Pual Austin

Web Site: www.warmsector.com

Contribution: Video contributor

Paul is a full-time computer applications instructor and part-time worship leader for a young church in Gainesville, FL. His interests include his family, outdoor photography, tech toys, fishing, Halloween special effects, music, and of course, severe weather forecasting and documentation. The awe-inspiring beauty of the supercell has been a passion of his since he can remember. Born and raised in various parts of Arkansas and Oklahoma, Paul’s interest in severe weather was sparked at a very young age. On April 7, 1980, he witnessed his first tornado, a wedge accompanied by a speedy satellite rope, from the bathroom window of his Greenwood, AR home at the age of nine. The event so moved him, that he began reading all he could about what was understood and not so well understood about such storms. Not long after he began driving, Paul began pursuing these storms, often with his siblings. These were mostly local trips and observations in the North Florida area, where he now resides and serves as a Skywarn spotter. In 2002 Paul gifted his brother, Marc, a trip to “Tornado Alley” to chase storms for his High School graduation present. Paul’s sister, Sarah, joined them, and the marginally successful storm pursuit was such a blast, the team has returned for a couple of weeks each year since, documenting tornadoes and other severe storm features. The team is officially made up of Paul, Marc, and Sarah Austin, as well as Marc’s fiancé Sharon Pearce. The extended team includes chasers from Denmark: Kai-Aisle Sønstabø, Thomas Nielsen, and Jesper Eriksen, who joined us in 2006 and have all seen tornadoes while chasing with us, as well as Paul's brother, John, and mother, Eva, who each have now-casted for the team. Chapter contributions for Storms of 2007 include May 4th and 5th.