Best way to track weather/traffic along the route?

[s-one]

Thanks RoadTripper for your reply. That Garmin product has amazing capabilities and unfortunately I have already purchased one that only does traffic. I found out too late that I had to purchase a seperate piece (GM10/11) that I have to attached to the unit. With some of the great links provided, I should be able to accomplish the same with internet access on my phone. Even if I have to stop under a bridge and wait for a tornado to past by. LOL, just kidding about that last part.. I read that it was bad to do this.

[Mark Sedenquist]

Even if I have to stop under a bridge and wait for a tornado to past by. LOL, just kidding about that last part.. I read that it was bad to do this.

Phew! It drives me kookoo when I see people doing that -- the sideways wind speed from tornadoes often increases exponentially under bridges-- it is as effective as covering oneself in sheep's blood and then going swiming in shark-infested waters. If find yourself in a situation where outrunning a tornado is not an option -- get below ground in a storm shelter or get out of your car, find a ditch and lay face-down protecting the back of your neck with your hands. You want to make your body as low and as flat as you can.

Mark

[s-one]

When I was searching for weather tracking info, I just so happened to read a topic on what to do when your driving and are in a tornado's path. What I read is exactly what you are saying. Many of us SoCalers have no experience/education when it comes to crossing tornado alley of the midwest.

[Mark Sedenquist]

When I was searching for weather tracking info, I just so happened to read a topic on what to do when your driving and are in a tornado's path. What I read is exactly what you are saying.

I have been in life-threatening tornado-caused situations twice in my travels. In both instances, I didn't know what the appropriate response was and would have found it nearly impossible to believe that I could be safer out of my vehicle. But I was lucky both times and suffered no injuries. You will read accounts of those who have been in the path and they all describe the sound -- believe me it is much worse in person. There are two excellent books that deal with the appropriate responses to weather events. I recommend them both -- especially this one: Surviving Extreme Weather, by Gerrie McCall and Mark's book "Big Weather: Chasing Tornadoes in the Heart of America" makes for great bed-time reading!

During my second tornado adventure, I was in a large Class A RV and I did pause in an underpass near Detroit -- not to escape the wind, but because I couldn't see the road anymore and we were being hit with all kinds of debris and HUGE hailstones. A car slid by us upside-down and spinning, a bus bench flew past the windshield -- you get the idea -- it was nuts. I like extreme weather and frequently chase storms, but this was a little too much up-and-close for me!

Mark

[RoadTripper Brad]

...Mark's book "Big Weather: Chasing Tornadoes in the Heart of America" ...

... I like extreme weather and frequently chase storms,...

And people say I'm nuts because I want to do some storm chasing! And not just tornadoes either... hurricanes.

I'll have to take a look at that book, Mark. It sounds very interesting.

I just started to do a Google search on Mobile Weather Stations... quite a fancy array of gadgets, but they're more than a little out of my budget. Besides, I'd have to buy a bigger vehicle to mount them on!

-Brad

[s-one]

Oh my!!! I do not even want to get close to something like what you experienced. It reminds me of this script from Twister:

{Suddenly, a cow flies past, in front of them!}
Jo: Cow.
Melissa:{Into Phone} I gotta go, Julie, we got cows!! {Hangs up}
{Cow flies past again.}
Jo: Another cow.
Bill: Actually, I think that was the same one.

I appreciate the recommended books you referenced. Thanks!

[Midwest Michael]

I certainly haven't had any stories like that from on the road. I had to fight 70 mph striaght-line crosswinds driving through the plains once, but I've never encountered a tornado on a roadtrip.

I did have an F-1 one touch down less than a block away from my work a couple of years ago. The scariest - and most ironic - part is that I work in a building with a Dopplar Radar ball on top of a 1,000 foot tall tower in the parking lot.