This section is for storm chases done in the central / Midwestern United States during the year of 2024. This includes all storm chasing activities (including any major chase "expeditions") during the year of 2024 in the central USA (aka "Tornado Alley"). For 2024, all chases in the central USA will be logged in this section, with many of the chases being possible "spot" chases / major severe weather "setups" chased. Here you should find many pictures of lightning, tornadoes, hail, strong winds, along with many severe thunderstorm elements. Keep in mind that this chase log is scientific evidence and portrays my on-going storm chasing research. It has been placed on this page for easy reference and meteorological interests. Please do not plagiarize or copy this document to other sites for distribution.

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STORM CHASING - CENTRAL UNITED STATES - 2024 CHASE LOG

Details coming soon.

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ABOUT THIS CHASE LOG FOR THE MIDWEST

This is a chase log for any chases during 2024 in the Midwest and Central United States that were conducted as "spot" chases as well as any dedicated chase trip. Each chase section within this area will have its own details and such for that particular chase. This area was set up in the spring of 2024 and is for any chase that was conducted in the US Plains and Midwest. Equipment use in such chases range from cell phone to HAM radio communications, digital / still cameras, video (SD) and high / UHD (4k) camcorders, and data logging / GPS via laptop computer. Storm chasing involved driving in harsh conditions and / or for long periods of time.

All chases and observations are in chronological order and a chase number is assigned to each entry. Please bear in mind that all observations adhere to modern storm analysis standards and do not include all storms that occurred in a given area for a particular chase period.

Any kind of storm such as a thunderstorm, tornado, waterspout, tropical cyclone, and extratropical storm can be chased or observed. I have tried to keep this log of any storms that I have observed as accurate as possible, while using terms and expressions to abide by those used by most meteorologists and storm spotters today.

Storm chasing and observation can be extremely dangerous and may result in serious injury or death. I have received intermediate and advanced training for storm spotting in 1996. I strongly urge anyone who is to try their hand at storm spotting to get training before doing so. You must also have a good understanding of meteorology and storm dynamics. "If you don't know what you're doing, Don't do it!" Contact your local National Weather Service office for information on storm spotting and about training to become a Skywarn storm Spotter.

CHOOSE A VIDEO CLIP BELOW - LINKS TO YOUTUBE

Video Of 2024 Total Eclipse (Arkansas) - April 8, 2024
Timelapse 360 Video Of 2024 Total Eclipse (Arkansas) - April 8, 2024

CHASE MAP FOR THE TOTAL ECLIPSE IN APRIL 2024

The image above is a composite of the cloud forecast for April 8 (around 18z or 1 PM CDT) with the path of eclipse totality and center-line across the United States. The annotations show the flights between Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Dallas, Texas, and appear in Green. The small blue path in NE Texas and SW Arkansas is the driving paths to avoid cloud cover. Note the small clear area in SW and W Arkansas! Low clouds appear in blue, where orange are high cloud forecasts. A major weather system is over much of Texas and was to be avoided - The opposite of storm chasing, where we look for LACK of clouds. The yellow area is the general area of interest for this trip.

REFINED "TARGET" MAP FOR THE TOTAL ECLIPSE ON APRIL 8, 2024

These annotated images show the totality paths, from SW to SE, across the two main states of concern - Texas to the left, and Arkansas to the right. Most of Texas, from near Dallas and southwestwards, was forecasted to be under heavy cloud cover, even with a potential for severe weather. Farther northeast, and into SW Arkansas and northward, a significant break in the clouds was realized, with little low nor high cloud cover. The final "target" area was in SW Arkansas and between De Queen and Mena off SR 71.

VISIBLE SATELLITE SHOWING ECLIPSE ON APRIL 8, 2024

This is an annotated visible satellite image between 18z (1 PM CDT) and 1830z (1:30 PM CDT) of the south-central continental USA and northern Mexico. The area showing my location in SW Arkansas is indicated by a yellow "X", just north of a dissipating area of low clouds and entering clear skies. The unmistakable dark shadow is just crossing N Mexico and will enter SW Texas, continuing northeastwards across the USA and eventually into eastern Canada at hyper-sonic ground relative speeds.

CHASE TRIP CHRONOLOGY FOR THE TOTAL ECLIPSE IN APRIL 2024

The main portion of this trip was from April 6 to April 13, with the main focus days from April 7-9, and the 8th being the major day. The other days were either travel days, and / or days spent working on my normal IT job. After the 13th, I was supposed to fly out to California, but canceled that trip due to medical reasons, and headed back to Florida on April 13. I flew out to Dallas, Texas (from Fort Lauderdale) on April 6, secured the rental vehicle (a 2024 Toyota Corolla), and headed to a hotel in Plano, Texas, which I booked for the entire week. Another friend of mine I worked with in Florida, Haifeng, flew into the other airport in Dallas, and joined me for the main observation of the eclipse, returning to Florida on April 9.

The main objective was basically a total "opposite" of storm chasing - To find the clearest skies possible. Long-range forecasts were not looking good for viewing the eclipse, especially in Texas, so a plan to go northeast, preferably into Arkansas, was acceptable. On April 8, not only was eastern Texas forecasted to be under heavy clouds, but it also included possible severe weather, and points eastwards there after. I did not chase these setups for storms, since they were messy and fast moving to the east - And chose to work on my IT job instead (remotely from my hotel in Plano). On April 8, best chances were from SW Arkansas and northward for clear skies. I left Plano via Highway 75 to Highway 380 east to I-30 near Greenville, Texas, then SR 41 / 71 north out of New Boston, Texas and into Arkansas. De Queen (SW Arkansas) was still under clouds, so I continued north to be southwest of Mena, near Cove and Hatfield, where the dreaded low cloud deck dissipated by 12:30 PM CDT.

The eclipse was observed off SR 71 in that area (Polk / Sevier Counties). Totality was experienced from about 1:48 PM CDT to 1:52 PM, with over 4 minutes and 15 seconds of darkness with a "360 degree dawn" surrounding the area. The eclipse was spectacular, with a fiery corona, red flares, and even a large solar prominence (bright arch shape / pinpoint of light) seen during totality. Once back in sunlight, I packed up my gear and my friend and I headed the same route we came on, via SR 71 / 41 south to I-30, then east to Highway 380, then Highway 75 south and returned to Plano during the late afternoon. Distant storms and supercells loomed over the horizon to the south, but skies remained clear even near Dallas.

The camera gear used was a GoPro MAX 360 (for virtual immersive 4k video - Esp time-lapse), Sony NX-70 (HD), Canon HFW-11 (zoomed HD), and a Canon Digital Rebel for stills. Other shots were done with a Samsung S24 Ultra smartphone. Two dash cams were also set up (one in the car and another at the hotel in Plano), but unfortunately, the video was unusable from them. On April 9, my friend returned back to Florida - With myself remaining in Plano, working remotely for my IT job from there, and returned to Florida (instead of California) during the morning and afternoon of April 13. The total mileage logged on the rental vehicle was 433 miles.

TOTAL ECLIPSE 2024 CHASE MAIN PARTICIPANTS

CHASER NAMEHOME / BASE CITYCALLSIGNCHASE DATESOCCUPATION
CHRIS COLLURADEERFIELD BEACH, FLKG4PJN4-6 To 4-13IT CONSULTANT
HAIFENG HUTAMARAC, FLN/A4-6 To 4-9VB CONSULTANT

GALLERY FOR APRIL 6-8, 2024

Flying into the Dallas, Texas area during the evening of April 6, 2024 (from Fort Lauderdale, Florida).
The day before the eclipse, April 7, had good weather with fast-moving high clouds. Here is myself at a park just west of downtown Dallas.
Sub begins to dim near Hatfield, Arkansas during the early afternoon of April 8.
Moon half-way covers the sub between first-contact and totality, at roughly 1 PM CDT.
Close up of partial stages of eclipse (using solar filters).
Canon HD camera with solar filter using a magnetic mount with the sun obscured in the viewfinder.
Obscured sun (70%) by 1:30 PM CDT viewed through thin low clouds passing by.
Wide view of total eclipse at about 1:48 PM CDT. The bright dot to the lower right is Venus.
Myself taken with smartphone, with the eclipse, Venus, and "360 degree dawn" above the horizon at 1:50 PM CDT.
Medium view of totality, which lasted over 4 minutes.
Incredible corona of sun during totality.
Less exposed image, showing "Bailey's beads" (top right), and large solar prominence (bottom). The prominence was very bright and visible to the naked eye - Twice the size of the earth!
Totality ends at just after 1:52 PM CDT. Note the "diamond ring" effect!
Moon continues across the sun, leaving about 80% covered just before 2 PM CDT.
Horse drawn rides at an adjacent horse ranch after the eclipse.

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