Monthly Archives: April 2009

Is storm chasing dangerous and what safety precautions do storm chasers take to reduce risk?

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Just like other ‘dangerous or risky activities or sports’, the danger is always part of that risk assessment. You know what to expect and so long as you have developed the skill and some strategies to assess and deal with those risks, chances of being caught out are greatly reduced. Every case that is thrown at you however is its own case – one rule will not solve all situations. The objective is to never panic and to remain calm and be well prepared and comfortable with your own skills. It is imperitive with anyone that chases to work as a team and not to be panic striken. It is simply too dangerous to have someone that loses the plot as it can not only endanger ones life, but of those of the team. It just introduces another complexity to the situation.

The most significant risks in storm chasing are lightning and hydoplaning. When encountering the core of a severe storm, risks increase of flooded roads, reduced visibility and also trees and debris being hurled onto the vehicle. Having windscreens or windows shattered are also risks storm chasers need to consider. Tornadoes can and do pick up and hurl vehicles – let alone get pierced by debris!

So how long are storm chases?

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Once at the target and all data is analysed, the wait for storm development could be brief or nervously long. I constantly analyse what is going on – cumulus cloud development, winds, and how healthy the clouds look in specific areas that may give a clue as to where the main action will develop. If only one storm develops, the decision is easy – chase that one if it is worth while chasing (road network to get to the storm, viability in terms of fuel costs, quality of the storm). If there are several storms, I have to try choosing the best storm out of those based on experience. Even then when on the chase, I continually re-assess the situation as one of the newer developing storms may have intensified and this could mean moving to that storm. In all of this confusion, you have to work with the available network quickly and accurately, ensure you are safe and you are working with the road rules. Sometimes, the chase has to be called off given the road network and environment may make it unsafe. In all, storm chases can last from as little as half an hour to several hours. Most of this time is taken up in driving to and from the event. Some of the best storm chases have been both exhausting yet rewarding. One has to make the most of their opportunities.

The storm season in review – 2008 – 2009

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This storm season officially had fewer severe storms than other seasons in the past. Work opportunities across the industry therefore also were few and far between. Intercepts of severe storms based on forecasts and chases however were about 90% this season with only a few exceptional events being not predicted by the author.

Check the storm reports section for more details.

 

 

About

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This is the home to information regarding hailstorm forecasts and paintless dent repairs and removal industry. The information on this website is more for assistance for the industry. Hailstorm forecasts are important for the planning of many companies specifically those reliant on relocating or moving resources and concentrating the energies of their companies in a specific region.

Forecasting is based on probability and is simplified for ease of use. It is obvious people only require specific information and variables rather than an expensive and complicated package. Although the forecasts are are simplified, the information provided and the accuracy make the forecasts an excellent tool for your company.

Hailstorm Forecasts

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Welcome to the specialist hail forecasting website. Apart from information on Paintless Dent Repairs and Removal, this website has a section on forecasts upon request. These forecasts are specificly designed for ease of use aimed at those in the industry of hailstorm repairs. A more important hailstorm forecast website is http://www.hailstormforecasts.com.au  Watxh for these forecasts as the season unfolds.

If you feel you can benefit from advertising on this website, free advertising is provided for the first 2 months of membership.

Storm Events and Reports

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Some of the storm events that have been photographed over this below average season have been documented below with some information in regards to hail size intercepted.

March 15 20090315jd021 Storm Events and Reports

Severe storms affected the Hunter Valley region but most storms of more significant severity producing large hail were near the Karuah to Bulahdelah region. Hailstones to 3cm were widespread along this path perhaps larger in the main core as these hailstones were falling predoinantly ahead of the main core in the anvil region.

23rd February 20090223jd08 Storm Events and Reports

A severe storm on Monday 23rd February exhibited classic supercell structure with very definite hailstones! The structure did not last for long before it went into a slow decline. Nevertheless althoguh Sydney area did not have any storms predicted storms did develop further west. Twice the storm tried to organise before basically sending up an impressive explosive updraft and organising rapidly.

 21st February 2009

Several storms were reported with storms rapidly developing near funnel cloud in the form of a dimple almost overhead whilst near Wallerawang - Lithgow regionLithgow initially and also east of Mudgee a little later. There were likely two supercells out of this region. The Lithgow cell had an interesting base – this nice image of a base circulation and dimple of a funnel almost overhead. This coincided with a wind change in the near storm environmental boundary.

This storm eventually moved towards but narrowly bypassed Singleton with very large hailstones. Another severe storm passed in the hinterland west of Muswellbrook – both this and the Singleton storm were likely supercells producing very large hailstones.

February 10 2009

Hailstorms Lithgow to near Lake Macquarie. The storm that approached Lake Macquarie was a fast moving storm and dumped hailstones to a diameter measured at 4cm. hailstone from hailstorm at Dora Creek from February 10 2009It most likely was an elevated supercell and was interesting to watch as it altered its local environment suddenly clearing the low cloud as it raced across.

Another sharp right moving storm approached Lithgow from near Mudgee and produced hail damage in Lithgow where The Dent Shed helped repair vehicles over the following weeks.

Paintless Dent Removal – PDR

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Paintless dent removal, known otherwise in short as PDR, is a process where if possible, dents are repaired without damaging the original paint. This means that the cost of repairing the vehicle is reduced. Of course in some of the more devastating hailstorms with larger hailstones, such a process may not be so viable.

The process of dent demoval is rather complicated and requires patience and skill. It takes years of experience to master the techniques and most PDR technicans are able to produce most work with ease applying the right amount of pressure to get a smooth finish and without the need to have cars resprayed from the original factory colour. Technicians have increased access to special tools that have further improved quality.

History of Paintless Dent Removal

It seems that the history of paintless dent removal date back to the 1940’s when specialist workers at the companies of BMW and Mercedes Benz attempted to remove dents to avoid repainting of whole cars and rolling out more vehicles. Early tools used amongst these skilled innovative workers were the common table spoon! The practice soon spread through Europe and then other industrialised nations particularly in the last 20 to 30 years. With the spread and popular demand for paintless dent repairs have come more sophisticated tools and techniques that allow these technicians to achieve much more without the requirements of respraying.

It now has become standard practice amongst the major insurance companies to have paintless dent removal assessments and quotations prior to any further claims being processed.