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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. This page is a detailed account of the biggest threat to my photography and video operation that I had to battle daily to just barely survive, and eventually could not overcome. It's a problem facing all of my colleagues as well. |
LOCATION: Interstate 79 corridor near Amma, WV, 30 miles north of Charleston
EXPEDITION VIDEO: Storm on I-79 in Roane County
A West Virginia Courtesy Patrol driver described the sight of this shelf cloud against a clear sky to the south 'like driving into a tunnel'. Indeed, most northbound travelers were probably bracing for a maelstrom as they drove toward this wall of dark clouds.
This 'shelf cloud' feature, as it is referred to, is caused by rain-cooled air surging outward from underneath a collapsing thunderstorm. Although they look very ominous and can be followed by heavy rain, gusty winds and lightning, a shelf cloud usually indicates that a storm is weakening.
Digital photos:
Looking north at the Amma exit:
View to the east from I-79 north of Clendenin:
Looking north near Elkview:
View looking straight up:
Digital Video: Sony DCR-TRV900 3CCD MiniDV, 720x480 NTSC
Digital Camera: Fuji FinePix 4700, 2400x1800
