While Hollywood movies often dramatize storm chasing, it has been a major tourist attraction in the central U.S. for decades. Numerous tour operators with names like Extreme Chase Tour, Extreme Tornado Tours, and F5! Tornado Safaris offer high-paying customers the chance to get up close to tornadoes, clouds, rain, winds, and hailstorms—safely, of course.
The Reality of Storm Chasing
Unlike the action-packed scenes in films, storm chasing involves driving hundreds of miles for hours and sometimes waiting in place until the storm starts. “It’s a lot of driving and a little bit of action,” says Erik Burns, owner and tour director of Tornadic Expeditions. “But the action you do see is amazing and you instantly forget about the miles and hours it took to get there.”
The History and Growth of Storm Chasing
David Hoadley, credited as the first storm chaser, began this unique pursuit in 1956 in Bismarck, North Dakota. His fascination with severe weather grew after documenting the aftermath of a fierce storm. The release of the upcoming film “Twisters” is expected to boost interest in storm chasing, much like its 1996 predecessor “Twister” did.
Increasing Popularity
Ronald Stenz, a meteorology professor who leads educational storm chasing trips, notes that storm chasing has already seen a surge in popularity. Kim George, guest relations manager for Tempest Tours, reports that their 2025 storm chasing season sold out unusually quickly, with a waiting list for 2026. “At the start of May we opened our season for 2025, and it just went zonkers,” George said. “By the end of June it had completely sold out and we have a long waitlist.”
The Storm Chasing Experience
In 2023, the U.S. experienced 1,423 tornadoes, mainly in Tornado Alley, an unofficially defined region from Texas to South Dakota. Storm chasers, like those from Tempest Tours, often operate in Kansas, New Mexico, eastern Colorado, Nebraska, and the Dakotas, with Nebraska known for the most photogenic tornadoes.
The nature of the storms varies by month and location. Spring storms typically move faster, while later-season storms in the High Plains are slower but still intense. Tornadoes are usually visible from two to three miles away, but chasers sometimes get within a mile and a half for better visibility. They have pre-planned escape routes if they get too close.
With the renewed interest fueled by the release of “Twisters,” storm chasing is set to become an even more popular and thrilling adventure for those fascinated by the power of nature.
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