Meteorologists now rely heavily on Doppler radar readings, which help pinpoint the tornado's location within the storm system. It would be fascinating to actually get inside the tornado and take a look around,'' said Bluestein. Since we can't, we try to get close enough to aim our portable radar unit and measure the wind field in and around the tornado. That information helps us to learn more about how twisters form. Since most tornadoes move with their parent storms, avoiding their paths isn't difficult for Bluestein and his team.
Lightning is another matter.
One incident in 1991 occurred as Bluestein and his team stood east of a tornado. Just as they were about to set up instruments, several lightning bolts struck the earth out of clear air. They were close enough to terrify me,'' he said. Bluestein normally chases storms between April and early June, racking up between 5,000 and 10,000 miles each season. That often means long days, starting with his 9 a.m. arrival at the University of Oklahoma to analyze weather maps and satellite shots, that conclude when he returns from chasing early the next morning.