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Welcome to the Texas Tailchaser's Stormpage! 
Updated 7/19/99

Howdy!! My name is Steve Miller, KD5FMI. People often ask me why the name "Texas Tailchaser"? First off, it is not intended in the obvious context. Rather, when I was a boy, my dear grandmother who was also born and raised in Texas always referred to tornadoes as "naders" or more often "tails". I remember her talking about how a tail would come out of the clouds and  terrify everybody. I also used to be in a bass fishing club called the Tailchasers Bass Club (fish have tails too<g>). So with this in mind combined with my tendency to sometimes to feel like I am chasing my tail in circles, it was only natural to take up the name "Texas Tailchaser".

This site is dedicated to stormchasing in Texas & Oklahoma...the heart of Tornado Alley. Included are links that I normally rely upon to plan and coordinate my chases.  This is only one of the many different pages I have at this site, so be sure to check out my Site Index for an up-to-date listing.

Although I am not a degreed meteorologist (calculus = Tylenol), my passion for weather and severe storms is great. I do consider myself to be an amateur meteorologist. For over 20 years, I have studied and read everything about meteorology I could get my hands on, especially if it related to severe storms and tornadoes. I have attended many seminars and classes related to stormchasing, advanced stormspotting, and severe weather forecasting. Heck, I used to always watch the late, great Harold Taft of Channel 5 in Ft. Worth from whom I learned a great deal. He was a master at forecasting and understanding Texas weather...a true legend in the weather world. Today, I continue to study meteorology and severe storms as often as possible.  It is one of my deepest intellectual passions.

Born just west of Lubbock and living in North Texas all of my life, I have had a front row seat to the greatest show on earth....Texas Weather. My chasing experience began early in life since I was able to get my first driver's license....long before "Twister" popularized it. Today, I live in the heart of Tornado Alley just north of Dallas, Texas. For my real job, I am a MVS mainframe computer programmer/analyst. After enjoying being single all of my life, I am finally engaged to be married February 12, 2000 to my wonderful fiancee Julie (a native Texas gal of course). I am age 34 and like rooting for the Cowboys, Rangers, and the 1999 Stanley Cup Champions the Dallas Stars!! I enjoy listening to all sorts of music, writing, reading, relaxing, Casino gambling, amusement parks, camping, fishing and above all meteorology, stormchasing and storm photography. I am fascinated with research pertaining to tornadogenesis and severe storm dynamics and forecasting. Stormchasing is definitely more than a passive hobby, closer to an addiction actually. So, if you happen to see a blue Dodge Ram Extended Cab 4x4 and a rotating wall cloud at the same time, say hello and then RUN!  ;-)

I am also very happy to profess my faith in God and Jesus Christ as my savior.  My life has changed so much for the better. :-)  I won't do any preaching, but if you are really wanting a better life for yourself...especially if you are overwhelmed with despair and hoplessness as I once was, then seek him out and ask him into your life....it is so easy. It took me all of my 34 years to finally accept him and wish I had sooner. I'll be happy to talk to you about how and why I did and offer you any encouragement or advice. Email me anytime.

I am a licensed amateur radio operator which I enjoy as well. I usually monitor 147.12 or 146.92 duplex and 146.52 simplex. My call sign is KD5FMI.

SITE INDEX MY SEVERE STORM OUTLOOK - I offer my own severe weather forecast for the southern plains issued 1800Z every day during the active season. I am hoping to be able to do it twice a day in the future. CHASE REPORTS AND PICTURES  (7-7-98) Check out my latest chase reports and picture gallary. CHECK IT OUT!  (8-18-98) A page that I have put together of really great sites that I highly recommend for anybody interested in severe weather. You will find educational links, excellent detailed case studies of severe weather events, some very interesting cool stuff, and lots of links about the Jarrell, Texas tragedy. There is something for everybody so be sure to stop in here before leaving. KWIKPAGE - A condensed and abbreviated version of my stormpage for chasing on the road where faster downloads are necessary. Now up & running! COOL IMAGES (7-25-98)  Some very cool, interesting, unusual and educational images that I have captured on the internet. Radar, satellite, and other similar items will be featured here with different images when I have time.  RELATED LINKS (9-9-98)  You'll find a plethora of links here related to chasing and meteorology. If you are a new chaser, wanting to learn more about weather, a veteren chaser, weather weenie, meteorologist, etc., then you will want to explore here. Lots of links!! SUPERCELL DEPRIVATION CENTER - Some chase related humor inspired by the last three years of very limited number of good supercell storms to chase in the southern plains. A supercell drought...no doubt.

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HUB-CAPS ARPS DATA (excellent!)  @ = animation

CAPE/CIN/Helicity @	Sea Level Pressure  @	Composite Reflect./MSLP
LI/Cap/Moist.Conv @	Wind Speed and Direction   @	Reflectivity & Wind 2km
Theta-E/Moist. Conv @	Estimated Storm Motion	Reflectivity & Wind 3km
Dew Point   @	Divergence/Streamlines	Reflectivity & Wind 4km
Temperature @	4-Panel Refl./Wind/T/Td
BRN/BRN Shear	4-Panel CAPE/CIN/DIV/LI/Hel/Conv./Cap	Hub-CAPS Page - more stuff

"THE ALLEY" CONTOUR DATA BY NWS-LUBBOCK (excellent!)  Click on @ for 6 hr loop

Short Fuse Comp.   @	Lifted Index  @	Moist. Converg.  @	Lid Index
Temperature @	Theta-E @	Convergence @	Theta @
Dewpoint @	Theta-E Advect  @	Mixing Ratio  @	Theta Advect  @
Dewpoint Depression @	Winds @	Pressure @	Virtual Temp.  @
Est. Dryline  @	Streamline @	Press. Change 3hrs  @

S. PLAINS CONTOUR DATA BY NWS-LUBBOCK (excellent!)  Click on @ for 6 hr loop

Short Fuse Comp.   @	Lifted Index  @	Moist. Converg.  @	Lid Index
Temperature @	Theta-E @	Convergence @	Theta @
Dewpoint @	Theta-E Advect  @	Mixing Ratio  @	Theta Advect  @
Dewpoint Depression @	Winds @	Pressure @	Virtual Temp.  @
Est. Dryline  @	Streamline @	Press. Change 3hrs  @

SCHOOLNET/WEATHERNET SITES   (courtesy of Automated Weather Services)

DFW/North TX	San Angelo	Austin/Central TX
Tyler/Northeast TX	Tulsa/Northeast OK	Wichita, KS/South KS
Houston/Southeast TX	Waco	(more to come soon!)

BACKUP ADAS/ARPS SITES
OU/CAPS COMET/TINKER AFB

NWS Text Warnings, Information & Statements
All Warnings (excellent!) Tornado Warnings    Tornado Warnings-NWS-LBB Watch Status

Severe T-Storm Warnings      Severe T-Storm Warnings -NWS-LBB Special WX Statements

 12 hr. Storm Reports-Texas A&M      Storm Reports-Ohio State        Various Text Products-TX....OK

IWIN Graphical Interface-TX...OK...KS Public Info Statements TX....OK

As usual, all disclaimers apply concerning any reliability or responsibility whatsoever resulting from information obtained through this site. In otherwords, do not rely upon this site as a source for life & death decisions. This site is for personal use only and is solely intended for the stormchaser and weather enthusiast. Commercial use is strictly prohibited. In addition, I reserve all rights regarding the appearance, layout, style, and content of this page and all other pages of this site (ie.....color combinations, font styles, link styles, typesetting, logos, etc.).  I deem such specifics unique to my site therefore exclusive to Texas Tailchasers, Inc. as trademarked and copyrighted. Any duplication of my site will not be taken lightly. I work very hard expending a great deal of time researching all information and data found on this site and keeping that information current. This page was originally created on July 24, 1997.

I welcome comments and suggestions, especially links that you think would enhance the purpose of this page. If you have any trouble with this page or data, let me know. During the chase season from March through June, I have very little freetime, so bare with me if it takes awhile to respond. txt@gte.net