What is storm spotting?
Storm spotters report weather conditions, usually severe weather, to their local National Weather Service (NWS) office. Unlike storm chasers, spotters typically don’t stray too far from where they live; thus, they only report on their local weather conditions. This is useful to NWS forecasters because it provides ground truth and helps with the issuances of severe weather warnings. You can become a spotter by taking a class put on by your local NWS office. Here you will learn how to safely watch storms, identify different types of storms and storm structure, what to report, how to report, and more. Once you have completed the class, you will be a certified storm spotter, which will allow you to directly contact your local NWS office to report weather conditions, as well as allow the NWS to directly contact you if they need a report in your location. Find out more about becoming a storm spotter HERE.
What is Storm Chasing?
As with any other hobby, storm chasing has different techniques, focuses, degrees of fanatics, and so on. You don't need flashing lights, instruments, to drive thousands of miles, have some type of certification, be part of a team or group, have an armored vehicle, come within a certain distance from a tornado, or see a certain number of tornadoes to storm chase. Some chasers claim that they chase “for science.” However, for that to be true, you typically need to be a degreed meteorologist or researcher that has received funding through a research grant for a field project. Data and observations collected during these field projects are used to initialize model simulations of tornadoes and supercells, analyze against radar data, observe trends amongst multiple storms, etc. This work should be intended for publication in a peer-reviewed journal in order to do accurate and credible research while chasing. You also don’t need to do it “to save lives,” though you should report severe weather when you see it. You can also help if you are the first to come across damage as long as you are extremely careful and/or trained to do so.
I call it a hobby, because for mostly anyone out there chasing, it is; whether they admit to it or not. Very few people have been able to call storm chasing a full-time, year-round job or profession. Chasers can sell picture prints, videos, maybe even organize a chasing tour, but usually the cost of gas, lodging, food, and camera gear cause them to seldom make a profit to solely live on. Plus, Mother Nature is fickle. You can go weeks, or even months, without severe weather, which isn't good if you're trying to make a living from it. Most chasers do what they do for the thrill and fascination with storms, not the money.
Personally, I just really like storms. They have produced some of the most beautiful, other-worldly scenes I've ever seen. I also like being able to see what I learn about in the classroom playing out in real time and in person. In the book Tornado Hunter, author Stefan Bechtel sums up why I feel most severe-weather fanatics chase storms:
“Storm chasing is also a way of jacking life over into a realm of truly magnificent problems. Human life is essentially an endless series of problems—problems so numerous, so relentless, and so time consuming that we tend to become our problems. And because most of our problems are boring and trivial, our lives tend to become boring and trivial. But out here, instead of worrying about whether the utility got paid or Johnny got to soccer, you are worrying about whether you will live or die, and if you die, whether it’s to be by lightning, hail, or being taken up to the gates of glory in a whirlwind. To storm chasers, those are problems worth having, and a life worth living.”
If you have never storm chased and would like to, I strongly advise going out first with someone who is knowledgeable and experienced in chasing. One easy way, albeit somewhat expensive, is to find a chase tour or class to participate in. As far as I know, one of the best for your dollar is the storm chasing class offered at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, IL. Information on this class can be found HERE. I took this class back in 2012, and it is still one of the best chasing experiences I've ever had. They have only experienced, knowledgeable faculty in the field of meteorology lead these 10-day chases. Other universities across the U.S. that have meteorology programs have chasing classes as well. The main downfall with any of these tours and classes, aside from the cost, is that they are booked weeks to months in advance, so there is no guarantee that you will have "good" weather for chasing, but they see to it you will have a good time nonetheless.
I call it a hobby, because for mostly anyone out there chasing, it is; whether they admit to it or not. Very few people have been able to call storm chasing a full-time, year-round job or profession. Chasers can sell picture prints, videos, maybe even organize a chasing tour, but usually the cost of gas, lodging, food, and camera gear cause them to seldom make a profit to solely live on. Plus, Mother Nature is fickle. You can go weeks, or even months, without severe weather, which isn't good if you're trying to make a living from it. Most chasers do what they do for the thrill and fascination with storms, not the money.
Personally, I just really like storms. They have produced some of the most beautiful, other-worldly scenes I've ever seen. I also like being able to see what I learn about in the classroom playing out in real time and in person. In the book Tornado Hunter, author Stefan Bechtel sums up why I feel most severe-weather fanatics chase storms:
“Storm chasing is also a way of jacking life over into a realm of truly magnificent problems. Human life is essentially an endless series of problems—problems so numerous, so relentless, and so time consuming that we tend to become our problems. And because most of our problems are boring and trivial, our lives tend to become boring and trivial. But out here, instead of worrying about whether the utility got paid or Johnny got to soccer, you are worrying about whether you will live or die, and if you die, whether it’s to be by lightning, hail, or being taken up to the gates of glory in a whirlwind. To storm chasers, those are problems worth having, and a life worth living.”
If you have never storm chased and would like to, I strongly advise going out first with someone who is knowledgeable and experienced in chasing. One easy way, albeit somewhat expensive, is to find a chase tour or class to participate in. As far as I know, one of the best for your dollar is the storm chasing class offered at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, IL. Information on this class can be found HERE. I took this class back in 2012, and it is still one of the best chasing experiences I've ever had. They have only experienced, knowledgeable faculty in the field of meteorology lead these 10-day chases. Other universities across the U.S. that have meteorology programs have chasing classes as well. The main downfall with any of these tours and classes, aside from the cost, is that they are booked weeks to months in advance, so there is no guarantee that you will have "good" weather for chasing, but they see to it you will have a good time nonetheless.
Storm Chasing: Expectations Vs. Reality
Various TV shows and movies give storm chasing a rather glamorous, adrenaline pumping, constant-action image. Don't get me wrong; being under a storm will get the blood flowing, but storm chasing is far from a constant rush. There are a couple of hurdles that you must get across before you get to the good stuff.
1. Be prepared to drive. A lot. You will most likely spend more time driving to where you’re going to chase than actually chasing. If you live in the Midwest or Plains, you may not have to drive too terribly far to see cool storms throughout the year. However, if you want to increase your chances of seeing a jaw-dropping supercell or tornado, driving to where the storms are is a good way to go. Which leads to the next point...
2. Be prepared to spend money. Expenses with storm chasing are relative to the chaser. Storm chasing can be rather expensive, depending on how dedicated you are to seeing as many storms as possible. Gas is the main expense, which as we all know, can fluctuate like crazy week to week, day to day, even minute to minute. Next is food. Food prices can vary based on your taste: Do you like gas station food, fast food, sit-down restaurant food, or bringing your own food? If you're spending all day chasing, you're going to build up an appetite at some point and need to eat something. Another financial drawback: if you're far from home after a long day of chasing, it's not always practical or safe to drive home, so you'll need to find a hotel to get some sleep. Depending on room availability and your personal preference, this can either be not-so-bad or quite expensive. This also depends on whether you need to do it multiple days in a row. Some chasers just choose to sleep in their vehicles.
3. Having a setup that is conducive for storms. There are many atmospheric conditions that have to come together just right to produce severe weather. Even in the middle of the Spring, which is the peak time for severe weather, you can easily go days or even weeks without the threat of severe storms. Additionally, sometimes there may be a good setup for severe weather, but life gets in the way and prevents you from going.
4. Having a forecast be 100% accurate. Anyone can tell you that forecasts don't come to fruition 100% of the time. It's just the nature of the atmosphere. Sometimes the weather models will show conditions that are prime for severe weather in an area several days out, but when the time comes, the storms may not be as strong, be in a different location, or not even form at all. I've driven from the St. Louis, MO area down to southern Oklahoma in the morning, only to hang out at a park for a couple hours and then turn around and go back. Why? Because the day started out so promising, but the atmospheric conditions didn't turn out as forecast, which lead to no storms forming whatsoever. That's about a 12-hour round trip to sit in a park and watch an empty sky for a couple of hours. To some degree, this happens to every storm chaser at least a couple of times a year, regardless of what their pride will allow them to tell you.
5. The most important one: You will not see a tornado every time you storm chase. Most tornadoes have relatively short life spans and sometimes they occur in towns, cities, or wooded areas, where obstructions can block your view. They also don't care about road networks, so they can occur in areas that are hard to reach. Learn to appreciate the beauty of the storms in general. Chances are, you will see several beautiful storms before you see a beautiful tornado, let alone a tornado in general.
1. Be prepared to drive. A lot. You will most likely spend more time driving to where you’re going to chase than actually chasing. If you live in the Midwest or Plains, you may not have to drive too terribly far to see cool storms throughout the year. However, if you want to increase your chances of seeing a jaw-dropping supercell or tornado, driving to where the storms are is a good way to go. Which leads to the next point...
2. Be prepared to spend money. Expenses with storm chasing are relative to the chaser. Storm chasing can be rather expensive, depending on how dedicated you are to seeing as many storms as possible. Gas is the main expense, which as we all know, can fluctuate like crazy week to week, day to day, even minute to minute. Next is food. Food prices can vary based on your taste: Do you like gas station food, fast food, sit-down restaurant food, or bringing your own food? If you're spending all day chasing, you're going to build up an appetite at some point and need to eat something. Another financial drawback: if you're far from home after a long day of chasing, it's not always practical or safe to drive home, so you'll need to find a hotel to get some sleep. Depending on room availability and your personal preference, this can either be not-so-bad or quite expensive. This also depends on whether you need to do it multiple days in a row. Some chasers just choose to sleep in their vehicles.
3. Having a setup that is conducive for storms. There are many atmospheric conditions that have to come together just right to produce severe weather. Even in the middle of the Spring, which is the peak time for severe weather, you can easily go days or even weeks without the threat of severe storms. Additionally, sometimes there may be a good setup for severe weather, but life gets in the way and prevents you from going.
4. Having a forecast be 100% accurate. Anyone can tell you that forecasts don't come to fruition 100% of the time. It's just the nature of the atmosphere. Sometimes the weather models will show conditions that are prime for severe weather in an area several days out, but when the time comes, the storms may not be as strong, be in a different location, or not even form at all. I've driven from the St. Louis, MO area down to southern Oklahoma in the morning, only to hang out at a park for a couple hours and then turn around and go back. Why? Because the day started out so promising, but the atmospheric conditions didn't turn out as forecast, which lead to no storms forming whatsoever. That's about a 12-hour round trip to sit in a park and watch an empty sky for a couple of hours. To some degree, this happens to every storm chaser at least a couple of times a year, regardless of what their pride will allow them to tell you.
5. The most important one: You will not see a tornado every time you storm chase. Most tornadoes have relatively short life spans and sometimes they occur in towns, cities, or wooded areas, where obstructions can block your view. They also don't care about road networks, so they can occur in areas that are hard to reach. Learn to appreciate the beauty of the storms in general. Chances are, you will see several beautiful storms before you see a beautiful tornado, let alone a tornado in general.
My storm chasing tips
The storm chasing community has received a lot of negative hype over the past 10 years or so (really, probably 20+ years) for various things, such as clogging highways, driving recklessly, disregarding personal property, etc. It is unfortunate that a few bad eggs give the whole community a bad reputation. There are some simple ways to stay safe and keep everyone happy while you're out chasing:
1. You are not above the law. It doesn’t matter what justification you give yourself for chasing storms or how many decals, flashing lights, or instruments you have - you’re still a motorist with the same rights, privileges, and restrictions as any other person on the road. You should obey all traffic laws and signs. Let’s be honest, though. Everyone who has or does storm chase speeds, including myself. Does that make it right? No. There are instances, such as when you’re trying to get out of the way of a storm, tornado, or grapefruit-sized hail, where one could argue that it’s warranted. If you are going to speed, don’t do it excessively or recklessly. Excessive speeding combined with unfamiliar and potentially wet roads, in addition to numerous distractions, could be deadly.
2. If you pull over on the side of the road, make sure you are completely off of the road and have your hazard lights on. I usually try to find a side road or field road to pull completely off from a main road. If you find yourself pulled over along the side of a busy road, stay aware of traffic. Also, on the topic of hazard lights, those really should do the trick. Some chasers like to use flashing LED light bars, and while I believe they are legal, there is really no point in having them. My opinion: leave them for emergency personnel to use only.
3. If you are pulled over on the side of the road, don't stand in the road after getting out of your vehicle. This may seem like common sense, but I've seen it happen many times.
4. Respect personal property. Don't drive through people’s yards or farmers' fields or knowingly trespass.
5. Try to go chasing with someone else, even if you think you're a "pro”. It's safer to have someone helping you navigate unfamiliar territory, watch radar, and most importantly, watch the sky. It's also nice to have someone to keep you company on long drives. Keep in mind, though, that you’ll be stuck with this person in a vehicle for potentially quite some time and in potentially stressful situations. Not everyone can handle that, so choose wisely. Most of my chases have been with my wife, Michelle, who is also a meteorologist. While that alone makes things smoother when it comes to us chasing together, we also have similar approaches when it comes to chasing, which limits conflicts and disagreements.
6. Learn how to forecast for yourself. There are many different sources out there that will tell you where and when severe weather will occur. However, you will find that personally being able to forecast what, when, and where will give you much greater success over time in seeing good storms and possibly tornadoes. That doesn't mean that you have to get a degree in meteorology. Colleges nearby may offer some basic meteorology courses that introduce you to forecasting. Also, pay attention to forecast discussions produced by your local National Weather Service office or the Storm Prediction Center. These discussions are packed full of terms, processes, and ingredients that are useful for learning to forecast. Also, there are some fantastic books out there that will also help you become a better forecaster, some of which can be found HERE.
The Dangers of Chasing
People think that storm chasing is dangerous, but not for the right reasons. Tornadoes most likely will not pose a threat to you unless you get too close to one or are in one's path. As we unfortunately saw back in May 2013, sometimes things go bad and storm chasers die as a result of a freak tornado. However, if you play it safe, most likely you will live to tell about your adventures. One of the greater dangers of chasing is the driving. Inherently, driving is dangerous. Why is it more dangerous when chasing?
1. You're likely on unfamiliar roads, which may be wet, covered in hail, or blocked by debris. Intersections or sharp turns may also sneak up on you. Additionally, you may find yourself on roads that turn into dirt, private drives, or dead ends.
2. You are, in some way, distracted. You could be watching the sky or looking at your phone or computer for radar updates or your map. (Hint: That's why it is better to go with at least one other person, so that they can do that.)
3. Low visibility when driving in heavy rain or fog.
4. Driving long distances on its own can be tiring, especially added with intense situations, which can lead to decreased alertness.
5. If hail stones become large enough, they can crack or break car windows. This usually isn't a risk unless you drive into the storm, which most chasers try not to do for good reasons.
6. Other drivers. You can be the most cautious, vigilant driver, but regardless of whether you’re driving toward a storm or driving to work, there will always be others driving distracted or recklessly that can put you in harm’s way. Be as defensive as you can when it comes to driving.
Another danger of chasing storms is lightning. Lightning is not just confined to within the bounds of storms, as bolts can strike 20-30 miles away from a storm’s edge. These strikes are referred to as “bolts from the blue,” and are commonly stronger than bolts that occur within or directly underneath a storm. If you can hear thunder, and definitely if you can see lightning bolts, you're close enough to potentially be struck. Your best bet if you find yourself in this situation is to stay in your vehicle with the doors and windows closed if you can. If you think that doesn’t sound fun, you're right, it doesn't, but neither does THIS. Read the video description to understand what happened. While this is a freak accident, it can happen to anyone at any time, so be careful. For more information on lightning safety, click HERE.
1. You're likely on unfamiliar roads, which may be wet, covered in hail, or blocked by debris. Intersections or sharp turns may also sneak up on you. Additionally, you may find yourself on roads that turn into dirt, private drives, or dead ends.
2. You are, in some way, distracted. You could be watching the sky or looking at your phone or computer for radar updates or your map. (Hint: That's why it is better to go with at least one other person, so that they can do that.)
3. Low visibility when driving in heavy rain or fog.
4. Driving long distances on its own can be tiring, especially added with intense situations, which can lead to decreased alertness.
5. If hail stones become large enough, they can crack or break car windows. This usually isn't a risk unless you drive into the storm, which most chasers try not to do for good reasons.
6. Other drivers. You can be the most cautious, vigilant driver, but regardless of whether you’re driving toward a storm or driving to work, there will always be others driving distracted or recklessly that can put you in harm’s way. Be as defensive as you can when it comes to driving.
Another danger of chasing storms is lightning. Lightning is not just confined to within the bounds of storms, as bolts can strike 20-30 miles away from a storm’s edge. These strikes are referred to as “bolts from the blue,” and are commonly stronger than bolts that occur within or directly underneath a storm. If you can hear thunder, and definitely if you can see lightning bolts, you're close enough to potentially be struck. Your best bet if you find yourself in this situation is to stay in your vehicle with the doors and windows closed if you can. If you think that doesn’t sound fun, you're right, it doesn't, but neither does THIS. Read the video description to understand what happened. While this is a freak accident, it can happen to anyone at any time, so be careful. For more information on lightning safety, click HERE.