Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with storms

What is the Name of This Tornado Doc?

LeeJay — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 10:33:09 -0800

Inspired by this thread, I am trying to remember the name of a tornado special that aired, I think, on HBO several years ago. Around six or seven years ago (I believe, it might be older) I saw a documentary on HBO (again, I could be wrong about the channel but it definitely aired on a premium, no-commercials movie channel) about F4 and F5 tornadoes in the United States. It was made up mostly of interviews with eyewitnesses, rescuers and survivors and almost all of the storms profiled were relatively recent. There are several bits that I remember clearly but the story that stands out most is the story told by a rescuer who found an elderly woman in wreckage. He had a cell phone on him and was able to contact the victim's family so she could speak to them one last time. There was also a story about a nurse who lost her son and a church that was totally destroyed except for one hallway which was where the church's occupants chose to ride out the storm.

Thinking about it now, it could have been originally produced for public television but if memory serves there was plenty of language that wasn't censored so I'm thinking it really was a cable production.

I've searched and searched but I cannot for the life of me seem to find it. Anyone remember what it was called?

How can I help my dog?

CwgrlUp — Fri, 02 May 2008 07:05:22 -0800

I have a dog with several long-lasting behavioral issues. I'm at my wit's end. HELP? I got a dog from the Humane Society about 4 years ago. She was great for a few months but then started digging out of the backyard. I am a sucker and gave in, letting her become an inside dog since she already was perfectly housetrained. She is a Rottweiler mix, by the way and I guess is about 5 years old now. Once she became an inside dog I noticed even hours before a storm she would start trembling and panting heavily.

This has progressed from there. She can't be comforted if it's the least bit cloudy outside. She pants and drools, tries to crawl on the furniture (which she never does under normal circumstances and she knows isn't allowed). When we let her out into the backyard during this time if you take her eyes off her for even a minute, she knows how to slip out from under the fence and she's gone.

At night she and my other dog sleep in a seperate bedroom. We tried letting them sleep with us but they both squirm and scratch and play and just keep us awake. (Note: even when she was in our bedroom when it stormed she panted and freaked and tried to jump in bed with us.) So now, in the other room, the other dog is crated and Sasha (the Rottweiler mix) is loose in the room. This arrangement worked for months. Now Sasha is trying to tear down the door down when it storms. So we bought a large crate for her and have crated her for about a week. Last night it stormed and this morning I found her loose in the room. She had thrashed around so much, the door on the crate popped open. The crate was about a foot away from where it started and the mat that was underneath was now IN the crate and she'd scratched a hole in the carpet.

I'm at my wit's end. I know it has to be partly my fault but I can't figure out what is best to do for her anymore. I'm thinking of giving her up, honestly. What other options do I have? Thanks.

Suggestions on good weather radar software?

nitsuj — Mon, 13 Jun 2005 08:32:36 -0800

I'm unhappy with my current choices in web-based weather radar technology. I used Weather.com's radar until I discovered the much more robust and clear Intellicast. Can I get something better? Ideally, I'd like to have a website or piece of software that gives me live, up-to-date views of my local radar without having to wait 30 minutes for an update. Something like the local news has, with the ability to zoom in on areas of interest and follow storms as they move through my area (Missouri, if it matters) in real time.

I know the technology exists, but is it available to consumers? What do professional meteorologists and storm trackers use at home?