How to Be a Storm Chaser

Don't feel like hiding out in the cellar? Head outside and be a storm chaser, instead!

Warning
Chasing storms is extremely dangerous -- obey all law enforcement instructions and posted signs.

Step 1: Head out
Between April and June, head to a location in Tornado Alley, a swath of land in the central U.S. known for its active storm season.

Step 2: Listen in
Go online to find the frequency for your local transmitter of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Weather Radio All Hazards, or NWR. Then, listen for updates about severe weather nearby.

Tip
Check online for additional information on developing weather systems.

Step 3: Hit the road
When you hear of severe weather nearby, head toward the storm. Keep listening to NWR to stay abreast of the storm’s direction and use maps and navigation equipment to approach the weather system. Rely on at least one other storm chaser to share driving and navigation duties.

Step 4: Practice storm chaser safety
Approach severe weather cautiously as a storm chaser: flash floods, hail, and lightning can all prove hazardous on the open road. Take extreme care when driving towards standing water, which can cause you to hydroplane and lose control of your vehicle. Keep an eye out for downed power lines.

Step 5: Enjoy the view
Found a storm to chase? Ride alongside it. If you can do so safely, pull off the road, put on your hazards, and document the weather with a camera. Head away from the storm when lightning starts striking every 15 seconds or hail begins falling in a sheet.

Warning
Stay inside the car while you’re shooting to protect yourself from being struck by lightning.

Step 6: Record your observations
Once you’ve called it a day as a storm chaser, visit a National Weather Service branch online or in person and submit your record of the storm to promote an understanding of severe weather systems. Then, take a deep breath and revel in the thrill of the chase!

Did You Know?
In 2009, the U.S. National Weather Service recorded 1,156 tornadoes in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

[GardeningUpAStorm]

What you really need:
-a good understanding of meteorological processes including storm behavior and structure
-situational awareness
-an escape route
-a reliable vehicle
-money to travel
-good driving skills
-equipment (optional but pretty much necessary)
-and more.
Storm chasing is not easy. It's something you should only do with the proper knowledge, awareness, and safety skills. The average Joe does NOT meet these requirements.

[DavidDrummondTX]

The fact that many well known and experience storm chasers are commenting on this video and telling you basically "don't listen to this video, get to know some real chasers and get some knowledge" says all you need to know about this video.

[StarWarsMagic]

1:27
Keep an eye out for power lines

*immediately drives over one*

[TheBestDanno]

You will also need: TRAINING

[Restless-skies]

If you actually want to learn how to chase storms, DON'T WATCH THIS VIDEO and go educate yourself on meteorology! Learning how to read & interpret weather models, radar, soundings and surface obs would be a good place to start....

[sgtmyers]

I chase storms. But sometimes... storms chase me. -Reed Timmer

[LauraDuchesne]

If you never chased yourself, then you shouldn't be telling others how to do it because you're missing a lot of key info.

[stevenpetersen]

Ok to let you all know, this is not all you need to be a storm chaser. Storm chasing should not be taken lightly. I am too a storm chaser and sometimes I have almost expense life and death situations with tornadoes.

[merrimeyers]

Being a storm chaser is more complicated than that. You can easily get killed if the tornado is stronger than a EF 2. If it turns your direction your dead. If it is a EF 5 or EF 4 you should be in a basement. For any tornado you should be in a basement. Don't go storm chasing and stay inside unless you want to die! Tip: never hid under a over pass. The winds will increase because it is a wind tunnel.

[matthewrichardson]

Amateur storm chasing is not recommended. Words such as meteorological terminology may be hard to understand for the General Public as it may be confusing to interpret a doppler radar during very dangerous situations.

[evelynsoto]

Cars and vans for storm chasers should have plexiglass glass windshield that way nothing can break it.also they should have radios to call in a tornado if they see one and call the authorities to warn the people.also they should have emergency gear in their cars and vans to help someone if they are injured.
But most of all is to insure you don't get killed.

[dtmstormphotography]

I'm Gonna become a PROFESSIONAL STORM CHASER!!

[LaurenEveCreates]

It's great. Kade, Tiffany, Dodie Hodie, Donkey Hodie, Purple Panda, Bob Dog, Duck Duck, Grampy Hodie, Tony, Blake, Gael, Tito, Elinor, Ari, Olive, Koa, Silas, Ritz, Cooper, and Amber, along with their five talking puppies, went storm chasing as a family. Tiffany documented the footage during the storm of January 4th, 2023.
Signed, Angela, who storm chases with Trickshot and Pocket a lot

[xSuLFaTEx]

@amaddb04 The frame of the car doesn't conduct electricity. It is specially made for that purpose. So, yes, staying in your car to avoid lightning helps.

[Kimtwister]

u education knowledge onn severe storms and chasing

[torahislife]

Great advice if you're looking to destroy your car and risk injury. Otherwise, learn meteorology and forecasting fundamentals that will make it possible to acquire a solid understanding of tornadic thunderstorms. Once you understand weather, experienced storm chasers will be happy to share what they've learnend. This is a dangerous activity and no one wants to see you get hurt and we don't want to risk our own lives bailing you out of situations you had no business doing. Study hard, respect others, and respect the power of nature .

[Twist]

Wait, is it possible to storm chase in quarantine?

[cademihalek]

You will also need a degree in meteorology, an idea on how to read Radar, and training.
If you never chased yourself, Howcast, don't tell how to chase storms. You are feeding kids who just got their drivers license. You can get them seriously injured or KILLED.

[DGDLandy]

i live in Moore, OK where a big ass tornado almost hit my school on Monday. Idk why im watching this

[Amaya_Ai]

Step 7. Do not use an umbrella because it can act as a lightning beacon! XD