The event I’ve been so looking forward to is here at last: College of Du Page’s 2009 Severe Weather Symposium.
Tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. kicks off with Adam Houston speaking on “Principles of Deep Convection.” I’m not sure how much of his material will be an overview of mesoscale basics and how much will introduce new knowledge, but from my perspective, revisiting the essentials can never hurt, particularly since the rest of the first day will all focus on thunderstorm initiation.
Based on my two previous experiences with COD’s severe weather conferences and on the contents of the present agenda, I have high expectations for this conference. It should be an informational gold mine, and I anticipate leaving it Saturday enriched with some extremely useful insights–many of them cutting-edge– that should enhance my forecasting skills during the 2010 storm chasing season.
The goal is, of course, improved targeting, with fewer busts and more tornado intercepts. But deepening one’s knowledge is a reward in itself, and the payoffs can’t always be predicted with pinpoint accuracy any more than the weather can. For now, it’s enough to say that I’m very excited about this conference. The lineup of speakers is impressive, the subject material sounds like everything I could ever hope for, and I look forward to finally connecting with a few people whom I’m familiar with from Stormtrack, but whom I’ve never met in person.
My storm chasing partner, Bill Oosterbaan, will also be attending, naturally–he’s as gonzo about this stuff as I am. We’ll be rooming together. Wish his bro, Tom, could make it as well, and my good friend, Kurt Hulst, but both of them have commitments and financial constraints. Tough break. We’ll miss you guys! And we’ll take good notes–promise.
I might add that I’ll be bringing my saxophone. Since the event is being held at the Double Tree Hotel in the Chicago area, the chance of finding some live jazz in the area isn’t out of the question, maybe even in the hotel restaurant. Should the opportunity arise, it would be fun to sit in with a band, and in any case, I can at least get in a little practice. Wherever I go, I take my saxophone with me. Everywhere, including storm chases. It pays to be prepared.
