Mike Bettes to chase tornadoes once again

[Metarvo]

That's right.  Mike Bettes, who was injured last year chasing tornadoes, has gotten back on the proverbial bike, and he's going to chase storms for TWC's Tornado Week (assuming there are any to chase).  Did any of you expect this?  I didn't, to tell you the truth, but I know that storm chasers are doing a risky job anyway so they may be more inclined to take risks even when bad things have happened in the past.  I admire Bettes' bravery.

[toxictwister00]

Yeah, I expected it. There's really no reason not to do it again, he's well aware of the risk. They picked a good week for storm chasing though. Next week looks really nasty and may be a prolonged multi-day event.

[ap215]

I admire his bravery as well & i agree next week is going to be nasty & stormy stay safe Mike.

[christina311]

It seems the "Tornado Track" project has been quietly cancelled. They're usually out for most of May with daily updates via social networking sites and streaming video. They were only out for 2 days during the late April outbreak and then it stopped.

I wonder what actually happened? Mike Bettes covered tornado damage in Baxter Kansas and shortly after he made comments about how hard it is to keep witnessing disasters. Maybe after experiencing Joplin and El Reno it was too much. I can't blame him if that's the case.

But I'm also thinking about AMHQ. It's not exactly getting good ratings and if he were absent for a month they would probably lose what viewers they do have. Maybe TWC thought it would be best to keep him on the morning show.

Anyway, just my random thoughts. I was looking forward to following them again this season.

[Metarvo]

This sounds like a far cry from what he said last month, but I don't blame him for having reservations about this.  Seeing destructive weather is unfortunately a part of a meterologist's job unless they work where there isn't any (if there is such a place), but even more so a storm chaser who is in the line of fire. 

Now, if AMHQ (which shouldn't even be here according to the ratings) is the main reason he's holding back, then that may be a horse of a different color.  TWC has maintained a leg up on well-intentioned upstart networks because of it's superior live severe weather coverage.  Storm chasing is a part of that package.  I guess AMHQ beats fishing or gold-mining shows, but that's about all.

[IceManNYR]

The Tornado Track Team is going out this coming week to chase storms.
Mark mentioned on Friday that he was going with them.

[WeatherWitness]

I think the reason the Tornado Track team has been silent recently (up until this point) is because there hasn't been any decent activity!  I'm not saying there haven't been any tornadoes, but there hasn't been anything screaming "outbreak" or "good chase day" in awhile (arguably since the late-April outbreak in the southeast).  This week could be interesting for the central Plains and Midwest, so we'll have to see what happens.