Topic: Tornado Intercept - Channel 7 tonight

[Richary]

Late notice but I just saw this on the TV Guide for 6:30pm tonight.

What happens when scientists drive a specially-designed truck with 8000 pounds of protective steel plating and bulletproof glass into the heart of a tornado? Follow a group of experts as they attempt to analyse tornadoes by getting as close to them as possible. Using state-of-the-art, high-tech equipment these adventurous twister hunters offer visual proof of how dangerous tornadoes and their work can be.

[Michael Bath]

That was good!   Don't get to see many weather docos as I don't have pay tv.
Some very nice footage. Does anyone know what season (year) it was filmed ?

[Mike]

Yep the season was 2008 and they're just about to air the second series in the US.  Reed Timmer joined them in 2008.  Was a pretty good doco, pity the TIV busted a rear axle - how would you be 50km into a tornado chase and bang!  A tad poor construction there!  From what I hear the second series is even hairier! 

[Jimmy Deguara]

The year was 2005 not 2008 Mike - of course I stand corrected if you can prove otherwise. The tornadoes and lack of tornadoes in between seem to lead to a bad season and it perfectly fits the profile of 2005. 5 weeks without tornadoes and then June 9, June 11, and June 12 tornado outbreaks followed. The June 12 2005 tornado outbreak occurred in the southern Texas Panhandle too - which fits the Turkey, Texas forecast by Josh Wurman.

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara

[Richary]

While it wasn't quite as good as I hoped and relied a bit too much on computer graphics, it was interesting to see the workings of the DOWs. Some nice footage of tornadoes and lightning as well though. Shame the shots from inside the tornado weren't that exciting.

[Jason(pato)]

The first episode of the second series of Stormchasers aired on Austar on 14th January at 830pm. Was basically about the new TIV (TIV-2, weighs in at 16000lbs from memory) they had built and an introduction to Reed Timmer and his chase team. Mentioned to MB on our chase on Friday what a lunatic Reed Timmer was, he gets crazy close to tornadoes (sometimes less than hundreds of metres away). But he does get the money shots which we all love to see. Not sure when the next episode is on as I don't have a guide but I'm sure that there will be another one soonish.

Cheers Jason

[Mike]

No photographs of the new TIV were available until the start of 2008 (Nobody on his forum even saw it until then) as chasers and hangers-on followed the DOW.  Discovery may have added snippets of past chases to fill the lull and downtime for last season or in their programming style for the series.  Reed was not contracted until the start of 2008 as he was in consultation with them during 2007.  I would suspect that it's an amalgamation of post chase footage included with new season footage to complete this chapter hence those particular events you mentioned.  I can surely find out more info if you like.

[cloudfairy]

Does anyone taped it? I only saw the last 10 minutes

[Mike]

Jimmy, this new series was filmed from April to mid-June 2008 - the other footage added are fillers - the norm with these things.  Renate, you can usually see repeats around 9am the next morning after it screens.  You'll have to check the guide for when it is on next!

[cloudfairy]

Renate, you can usually see repeats around 9am the next morning after it screens.  You'll have to check the guide for when it is on next!

9am next morning is over

But I'll try and find a guide.

[David C]

The year was 2005 not 2008 Mike - of course I stand corrected if you can prove otherwise. The tornadoes and lack of tornadoes in between seem to lead to a bad season and it perfectly fits the profile of 2005. 5 weeks without tornadoes and then June 9, June 11, and June 12 tornado outbreaks followed. The June 12 2005 tornado outbreak occurred in the southern Texas Panhandle too - which fits the Turkey, Texas forecast by Josh Wurman.

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara

Notice that they quoted the record wind speed recorded in the vortex of the Oklahoma City tornado was 1998.  Nevermind, it was good doco.

I have to agree, Jimmy and I don't think that the episode on channel 7 was shot during the bumper 2008 season, and was probably 2007.

While the turnaround to stuff going free-to-air is getting faster, I very much doubt this would go to free to air in Australia within some 6-7 months of being filmed.

[Peter J]

It is a pity, coz it never aired in Melbourne - coz of the tennis.
Unless one is rich enough to afford HD.

Big Pete
(begging on the streets for 2 more weeks)

[Richary]

Well Big Pete, you don't need a HD set to watch the HD channels. And a HD box is <$100 these days and quite happily talks to my 7 year old cathode ray SD TV.

[Jimmy Deguara]

I still stand by the year 2005 - please alert me with any evidence of the tornadic events associated with the tornadic events in question.

Was Reed Timmer in the program? If he was, I did not recognise him there. I know there was a cable network documentary that involved the DOWs and Redd Timmer which was aired recently.

The DOWs have worked in close association with the special chase tornado vehicle for a few years at the least. I still believe it to be the year 2005 given the June 12 event. That same year there was an outbreak of tornadoes in the Nebraska panhandle and that coincides with the first event discussed.

Nothing happened in between besides the May 12 event which only those willing to get the cars demoloished by 5 inch hailstones got to see the tornado. I don't think the DOWs could make a move quick enough to get that event.

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara

[Mike]

You guys must have the old series airing?  Reed is def in this one and the footage of him is 2008 as I saw the preview trailer from him.  I can't help further on this if I'm not viewing what series you are!