In September of 2025, my work is generating the most income it ever has in my career. Yet, I'm being forced to shut down my successul operation, against my will, due to one cause alone: 95% of that revenue is being stolen by piracy and copyright infringement. I've lost more than $1 million to copyright infringement in the last 15 years, and it's finally brought an end to my professional storm chasing operation. Do not be misled by the lies of infringers, anti-copyright activists and organized piracy cartels. This page is a detailed, evidenced account of my battle I had to undertake to just barely stay in business, and eventually could not overcome. It's a problem faced by all of my colleagues and most other creators in the field.
Today is the seven-year anniversary of the November 10, 2002 severe weather/tornado outbreak across the Midwest/Ohio Valley - 83 tornadoes, 17 states, 36 dead. Ohio was hit hard, including the Van Wert F4. Tennessee had two F3s and a high toll. Even West Virginia was inside of an SPC High Risk area that day, an incredibly rare event. I covered this system in central Kentucky, which saw no tornadoes but received significant wind damage (chase log).
11/10/02 tornado tracks and ratings
It is events like these that underscore the fact that in the United States, tornado season never really ends, and danger is not limited to traditional 'tornado alley'. Outbreaks can happen at any time of the year just about anywhere. In fact, fall and early spring are when areas from the Mississippi River to the Atlantic coast are most likely to see big tornado events. I have embarked on tornado chases in November several times, and am always on the watch for potential outbreaks this time of year.
The reason that fall can bring severe weather outbreaks is because the upper-level wind patterns during the season transition tend to feature strong troughs - dips in the jet stream that orient powerful upper level winds over the country. When warm, moist air can get established in the low levels underneath these winds, the basic ingredients for severe weather usually come together: moisture, instability, lift, and shear. Given the right balance of parameters, events like November 10, 2002 can occur. We've already seen several powerful upper troughs this year, as we do most every fall season - however the low levels have failed to destabilize relative to the atmosphere's upper counterpart. But the potential is there with every upper trough - and so we should always be on the watch. November 10, 2002 is proof enough for that.
Web Site Design and Internet Marketing by CIS Internet
From Dan: Please Read
To my regular readers, I offer my apologies for this heavy-handed notice. Unfortunately it has become necessary, so please bear with me!
Please don't copy/upload this site's content to social media or other web sites. Those copies have been a critical problem for me, seriously harming this site and my photography/storm chasing operation by diverting traffic, viewers, engagement and income. "Credit" and "exposure" does not benefit this site or my operation, rather they threaten my ability to cover my operating expenses. Please read my full explanation for this notice here.
Before continuing, check each box to agree to and acknowledge these two statements:
Click this button to finalize this acknowledgement:
