- Photo 1:
- Photo 2:
- Justin Hobson
- Wikimedia Commons
- CC-BY-SA 3.0
What Storm Chasers Actually Do
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The 1996 movie Twister gave storm chasers a real boost, so the 2024 sequel, Twisters, could very well do the same. But is storm chasing really as dangerous as movies make it out to be? Are these real-life chasers putting their lives in danger by hunting down tornadoes?
Well, storm chasing isn't quite like what Hollywood makes it out to be. Although the practice does have exciting moments, much of a chaser's time is spent planning and prepping.
It's actually easy to get started as a chaser if you're interested. You can tag along with a pro, or even book a weeklong storm chasing tour in Tornado Alley.
So if it's on your bucket list to play out the movie Twister, strap yourself in to learn how to make that dream a reality.
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They Run Into Other Distractions That Can Be As Deadly As The Weather
When you consider the dangers involved with storm chasing, you might imagine getting hit by a piece of debris or a flying cow (depending how many movies you've seen).
In reality, simply being on the road in rainy, stormy weather can be the biggest danger to storm chasers. This danger become a national point in 2022, when three University of Oklahoma students were killed hours after chasing a tornado in Kansas.
On their drive home, it was still raining, and their vehicle hydroplaned. The car struck a barrier, and was ultimately hit by a semi-truck.
Greg Tripoli, an atmospheric and oceanic sciences professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, told his students that they were more likely to get hurt in a car crash than by a tornado. A chaser might be tired from a long drive, or another driver might become distracted by the storm and stop paying attention to nearby traffic.
Electrifying fact? - Photo:
- Twister
- Warner Bros.
2They Consider Their Work Useful, Not Just An Adrenaline Rush
The 1996 hit film Twister isn't beloved in the storm chasing world. Some call it an “outrageous fantasy,” complaining the movie doesn't show the legitimate hard work that goes into tracking a storm's path.
Forecasting the chase can take many hours of study and analysis of the atmosphere, surface conditions and satellite images.
While many storm chasers do admit to enjoying the thrill of seeing a tornado in person, for many the appeal goes deeper than that. At age 16, Richard Lewis saw the tragic consequences of a town that didn't get a warning about a tornado. Today, that fuels his passion, he said:
At the time, they didn’t have a lot of warning, and the sirens didn’t even go off. I knew I wanted to get into this and help the National Weather Service get more timely warnings out.
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They Often Work For Free
“Storm chaser” isn't the most profitable career path you can pursue. In fact, many storm chasers don't get paid at all. Martin Lisius, chairman and founder of the Texas Severe Storms Association, explained:
The average salary for chasers is no salary. Most chasers are not paid anything. They have other jobs and chase in their spare time.
Yet, this appears to be a question that's asked a lot, because NOAA’s National Severe Storms Laboratory has added a “Storm Chasers” section to its job page that says:
In case you were wondering: There is no “Storm Chaser” job description at NSSL. The only time people chase storms for NSSL is when a special project is being run to collect data in the field. These projects are somewhat rare. When a project is running, some of the scientists are asked to donate part of their time to help with data collection during storm intercept operations. Sometimes, employees even donate their own personal time (i.e., unpaid time) to help out.
Chasers can make some money from selling video and photo rights, according to chaser Don Lloyd.
Electrifying fact? - Photo:
- Twister
- Warner Bros.
4They Generally Work With Others, And Only During The Day
Storm chasing at night can be a recipe for disaster. There are a few others “rules" that are common in the chasing community, as shared by Wil Foster:
- Don't listen to music.
- Don't use a truck that sits high off the ground.
- Chase with someone (at least at first).
- Don't trust Twister.
Electrifying fact?- Photo:
- Photo:
- National Weather Service Office in Norman, Oklahoma
- Wikimedia Commons
- Public domain
5They Can Collect Important Weather Data For Meteorologists
One of the most famous storm chasers was Tim Samaras. A longtime chaser of 20 years, he tragically died, along with his 24-year-old son, Paul, and colleague Carl Young, after the strong winds of a tornado crumpled their car in 2013.
However, the three men were not simply following this thunderstorm for their own personal enjoyment. Samaras had partnered with researchers who were hoping to gain vital details about the pressure and temperature of tornados - from probes deployed in the heart of a tornado. These tracking devices had to be at the base of the twister because, according to Samaras, “[provide] data about the lowest 10 meters of a tornado, where houses, vehicles, and people are.”
Samaras's work was credited with providing valuable insights for scientists to help them develop better warning systems for storms.
Electrifying fact?- Photo:
- Photo:
- Twister
- Warner Bros.
6They Find Themselves Pretty Bored Most Days
Storm chasing isn't quite as exciting as what Twister makes it out to be, said chaser Don Lloyd:
That movie was totally unrealistic. It was a fun movie, but storm chasing isn't like that. We aren't reckless, and it's unusual to see even one tornado on a given chase, much less four or five.
Other chasers estimate they see a tornado every five to 10 chases, which makes sense, because tornadoes can form quickly without much notice.
Storm chasers devote a lot of time to mapping out potential paths, reading weather reports, and double-checking road networks. As chaser Melanie Metz explained, you don't want to be left without options when a twister is heading your way:
There might only be a couple road options, and especially in those cases, it's important to make sure you don't take that road that's going to put you right in the path of that storm.
Electrifying fact?- Photo:
- Photo:
- Scott Beckwith
- Wikimedia Commons
- Public domain
7They Can Drive Hundreds Of Miles A Day
Storm chasers rack up commuting miles. Don Lloyd, a storm chaser, said he can spend as long as 16 hours in a car - driving from 600 to 800 miles a day.
This adds up to tens of thousands of miles on the road. Jennifer Brindley Ubl, a storm-chasing photographer, estimates she travels 20,000 miles in a given storm season (late April to October).
Because most tornadoes crop up in the Midwest and Plains areas of the United States, chasers tend to live in these areas to provide better access when they get short notice about an incoming storm.
Electrifying fact?- Photo:
- Photo:
- Stefan Klein
- Wikimedia Commons
- CC-BY-SA 4.0
8They Stay Away From Recklessly Close-Up Views Of Storms
Most storm chasers know their limit when it comes to a dangerous funnel. But as chaser Don Lloyd explained:
Staying a discreet distance from a severe storm is a challenge. You want to be close enough to see the storm structure clearly, but not so close that you get caught in heavy rain or bombarded by massive hail.
Being right on the heels of a storm means that chasers are often the first to arrive on the scene after a disaster, like a tornado destroying a town. Chaser Jennifer Brindley Ubl said:
Often storm chasers are the first people on the scene, even before emergency management, because they’re chasing the tornado itself.
This leads the chasers to become impromptu first responders, helping out however they can in the immediate aftermath.
Electrifying fact?- Photo:
- Photo:
- Daphne Zaras
- Wikimedia Commons
- Public domain
9They Might Team Up With Other Women
Storm chasing has long been a male-dominated hobby. But some well-known female chasers are looking to inspire other women to join them on the hunt.
Girls Who Chase, an organization dedicated to educating and empowering women about storm chasing, currently has nearly 18,000 followers on Instagram. The group offers virtual trainings for women who want to learn how to get into chasing, and highlights storm photos taken by women.
Electrifying fact?- Photo:
- Photo:
- Justin Hobson
- Wikimedia Commons
- CC-BY-SA 3.0
10They Might Do Chasing As A Hobby, Without A Background In Science
Because storm chasing is mainly a hobby, there are no prerequisites to become a storm chaser. According to the Online Storm Chasing FAQ website, many storm chasers have some level of meteorology and forecasting knowledge, but they can come from all walks of life.
Richard Lewis, a welder by trade, taught himself how to find the best spots for chasing. He explained:
I didn’t go to school for meteorology. I taught myself to read what the weather models show so I could pick a target.
To safely chase storms, however, chaser Melanie Metz recommends a class to learn the basics about understanding storms and knowing how to spot signs that you should seek safety:
So, if you can't take your class at the university or want somewhere to start, a SKYWARN class [a free class offered by the National Weather Service] is always a good place to at least start to get a basic understanding of the storm.
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They Invite Tourists To Join Them
One of the best ways to learn the ins and outs of storm chasing is by riding shotgun with a veteran.You can also book a storm-chasing tour. According to chaser Melanie Metz:
There are some, in particular, I know that have been around quite a while and are pretty reputable and have really good forecasters and good leaders on their team.
Some tours an last as long as a week to give you the best chances of seeing a tornado (or at the least some flashy lightning). Extreme Tornado Tours boasts that 80% of its guests have witnessed a tornado on their tour.
A weeklong tour can cost anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000.
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