Weather addict, tornadoes, rainbows, hurricanes

I was heading home from work and was observing a double rainbow and when I crested a hill I saw where BOTH rainbows came down in a field. I then noticed the “pot of gold” at the end of the rainbow

Photo Credit

Eric Townsend

James J. Garriss

August 10, 2021

It’s time to make a list of wishes for gift-buying relatives and elves. What do you give a hopeless weather watcher?

If you are like me, there are weather events you would love to see, but it is a bit hard for a present-giver to wrap up a thundersnow. For a moment, ignore reality. What are three weather gifts you wish you could get this holiday season?

Wish 3:
A storm-chaser trip. Yes, I know that chasing tornadoes is dangerous, even when done by experts, but seeing a tornado is awesome. I’ve seen three. One when I was a child and it was scary in a cool, shivery way. I was in the car with my mother and we saw it in the distance. I was young enough that I knew Mommy would keep me safe and she did.

The other two were last year—in a remarkable desert thunderstorm in Arizona. The area was remote enough that no people or property were damaged and the dance of clouds and wind was magnificent.

This photo shows six rainbows. I’d settle for three. SOURCE: The Astrophysics Science Division of NASA/GFSC Credit Terje O. Nordvik

Wish 2:
A triple rainbow. This one is a little harder to deliver. Here in the desert, with our monsoons and clear sparkling air, double rainbows are common. I’ve only seen one or two triple rainbows. They feel like magic.

The US Air Force, NOAA and NASA fly scientific observation planes inside hurricanes. What a ride!

Wish 1:
A ride with a Hurricane Hunter or NOAA flight. Since 1943, the US Air Force has conducted flights to gather information on tropical storms and hurricanes in the Atlantic. Even though much of the current observations now come from satellites, the Air Force Hurricane Hunters, NOAA and NASA still conduct flights for the closest scientific measurements. They fly in the belly of the beast, actually entering the eye of the storm and observing development patterns. They don’t carry tourists, but if they did, (and it was affordable) I would sign up immediately.

Now you have my crazy wish list.

What would you wish for? This is a blog for weather lovers. What do you wish Santa would give you?

Storms