kab2791

Agreed, amazing how deep blue that lake in the middle picture is.

really? places like this actually exist? i think i have fallen in love!!! thank you for sharing

Reading this almost brought tears to my eyes. I'm glad your safe to tell your story and I pray for the well-being of your family, friends, neighbors, and city.

Actually, it's kind of mixed emotions. I'm glad it wasn't 3 blocks closer, but at the same time, I feel bad for those involved. Hearing all the stories is incredibly saddening as is seeing the destruction of places you have known all your life. It's amazing to see the power of mother nature but it's extremely sad to consider that some people lost all they had, and some people lost loved ones. The sheer terror that people must have experienced as they heard windows breaking, wood splintering, and having their houses collapse around them.The stories are just terrible to hear. There are children that they can't identify in other hospitals around the area. There was a 4 year old whose parents were killed and they didn't know who she was. The story of an elderly lady found dead in her closet still clutching her bible. I'm sure you heard it was graduation night for Joplin High Schoolers and many were just starting their lives. I'm pretty sure everyone has heard of Will Norton. The recent graduate was on his way home with his dad and was sucked or thrown out the sunroof of his dad's car, he was found in a pond.

I also just saw the story of a mother that was killed when she was going to pick up pizza for her son's graduation party. They had found her car which had been damaged, the roof and seat headrest were missing, the seat belt was still buckled and there was a shoe on the dashboard. They didn't find their mom in the car, but they got a call last night that said she had been found.

I mean, could you imagine that? Could you imagine being so happy because you just graduated and then having that all ripped away in a couple of minutes? I don't think I can.... I can't really imagine that.

does anyone have a screen cap of the cell as it approached? praying for all who were hit including JoMo. My cousin was hit by the Tuscaloosa storm and it is the worst feeling not knowing the outcome of loved ones following the aftermath.

Everyone needs to pay their dues so to speak. I honestly wouldn't mind relocating for a job, nor so should anybody serious about their field of work.

By all means, go for it. I would just recommend 1) having a backup plan and 2) deciding on what type job(s) you might want in the field and then getting the necessary preparation for it. Just be realistic. Are you willing to make some sacrifices, especially early in your career? If so, then stay the course.

Thanks for your insight. Thinking it over the last 24 hours, I don't want to switch majors. I figure this is where my interest lies the most, and like you and others have pointed out, there are other pathways within in, just don't think narrowly.

This thread is way too pessimistic.. There are a good amount of meteorology jobs right now in the energy and commodities sectors, along with alternative energy and met-tech's as well. Not to mention the broadcast openings. I graduated very recently (mid recession), and I can say that a large portion of my class has excellent jobs. We have 3 Wx Risk grads at energy firms, one at a reinsurance firm, one at a global supply chain company, a few in grad school, and the majority of the rest in private forecasting gigs. I think the job scarcity issue is more at play when it comes to general forecaster positions than anything. NWS is tough to get for seasoned mets, let alone kids out of school. Couple that with people who do nothing to further their education post grad (even COMET modules help) and are unwilling to relocate, and you can see why there is a perception that there are no jobs.

Broaden your horizons within meteorology and there are opportunities available. When you do get an opportunity, you have to seize it and you have to shine. Working hard isn't enough...you need to demonstrate social skills, show initiative, and demonstrate your value.

I can tell you right now that majoring in weather risk was the smartest decision I ever made. Commodities and energy scarcity are huge issues right now, and they will only be further stressed as the population grows further. While many people dream of the NWS, there are amazing opportunities out there if you're willing to just go for it. Commodities and energy are where the jobs are going to be moving forward. I'd argue the name on your degree matters too, but that's more about networking.

Diff eq was surprisingly not bad. Fourier series was a tedious pain in the ass.

probably minor in math .. didnt really do that much work in that class (BC calc) and i did poorly but i did good enough on the AP to transfer over Calc I and II .. didnt take any math last semester and somehow aced Calc III this semester .. so Dif Eqs next semester

Especially consider minoring in GIS (Geographic Information Sciences) and/or Computer Sciences. Also, don't be afraid to spend an extra year or 2 in college to gain these extra skills. Don't try to rush it if you don't have too.

Yeah I need to see how calc goes next year. I'm not quite as good at you in math as I think you took BC calc senior year? I'm taking honors calc next year so we'll see how it goes...

As far as minoring goes I've thought about what could be the best thing to have as a minor...or even double major..but as another poster said that will probably take 5+ years to do...

Are you minoring in anything?

Yes, that would be quite difficult. I'm at a huge deciding moment in the direction my life should go, and I like the opportunities/money engineering may provide (along with the sanity of knowing I have a better chance of landing a job to pay for all my loans). Meterology has always been a great passion of mine, like many of us, but honestly, I'd be content for it to remain just hobby.

There are a lot of options out there. I have a number of friends who graduated with a met degree then went into various engineering programs for their M.S. degrees--and they are successful and working in the engineering field. Doing this route would give you a chance to pursue your passion (meteorology) while setting you up for a different field should it not work out. Of course--this would also require that you get a M.S. Double majoring is possible, but that would be tough doing met/engineering at the same time. That is another possibility though.

I'm actually thinking seriously about switching majors to electrical or mechanical engineering. I have only completed 2 yrs of college so far, and the great thing is I did not waste time really because all the math/physics/gen ed classes required for MET is required for Engineering, and I have not taken any MET classes. So as much as it pains me to possible do this, math is also a big passion of mine, and engineering was always my plan B. Thoughts?

Note my sig. I was already set to be a MET major, but now is the time to switch as that is not set in stone yet.

Accidental death by any kind, especially because of the weather probably one of the most tragic things that can happen to families; just an unfair reality, and It devastating that many metro areas/towns were affected. Many thoughts and prayers go out there. These last couple weeks first with Raleigh, then St. Louis, then Tuscaloosa/Birmingham is eye-opening to the fact that no area is less susceptible to tornado damage, no matter how populated or localized. Great job everyone posting updates/radar/velocities/videos; this forum definitely provides outstanding analysis and warning.

178 is the latest toll.

http://goo.gl/cZUcy

Just horrific. I hate tossing numbers around when it is human lives we are talking. Tragic--and it makes me want to work all that much harder to be the best met I can. Horrible news.

Was hoping for the best when I left for Skywarn as the wall cloud was evident on Tuscaloosa skycam, but to come back to these haunting images is unfathomable. I feel sick looking at that.