In tonight’s Special Presentation Chris Bell will discuss what makes the Great Plains unique in producing the world’s largest tornadoes, along with giving his personal experience chasing these storms, and some photographs along the way.
Chris will be joining us in person at the City Academy Norwich, and therefore the presentation will not be recorded.
Image provided by Chris Bell and is being shown with his permission
Chris Bell
Chief Communications Officer, Weatherquest UK
Originally from the Houston, Texas area, Chris has had a lifelong passion for meteorology and remembers wanting to be a weather reporter from a very early age. He first came to the UK to study meteorology and climatology at the University of East Anglia as part of a study abroad programme while attending Louisiana State University for his undergraduate studies.
After completing his Master’s degree in Operational and Broadcast Meteorology at Mississippi State University, Chris moved back to Norfolk and Joined the Weatherquest team in 2005.
Along with his roles at Weatherquest, Chris is a Lecturer of Meteorology at the UEA, and he can be seen as a weather presenter on BBC Look East, which he has done since 2010.
Outside of work, Chris enjoys storm chasing and has been on many trips to the Great Plains of the United States in search of severe storms and tornados. He has also experienced several hurricanes. Locally, Chris enjoys spending time with his family and friends, taking pictures of the weather and night sky, playing golf and outdoor cooking.
Chris regularly gives talks to local schools and groups in East Anglia about topics covering storm chasing, weather forecasting, sky photography ad climate change.
About NDPS Special Presentations
Every month at Norwich and District Photographic Society there is the opportunity to hear inspirational photographic talks by photographers who are recognised to be at the top of their game and renowned specialists in their field of photography. The quality and range of subjects included in these Special Presentations are we believe unequalled both here in Norfolk and much further afield. Further, arguably alone they more than justify the cost of becoming a member of the Society.
The annual programme for the 2021-2022 Season that begins in September and runs through to the end of June 2023 is well advanced and has been designed to offer a broad range of excellent speakers who will cover, as in past seasons, a far reaching range of photographic genre.
Members of the Society are normally able to attend Special Presentations free of charge. However, NON-MEMBERS wanting to attend a Special Presentation can usually purchase a guest ticket prior to the event. Guest tickets (subject to availability) must be purchased in advance and are only available from our ticketing partner Eventbrite.co.uk.
Please note the ticket office for each individual presentation is not open until approximately ONE month prior to the date of the presentation when all arrangements for the evening have been agreed and confirmed between the presenter and the Society.
ABOUT ONLINE PRESENTATIONS
During the coronavirus pandemic the Society put together a revised programme of Special Presentations that were presented online. These online events proved to be very successful, with good attendance and we thank all our speakers and members who have adapted to this medium. Post-covid we envisage that we shall continue to make full use of the available technologies to deliver our Special Presentations. In the past year online presenttions has widened our reach and we have hosted speakers from the furthest points in the UK, throughout Europe and much wider afield from Australia and the United States.
We don’t intend to allow geography to be a reason for not heaing from the very best photographers worldwide in future seasons. Equally, we shall evolve to ensure this is achieved in the most effective way for our members
