You've found Darwin's premier storm chasing website!  There's storm info, meteorological information and my own photo galleries. Information on cyclones and severe weather/lightning and special pages on supercells and tornadoes in the USA and storm chasing hints and tips and so much more!


1953-2003


This site is dedicated to the late Peter Jarver who lived in the Territory for many years photographing our wonderful storms and landscapes.  His inspiration and passion  encouraged me to pursue my own chasing and photography interests.  I hope that my own photographs show the same passion, so please enjoy my site.

Please visit Peter Jarver's site here:

http://www.peterjarver.com/




(large storm passing Cullen Bay, Darwin 2008)

Welcome to....

The most informative storm chasing website in Darwin!

* New gallery page added and new kids page started!

*NEW!  Current tornado videos from the USA in the US tornado page, including cars being thrown like toys!!

*This site is regularly maintained and updated so please return for a view.

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Darwin averages about 80+ thunderstorm days per year. Our build-up season is from October to December, with monsoonal rain events roughly December to April.  Whether you like storm cloud structure, sunsets, lightning of all types or flora and fauna - the Northern Territory is a world of its own and truly a photographer's dream and not just for storms!



(stunning photo below captured of a morning double rainbow  over the ocean in Darwin.  Photo used with kind permission from Nolan Caldwell)


 I update the site on a regular basis so it's worthwhile returning (generally because I accidently delete things I should not have!!) and I'm always chasing something at all hours if storms are about.  Feel free to leave a message in the guest book and if you have any suggestions or something you'd like me to add to the site, simply fill out a contact form.  (Some photos may appear pixilated but the originals are not!  It's purely for space requirements on the site.)



 

 

 

 

 

 



    

What's the best way to describe storm chasing?  'Anticipation of the unknown'.  You can listen to the dramatic music and let your imagination go for a minute or two. 

I'm often asked what it is like to storm chase.  It's hard to describe in a few words but  there's a sense of being humbled under such conditions.  Unless you've actually been out underneath an intense thunderstorm with multiple strikes around you close by and thunder ripping through your body or severe wind gusts as a prelude to the actual storm, it's an adrenalin rush to the extreme.  It's being awe-struck at the power of nature and how vulnerable you can feel when faced with it.

I used to race motocross and supercross and I was asked the same question.  My answer to that was; unless you've ridden a competition machine flat out and hit the dirt with your body bouncing at speed or being overtaken in the air by someone flying 10 feet above you, you'll never know!

I think you get my meaning.....







 


.........Now that I've got your attention!

Immerse yourself in this beautiful lightning video   with wonderful string accompaniment by Brian Williams & taken by Cathy L Gregg.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHcSo6jLRgo

Cathy's website here:

http://www.rhinoconcepts.com/



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And if they seemed a little too sedate for you...hold on!...THIS footage of a chaser primed for a severe storm is PRICELESS!  This happens when you've intercepted something special and the weather goes nuts!  The end of the video is just great - any serious chaser has been in the same situation and love it!


 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0gCcE4qVeE


               

 
 

* NEW!   U.S.A TORNADO TOURS 2008.

 

  Friends and meteorologists Reed Timmer and Joel Taylor have announced their 2008 tornado tours.  Experience the ultimate in professional storm chasing with life changing video and photography opportunities. 



 

 

No storm chaser will get as close to powerful storms - safely!! Click on the link to find out more! http://www.extremetornadotours.com/


 

NEW! Extreme weather discussion forum now up and running with Tornadovideos.net. 
http://www.tornadovideos.net/forum/forums.cfm



Links and local businesses that I recommend visiting/using:

For all your corporate, special occasion or personal limousine requirements I highly recommend Darwin's finest.



http://darwinlimos.com/

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Great local company for all your framing needs. Darren has some superb photos and oils on display for sale and a fantastic sports memorabilia collection - some very sought after items indeed!


 Talk to Darren at:
Total Picture Frames
Showroom 7, Homemaker Village
350 Bagot Road, Millner, Darwin.

Ph:(08) 8948 3770 Fax: (08) 8948 3773

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Traveling through the Northern Territory would not be complete without a stop-over in Katherine, roughly 290km south from Darwin.  It's the gateway to Katherine Gorge and many other fantastic places to visit!  Go to this link for all the information on what's happening there:
http://www.webpage-nt.com/

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Territory Hardware Agencies Pty Ltd are suppliers to many companies, individuals throughout the NT, including Bunnings, Mitre10 to name a few.


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* Frank Cabrera's brand new business!
N.T. Digital prints and framing
shops 1&2/56 Georgina Cres, Yarrawonga, Palmerston.

(08) 8932 3726
http://www.ntdigital@bigpond.com

You can be assured of  professional, quality work.  Frank specializes in digital print and canvas printing, so speak to Frank and tell him you found him here!

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Visit the site below for the most comprehensive storm  site on the planet.  Over 18,000+ photos from Australia and the U.S. chases, many videos to see.  Storm info links, a discussion forum that you can also join and so much more...! 
Australian government weather site:  http://www.bom.gov.au/

Australian and USA weather related links

http://www.theweatherprediction.com/

ttp://downunderchase.com/storminfo/

http://www.weather.gov/

http://www.rap.ucar.edu/weather/model/

http://www.osei.noaa.gov/

http://www.spc.noaa.gov/



http://skywarn.com/



http://www.stormchaserco.com/

Storm chase website for Verne, Michael and Eric Carlson.  Packed with wonderful photos and information from years of chasing!




Verne Carlson who is part of the Denver abc Channel 7 storm chasers and who has a storm blog site.  Up to date and highly informative reports with photos and video.
http://stormchaserco.blogspot.com/2008/04/best-ww3-flights-yet.html

Nolan Caldwell's site with some excellent nature and storm photos from Darwin and beyond!
http://www.encimages.com.au/index.html

Shaun Galman and Russ Gawthorp's awesome lightning and weather site. 
http://ridgelightning.com/

Michael Bath's outstanding lightning and storm page with loads of info.
http://www.lightningphotography.com/

Warren Faidley's severe weather website
http://stormchaser.com/

George Kourounis - Canadian storm chaser and world adventurer and host of the Weather Channel's new Angry Planet series






http://www.stormchaser.ca/


 

http://www.angryplanet.tv/
(whilst chasing a huge storm in Katherine NT this fire was started by a lightning strike during the chase, we could not resist taking a few photos!)



Brisbane Storm Chase website - loads of technical info and tools, satpics and sounding information.
http://www.bsch.au.com/index.shtml

University of Wyoming for all worldwide weather observation data
http://weather.uwyo.edu/upperair/sounding.html

Marty Poulwelse's lightning and storm photography page
http://www.ozlandscapes.com/severeweather/2006-11-15/index.html

http://www.tornadochaser.net/

Meteorologist Josh Wurman's webpage

http://www.cswr.org/contents/joshuawurman.htm


(more links coming...)





CHEERS!

MIKE
  WARNING!  ALL PHOTOGRAPHS ON THIS WEBSITE, UNLESS OTHERWISE APPROPRIATELY CREDITED TO THEIR AUTHORS, ARE MY OWN AND ARE SUBJECT TO INTERNATIONAL AND  AUSTRALIAN COPYRIGHT LAWS AUTOMATICALLY.  SHOULD YOU WISH TO USE ANY OF MY PHOTOS YOU MUST EMAIL ME FOR PERMISSION.  I DON'T LIKE SEEING MY PHOTOS ON OTHER SITES WITHOUT YOU CREDITING IT WITH MY NAME AND WEBSITE, ESPECIALLY WITHOUT ASKING!  ALWAYS ASK FOR PERMISSION FROM ANY PERSON'S WORK, IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO AND MAY SAVE YOU SOME LEGAL ACTION. 

 STORM CHASING IS DANGEROUS.  TO THINK OTHERWISE IS QUITE RIDICULOUS AND STUPID.  YOU SHOULD NEVER CHASE ALONE AND ALWAYS CHASE WITH A PERSON WITH STORM CHASING EXPERIENCE AND WITH METEOROLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE.  IF YOU WANT TO LEARN TO CHASE I WOULD RECOMMEND STRONGLY THAT YOU LEARN ABOUT METEOROLOGY AND STORM STRUCTURE EVEN BEFORE DECIDING TO DO IT.  THERE'S MORE TO IT THAN YOU MAY THINK AND IT'S FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY AND OTHERS WITH YOU....
 
* SPECIAL THANKS TO NOLAN CALDWELL & MICHAEL BATH FOR THEIR EXPERT COMPUTER SKILLS AND INNOVATIVE THINKING IN ASSISTING ME MAKING THIS WEBSITE THE BEST!