First, the team at SevereStudios wants to thank everyone for visiting our website. We continue to grow at a phenomenal rate. This would not be possible without our exceptional SevereStudios staff, dedicated fans, the legion of Associate Chasers and SevereStreamers who provide content for our site, our media partners, and the National Weather Service. We are truly grateful for your support. We now have 100 streamers signed up to feed live video to the ChaseCam Network!

In a better effort to provide you with a faster website experience and overall more reliable services, we are again adding MORE technology. We have purchased an even bigger and more powerful Web Server that will be fully integrated into the current array of servers, including our dedicated Streaming Server. We have more dedicated technology that will reduce the load times of our website and related services.

In the first week of May 2008 we have had over 1,000,000 hits, almost 15,000 unique visitors, and thousands of viewers watching the Live ChaseCam Network every night. This is a win-win situation for everyone involved. The public gets better and more accurate information during severe weather events. The media and NWS get to see storms in real time from the field. SevereStreamers get publicity for their own websites and side projects. Finally, SevereStudios becomes a central community website and destination for severe weather enthusiasts all over the world.

SevereStudios will continue to work diligently to develop and expand our technology, form partnerships that will benefit our visitors and the greater chaser community, and continue our focus of promoting severe weather awareness.

We will be upgrading our services over the next few days. There may be some brief outages through Friday. Thank you for your patience and support.

UPDATE: 11:25 AM EDT on Friday May 9, 2008
The website move to the new server is COMPLETE. We may still have a few bugs to work out here and there, but everything should be up and running on the new server in time for tomorrow's Severe Weather Outbreak!

Here is a great story that I wanted to share with everyone. Greensburg, KS is now rebuilding and they are doing it in a unique way; the "Green Way". As we approach the first year anniversary of the Greensburg Tornado, it is great to see that there is progress and new development in their small Kansas town.

From NBC News:

The SevereStudios Team will be participating in Severe Weather Awareness week in South Dakota and Minnesota. This includes Chase Team members attending yearly SKYWARN Spotter Training Classes in Madison, SD.

Here is the information from the Sioux Falls NWS:
Severe Weather Awareness Week for South Dakota and Minnesota: April 21-25, 2008

April 21st through the 25th is Severe Weather Awareness Week in both South Dakota and Minnesota. Simulated tornado watches and warnings will be issued during the week to test the statewide warning and communications systems. Read more »

SevereStudios.com Co-Owner and my best friend Kory Hartman turns 30 today! The entire team here at SevereStudios wishes him a very Happy Birthday.

Wow, 30 years old... Does this mean you have to start acting like an adult now?

Join in and wish Kory a Happy Birthday by leaving a comment below or email him at info@severestudios.com right now!

12:40 PM CDT - 4/11
Blizzard conditions continue across portions of South Dakota. Over a foot of heavy, wet snow fell last night in some areas.

7:20 PM CDT
Doug Kiesling is streaming Blizzard video as he nears Duluth, MN.
Watch Doug's Live Video

A Blizzard Warning is in effect for much of Eastern South Dakota, and Winter Storm warnings are posted for much of the upper Midwest.

Latest Information:

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SIOUX FALLS HAS ISSUED A BLIZZARD WARNING...

A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITEOUT CONDITIONS...MAKING TRAVEL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT TRAVEL. IF YOU MUST, HAVE A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT WITH YOU. IF YOU GET STRANDED...STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE.

Updated 3:38 PM

It appears we are in for another Winter Storm in the Midwest tonight through Thursday morning. 6-9 inches of snow is now being predicted north of I-90 through Thursday afternoon.

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Heavy Snow Warning for much of South Dakota and portions of southwest MN.

Latest from Aberdeen NWS shows 12 inches possible across central and eastern South Dakota:

Click Image For More Information
Aberdeen National Weather Service Office

Last Year, we were actually chasing TORNADOES on 3/28. (See Chase Log) I guess we are destined for the exact opposite this year. We may, however, stream video of the winter storm. Stay Tuned!