Max Claypool

WREG-TV Meteorologist (Memphis). Storm chaser. Bears and Fighting Illini. Bad takes are my own

[Max Claypool @MadMaxClaypool]

Rotating wall cloud on Wichita Falls supercell Friday @ReedTimmerAccu @WXgage @stormchaserQ

[Max Claypool @MadMaxClaypool]

@TannerChasing @WxFront Had to get my premium subscription today 😂

[Max Claypool @MadMaxClaypool]

The Des Moines area supercell is going crazy. Tornado might be imminent. Looks like it interacted with an outflow boundary right before

[Congressman Greg Casar @RepCasar]

Billionaire team owners keep getting richer while fans keep getting screwed.

It's why the Bears may leave Chicago.

It's also why @SenSanders and I introduced the Home Team Act — requiring team owners to offer locals the chance to buy a team before moving it away.

[Zach Kaplan @Zach_Kaplan5]

One thing about live television..you can't script it. @bbaileywnct and I had SIX seconds between Seth Jarvis' OT winner and our 11pm sports block. This was the scene outside Lenovo Center as the goal went in. What a win for the Canes as they tie the series 1-1. @9OYSSports @wnct9

[Michael Marz @MichaelMarz1]

a supercell near Wessington, SD got interesting for about 10 minutes before puking outflow everywhere

[Max Claypool @MadMaxClaypool]

@WX_Hunter901 Ikr???

[Max Claypool @MadMaxClaypool]

Mammatus clouds at sunset. Pic from Michigan a few years ago

[Jomboy @Jomboy_]

UCLA players smile in every high-pressure situation during back-and-forth game with Texas Tech, a breakdown

[illwill @79illwill]

Never seen Hillis do this to a franchise and fanbase

[Max Claypool @MadMaxClaypool]

@WX_Hunter901 😂😂😂😂

[Max Claypool @MadMaxClaypool]

@WX_Hunter901 Why’s that?

[Max Claypool @MadMaxClaypool]

Big CAPE bomb going off in Memphis this evening!!!

[Max Claypool @MadMaxClaypool]

@WX_Hunter901 😂😂😂😂

[Max Claypool @MadMaxClaypool]

Lots of thunder and lightning in Memphis right now

[Jim Tang @wxmann]

Current view north of Jetmore #kswx

[Jeff Frame @VORTEXJeff]

Mammatus show in Limon, CO

[Max Claypool @MadMaxClaypool]

Storms have started going up around the area including a severe thunderstorm warning that includes part of Shelby County

[Trooper Ben @TrooperBenKs]

Storm spotting has changed.

When I first started in law enforcement 26 years ago, we did not see what we are seeing today.

Back then, storm spotting had a different feel. It was often done by trained people trying to help communities, support weather reporting, and provide information that could help protect lives.

Today, we still have many skilled and needed storm spotters doing valuable work.

BUT we also have a growing number of storm enthusiasts and thrill seekers rushing toward dangerous weather. Many are trying to gather content for their social media pages.

That becomes a real problem when it chokes down a roadway, limits movement, and makes it harder for first responders to do their work.

What recently happened in Marshall County should serve as a reminder of what can happen when this continues to grow without clear rules, expectations, or accountability.

When hundreds of vehicles converge on the same storm, especially in small Kansas communities and on rural roads, the roadway can become part of the emergency.

Emergency vehicles can be slowed down. Local residents can be boxed in. Deputies, troopers, firefighters, EMS, and emergency managers can have a harder time getting where they need to go.

That is why I think it is time to change the way we do business with storm spotting.

It starts with an idea. Then we talk about it. We adjust it. We take it further where it makes sense. We pull it back where needed. But we have to start somewhere if we want to make things better and safer.

My idea is this…

Kansas should take the lead and begin looking at a statewide credentialing system for official storm spotters.

A trained storm spotter who wants to be recognized by the State of Kansas should have to apply, provide proof of training and experience, and meet a clear standard.

I also do not believe just anyone should be able to apply on their own.

To become an official storm spotter in Kansas, a person should be connected to a recognized organization.

That connection would help show there is a real need, a clear role, and some level of accountability.

Once approved, they would receive official Kansas storm spotter credentials.

I also believe approved storm spotters should be required to display a bright neon pink glowing puck on top of their vehicle while actively spotting storms.

The light should illuminate upward. It should not shine toward the front or back like an emergency light. It should sit on top of the vehicle and glow steadily upward so law enforcement, first responders, emergency managers, and community members can quickly identify that person as an approved storm spotter.

The goal is to identify them.

It would give law enforcement a simple visual way to separate official storm spotters from thrill seekers who are rushing into dangerous weather with no training, no purpose, and no accountability.

If someone is actively chasing a storm without the approved identifier, law enforcement should have the ability to stop that vehicle, check for credentials, and issue a citation if that person is not approved.

Maybe a $1000 fine. 🤔

That may sound strong, but when someone blocks roads, slows emergency response, or adds to the danger during an active storm, there needs to be a real consequence.

This is not about stopping good storm spotting.

This is about stopping unsafe storm chasing.

Maybe this exact idea is not the final answer.

But doing nothing should not be the answer either.

Storm chasing has become overly saturated. The roads around dangerous storms are becoming more crowded, more confusing, and more challenging for everyone involved.

So let’s start the conversation.

What do you think?

How would you adjust this idea?

How do we make it better?

How do we protect the trained storm spotters who are doing good work, while also addressing the people who are creating hazards?

#KSwx

[Max Claypool @MadMaxClaypool]

@WX_Hunter901 😂