COUNTRY
United States
WHEN TO GO
April, May, June
NUMBER OF NIGHTS
10 to 14
After hours of monotonous driving across endless prairies, you finally spot what you came for. Thunderstorms erupt in the sky like a nuclear bomb as a massive supercell is born. You eagerly drive towards it, putting yourself in perfect position ahead of the inflow notch. Then, as if on schedule, a beautiful tornado snakes down from the sky, and the chase is on. After deploying state-of-the-art sensors and instruments to scan the circulation, you find a safe spot to pull over. You’ve had enough close calls before. You know this is one of those days you really need to respect Mother Nature.
You take out your camera and start capturing breathtaking photos and videos of one nature’s most awesome phenomena from your front row seat. But these aren’t just any photos. They’re ones even National Geographic would salivate over. You stare in astonishment as you are so close to something that is equally beautiful as it is powerful and destructive. It may feel almost like an out-of-body experience. Then just like that, the tornado ropes out and dissipates. It’s over as quickly as it began.
Trip Overview: Storm Chasing Itinerary at a Glance
Because storm chasing is 100% dependent on the weather, it’s impossible to provide an exact itinerary of where you’ll be and what you’ll be doing. On your storm chasing adventure, each day will be designated as a chase day, a travel day, or an exploration day, where you can go explore museums, state and national parks, scenic drives, and so much more. In place of a full trip itinerary, here’s what you should expect on a typical chase day where you start close to your target area. Times will vary depending on the expected timing of storms and how far you are from your target area.
8 AM to 10 AM
Breakfast and morning weather analysis and briefing.
Identify a jumping off point inside your target area with easy road access to where storms are expected to fire.
11 AM
Check out of hotel
Start driving to your target area
12 PM to 1 PM
Lunch and midday weather analysis
Make any necessary adjustments to your target area and/or jumping off point
Continue driving to your target area
2 PM to 5 PM
Arrive at target area and jumping off point
Last minute weather analysis and look at models
Make any last-minute tweaks to your jumping off point
Wait for storms to fire, then the chase is on!
Sunset
Even if storms are still going, all storm chasing ends at sunset for safety reasons.
Dinner and initial next-day weather analysis
Identify possible target areas for tomorrow
Drive to tomorrow’s target area
Overnight at a local hotel
Tornado Alley: Area Overview
Stretching from the Gulf of Mexico all the way to southern Canada, Tornado Alley covers a wide swath of the central United States. Every spring, warm moist air from the Gulf of Mexico collides with cold dry air from the Rocky Mountains. Add strong wind shear from the mid-latitude jet and you get massive rotating supercell thunderstorms that birth some of the most beautiful, yet violent weather on the planet.
The grassland prairies of the Great Plains make for storm chasing landscapes that are beyond ideal. Flat, open, and with the ability to see for miles in every directions results in incredible photo opportunities for all ages and skill levels. On non-chase days, explore Tornado Alley’s rich history. Step back in time on the Oregon and California trails. Try one of the Dust Bowl Era’s favorite pastimes: the cow pie toss. And make sure you try the region’s world-famous barbecue.
Airport Guide: Your Gateway to Tornado Alley
Depending on when you go on your storm chasing adventure, you’ll fly into one of the major or regional airports located throughout Tornado Alley. Tornado season peaks in Texas in April and works its way north to the Dakotas and Manitoba by the end of June, so we recommend flying into one of the following cities.
APRIL
Dallas, Texas
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
MAY
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Denver, Colorado
Wichita, Kansas
Kansas City, Missouri
JUNE
Denver, Colorado
Kansas City, Missouri
Omaha, Nebraska
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Accommodations
We won’t lie. Storm chasing accommodations are not the most glamorous in the world. You’ll be staying in roadside hotels and motels. But you didn’t come storm chasing to stay in fancy hotels. In fact, you really shouldn’t be in the hotel other than to sleep and have breakfast and your morning weather briefing.
Take Your Storm Chasing Adventure Beyond Tornado Alley
Don’t feel like you have to limit your storm chasing to Tornado Alley. Indeed, weather happens everywhere, which means you can chase storms anywhere. We’ve chased everything from blizzards to dust storms to hurricanes from California to New England and Wyoming to Florida. Believe it or not, outside of Tornado Alley some of our most well-known weather photos were taken in Arizona, a state that sees over 330 sunny days per year. Even if it’s in your own backyard, grab your camera and get out there. You’ll be amazed at what you come home with.
The Fine Print: Costs
There are a lot of factors that can affect the cost of a storm chasing adventure, but we strongly recommend booking through a storm chasing tour company, especially if this is your first time in Tornado Alley. However, if you have the proper training and experience, a self-guided storm chasing adventure can be incredibly exhilarating and rewarding. The following per-person costs cover a 10-14 day trip.
STORM CHASING TOUR COMPANY
$4,000 to $6,000
SELF-GUIDED STORM CHASING ADVENTURE
$3,000 to $5,000
The Cost Includes
Domestic Airfare to and from your Base City
Chase Vehicles and Fuel
Hotels and Accommodations
Meals and Snacks
Non-Alcoholic Beverages
Park and Museum Fees
The Cost Does Not Include
International Flights to/from the United States
Souvenirs and Personal Items
Alcoholic Beverages
Visa and/or Entry Fees to the United States and Canada
Gratuities
Safety Disclaimer
Storm chasing is a dangerous activity. Do not attempt to chase storms on your own without proper education and/or training in severe weather. Doing so can result in severe injury and/or death. If you’re in doubt at all about your abilities as a storm chaser, please book your adventure through a storm chasing tour company. They are professionals who know how to get you incredible photo opportunities and amazing experiences while keeping you safe.