My name is James Weatherman (yes that is my real last name not a nickname or anything else). I have always loved the weather from the time I was in grade school. I use to chase local storms in the southwest corner of Kansas where I grow up. I moved to Great Bend, Kansas to go to college at Barton County Community College. I have an Associates degree in Criminal Justice. I worked for the Kansas Department of Corrections as a night shift living units supervisor. I have chased since I was 16 years old but have loved weather since way before that. I then became a Police Officer in Great Bend, Kansas where I chased and spotted for 8 years local storms again due to the work schedule. I have attended at least 4 storm spotter trainings in Kansas. I am working on my B.S in Computer Networking from Fort Hays State University and working on a Weather Forecasting certification from Penn State as well (both online courses). I just recently found out about the National Storm Chasers Convention and attended this year. I attended the streaming training that Severe Studios put on. I would like to get with a group that wants to make a difference in things and after attending the convention I think this would be a great group. I would like to get with chasers that have more experience then I do in forecasting the storms and maybe even have more experience in long distance chasing.

I seen the F5 (now EF5 as you know) tornado that hit Hoisington, Kansas. I have seen several tornadoes on the ground around Great Bend (each time without a camera which does not happen now). They were in the open field and did not do much damage to anything but some power poles and fences or no damage at all due to being in open fields. I was working as a police officer in Ellinwood, Kansas the night that Greensburg was hit and they were expecting the same fate for Ellinwood if not worst.