaser Shmeezer

Lots going on. Lots of footage. Here's some of it. 

Sorting Footage... 6 weeks later

Hey Gang, 

I'm still sorting, filing, editing, and labeling this years storm footage.  The time lapse animations take an eternity, but well worth it.  This last trip to Mexico piled it on as well.  I expect I'll have it all sorted by September.  Good problem to have.

Got a couple TV interviews this week.  Not sure I'm allowed to shed light on any of it, but I'll do my best to sneak y'all some peeks. 

I'll be back on the road storm chasing a...

NEW VIDEO THIS WEEKEND ?

I've finally finished the first pass of the second Dr. Leigh Orf collaboration.  Over 17 minutes of amazing imagery and scientific jargon dedicated to all those who request longer videos.  Got family stuff on the books this weekend, but I'm pretty sure I'll have this bad boy completed tomorrow.  Have a great weekend Patrons! Thanks again and again. 

-h

FRIGHT FLIGHT

GOT BACK FROM MEXICO last night. We scored whale sharks, cenotes, a pyramid and lightning over the ocean. Video eventually... 

ON THE FLIGHT BACK, as we were approaching Houston, I was documenting a thunderstorm from the airplane window.  We made our runway approach descending to about 2500 meters and suddenly the pilot hit the throttle / yoke, and shot the aircraft back up to about 8000 meters passing the airport.  I suspected a downburst (most suspected terrorists) and ...

This Weeks Chase... YUCATAN

It's looking like a 20% chance of lightning showers, a 75% chance of whale sharks, and a 100% chance of pyramids this holiday weekend in the Yucatan.  We are scoping out a tiny island off the coast of Cancun called Isla Mujeres for 2 days, then driving to Chichen Itza for a day and night.  The stage is set for adventure.  Hope you guys have a great holiday weekend. Happy Birthday America! 

SONG OF THE MONTH - Over The Rainbow

"Over the Rainbow" was released in 1939 with "The Wizard of Oz."  This Gibson guitar was handmade that same year.   Free Download attached. Hope you enjoy. 

TODAY TX tornadoes, lightning or sprites?

Don’t think I’ll be able to make potential storm initiation near Abilene today. Expecting any tornado potential to be early in the cell life. So I think I’m going to set up for upward lightning or sprites.

Black Is my ideal tornado target around 5pm. The red target is a possible sprite viewing target around 10pm-12am

LAST NIGHT WAS COOL! Some of you know I’m collaborating with two other Transient Luminous Event (TLE)(sprites, jets and what not) photographers namely Paul...

TODAY... Heads or Tails?

Northern Oklahoma looks to be a better chance for a cleaner look at storms, possible the tail end of a line and is inside the SPC 5 % outlook. KS/NE has better SRH, but could get messy fast and is in the <2 % SPC tornado risk. I would have chosen tails but Anton and Skip sold me on the northern target. Either way, we’re having fun out here.

TODAY CO (A) or KS/NE (B)? Place Your bets!

Colorado is the safe bet today (pair of kings) with a photogenic icy HP supercell evolving. 

KS/NE triple point has crazy energy (4-5K j/kg), good storm relative helicity but a strong cap (700mb temps 13-14 decrees celsius).  Here, we've flopped and turned a split royal flush. 

Today I meet back up with the team.  Decision by committee to commence shortly. 

Do we choose "A" the safe bet, or go for all the glory and choose "B" ???

*Updates poste...

TODAY NE/KS/IO/MO

Leaving Henryetta Oklahoma now hoping to make it in time for today’s round.

I’ll post any neato update stuff here when I can. Happy Friday everyone!

TODAY - THIS WEEKEND

Looks like an active week for thunderstorms and decent tornado potential (finally).  Currently targeting East of the DFW metroplex today and then perhaps up in Iowa or Minnesota tomorrow and the next today.  Gotta go, I'm late! 

TODAY'S CHASE - 6-16-19 TX

Expecting a multi-cluster funk today.  I'll likely be targeting San Angelo to Brownwood area.  Expecting some good pancakes and coffee this morning, maybe a coachwhip this afternoon, some lightning this evening, and maybe a brief tornado somewhere along the adventure.  

Updates posted here when possible. 

Forecast Through the Weekend...

Uncertainty Uncertainty Uncertainty...

TOMORROW could be ok in the Panhandles / CO / NM region.  My interpretations of the GFS is suggesting elevated supercells merging into a cluster.  That often means pretty storms, but no tornadoes.  On weird occasions similar elevated storms can grow downward to the surface and produce tornadoes.  This could be a surprise event under a currently marginal risk. It could be pooper. 

The following 5 or 6 days are characte...

LIKELY NEW VIDEO TONIGHT

Wanted to let you guys know I’ve gotten clearance from the Scientific field operations team to release a new highlights reel of the wild tornadoes we intercepted on May 28th. It should be uploaded this evening around 7-8pmCDT (0-1z). Hold onto your barns!

NEW ETA 9pm... 

Tornadogenesis Video Sneak Peek 5-22-19 Henryetta OK

I'm debating uploading this time lapse video to the Pecos Hank Channel as a good example of "tornadogenesis" or to wait and include it in the "Best of 2019" video.  As it stands, this is not of the quality I prefer for an upload, but there may be some good information I can weave in to lift the mediocre footage.  Perhaps the Wind Breaker farting seats is entertaining enough?  

There might be some value in these clips when compared to Dr. Leigh Orf's simulations...

1...

June High Res Photo of the (every other) Month

Here's the first dandy tornado of the McCook Nebraska event on May 17th. The prettiest storm of the year... so far.  Hopefully this death ridge blocking pattern will give way soon.  We might have some lightning storms in my Houston backyard this evening to tide us over. Hungry for more! 

Download attached (Expired)

NEW SPRITE VIDEO with Green Afterglow

Hey Gang, 

Wanted to give you a heads up that the new video is uploaded. I included several of your comments and theories in this video. They were too damn good to not.  

Hank 

LIVE CHAT This Morning 10:30am CDT

Good morning Patrons!  The YouTube link to the live chat will be posted below.  Have your questions ready and Be sure to open the full YouTube page to see chat. 

LIVE CHAT SUNDAY 10:30am CDT

Oh man I've got a lot to talk about. Mañana amigos! 

Red Sprite causes Green "Airglow" ???

Here's a better view of the mysterious "green airglow" triggered by a sprite.  I'm still trying to ferret out all the theories and to see off anyone has documented this phenomenon. So far, no luck.  We might be the first to witness this strange transient luminous event. 

SONG OF THE MONTH (1 day early) "El Reno Blues"

I feel we need to give this song away today on the anniversary of the 2013 El Reno tornado. Many of you have already purchased the song. Hope you don't mind that we share it. 

I've arrived back in Houston and have awaken from a couple small comas. What a Month!  This season has already been a tremendous success and there's still June to go.  

I can't wait to have some time to start sharing sneak peeks with you guys. So much beautiful lightning, tornadoes, storm stru...

TODAY’S CHASE 5-28-19

Was up late shooting magnificent lightning last night. (Pics in comments)

Gotta run, so we are rolling with a quick SPC forecast and will fine tune ahead. Updates when possible in this thread.

CHASING WITH THE TEAM is wild. Yesterday I went into duckling mode and let them do all the brain work. Having multiple brains REALLY makes this easier, however traveling in a caravan does slow down the intercepting a bit. Happy to roll at a safer pace.

DANIEL SHAW SAID... “make i...

TODAY’s CHASE ??? 5-27-19

This is so cool! Skip is lead forecaster today. Expecting hordes of chasers today clogging the roads so we will likely pick a secondary target in Colorado, but keeping a foot in the Kansas door til last minute.

WEIRD GREEN AIRGLOW Triggered by Sprites?

Last night I captured many vibrant sprites.  Two of the sprites had a strange green afterglow behind the tops of the red streaks.  I think we stumbled onto something new here, but i need to fish out some answers.  Best place to fish out answers is facebook, but unfortunately their video player compresses and ruins the video.  In full 4K, these look amazing.  Hopefully this video will reach some scientists that chime in.  Once we get some answers, I'll make a YouT...

TODAY 5-26-19 heads or tails?

Currently positioned between two targets. I prefer tails, however today is the first day of the scientific field operations team I’m part of for the next 3 weeks. Anton Siemon is commuting from NY and tails is not w/i his range. Waiting orders to join them in CO/KS or hold my ground in TX. (Will update in this thread with cruddy iPhone pics when possible.

LAST NIGHT WAS BEYOND MAGICAL! See pic in thread below. Great video and silly hotel vlog ASAP.

EL RENO STRUCK AGAIN... I’...

TODAY’s CHASE 5-25-19

Two target areas today. I think I prefer the northern target (heads) however unforeseen events have delayed me near the southern target (tails). Updates posted in this thread when possible. Place your bets!

TODAYS CHASE - duh! 5-24-19

Pretty obvious target area (knock on wood). Sure is nice to only have a 2.5 hour commute prior to lighting my seat on fire. TARGET AREA POSTED IN COMMENTS BELOW with occasional updates if possible.

Many of you have requested a video about how to forecast tornadoes. I then likely forwarded you to Rich Thompson’s 9 part series... each video an hour and a half long on YouTube. 😂It’s not an easy thing to simplify. Anyway, I ran into Rich last night and pitched the idea of doing a vi...

TODAY's STORM CHASE 5-23-19 TX/ OK

That about says it^^^  Will fine tune positions based on GOES satellite observations throughout day. Will post updates and cruddy iPhone pics in this thread when i can.  

YESTERDAYS TORNADO:  Got to observe and document tornadogenesis over i40 just east of Henryetta Oklahoma. The terrain was very challenging and storm motion was fast. Attached is a video grab.  Not as close as I'd prefer, but still grateful.  Time to roll. Gotta get an oil change... again.  ...