Out Of The Blue 2009-2010 Storm Chase Adventures by Shane Adams DVD * 2009-2010 * 96min * R for language * $20.00 S&H Included This collection of chases represents a time when we went from the outhouse to the penthouse. In 2009 we struggled to even find the money or means to chase, but came away with a few classic days to remember. But in 2010, things suddenly changed, and we were able to chase like we had never chased before. The result was great success, in the form of tornado intercepts from March through October, including the single most spectacular tornado intercept of my career.

 

March 23, 2009 The video opens with this face-paced chase. Bridget and I, along with Chad Lawson and Chad's former chase partner Rick Jarvis, race a rocket storm through northwest Oklahoma into southern Kansas, on what  happens to be our first-year anniversary. After nearly an hour's pursuit, during which a few speed limit laws are fractured, we finally catch up to the rotation just northeast of Arkansas City, KS. Then the storm rewards us by producing a weak tornado right on top of our road, just ahead of us. It doesn't last long, but it's a nice reward for our efforts, not to mention an exclusive that nobody else saw but us. A great anniversary gift for a chasing couple.

 

April 16, 2009 This segment features our best day of 2009. We nearly get suckered north to an ongoing tornado-warned storm, but decide to hold our ground. That patience is rewarded, as a new storm develops to our southwest. We move to intercept it, and just as we do, it goes insane, producing three tornadoes at one time. Before the spectacle is over, the storm produces a total of five twisters, the last of which is a multiple vortex that dances behind a farmstead, just missing it. An exclusive tornado event you won't see anywhere else.

 

March 8, 2010  Our first tornado event of the year is featured on this segment. After spending too much time chasing early day junk from north Texas into southern Oklahoma, we decide to let it go and backtrack southwest for the main show. I ignore my original town of Sayre and opt to drop further south. I pay for it later, as we end up well southeast of the first tornado as it develops. After racing north we finally catch the last few minutes of its life from a distance. It dissipates, and we continue north with the storm. Just before dusk, it produces a second tornado, which turns a beautiful purple as the sun starts to set beside it.

 

March 10, 2010  This short segment features a magical moment from a longshot chase. We decide to take a chance on a very marginal setup, still riding the high of our March 8 tornadoes. After bumping into veteran chasing couple Jon and Shawna Davies, we target a storm moving up from the southwest. We get in front of it, and watch as turbulent motion develops in the base. Suddenly a small white funnel cloud develops just in front of us, dipping down as it passes right over us. As it does, Bridget's camera records (and we feel) a sudden windshift.

 

April 22, 2010 One of my favorite events of 2010 is featured here. On the heels of a close-but-no-cigar chase the day before, we find ourselves in the Texas panhandle for the second consecutive day. We drive to our target, find a nice spot, and setup. A storm develops, becomes severe, and slowly rolls towards us. We watch it develop rotation, then move a few miles up the road for a better position. Once there, we setup again, and enjoy the show. A tornado forms, and then just as it dissipates, a second one forms to its northwest. This entire "handoff" sequence including the entire lifecycle of the first tornado and most of the second, is documented from one spot.

 

May 10, 2010 One of the most intense chases of my career is featured on this segment. On a high risk day when storm speeds were lightning quick, we intercept a powerful storm in northern Oklahoma. With this insane storm racing at 60mph, we give it plenty of room as we setup several miles downstream. Over the next ten minutes, the storm races towards us, producing multiple tornadoes as it approaches, including a crazy multiple vortex, with condensation snakes writhing everywhere. We bail when the storm gets too close, and get chased all the way to I-35 before diving south to get out of the way.

 

May 19, 2010 This segment features another major, high risk event in 2010. We target north-central Oklahoma, and intercept a storm just as it begins to crank up. It produces a quick, brief tornado, and then begins to really ramp up. We re-position and setup as the rotation begins to intensify. After several minutes, the storm seems to be cycling down, so we leave our spot to re-position east. However that move is a mistake, as the storm begins to produce a large tornado just as we turn our backs. I happen to catch a glimpse of it as we're turning to head east, so we make a quick u-turn and drive right back into its path. We finally get setup directly in front of the tornado, and watch as it puts on an amazing display. After it dissipates, we abandon the storm and head back west to pick up the next one. We observe amazing structure, strong rotation, and a third tornado from this second storm.

 

October 24, 2010 The single most spectacular tornado intercept of my career crowns this DVD. On a day when we weren't even planning to chase, the most incredible day of my chasing life happens. After busting on marginal setups the previous two days, I'm at home on Sunday afternoon enjoying the only day off we've had all weekend. I know there's a chase possibility, but after getting burned for 2/3 of my weekend, I just want the final day to relax. But then storms form close to home, just northeast. Bridget points them out to me from our back patio, so we check radar. After deciding it's worth a shot, we make chase for the storm. However, within minutes of being on the road, we realize there's no way we can catch it. Since we're already out and in chase mode, I decide to head south down the dryline, in hopes that additional storms will form that we can get in position for. One does, and we intercept it near Rice, TX. What follows is the most incredible tornado I've ever witnessed, giving us every possible angle imaginable: backlit tube, classic cone, stovepipe, multiple vortex, violent debris-filled whirl, white elephant trunk, and finally, snakey rope. This chase and tornado epitomize "Out of the Blue".