The Adventures of Max and Leo: Waterspout chasing
Leo was listening to his weather radio while making Max breakfast:
"Today, a few tropical showers . . . some may contain gusty winds . . . the high will be seventy three . . . tonight, a tropical shower or two early, otherwise partly to mostly cloudy . . . the low will be sixty two . . . tomorrow, partly cloudy with a high of seventy nine . . . tomorrow night, mostly clear with a low of fifty nine . . . here's the hazardous weather outlook, for today and tonight, an isolated waterspout or tornado may spawn from isolated tropical shower cells . . ."
"Wait, we might get a waterspout today?" Leo asked. "I know what Max wants to do today."
"What do you think I want to do today?" Max asked as he came in the kitchen.
"Go find a waterspout," Leo said. "There's a possibility of one today."
"That definitely sounds like something I want to do," Max said.
"I was afraid you were going to say that," Leo said. "Anyway, we're expecting more rain today so we're going to play more games . . . I'll have the weather radio on just in case we get a warning from one of these tropical showers."
"Sounds great," Max said. "I guess we get to go storm chasing again."
"We just might," Leo said. "Good thing I packed a couple of extra empty VHS cassettes."
"Yeah, good thing," Max said. "I was worried that VHS tape you recorded of me surfing was the only one you had."
"Nope, knowing you, I have to bring several," Leo said. "Anyway, breakfast is ready. How do breakfast burritos sound?"
"Like heaven," Max said. "Let's eat."
Leo fixed himself and Max a plate and then the two sat down to enjoy breakfast . . .
Later that day, they were playing Sonic the Hedgehog 2 on the Sega Genesis when Leo's weather radio went off, scaring Max.
"Wow, I keep forgetting how scary those tones are," Max said.
"It's okay, Max . . . let's just listen to what the weather people have to say," Leo said.
"The Storm Prediction Center has issued Tornado Watch 121 for parts of Western Oregon and Southwestern Washington . . ."
"Well, we're under a watch, Max," Leo said. "I guess the weather people are going to keep an eye on things just in case we're under the gun."
"I'm sure they will," Max said. "Just think this will be the second time I get to go storm chasing with my best friend."
"I know," Leo said. "You're really good at this game . . ."
"So are you," Max said. "Between my super speed as Sonic and your critical thinking concerning which paths to take as Tails, the competition has been fairly close."
"Yeah . . . but, wait until we get to the special stages, where it'll be a battle concerning how many rings we collect," Leo said.
"And hope that we don't drop any," Max said.
Max and Leo continued to play the game . . .
About an hour later, the weather radio goes off, again scaring Max.
"I don't think I will ever get used to that," Max said.
"I don't even remember how I did," Leo said. "I just do. Let's hear what the bulletin has to say."
"The National Weather Service has issued a Special Marine Warning for parts of the Pacific Ocean coastline, specifically from latitude 44 north to latitude 45 north . . . severe thunderstorms capable of producing waterspouts and winds of up to 40 knots moving north at 20 knots . . ."
"Those are not too far to our south," Leo said. "Thankfully, I brought my laptop and I have some weather maps on it, so I'll go check the storms out."
"Okay, sounds great," Max said.
Leo got his laptop out, booted it up and opened up some weather maps.
"Wow, some of these storms are actually getting intense for tropical cells," Leo said.
"Wow, really," Max asked.
"Yes, they are," Leo said. "If they hold together, you just might get your wish."
"Yep, I just might," Max said. "But, maybe we should finish our game of Bulls VS Blazers and the NBA Playoffs first."
"Maybe we should while we still have time," Leo said.
About thirty minutes later, Leo's weather radio goes off again.
"I hope this means we can go out now," Max said.
"We'll have to listen," Leo said.
"The National Weather Service has issued a Special Marine Warning for parts of the Pacific Ocean coastline, specifically from latitude 45 north to latitude 46 north . . . numerous severe thunderstorms capable of producing waterspouts along with winds of up to 50 knots have been moving north at 25 knots . . . there have already been at least two confirmed waterspouts from these storms . . ."
"Wow, these storms have a history," Leo said. "But, anyway, that's our area, so we better go outside and see if we can find one."
"So, we go to the pier?" Max asked.
"We go to the pier," Leo said.
Leo grabbed his camcorder and weather radio and the two left their game behind to go out to the pier to hunt for a waterspout. They sat and started waiting for a storm to near their area.
"I can tell you one thing, that breeze actually feels pretty refreshing," Leo said.
"It sure does," Max said. "If only we had that in the days we've been out here."
"Yeah, that would have been nice," Leo said. "At least we were in the water one of the days we were out here and that was refreshing, too."
"Yeah, it was," Max said.
After a few moments of waiting, they saw some ominous clouds approaching the pier.
"Looks like that's one of those storms," Max said.
"That just might be," Leo said. "We'll have to see if it drops a waterspout."
Leo continued to listen to his weather radio while he and Max watched the storm.
"The updated bulletin coming through the weather radio is saying that there have been two more observed waterspouts with these storms," Leo said.
"Wow, it seems like the chances of us seeing one are going up," Max said.
"That might be one forming right now," Leo said, watching a funnel cloud drop from the storm.
"Yeah, it looks like it's going to try to come down to the water," Max said.
"I'll go ahead and start recording," Leo said, getting his camcorder and starting to film the funnel cloud while Max continued to watch it.
After a few moments of watching the funnel cloud, it touched down on the water.
"And we have a touchdown," Leo said.
"Yep, there's our waterspout," Max said. "And it looks like it's getting closer to the pier."
"Yes, it does," Leo said. "I hope it doesn't get too close or else we're going to have to head inside."
"Yeah, I know," Max said. "But, still, it looks like it means business."
"Yeah, in fact, it's getting bigger," Leo said. "We might be capturing the biggest one of the day."
"We just might," Max said.
Max continued to watch the waterspout as Leo continued to film it.
"This waterspout is really getting bigger," Leo said. "And it's still getting closer to the pier."
"Yeah, this is getting dangerous," Max said. "I hope it doesn't damage the pier."
The two watched the waterspout draw closer to the pier and grow in size. They felt the winds from the waterspout and saw pieces of the pier get collected by the waterspout.
"Okay, we better get inside," Leo said. "We're losing the pier."
"Right behind you," Max said.
Leo stopped recording and the two got up and hurried back into the beach house. They watched the waterspout do some more damage to the pier before going further down the ocean.
"Wow, that was so scary," Leo said. "I don't know why you wanted to do that."
"I didn't know it was going to get that close," Max said. "That was indeed scary . . . but, thanks for capturing it on video for me, Leo."
"Sure thing, Max," Leo said. "Thankfully, we still have power, so do you want me to make you some lunch?"
"I can eat," Max said. "I'm in the mood for spaghetti. Think you can whip that up?"
"I sure can," Leo said. "Let's go."
Max followed Leo to the kitchen and then Max sat and watched Leo make lunch.