Well connected storm chasers often use a wide variety of data from many sources in order to forecast and pinpoint where they believe significant severe weather will happen during any given day. Chasers often develop their own favorites. Days before the chase we often look at medium and long range models, such as the GFS and look for patterns that we recognize as severe weather producers.

The day of the chase, my preferred tools are a quick look at the short range RUC model, looking over some SKEW-T diagrams for the area of interest, and then really watching the satellite, surface observation and radar trends for the day. I have had great success by sticking with that method. All also like to keep updated on the Storm Predication Center outlooks for the day as they are updated as well as any Mesoscale discussions they issue, and read Area Forecast Discussions for the area I am interested in. These guys are all professionals and seeking their thoughts on a chase day can yield some things you have not considered or missed.

All chasers develop their own method that works best for them over time. These are many of the links I put to use for chasing. All links will open in a new window so that you do not lose your place here; just close the new window when you are done with that site.

QUICK LINKS

SPC PRODUCTS

SATELLITE IMAGES

UNISYS PRODUCTS

UCAR PRODUCTS

MESONET STATIONS

SURFACE METAR MAPS

TWISTERDATA.COM

One of the newest and possibly best data sites out there for chasers now, with beautiful maps, interactive forecast soundings and if course all the model data!

CLICKABLE MAP

SOUTH PLAINS PRINTABLE MAP

PANHANDLE PRINTABLE MAP