Pecos Hank's video: STUPID TORNADO CHASING - Dangerous Behavior

Impulsive tornado chasing and dangerous behavior nudging more and more chasers closer to the edge of death. Is it really worth it? COPYRIGHT PECOS HANK 2023 NOT FOR REBROADCAST To license video contact hankschyma@gmail.com SUPPORT THIS CHANNEL https://www.patreon.com/pecoshank CORE PUNCHING A strong storm’s heaviest concentration of rain and hail is the core. Storm chasers often risk their windshield’s driving through the core to keep up with a storm or see a tornado on the other side. But sometimes the tornado is lurking inside the core. Punching into a core hoping to see a soggy, rain wrapped tornado is highly risky and largely shortsighted. Both times I came close to being killed by tornadoes, they were obscured in precipitation. So why do some of us risk so much to capture sloppy, often passed over and forgotten, rain-wrapped tornado footage? DEDICATION or DESPERATION A handful of you are aware of the immense dedication and sacrifice it takes to track down and capture these monsters. The pricey gear and gadgets, the expensive wear and tear, the endless driving day after day, the months of preparation each year, and the years of research. After all that investing, when that rare tornado shot is finally in your sites, the need to succeed can be a wicked influence. NEBRASKA CHASE ACCOUNT - MAY 12, 2023 In the midst of a four week losing streak and another long commute, I just missed a photogenic tornado in Nebraska. Several of my friends hit the jackpot. From the notch of another storm, I was able to capture a soggy wedge before it wrapped itself in thicker blankets of rain. That sting of failure was driving me beyond better judgment and into the heavy rain for a highly unlikely redeeming shot. The adjacent winds of the invisible, tornado raked across and rocked my vehicle as I fled. Looking back at radar loops, it appeared that the tornado weakened and expanded effectively backing up its perimeter to my location. After some deeper, internal reflection I realized I was more susceptible to the impulses of hubris, competition, and the need to succeed, then I was aware. Especially when caught up in the chase. The next time I'm in a hungry hot pursuit of a tornado wrapped in heavy rain, I hope I'll remember how stupid it is. HERD MENTALITY In the information whirlwind of storm chasing, It’s easy to become overwhelmed and confused. Another disoriented chaser racing by might appear confident and so you decide to follow them to glory. Then another clueless chaser starts following you and pretty soon you’re in a conga line of confusion. Perhaps this is one reason we’re seeing more and more convoys racing into potentially perilous situations. If you’ve lost situational awareness, try not to assume others know what they’re doing. You may end up following a bunch of lemmings. I'm guilty of the above as well. I recall back around 2005 I was chasing a lightning storm in Oklahoma. Back then I had no data other than a weather radio. Storm chaser Warren Faidley's vehicle whizzed by going the opposite direction with all its antennae and I thought "He must know something." I turned around and followed him all the way to his hotel parking lot. For some reason he was quitting for the day. AWESTRUCK To be a successful chaser, you’re really gonna have to love thunderstorms. If you don’t, daily disappointment and road wear is gonna cull you out fast. When that rare tornado moment is baring down, it’s EASY for a tornado nut to become a transfixed, sitting duck. If you think tornadoes are neato on YouTube? Wait until you see one in real life. As massive as there are, these storms have a funny way of sneaking up on you. Try to keep that in mind if you find yourself gawking at one. DUCK MENTALITY. The most dangerous part of the storm is approaching close but all the other chase vehicles are still sitting there, so you sit there. But they’re possibly sitting there because you’re not moving. If you’re feeling its time to scamper away, trust your lizard brain rather than the flock around you. PASSING Passing can be one of the most nerve wracking things a chaser can do in a storm. Especially passing the sailing and splashing 18 wheelers. If you decide to go for it, keep in mind, strong winds tend to blow things over. If someone is passing you, why not let off the accelerator a bit to help them out? If your ego can handle this, you'll decrease your chances of an accident. HYPE ADDICTION A great way to score 5K or 6K likes is to almost die in a tornado. The boost your channel will get from your stupidity will likely outshine any calculated beauty you capture. The world that worships recklessness wants to see you die. Ask yourself, do you really want to oblige them? For many people it’s better to be annoying than invisible. Just ask any guy blaring music or revving their engine at the gas pump. Happy Trails