The cars have arrived and are ready to go as of Monday, 28 April. An e-mail message will be sent the day before a possible hail chase. If you are certain of your availability the next day, please reply to the message and let us know. Around noon on the day of the expected chase, an e-mail message will be issued with a preliminary decision for the day. These e-mails, and all pertinent information about JPOLE, will also be available on the web at http://weather.ou.edu/~kscharf/jpole The noon e-mail will include a decision "go", "no go", or "standby". If the decision is "standby", please continue to monitor your e-mail or the web page until a final decision is made. If the decision is "go", please send a quick e-mail acknowledging your participation, and meet at the south parking lot of the NOF (armory) on the NSSL campus at the designated time. Check to make sure the following items are in the vehicle before departure: * Laptop computer and power cord * GPS * Inverter * 3-splitter for cigarette lighter * Cell phone and DC power cord * Mag mount antenna (mounted) * DC adapter for cell phone * Amber light (mounted) * Hail chase guide binder * Legal pad * Writing utensils * Oklahoma fold map * Insurance forms for all participants * The US Government Fleet credit card (Usually in glove box) * The GSA gray folder (Usually in glove box) * Toll money (preferably, quarters) * Rulers Most of these materials are stored in a box at the NOF. Arrive early enough to stock the vehicle. Cameras will not be issued for this project. However, participants are strongly encouraged to take photographs and video for documentation. Bring up the laptop computer soon after departure, and test the GPS tracking in Street Atlas 2003. Make sure the GPS is automatically detected and in "log" mode. Click the "GPS" tab, then the "Settings" tab, and make sure "Auto GPS logging", "Auto Start GPS", and "Auto Detect GPS" are all checked. The other checkboxes may be used to aid the navigator. The "status" tab may be used to monitor the GPS status, vehicle speed and heading. Before intercepting a storm, make sure the computer system time is correct. The time is in the lower-right corner in 24 hour UTC (5 hours ahead of CDT). The time should be synched to an atomic clock just before the chase begins, so only adjust the time if it is obviously wrong. It is imperative we have a complete GPS log file from the laptop at the end of every chase. Click the "GPS log" tab ocassionally and make sure the red "record" button is depressed and the "number of readings" is increasing. If the GPS log has been recording for awhile, and there is a lull in the action, please click the "stop" black square button, and save the GPS log file with an intuitive name, such as "may3a.gpl". Make sure to restart the logging by pressing the red "record" button. Never over-write old log files. Before departure, the nowcaster will discuss a "starting point" where each car will begin the chase. The nowcaster will only initiate contact again if the weather situation has changed. Once their car has reached its target starting point, the team should phone the nowcaster. When a storm intercept begins, the nowcaster will phone the team and relate the nature of the storm (supercell, squall line, etc.) the position and movement of the suspected hail core, and suggest an intercept route. The team will adjust the route based on their visual observations and attempt to intercept the suspected hail region. The nowcaster will also relate to the team any recent hail reports, and alert the team to any threat of exceptionally large hail or a tornado. Supercell thunderstorms within 100 km of the radar will be given the highest priority. If the only storms are 100-150 km away, or are moving toward the radar, the range may be extended to 150 km or slightly beyond. If supercell thunderstorms are not occurring, non-supercell storms producing hail will be intercepted. The teams will continue following storms until they are beyond 100 km from the radar. Supercell thunderstorms may be followed as much as 150 km from the radar. As the team follows the storm, the team member with the laptop should use the Street Atlas software, with GPS tracking, to give navigation instructions to the driver. The participant with the laptop should also use the "hail_log" program to enter observations. Simply bring up the hail_log window when an observation is required, and begin typing. The system time of the observation is automatically coded when you make the first key stroke. There should be a large number of observations taken during every hail encounter. Observations should be made under the following circumstances: * Hail fall begins/ends * Hail is first noticed on the ground * Hail is last noticed on the ground * Average and maximum hail size, plus whether this was measured, estimated in hand, or estimated visually * Hail shape (sphericity) * Presence of spikes and/or lobes * Amount of rain mixed with the hail (none/light/moderate/heavy, when falling) * Concentration of hail (sporadic/light/moderate/heavy, when falling) * Hardness of hail (hard/slushy/mixed, when falling) * Storm features (intense CG lightning, nearby tornado, high winds, etc.) * Changes of any of the above * Locations of all observations (roads and intersections) In the best-organized supercell thunderstorms, the hail core may contain hailstones capable of breaking car windshields, driven by high winds. In addition, the large hail region may be near the path of an approaching tornado, or be accompanied by blinding rain and slick roads. If a team suspects such an intercept will be exceedingly dangerous, they have the option to avoid or abort an intercept at their own discretion. Teams should never feel obligated to risk their personal safety for the purposes of data collection. During every intercept, it is imperative that the driver commit his/her entire attention to the road and associated hazards. Teams will encounter extremely heavy rain, severely reducing visibility. Roads may be covered in hail, in which case drivers should slow down and greatly increase their following distance. The extreme driving conditions, along with the loud noise, will eventually lead to driver fatigue. The driver should always be well-rested, and the crew should rotate driving duties as necessary. The front seat passanger should act as a second set of eyes for the driver, and should make sure the driver does not nod off. Participants should avoid leaving the vehicle to collect hailstones until the hail has stopped falling and the lightning danger has subsided. If either windshield is broken or it is impossible to see through the front windshield, the team should exit the storm area as soon as it is safe, find a safe place to pull over, and contact the nowcaster immediately. If the glass begins to break, be sure to protect your head and face. Pull under a tree, an awning, or downwind from a structure to protect yourself from exceptionally large hail. A small first aid kit is available in the trunk of both vehicles. The amber light should be used when visibility is very low, when the vehicle is stopped on the shoulder, or when the vehicle is moving at a speed well below the speed limit. Teams will need to pay for tolls out of their own money. Please keep receipts (as possible), and keep track of how much money has been spent on tolls. When you are ready to be reimbursed, contact Tonia Rollins at NSSL. Time may be saved by carrying quarters and using the "coins only" lane. If any equipment needs to be purchased for the vehicle, please contact the nowcaster. If the purchase is approved, you can be reimbursed by contacting Tonia Rollins. If there is a car problem, pull over safely and immediately contact the nowcaster with your location and a description of the problem. The gray folder in the glove box contains information on how to respond to car problems. Always wear your seatbelt (even back seat passengers), and do not speed. Drive courteously. Watch for other chasers and concerned citizens who do not pay attention to the road. The driver is responsible for all tickets.