4 June 2004

Close call!

John Thousand, Secretary, MAST

On Sunday, 23 May 2004, the National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for Dane County, Wisconsin, because conditions were favorable for the formation of tornadoes. If the Tornado Spotter Network were still operational I would have joined my fellow spotters in traveling to strategic locations throughout the county to watch for a tornado. Instead, I was at home watching the National Weather Service's Doppler radar as well as the sky for my own personal safety. At approximately 7:00 PM I looked out my back door and saw a tornado within a mile of my home. NO TORNADO SIRENS WERE ACTIVATED. Due to my experience as a tornado spotter, and the NWS Doppler radar, I knew I was in a safe location to view the tornado and took this photograph.

John Thousand has more to say about this tornado and the fate of the Dane County Tornado Spotter Network in this week's Backscatter. Editor .