A lot of times during the summer months and really throughout various other times of the year, we get some instability and we get pop up thunderstorms.  Well yesterday they said there was a 20% chance of thunderstorms which usually mean we get nothing.  So yesterday at lunch I don’t think there was a cloud in the sky.  When I left work, I saw a pretty good sized cell far to the south so I checked the radar on my cell phone and it was pretty far away.  The closer I got to home more and more little cells were popping up and thought to myself that these were pretty close.  Got home checked radar and sure enough, this one (20% chance) was coming right at us.  Sweet..!!!  So I grabbed a few pictures of the clouds in the area and the rain approaching.

Sometimes I think I’m a little obsessive about clouds and storms.  I guess after being in Seattle for 32 years and not really having bad storms and then moving to Texas where there are HUGE storms, I get a little carried away.  Not to mention I was I was a better photographer.

So the other night the dog and I were sitting around the house (wife was in Oklahoma) and I let Mazzie dog out back and looked up and saw some pretty good storm clouds off in the distance.  Like always I ran in and grabbed the camera and snapped a few photo’s of the clouds.

Here are a couple of photos I wanted to share:

Yesterday some of the area (North Texas) had some pretty good storms. Unfortunately they didn’t come to my area. So here are a couple of pictures I took to the distant storm cell structures.

The weather has been crazy this past winter and early spring. Couple weeks ago I was in Seattle and 85 percent of my stay it was only about 43 out and for April that is a little cold. Two days after I left they had 2 days of snow and some places got over 6 inches of snow. A blogger/twitter contact mentioned the other day it was snowing in Chicago. Crazy I tell you. I think everyone needs to stock up on some leg warmers, heavy coats, body stockings and gloves.

For the most part we have shed the cold weather gear down south as its been in the 70’s and 80’s. Yeah, shorts weather. So good luck to all you northern people still digging out from the cold weather while I sit back with a drink in my hand on the back patio enjoying the spring weather.

Back in the day I used to roll with some mini-truck and lowrider clubs. It was a lot of fun. We would travel every weekend to different cities to show off our rides and sometimes we actually set up a huge elaborate display with mirrors and ropes. We would clean our vehicles in and out. Those were some fun days.

Now that I’m older there are other clubs and hobbies that could be fun to check out. They have dog clubs, scale model clubs, weather and chess clubs, there are so many. Wait here is one my dad would love, a wine club.

Are you involved in any type of club? I would like to hear about it….

Earlier around 6ish they posted a tornado watch #224 for our area. They are talking about Golf Ball size hail, damaging winds and possible tornado or two.

2 counties out there is a tornado warning right now for rotation and there are some reports that there is damage as well. Local media came on and showed the projected path and it’s coming right at us. Might have more hail like we did last Thursday night.

I will keep the blog updated as much as possible…

If your in this area, watch the sky!

UPDATE:
Wow I don’ think I have seen this much Lightning in a really long time.  It was insane.  I hope my video I took worked out.  I have never edited video but I will try and see if I can get something posted..  It was nuts.  We escaped the hail at least so far and the really high winds.

Looks like we are just outside the moderate risk area tonight but still in the slight risk. Last thursday we were in a slight risk and had marble sized hail for at least 5 minutes straight.

Here is the Day 1 Hazardous Outlook from noaa.gov:
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH TEXAS.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.
THUNDERSTORM CHANCES WILL SPREAD ACROSS ALL OF NORTH TEXAS FROM WEST
TO EAST TODAY. SEVERE STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE NORTH OF A LINE FROM
LAMPASAS...TO WACO..TO ATHENS. THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF
SEVERE STORMS NORTH OF A LINE FROM BRECKENRIDGE TO GAINESVILLE. THE
BEST POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE WEATHER WILL COME LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO
TONIGHT. LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL
WILL BE THE MAIN THREATS. THERE IS ALSO AN ISOLATED TORNADO THREAT
IN THE MODERATE RISK AREA.

After I left the Dallas, Fort Worth area for Seattle on last Wed., The metroplex took a beating. Various tornado warned storms ripped through the area. First of all our house did not have any damage (thank goodness) however our friends down in Alvarado did not escape entirely.

Here are a couple of pictures they took and emailed me. It’s pretty wild how the sign is actually under the car. In addition to these pictures they lost both of the storage sheds. There neighbors however lost all their windows.

Yeah I know I shouldn’t be, but I am.  For the most part it’s really all my fault for not doing anything about it, but what can you do?

You try really hard.  You get all prepared.  You get all excited.  Then nothing!

Yes the storms yesterday have me disappointed today.  But like I said, it’s my own fault.  I could have chased some.  I could have driven up to 2 hours away yesterday and watched a couple really good looking storms.  Hopefully one day I will have the chance to go storm chasing and see a tornado or two.

I told my wife before we moved here that was going to be one of my goals is to get some really good storms and some tornados.  Now almost 5 years in Texas and still nothing.  Now don’t get me wrong, I have seen some pretty good storm setups and storms, but not quite what my goal is.

Spring is still early and plenty of time left.

http://spc.noaa.gov/products/watch/ww0156.html
Just issued..

EFFECTIVE THIS THURSDAY AFTERNOON FROM 555 PM UNTIL MIDNIGHT CDT.

TORNADOES…HAIL TO 2.5 INCHES IN DIAMETER…THUNDERSTORM WIND
GUSTS TO 70 MPH…AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE
AREAS.

Between the tornado watch issued earlier and this one, we are on the fence. Local media states our turn will come later tonight..

Just have to keep watching..