Memorial Day 2008

Happy Memorial Day, I think the picture speaks for itself.

Who Says you can't storm chase in NC

This past Friday brought me a pleasant surprise of which I have not experienced in some time. Being one who is typically aware of even the slightest chance for any kind of severe weather event days in advance, you can imagine my surprise as Miranda and I sat down to watch a movie Friday evening, only to have the weather radio start toning a severe thunderstorm warning on what I was expecting to be a rather benign evening. Much to my surprise a quick check of the radar revealed several well organized cells moving into our area, some even splitting and exhibiting supercell characteristics. As I sat listening to the distant thunder rolling across the night sky I began to become dismayed at the thought of another opportunity to watch an evening thunderstorm roll through dashed by the tree-filled landscape that is central North Carolina.
As I wracked my brain to come up with a suitable viewing spot, nothing along the lines of the traditional ideal lightning viewing vantage point (i.e. open farmland) came to mind as being locally available. Just hills and trees, trees and hills. Not a landscape conducive to viewing a thunderstorm, much less getting any lightning pictures. Then all at once it came to me. A mere two exits down the highway was RDU airport...offering not only a broad, open, flat space, but a seven level parking deck providing a great vantage point overlooking it all (not to mention a suitable shelter were it start to hail!). Within minutes Miranda and I were set up on the topmost level facing northwest, as one of the more long lived storms of the evening made its way towards the Triangle. The result was one of the lowest mileage, cheapest ($2 for the time spent in the parking deck, and probably less than a gallon of gas used), yet most productive chases I've ever experienced!