The perils of storm chasing

Ever since the movie Twister came out in 1996, storm chasing became a very popular hobby.  Storm chasing is a VERY DANGEROUS activity, and it should not be attempted at all.  If you feel the need to go chasing, becoming a storm spotter, or Weather Watcher, is the first step to take.  The training is absolutely free, and you only need to give up 2-3 hours of your time.  Not only will you learn what to look for in a storm, you will also learn what things to report and how to report them.  Also, taking a basic class in Meteorology will also help, too.  All too often, people wake up one day and decide they are going to go chasing, with no prior experience whatsoever.

Now, back to the whole "Storm chasing is a VERY DANGEROUS activity" statement.  The biggest peril in storm chasing is all the driving you will do.  Chasers will drive, on average, 500-800 miles each day, sometimes more.  You might also have to drive for a couple hours after your chase ends for the day to get to your overnight destination.  This means fatigue will play a huge role, making you an unsafe driver.  Add poor road conditions to the mix, such as poorly maintained roads (ie. dirt, gravel), and you have a recipe for disaster.  In addition to all the driving, lightning is another common occurrence.  Even if you are miles away from a storm, you still run the risk of getting struck by a "bolt from the blue."  These have been known to strike at places 10 miles away from the parent storm!!!  Imagine how much that risk increases when you are in the belly of the beast.  Kinda makes you wonder, right??  On top of that, large hail, torrential rain, very strong winds, and tornadoes all pose risks that can't always be predicted.  Wildlife is also a constant threat, too.  In the Plains states, livestock are not always fenced in, so it is not uncommon to see cows and other animals in the middle of the roads.  You will also come across fire ants, snakes (both venomous and non-venomous), and other various critters.  The final issue chasers have to deal with are other chasers/motorists.  All too often, certain chasers feel they are above the law and will break every rule in the book in order to get "the money shot."  Officer Ralph loves chasers like this and will show no mercy when he catches them!!

Unfortunately, there are chasers out there who have created vehicles that are "invulnerable" to tornadoes.  It is just a matter of time before they bite off more than they can chew and end up getting seriously hurt when attempting to drive right into a tornado.  I have had a couple close calls in my chasing experience, but they were not because I was purposely trying to put myself in harm's way.  Nature does not behave the way we want it to, which adds difficulty in the whole storm chase process.  Knowing what to do and having a healthy respect for severe weather will greatly increase your chances for not getting hurt when chasing.  With that in mind, it would not be a bad idea to book a vacation with a storm chase tour company if you are a novice chaser.  Even if you have gone chasing before, booking a trip with a group like that will create memories that will last forever!!!  Some reputable companies to consider are Silver Lining Tours, Cloud 9 Tours, Tempest Tours, and College of Du Page.  Please note that I do not personally endorse any of these.  However, I have heard nothing but good feedback from guests who have gone with these companies, so they would be a good place to start looking.  This video is an example of something you SHOULD NOT do when a tornado is barreling towards you.

Justin Pletsch
WTVO Weather Intern