Commonly Asked Questions...

I will gradually be adding the most commonly asked questions here as time allows. There is a storm chasing forum at stormtrack.org which is a wealth of knowledge.

Why would anyone want to chase storms?
- There are numerous reasons people chase storms. These include the thrill of the hunt, testing forecast skills, witnessing nature's fury, the drive, companionship, and most importantly ground truth verification for the National Weather Service. We are the people who give tornado warnings more emphasis. Is your reaction to a tornado warning the same when you hear "Doppler radar has indicated a possible tornado..." versus "A large tornado has been spotted on the ground at..."?

Isn't storm chasing dangerous?
- Yes and no. There are always inherent risks involved with any day-to-day activity. These risks are increased for more "adventurous" endeavors such as sky diving, bungee jumping, rock climbing, etc. For a storm spotter or chaser who is well educated and experienced with this activity there is actually relatively minimal risk. In fact the most dangerous aspect of storm chasing is the actual drive to the chase target. Need I digress into others' driving habits? The second most dangerous aspect of storm chasing is lightning which is the nations number two weather related killer, however, vehicle offer excellent protection from lighning. When there are frequent lightning strikes a chaser usually stays in the car. The odds of getting hit by a tornado are extremely small though there have been some well documented "interesting" encounters.

How often do you see a tornado?
- The answer here depends on how often a chaser partakes in a bonafide chase as well as how good his or her forecast ability, storm structure recognition, and to a lesser extent, the type of equipment used. Some chasers rarely see a tornado for reasons above. Some see a tornado nearly every time out chasing storms. I have seen tornadoes on about 25% of my chases but should note I tend to stay within 200 miles of home and might chase a storm once every few weeks in the spring and summer. Another idea to keep in mind is many chasers consider witnessing an actual tornado on any given day as a "bonus" more than an absolute must see.

Can I go chasing with you?
- Possibly, but mainly if you live in the ND/SD/MN/IA area and agree to my rules. Find out more here.

What are some good chase tunes and weather related songs?
- I will be compiling a list of some of my personal favorite and less favorite weather related songs on this site soon. A truely classic song in terms of content is "Storm Chaser" by Gordon Ellis (Genre: Country).