This summer I was offered the chance to participate in the USNA Oceanography Department’s Severe Weather In Field Training, or SWIFT. The program was started over ten years ago by Dr. Brad Barrett, a civilian meteorologist who based the training off a similar program he created at the University of Oklahoma. The internship/training consists of two weeks of active storm chasing in the American Midwest. SWIFT aims to study, predict, and chase supercell thunderstorms with the ultimate goal of witnessing tornadoes. From the moment I declared as an Oceanography major I was intrigued by SWIFT and was very excited to be chosen in the spring to participate this summer.
I had originally intended to record each day’s events, but quickly found the demanding nature of the training was not ideal for daily posts, hence writing this post in retrospect. Nevertheless, I want to share some of the highlights from the experience.
A typical SWIFT day consisted of a 0800 weather brief by a two man team. In these 50-slide powerpoint briefs, we utilized models produced by NOAA and the Storm Prediction Center. From the models, we picked a target city, typically within a 3-6 hour drive from our current location. We identify these target cities as most likely to put us in good position to see isolated supercells, not just areas that are experiencing severe weather. After an hour long discussion, we would pack up our 10 passenger van and hit the road!
Speaking of the team, this years SWIFT team featured five rising 2/C Mids, one rising 1/C, an officer with a degree in meteorology, and Dr. Barrett. The eight of us became very close over the thousands of miles and hundreds of hours of chasing.
Once on the road, we aimed for our target city, taking into consideration newly released models and RADAR. Depending on what we saw, we would slightly tweak our target city. After arriving in the target city, typically in the early afternoon, we would move into “chase mode.” From here, we relied on RADAR and visual observations, traveling through the countryside in search of supercell thunderstorms. The chase brought us through cornfields, past farms, occasionally through small towns, and down endless country roads. Until sunset we would track thunderstorms, hoping to spot the elusive funnel clouds we associate with tornadoes. After sunset, we would drive to the closest city with a decent hotel and prepare to repeat the process again.
Despite the cyclical nature and long hours in the van, the two weeks flew by. Our group dynamic was great and we learned a ton about the atmosphere and convective storms. While we did not have much luck spotting tornadoes, we experienced beautifully constructed storms, massive hail, thick dust storms, and torrential downpours. As part of the conclusion of the trip we each wrote a reflection on our two weeks. Below is mine. I am slightly disappointed that I did not record each day, but I am sure I will be writing about my experiences on SWIFT over the next week or so.
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T.R.'s Closing Thoughts
I can't believe it has been almost two weeks since the SWIFT van left Annapolis in search of severe weather. It has been a ~wild~ ride, one full of unique experiences and lasting memories. I have enhanced my understanding of tornadogenesis and supercellular storms, while expanding my interest in meteorology and severe weather. This hands on experience allowed me to apply classroom concepts in the largest laboratory possible. Since we have covered so much, literally, in the last two weeks, here are my Top Ten Takeaways.
1. No matter how well you may think you understand a concept, witnessing it in the real world is worthwhile to help solidify your understanding. Seeing concepts play out in front of me was an incredibly rewarding and educational experience and one that can only be achieved by stepping outside the conventional classroom.
2. We did not see the number of tornadoes that we had hoped for. This was a disappointment for us, but the lack of tornadoes this year is a blessing for others. It’s important to remember that your desired storm can derail other’s lives. Always maintain that perspective and attempt to learn from each storm.
3. Being in a car for well over 100 hours may sound terrible, but fill it with the right people, snacks, and music, and it won’t seem too bad.
4. Storm Chasing brought me to areas of the country that I never thought I would end up in. We travelled through towns of less than 1,000 people and passed homes miles from the nearest neighbor. Just being someone who lives a different lifestyle that what most of us are accustomed to does not mean that they don’t live a fulfilling or important one.
5. Be thankful for the SPC. Trust the SPC. They are incredibly smart and dedicated to producing useful products. While it may be easy to disregard their warnings as overreaction, they work hard to keep the country safe and alerted to dangerous weather.
6. One of my favorite days of the trip was our STEM outreach to the Osage County Co-Op school. The kids were great and seemed excited to learn. We only taught for about 2 hours, but I quickly developed a true admiration for teachers, especially at the elementary and middle school levels. Their job is difficult, yet critically important and grossly underappreciated.
7. Driving through rural Kansas, Nebraska, Texas, and Oklahoma allowed me to witness where my meats and grains come from. Behind every neatly packaged steak or box of cereal is a long line of hardworking individuals whose profession is one of the most demanding. Farmer’s drive our country and deserve more recognition for their difficult lifestyle. It was rewarding to witness this lifestyle firsthand.
8. Palo Duro Canyon State Park is breathtaking. If your ever find yourself traveling through the Texas panhandle it is well worth visiting. It’s like a mini Grand Canyon, and for someone who has never been to the actual Grand Canyon, Palo Duro was my first experience with such striking desert scenery.
9. Mother nature holds all the cards. We, as a society, need to continue to find ways to better anticipate severe weather and prepare those who we anticipate to be affected. In terms of tornadoes, just 15 minutes advanced warning can save countless lives. This trip has really strengthened my interest in severe weather preparation and management.
10. You can’t always get what you want. I would have loved to see a strong tornado every day in the middle of an isolated field. The atmosphere, however, had other plans. All we could do was put ourselves in the best position possible and hope for the best. Such is life, all we can do is prepare to the best of our abilities and let the cards fall where they may.
#notzero
Thank you very much to the Naval Academy STEM Department, the Oceanography Departments, LCDR Burich, Dr. Barrett, Keely, Aspen, Noah, Jordan, and Cameron for an amazing experience. I will surely look back on SWIFT 2018 with appreciable memories.
-T.R.