In 1996 a famous movie called Twister came out. It glorified the chase to capture footage of storms and tornadoes. The thing people miss about this movie is that while the premise attempted to gain scientific knowledge through experiments, it also demonstrated the dangers of chasing through injury and death. Many people, though, need to be heeding this warning.
Since this movie, more and more people each year take to the road to try and capture footage of these beastly storms. This leads people who are not trained to go it alone and put themselves in extreme danger by being out on the roads and in front of these storms. Often putting themselves to the east of these storms and right in their path.
Even the best storm chasers with years of experience have been killed by storms that suddenly changed or switched directions and ended up being right up on them. In 2013, Paul Samaras, Tim Samaras, and Carl Young died when an EF3 tornado in Oklahoma turned on them. They had been doing this for years, and this tornado surprised them. They had previously been safe, but this storm trapped them in the path.
Then some are breaking traffic laws, getting caught in unfortunate situations, driving tired, recklessly, or just having a regrettable accident. In March of 2022, three more storm chasers were killed in a car crash while chasing a tornado in Texas. More chasers are going to equal more accidents.
I can only find data from 2010 to 2022, but according to the Storm Prediction Center, 15 storm chasers have been killed and many more injured in that time frame. Governments and organizations are calling for increased safety measures. Some have called for better training programs, while others suggest storm chaser activity regulations. And while it will be hard to put rules on storm chasers due to the freedom to move in this country, there could be penalties for injuring or killing someone while storm chasing.
We have already seen several chasers injured and trapped in the path of storms this year, and the season has really just begun. I pray that none of these men and women who put themselves in the path of a tornado are killed. If this year's activities continue, we may very well read a story of a chaser who has passed. This will be a detriment to the chasing community, their family, and friends. We have also seen people who are not storm chasers video storms that are coming right at them. Do yourselves and your family a favor. Take shelter.
If you decide to be involved in storm chasing, you must do so responsibly. There isn't enough money in this world that is worth getting killed or severely injured trying to get a photograph or video of a tornado. It is essential to know that chasing is never a solo activity. It would be best if you had, at minimum, a driver who understands weather patterns and a navigator who knows how to read radar data and understand where storms will go.
Storm chasing is not for the amateur. Unfortunately, many amateurs are storm chasing, and this is going to continue to be a problem if people do not take it upon themselves to be trained, to work with other chasers, and to realize the limitations of their abilities to get in behind the storm and not in front of it.
Those chasers who have been killed or injured remind us of the dangers of storm chasing. Yes, the activity is thrilling, and yes, it can provide invaluable scientific data about storms and tornadoes. Still, it is more critical for chasers to prioritize safety and take the necessary precautions before and during a chase. The storm-chasing community needs to work together to develop a safety net that ensures this activity can continue responsibly.
Stay safe out there, and enjoy the chase. If you are a chaser, just make sure you come home. Alive.
God Bless
-Jay
Since this movie, more and more people each year take to the road to try and capture footage of these beastly storms. This leads people who are not trained to go it alone and put themselves in extreme danger by being out on the roads and in front of these storms. Often putting themselves to the east of these storms and right in their path.
Even the best storm chasers with years of experience have been killed by storms that suddenly changed or switched directions and ended up being right up on them. In 2013, Paul Samaras, Tim Samaras, and Carl Young died when an EF3 tornado in Oklahoma turned on them. They had been doing this for years, and this tornado surprised them. They had previously been safe, but this storm trapped them in the path.
Then some are breaking traffic laws, getting caught in unfortunate situations, driving tired, recklessly, or just having a regrettable accident. In March of 2022, three more storm chasers were killed in a car crash while chasing a tornado in Texas. More chasers are going to equal more accidents.
I can only find data from 2010 to 2022, but according to the Storm Prediction Center, 15 storm chasers have been killed and many more injured in that time frame. Governments and organizations are calling for increased safety measures. Some have called for better training programs, while others suggest storm chaser activity regulations. And while it will be hard to put rules on storm chasers due to the freedom to move in this country, there could be penalties for injuring or killing someone while storm chasing.
We have already seen several chasers injured and trapped in the path of storms this year, and the season has really just begun. I pray that none of these men and women who put themselves in the path of a tornado are killed. If this year's activities continue, we may very well read a story of a chaser who has passed. This will be a detriment to the chasing community, their family, and friends. We have also seen people who are not storm chasers video storms that are coming right at them. Do yourselves and your family a favor. Take shelter.
If you decide to be involved in storm chasing, you must do so responsibly. There isn't enough money in this world that is worth getting killed or severely injured trying to get a photograph or video of a tornado. It is essential to know that chasing is never a solo activity. It would be best if you had, at minimum, a driver who understands weather patterns and a navigator who knows how to read radar data and understand where storms will go.
Storm chasing is not for the amateur. Unfortunately, many amateurs are storm chasing, and this is going to continue to be a problem if people do not take it upon themselves to be trained, to work with other chasers, and to realize the limitations of their abilities to get in behind the storm and not in front of it.
Those chasers who have been killed or injured remind us of the dangers of storm chasing. Yes, the activity is thrilling, and yes, it can provide invaluable scientific data about storms and tornadoes. Still, it is more critical for chasers to prioritize safety and take the necessary precautions before and during a chase. The storm-chasing community needs to work together to develop a safety net that ensures this activity can continue responsibly.
Stay safe out there, and enjoy the chase. If you are a chaser, just make sure you come home. Alive.
God Bless
-Jay
Last edited by a moderator:
