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 W e a t h e r W a r r i o r . N e t
COST DATA WORK SHEET - 2011
Updated April 1, 2011 (adjust fuel cost & add more information)

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MAY 2011 Option A & C
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^ MAY 2011
 JUNE 2011
As of April 1, 2011, Option A is the plan. There may be a slightly early departure if a significant event is forecast and all parties are prepared & free to leave early.
 MAY 2011 Option B
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^ MAY 2011
 JUNE 2011 ^
As of April 1, 2011, Option B does not appear to be a probably option for 2011, but was part of the planning process and will be in future date plannings.
Option A: May 6 through May 18 will be with primary chase partner. Days after are extra and as of April 1, 2011 of unknown chase partnership (but may have a third).
Cost Work Sheet (Daily)


 Option A (13 days)
 Option B (21 days)
 Option C (21 days)
 Mi./Day
 Accum. Mi.
 Hotel Accum.
 Food
 Gas per Day
 Accum. Gas
Week 1






 1
 May 6
 May 13
 May 6
 575
 575
 $ 60
 $ 22
 $ 98.01
 $ 98.01
2
 May 7
 May 14
 May 7
 825
 1400
 $ 120
 $ 44
 $140.63
 $ 238.64
3
 May 8
 May 15
 May 8
 450
 1850
 $ 180
 $ 66
 $ 82.50
 $ 321.14
4
 May 9
 May 16
 May 9
 450 2300
 $ 240
 $ 88
 $ 82.50 $ 403.64
5
 May 10
 May 17
 May 10
 450 2750
 $ 300
 $ 110
 $ 82.50 $ 786.14
6
 May 11
 May 18
 May 11
 450 3200
 $ 360
 $ 132
$ 82.50 $ 568.64
7
 May 12
 May 19
 May 12
 450 3650
 $ 420
 $ 154
 $ 82.50 $ 651.14
Week 2






 8
 May 13
 May 20
 May 13
 450 4100
 $ 480
 $ 176
 $ 82.50 $ 733.64
9
 May 14
 May 21
 May 14
 450 4550
 $ 540
 $ 198
 $ 82.50 $ 816.14
10
 May 15
 May 22
 May 15
 450 5000
 $ 600
 $ 220
 $ 82.50 $ 898.64
11
 May 16
 May 23
 May 16
 450 5450
 $ 660
 $ 242
 $ 82.50 $ 981.14
12
 May 17
 May 24
 May 17
 450 5900
 $ 720
 $ 264
 $ 82.50 $ 1,063.64
13
 May 18
 May 25
 May 18
 450 6350
 $ 780
 $ 286
 $ 82.50 $ 1,146.14
14
May 26
 May 19
 450 6800
 $ 840
 $ 308
 $ 82.50 $ 1,228.64
Week 3






 15
May 27
 May 20
 450 7250
 $ 900
 $ 330
 $ 82.50 $ 1,311.14
16
May 28
 May 21
 450 7700
 $ 960
 $ 352
 $ 82.50 $ 1,393.64
17
May 29
 May 22
 450 8150
 $ 1020
 $ 374
 $ 82.50 $ 1,476.14
18
May 30
 May 23
 450 8600
 $ 1080
 $ 396
 $ 82.50 $ 1,558.64
19
May 31
 May 24
 450 9050
 $ 1140
 $418
 $ 82.50 $ 1,641.14
20
June 1
 May 25
 450 9500
 $ 1200
 $440
 $ 82.50 $ 1,723.64
21
June 2
 May 26
 450 9950
 $ 1260
 $462
 $ 82.50 $ 1,806.14
Week 4


 22

May 27
 450 10400
 $ 1320
 $484
 $ 82.50 $ 1,888.64
23

May 28
 450 10850
 $ 1380
 $506
 $ 82.50 $ 1,971.14
24

May 29
 450 11300
 $ 1440
 $528
 $ 82.50 $ 2,053.64
25

May 30
 450 11750
 $ 1500
 $550
 $ 82.50 $ 2,136.14
26

May 31
 450 12200
 $ 1560
 $572
 $ 82.50 $ 2,218.64
27

June 1
 450 12650
 $ 1620
 $594
 $ 82.50 $ 2,301.14
28

June 2
 450 13100
 $ 1680
 $616
 $ 82.50 $ 2,383.64
TOTAL
6,850 mi.
$ 1,220 gas*
$    286 food
$    840 hotel
$2,346 2-week/ 13-day
Total
9,950 mi.
$ xxxx gas*
$    462 food
$ 1,260 hotel

13,100 mi.
$ xxxxxx gas*
$    616 food
$ 1,680 hotel









2 person split: $ 1,316

3 person split:
$ 975







* An extra $ 239 (gas) & 1,400 miles was added for the costs to drive home after May 16 (Option A) under, similar to that at the beginning of the chart, but since each end day is different, it is not shown in the running total on the last two days of each scenario.

Note:  This is cost breakdown for the minimal amount necessary to provide the essentials for travel.  This breakdown does not include other chase related items that includes (but not limited to): additional vehicle costs, auto insurance costs, radar services, wireless internet services, cell phone service, computer equipment, vehicle accessories for chase equipment, eating out (food is based on grocery costs and minimal dine-out food. 

Also...mileage can be added quickly depending on the season activity. Under Option A...the early weeks of May also tend to have quick moving storms that go over a further distance...which could push the daily average up to 500 miles per day. That is a 10% increase. That is an additional $ 235 additional fuel cost.
Below is a few tables for calculating Gas prices.  Because there are three factors, it isn't easy to graph in 2-D.  Below the table is my previous formula when planning for 1999.
Average MPG = 22
Trip Miles

5000 miles

6000 miles

7000 miles

8000 miles

9000 miles

10,000 miles

Est. total gallons
consumed on trip

227.27gal.

272.73gal.

318.18gal.

363.64gal

409.09gal.

454.55gal.
Price per gallon
 $ 2.70
 $ 613
 $ 736
 $ 859
 $ 982
 $ 1,104
 $ 1,227
$ 2.80
 $ 636
 $ 763
 $ 891
 $ 1,018
 $ 1,145
 $ 1,272
$ 2.90
 $ 659
 $ 790
 $ 922
 $ 1,054
 $ 1,186
 $ 1,318
$ 3.00
 $ 682
 $ 818
 $ 954
 $ 1,091
 $ 1,227
 $ 1,363
$ 3.10
 $ 704
 $ 845
 $ 986
 $ 1,127
 $ 1,268
 $ 1,409
$ 3.20
 $ 727
 $ 859
 $ 1,002
 $ 1,145
 $ 1,288
 $ 1,432
$ 3.30
 $ 750
 $ 900
 $ 1,050
 $ 1,200
 $ 1,350
 $ 1,500
$ 3.40
 $ 773
 $ 927
 $ 1,082
 $ 1,236
 $ 1,391
 $ 1,545
$ 3.50
 $ 795
 $ 954
 $ 1,113
 $ 1,272
 $ 1,432
 $ 1,591
$ 3.60
 $ 818
 $ 982
 $ 1,145
 $ 1,309
 $ 1,473
 $ 1,636
$ 3.70
 $ 841
 $ 1,009
 $ 1,177
 $ 1,345
 $ 1,514
 $ 1,682
$ 3.80
 $ 864
 $ 1,036
 $ 1,209
 $ 1,382
 $ 1,555
 $ 1,727
$ 3.90
 $ 886
 $ 1,064
 $ 1,241
 $ 1,418
 $ 1,595
 $ 1,773

$ 4.00






More camping can be done to reduce total lodging cost. Also, for safety reasons less time should be spent sleeping inside the chase vehicle on the road. A guide to Campgrounds should be purchased to help plan for camping areas. Subscribe to AAA, it is the most widely used for getting hotel/motel discounts. Try to get hotel guides a much as possible shen on the road, from rest stops, and tourist info centers. Be sure to check online pricing before booking. (Revised November 29, 2010)

FOOD

Much more effort should be put into the planning of food consumption. Food that will be taken upon departure of trip and food shopping lists for purchase on the road should be listed and strictly followed.Try to obtain preferences of chase partners prior to departure. Consider having a separate cooler for each chase partner to better divide costs and food preferences. (Revised November 29, 2010)

CELLULAR/INTERNET?DATA

Because of the nature of the internet access on the road planning of cost for cell phone is not as hard as it once was. What must be determined is access out in rural and ranch areas in the depth of the central plains. Be sure to stick with one of the major cell phone companies with extensive coverage areas. Look for coverage maps not only for voice services but also data (if using data). Be sure to research options for signal boosting which may or may not include better antennas, amplifiers, pre-amps and more.  (Revised November 29, 2010)

AUTO REPAIR/ROUTINE MAINTENANCE

With the large amount of miles typically placed on a vehicle during the time of Storm Chasing a good number of routine maintenance will have to be done while out on the road. It would be advisable to get familiar with the vehicle that will be used during the trip so that as much maintenance can be done without having to pay for labor costs. Some replacement parts should be purchased prior to departure. Basic fluids should be on-board.
Additional Cost Planning information:


 Cost Data Sheets
1997
1998
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010 n/a
2011 Costs Explained
Mileage (revised for 2011)
The first two days and last two days are for the mileage to drive to and from Maryland & central Kansas. 
450 miles per day is averaging 2 chase days of 600 miles and one down day of 200 miles.

Hotel (revised for 2011)
Changed from last year....$60 per day.  This can be split if more than one person per room.
(Up from $52 per day)

Food (revised for 2011)
Changed from last year....$7.33 per meal, or $22 per day, per person. (revised from $15 to $22 per day)

Gas (revised for 2011)
Gas is based on 1997 Legacy GT 2.5L 4cylinder (15.9 gal. tank) with average of 22 mpg and an average of 450 miles per day, which consumes 22 gallons per day and an average price of $3.75 per gallon = $82.50 per day. This cost can be shared if more than one person per vehicle. (revised again April 1, 2011 because of the exculation of fuel costs. Old est. was $3.35)

Average range fill-up to fill-up for this vehicle is 325 miles (max. 350 miles at 24mpg)

!! The chase vehicle is going into the shop for major engine repairs and the MPG average may increase. 22mpg is a very conservative number. In field observations of mileage is higher. For example, the average MPG for the Hurricane Earl trip including idle time was ~23 MPG.

The maximum expected mileage for my vehicle appears to be around 26 MPG per official sources (EPA ratings for example). Some have observed as high as 28 MPG on long trips with very flat terrain and doing a conservative speed.
End table