Experience & Interests

Severe Weather Experience

Severe Weather Enthusiast: An individual who enjoys watching or discussing severe weather. No formal training or experience.

Biography

I grew up in South Dakota (Jefferson, to be exact) and became fascinated with severe weather after a tornado passed near the lake we were vacationing at in the mid-70s (near Detroit Lakes, MN). Had big plans to become a meteorologist and specialize in severe weather. After the Minnesota event I attended several Skywarn meetings and storm spotter training sessions with my mom, and at the age of 12 was by far the youngest one at those meetings! I still have the literature from those meetings laying around here somewhere. However, our family moved to Phoenix AZ in 1981, and after just a couple years of being exposed to the extremely boring weather here, and trying to fit in with a city of 1.5 million people (Jefferson population = 450), my appetite for severe weather was all but killed. I think it was in the late 80's when I discovered Tim Marshall's Stormtrack magazine and became a subscriber (and stayed one until it ceased publication). After watching some chase videos in the early 90's I thought I'd like to give chasing a try. Hooked up with some great guys in the OKC area and tried it for about 4 years, but the hassle of flying (which I hate) and trying to coincide everything with the severe weather, AND several long distance busts, I realized long distance chasing was not for me. I've kept in touch with the scene throughout though, and have purchased many chase videos/DVDs to feed the chase fever I still get this time of year. With "virtual chasing" now becoming more than virtual thanks to technology and the internet, I feel I'm about as close to chasing as I can get and really enjoy it.

Phoenix isn't completely devoid of interesting weather. We get seasonal storms July-September, most of which end up being nothing more than dust storms (aka Arizona Rain), but occasionally get some good ones. Actually had a tornado warned supercell with rotating wall cloud pass within 2 miles of our home in February a few years ago and got some great pics of it. That's an extremely rare occurrence out here, and I had it happen within a couple miles of my house, perfectly backlit. I think Phoenix has been in only 1 or 2 tornado watches since I've lived here, but we get at least a few thunderstorm watches issued during the summers, and several thunderstorm warnings mostly based on outflow winds. The "heat island" effect in Phoenix very obviously affects thunderstorms moving towards the city. With all that said, I sure miss the variety and severity of the plains weather. I'll probably move back there but likely not until after retirement. Until then, I'll enjoy the new chasing technology, and am sure the surface is only being scratched for now.

I'm 42 years old, got married in 2000, and moved from Phoenix to Cave Creek (a small town suburb about 40 miles north of Phoenix) in 2007. Obviously I love weather, especially extreme weather, and collect pinball machines as a hobby. I work as a business/system support manager in the healthcare field and totally enjoy my work and career choice.

Personal Information

First Name

Ben

Last Name

Faber

City

Cave Creek

State

AZ

Country

USA

Email Address

bfaber@qwest.net

Personal Website

www.pinballben.com

History

Member for

14 weeks 6 days

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