Tornado Chasing Tours Questions

snegron · Jul 10, 2007

I was doing some research recently regarding tours offered for chasing/photographing tornados in the midwest U.S. There are several companies that offer a short 6 day package where you get to chase after tornados. I believe I am too late for any tour this year, but I am hoping to do one next year in June.

Has anyone here taken any of these tornado-chasing tours? Any recommendations? Any tour company that might have a better spotting rate? I thought about going out and doing it on my own, but since I am not too familiar with the midwest I think I would be wasting my time and money. I think that one of those tour companies might be a better option.

Alex Hawley · Jul 10, 2007

I guess I'm not surprised that there are people making money at this. I've never paid money to see a tornado up close, but having spent most of my life in areas with the highest incidence of tornadoes, the dangers are very real, and very deadly. I hope you make an objective assessment of those dangers before committing any money to such a trip. I'm quite sure that the promoters of these tours marginalize the danger down to a trivia, but it is no trivia. Even though there were many survivors in Greensburg, Kansas this year, I don't think any of them want to repeat the experience. I know none of my relatives that dodged that big F5 want to see one again.

As a degreed and career engineer, I'm also familiar with the requirements that are necessary to make a structure tornado-proof. To simply state it, the structure must be built as strong as a battleship or fortress. I know first-hand; I work in such a place every day. A medium force tornado can easily, and commonly, pull up the largest of power poles from the ground and drive it with the force comparable to a projectile fired from a 16 inch artillery gun. That ain't no joke and don't count on being able to see it coming. The Dodge pickup won't save you.

That being said, its your choice on how to spend you money and what risks to take. It may look cool in the movies and on the Weather Channel. Its a whole different world out there in that pickup cab. Good luck and please choose wisely.

copake_ham · Jul 11, 2007

Shades of PT Barnum. There's a sucker born.....

Now mind you the OP lives in FL - sooner or later there's a Cat-5 headed his way....

Terence · Jul 11, 2007

I'm betting your odds of getting killed prematurely (earlier than "average") tornado-chasing are much less than mine eating as much bacon as I do. Or jay-walking in Manhattan. Or just living in NYC in general. Or using the ever-dangerous bathroom (gov't stats alway make it seem like you're lucky to make it out of a bathroom alive). People mountain-climb, sky-dive and scuba-dive every day, despite the risks. How much worse can it be than riding a motorcycle (known in the medical profession as donorcycles)?

I say go for it. You only live and die once, usually. Why spend it hiding from perils and having nothing cool to photograph?

MurrayMinchin · Jul 11, 2007

Well said Terence!

It boils down to acceptable risk. Then it boils down further to how you think you'll feel if you let a dream slip away, just because of nay-sayers.

Where I come from (BC, Canada) a few heli-skiers in the hands of guides get swept away by avalanches every year...but others keep coming. Why? Because the experience is worth the risk. Many more people get into worse trouble in less dangerous situations all on their own. Just to clarify my point - how many people die a year storm chasing as compared to heli-skiing???

I remember a guy telling my wife, "Well don't come crying to me when a bear rips your face off" when he found out we were going to kayak the coast of BC for 6 months without a gun. We have an amazing bank of memories and all he has is his fears...if you have an itch - scratch it! Keep your head up, or down, or tell your guide to back up as you see fit, and have fun!!!

Murray

Terence · Jul 11, 2007

A year after spending Sept 11th running for my life down West St as the first tower came down, I went to Turkey to visit a friend. Two of my co-workers who were with me on Sept 11th said, "Are you sure it's safe to go there?" I just stared at them in disbelief.

I wonder if I have any bacon in the fridge . . . ?

dferrie · Jul 11, 2007

I must say it does sound interesting, but I suppose for anyone who has to live with the threat of a Tornado destroying their community, it may sound absolutely mad. I have enjoyed watching National Geographic (and that ilk) programs about scientific storm chasers, there again they are doing it in the hope of understanding Tornadoes better.

All in all, I think I'll stick to watching storms on TV and concentrate on touring Ireland with a camera at a nice sedate pace.

David

Donald Miller · Jul 11, 2007

I, like Alex, have spent the majority of my life in tornado alley. These storms are awesome in their severity and truly wonderful to witness...save when they strike and destroy our lifes and property.

That being said, I can well understand why someone would want to spend time chasing them...there are a number of companies that offer these excursions and to be honest most are equipped better than most local weather services. I have not heard of anyone killed or injured chasing tornadoes...not on a tornado chasing junket. My advice, If it floats your boat, go for it. We only live once...many are so damned afraid of dying that they fail to live the hours on this earth.

bdial · Jul 11, 2007

Aside from the danger, Seems like it would tread dangerously on trading on other people's misfortune.

snegron · Jul 11, 2007

Donald Miller said:
I, like Alex, have spent the majority of my life in tornado alley. These storms are awesome in their severity and truly wonderful to witness...save when they strike and destroy our lifes and property.

That being said, I can well understand why someone would want to spend time chasing them...there are a number of companies that offer these excursions and to be honest most are equipped better than most local weather services. I have not heard of anyone killed or injured chasing tornadoes...not on a tornado chasing junket. My advice, If it floats your boat, go for it. We only live once...many are so damned afraid of dying that they fail to live the hours on this earth.

I also posted this query on another forum and someone replied with several links to storm chasing tour companies. I'm late for what is left of this year, but I look forward to booking a tour for next June.

That person who responded also lives in an area plaqued by tornados and advised that this is something I should not simply do on my own. A thorough understanding of weather and storm behavior is needed in order to predict when and where a tornado might form. There is no way I can do this simply with my laptop and wireless internet access!

As far as only living once, I agree! There have been many photographic opportunities in life that I have passed up because I listened to the cautious advice of others. For years it has left me with the dreaded "what if" thoughts. I risk my life every day when I go out the front door. When my time comes I can't do anything to stop it. Be it getting hit by a speeding vehicle, drunk driver, slipping in the shower, some stray bullet, etc., it would not change what is to happen. At least with the tornado I can get some really good shots in the process!

snegron · Jul 11, 2007

copake_ham said:
Shades of PT Barnum. There's a sucker born.....

Now mind you the OP lives in FL - sooner or later there's a Cat-5 headed his way....

We have bigger tornados here during the summer months (we call them huricanes)! Problem with huricanes is that they are not too photogenic. They bring on way too much rain and in still pictures they look like any other ordinary rain storm. Every now and then a huricane will produce a small tornado, but because the sky is so dark the tornado is almost invisible. Having been smack in the middle of 4 huricanes in my lifetime (once I thought it would be interesting to photograph the beach as the huricane hit), I can say that they are not really that interesting to photograph.

Also, judging by what these tornado chasing tour companies are charging and the fact that they were all booked up recently, I would say there seems to be a thriving business for this sort of adventure.

Sirius Glass · Jul 11, 2007

Have you considered a less expensive alternative?

Cordless Bunjie Jumping?

No need to drag around that bulky equipment and the start up costs are low.

Besides you can make a great impact and you can get some really good coverage!

Steve

Krockmitaine · Jul 11, 2007

bdial said:
Aside from the danger, Seems like it would tread dangerously on trading on other people's misfortune.

Agree. I would rather be uncomfortable paying a guy who make a buck out of global warming and having fun while the country I'm in is destroyed and lives lost.
Sure, must be impressive. But I wouldn't pay to be "entertained". It's that notion that bothers me deeply.

Marc

Roger Hicks · Jul 11, 2007

Krockmitaine said:
Agree. I would rather be uncomfortable paying a guy who make a buck out of global warming and having fun while the country I'm in is destroyed and lives lost.
Sure, must be impressive. But I wouldn't pay to be "entertained". It's that notion that bothers me deeply.

Marc

Dear Marc,

My immediate response is to agree. But then I think: well, what isn't trading on someone else's misfortune? Go somewhere cheap and you're trading on the fact that they're poor; travel anywhere, and you're adding to global warming; go somewhere expensive and it's your misfortune...

Sure, it strikes me as an odd choice for a holiday, but then, I've just come back from a 1000-mile round trip to Arles on a 30-year-old motorcycle, which might strike others as odd too.

I like Steve's idea of cordless bungee jumping; I shall start recommending it to others forthwith.

Cheers,

Roger

Bill Mobbs · Jul 11, 2007

I have lived all my life in area of the country where tornados come every year. Alex Hawley, has good and correct info on the dangers and damage that that can happen... I have been there. Having said that... I say go ahead, chase all you want... Just try not to catch one!

Best wishes

Bill

rexp · Jul 11, 2007

I wouldn't post were it not for having seen quite a few myself (I live in Eastern Nebraska, grew up in Central Nebraska). Tornadoes are awesome, inspiring devils. Although I have gotten on the roof to get a better look, I don't hesitate to go to the basement when the trees start leaning over. I lived in Grand Island Nebraska in June of 1980 and although neither myself or my family had any significant damage, I had friends that lost their homes. Check out:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Island,_Nebraska_Tornado_Outbreak
The damage can be terrible. Don't think you can outrun one. Although you see & hear of those that have, it only takes one power pole across the highway and muddy ditches to whittle your escape route to nada.

Signing up for a trip doesn't guarantee they will have you where you should be when a tornado happens to drop out of the sky. If I were wanting to take photos of tornadoes, I would watch the Weather Channel every day to know when an outbreak is likely in an area I am willing to travel to. Then with the best maps I could find, my radios, a driver (must be someone willing to travel in bad weather and go to the area and start scouting. Try to follow storms from the edges outside of the rain so you can see. Don't get too brave, and don't forget that more people will be killed by lightning than by tornadoes.

snegron · Jul 11, 2007

rexp said:
I wouldn't post were it not for having seen quite a few myself (I live in Eastern Nebraska, grew up in Central Nebraska). Tornadoes are awesome, inspiring devils. Although I have gotten on the roof to get a better look, I don't hesitate to go to the basement when the trees start leaning over. I lived in Grand Island Nebraska in June of 1980 and although neither myself or my family had any significant damage, I had friends that lost their homes. Check out:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Island,_Nebraska_Tornado_Outbreak
The damage can be terrible. Don't think you can outrun one. Although you see & hear of those that have, it only takes one power pole across the highway and muddy ditches to whittle your escape route to nada.

Signing up for a trip doesn't guarantee they will have you where you should be when a tornado happens to drop out of the sky. If I were wanting to take photos of tornadoes, I would watch the Weather Channel every day to know when an outbreak is likely in an area I am willing to travel to. Then with the best maps I could find, my radios, a driver (must be someone willing to travel in bad weather and go to the area and start scouting. Try to follow storms from the edges outside of the rain so you can see. Don't get too brave, and don't forget that more people will be killed by lightning than by tornadoes.

Thanks for the advice! I will also be doing some research on the actual spotting rate of these tour companies. Since I don't know the area at all I believe I would be adding to the risk factor if I run into a dead end road.

Sirius Glass · Jul 11, 2007

rexp said:
Signing up for a trip doesn't guarantee they will have you where you should be when a tornado happens to drop out of the sky.

I am still wondering how they schedule tornados.:confused:

I mean like if they can schedule them then would it be a good idea to tell the people that their trailer will be blown to smithereens if they don't move it by 10 PM tomorrow night. Wow, they could have saved those high school kids a few months back.

Maybe I could buy tickets to front row seats for an earthquake in California!

I bet that they can do that because they use d------l camera, eh?

What will they think of next?:confused:

Steve

snegron · Jul 11, 2007

Krockmitaine said:
Agree. I would rather be uncomfortable paying a guy who make a buck out of global warming and having fun while the country I'm in is destroyed and lives lost.
Sure, must be impressive. But I wouldn't pay to be "entertained". It's that notion that bothers me deeply.

Marc

I need to clarify something very important. I believe that there is a difference in capturing images of a weather occurance versus capturing an image of the destruction it leaves behind.

I have absolutely no interest (and I hope this is as clear as possible) in capturing images of destruction. I only want to capture the images of a weather phenomena.

During the past several huricanes that hit Florida I was out helping my community for several days in a row, day and night. Once my local community was back on track I volunteered to go to the other coast of Florida to aid another community that was affected. I spent two weeks with them as well under the hot Florida sun helping them get their lives back on track. I didn't even know these people but I went anyway. I never took one picture during or after any of the huricanes. I was too busy helping my neighbors. And no, I'm not any sort of contractor who makes money out of repairing people's home or lives and I did not charge anyone a single dollar to help them.

My goal is to take pictures of a tornado. I have always wanted to do that. Unfortunately I can't go out into the open sea and shoot a water spout because I don't have a boat and I don't like boats. Tornados only occur over land (on the water they are called water spouts). I hope to be able to get to an isolated area where there are no homes and shoot a tornado. I don't believe there is anything morbid or morally wrong with shooting an image of a tornado.

MurrayMinchin · Jul 11, 2007

snegron said:
I don't believe there is anything morbid or morally wrong with shooting an image of a tornado.

Don't worry about it...nay-sayers are a vocal breed.

Be sure to post your images here on APUG and the compliment to scorn ratio will probably be 100:1

Murray

Sirius Glass · Jul 11, 2007

snegron said:
I need to clarify something very important. I believe that there is a difference in capturing images of a weather occurance versus capturing an image of the destruction it leaves behind.

I have absolutely no interest (and I hope this is as clear as possible) in capturing images of destruction. I only want to capture the images of a weather phenomena.

Snegron,

If we don't pick on you, who will?

Just doin' my job.

Steve

John Bartley · Jul 11, 2007

What Murray said ... !

copake_ham · Jul 11, 2007

Having seen a few of those PBS shows about tornado chasers, I can appreciate your fascination.

The thing I don't fully comprehend is why you would want to shoot still images of a fast-moving weather phenomenon? Seems like all you will get is a blurry image of a funnel cloud.

Besides, the only time I was ever near a tornado - it was a sensory experience that would seem next to impossible to portray as a still image. It is the sudden calm, and the sickly green cloudy sky that almost makes you freeze in wonder and then fear as you realize that something very powerful is getting very close.

I agree it is a thrill-seek and hope you have fun. However, I'm not as certain it will be a good photography opportunity.

Kino · Jul 11, 2007

Krockmitaine said:
Agree. I would rather be uncomfortable paying a guy who make a buck out of global warming and having fun while the country I'm in is destroyed and lives lost.
Sure, must be impressive. But I wouldn't pay to be "entertained". It's that notion that bothers me deeply.

Marc

Naaaaa....

The tornados are going to happen regardless; if you are there to photograph them, what's the difference?

I say this after having 2 houses blown out from under me while growing up in ground-zero of Tornado Alley; Carter County, Oklahoma.

Now, if you rush in and photograph bleeding citizens trying to dig out their injured families from piles of rubble, not only will you not have my sympathy, I won't send flowers to your funeral either; somehow, I don't think you think that will be part of the "package" though...

More likely than not, you won't see a funnel anyway. I is very hard to predict in advance where they are going to materialize, but storm photography can be quite amazing in itself --even sans funnels.

You will more likely be zapped by lightning than blown away by a funnel cloud...

Good luck.

removed account4 · Jul 11, 2007

when i was in jr high school we went to a family reunion in northern california.
my folks decided to have us fly to colorado and drive across from there.
we stopped at pike's peak and went up ... but before we had lunch at an a&w
root beer stand. after lunch we made our way to the mt and stopped at a few
shops in town where they nervously pointed to the sky and said "crap, that's a
funnel" my brother and i thought it was kind of cool,
and the folks there thought we were foolish kids.

we went up the mountain and saw all sorts of weather --- hail, snow, rain, sun &C.
when we returned, the town was in shambles. the place where we had lunch
no longer existed and the whole place looked like a warzone.

i'm not one to say "don't do what you want to do" but whatever you do, be
safe and be prepared. read up on what to do if you encounter a tornado and serious first aid.
tornados don't really care who you are, and once you pay your $$ and sign the waiver, the tour company don't really care either ...

don't forget the man behind the red curtain is running the show ...

Tornado Chasing Tours Questions

snegron

Alex Hawley

copake_ham

Terence

MurrayMinchin

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dferrie

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snegron

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Sirius Glass

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Roger Hicks

Bill Mobbs

rexp

snegron

Sirius Glass

snegron

MurrayMinchin

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Sirius Glass

John Bartley

copake_ham

Kino

removed account4

Tornado Chasing Tours Questions

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