How to Storm Chase
Either rent or buy a vehicle that is fairly heavy, lots of room for gear; preferably an SUV or Mini Van of some sort., Outfit your chosen vehicle with the essential emergency lighting, HAM radios, search and rescue gear, and comfort essentials...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Either rent or buy a vehicle that is fairly heavy
If you get a Hummer, pay close attention to your gas gauge, because the last thing you want to happen is to run out of gas when you're just yards away from a tornado.
Make sure that the vehicle is as fast or as heavy as possible; fast so that you can escape quickly, or heavy so that in the event that you do come in close contact with the tornado, your vehicle may be able to withstand the winds.
The most ideal storm chasing vehicle in the world is the T.I.V (Tornado intercept vehicle), but this vehicle was hand built by an IMAX film maker and costs tens of thousands of dollars to make.
You may choose to create such a vehicle if you decide you want to make a career out of storm chasing. -
Step 2: lots of room for gear; preferably an SUV or Mini Van of some sort.
The emergency lighting can be useful not only to warn people that you are speeding toward the storm.
It will serve as a beacon for rescue parties to help locate you and your vehicle in the debris after the storm has passed.
You may need to armor your vehicle with at least 1/4" thick steel plating or at the very least steel mesh netting.
Remember, you might be spending a lot of time in this vehicle and you want to be comfortable.
Also, be sure to get the appropriate SKYWARN training class and then get the stickers so that you will be an official storm observer. , You need to establish yourself and make a name so that when you are out in the field people will know who you are and give you room to do your work. , Don't let your nerves get the best of you, keep filming unless it's time to retreat. , An empty tank just yards away from a tornado is game over in the storm chasing world. , The jobs can be interchangeable but be dedicated to your job during the chase. ,, If the tornado is going away from you film it until you cannot see it.
If the tornado is approaching you, once you can feel the winds begin to blow you away get in your car and retreat.
You may choose to film the tornado during your retreat. ,, Get to know the pros, ask questions, and share stories. , Don't let this intimidate you.
It takes years of experience.
Sometimes even the experts who have done this for years make mistakes and get hurt.
If you want to chase storms, look for a reputable storm chasing tour company and book a tour. -
Step 3: Outfit your chosen vehicle with the essential emergency lighting
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Step 4: HAM radios
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Step 5: search and rescue gear
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Step 6: and comfort essentials.
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Step 7: Establish your name as a storm chaser by going online and posting your qualifications on Facebook and online forums dedicated to storm chasing.
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Step 8: Buy an IMAX camera or the most high-quality camera possible
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Step 9: in order to film the tornadoes you find.
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Step 10: Always have a full tank of gas.
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Step 11: Have a storm chasing team; one person to drive
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Step 12: one to handle the camera
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Step 13: and one to spot nearby tornadoes.
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Step 14: Have a laptop computer with Internet access so you can see the local weather and keep track of nearby storms.
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Step 15: When you find a tornado wait until it is crossing an area with no potential debris (an open field)
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Step 16: stop and exit your vehicle within a mile of it and film as long as you can.
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Step 17: Create a team name that people will remember
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Step 18: and create a team logo.
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Step 19: Join a storm chasing forum on the Internet.
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Step 20: In all seriousness
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Step 21: NO ONE should just go out and try to chase tornadoes unless they fully comprehend meteorology
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Step 22: specifically the mechanics of severe weather
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Step 23: you should also understand how to read a radar
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Step 24: such as radial velocity
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Step 25: nautical mile ranges on radars
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Step 26: understand what NEXTRAD is.
Detailed Guide
If you get a Hummer, pay close attention to your gas gauge, because the last thing you want to happen is to run out of gas when you're just yards away from a tornado.
Make sure that the vehicle is as fast or as heavy as possible; fast so that you can escape quickly, or heavy so that in the event that you do come in close contact with the tornado, your vehicle may be able to withstand the winds.
The most ideal storm chasing vehicle in the world is the T.I.V (Tornado intercept vehicle), but this vehicle was hand built by an IMAX film maker and costs tens of thousands of dollars to make.
You may choose to create such a vehicle if you decide you want to make a career out of storm chasing.
The emergency lighting can be useful not only to warn people that you are speeding toward the storm.
It will serve as a beacon for rescue parties to help locate you and your vehicle in the debris after the storm has passed.
You may need to armor your vehicle with at least 1/4" thick steel plating or at the very least steel mesh netting.
Remember, you might be spending a lot of time in this vehicle and you want to be comfortable.
Also, be sure to get the appropriate SKYWARN training class and then get the stickers so that you will be an official storm observer. , You need to establish yourself and make a name so that when you are out in the field people will know who you are and give you room to do your work. , Don't let your nerves get the best of you, keep filming unless it's time to retreat. , An empty tank just yards away from a tornado is game over in the storm chasing world. , The jobs can be interchangeable but be dedicated to your job during the chase. ,, If the tornado is going away from you film it until you cannot see it.
If the tornado is approaching you, once you can feel the winds begin to blow you away get in your car and retreat.
You may choose to film the tornado during your retreat. ,, Get to know the pros, ask questions, and share stories. , Don't let this intimidate you.
It takes years of experience.
Sometimes even the experts who have done this for years make mistakes and get hurt.
If you want to chase storms, look for a reputable storm chasing tour company and book a tour.
About the Author
Teresa Morales
Brings years of experience writing about home improvement and related subjects.
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