Thursday May 13, 2025
Start Location: Dayton, Ohio
End Location: Elora, Ontario
Total Distance: 597 kms.Well this is my last day. Not a chase day as I could probably
write yesterday off as because of the lightning (would never chase it regularly) but I was
tired of driving and looking forward to getting home and resting. Chasing can be long days
with hundreds of miles and little time to do much else (that is if you want to see
anything the next day). I left early at 7 am so that I would get into Detroit by 11. As I
approached customs, I wondered if I would have trouble coming back. Saying youre a
storm chaser is not really considered an acceptable vacation. Just so happens the customs
officer knew what I did and asked me a few questions like where I went and what I saw
before asking the dreaded question " Is it really like twister?" Now I was tired
and ready for home but I said no and that I have regularly traveled 7000 kms in 8 days. He
said that is a lot of driving and then " Have a good day". Great. Back in the
country and ready to hightail it home. OK, now I forgot the speed limit was in kilometers
for about 4 mins after I noticed I was the only one whipping by other cars and then slowed
down and set the cruise control. I arrived home around 2:30 to my dog who had be depressed
since I left. I unloaded the car, safely placed all my film and video in a safe place and
relaxed to a night of t.v.
All in All, one of the best chase vacations I have had. I saw many new formations and
weather events that I had only heard about (gustanado, flash flooding). I caught me a weak
tornado in Kansas (will call it that but it could easily be classified as a funnel only).
I was very close (4 miles) to a tornado that caught another chaser off guard and me in
golfball size hail, and some lightning photographs that actually came out. And my
forecasting is definitely improving although I still have a ton to learn compared to the
chasers in the U.S. Guess I would too if I had more chances to chase. Well time to review
and revise.
Total Distance traveled : 6934 kms (4334 miles)
Total States Entered: 11
(Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas,
Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio)
Total Chase Days : 3.5
Bust Days : 1
Successful Chase Days: 2.5
Severe Storm Warnings: 14
Severe Storms I Was On: 7
Tornado Warnings: 0
Tornadoes Seen: 1 storm induced + 1 Gustanado (wind induced)