The time was early September. 1961. The place was Galveston, Texas. The event was Hurricane Carla, a water-filled Category 4 inferno raging toward the Texas coastline with winds peaking at 175 miles per hour. The young man was a local news reporter of little fame outside his own broadcast area. The act was wild. Some say it was crazy. What it did was make history. When Dan Rather strapped himself to a utility pole with a video camera and a microphone to ride out the storm and document it as it came ashore, many people feared they’d never see him again. Not alive, anyway.
Rather survived, made quite a name for himself in the storm’s aftermath, and became one of the most successful news journalists in history. His antics inspired other daredevils to chase storms, too.
He wasn’t the first storm chaser but Rather did bring the pursuit into public light. Today, storm chasers are journalists, meteorologists, scientists, public servants, and ordinary everyday individuals swept up in the adrenaline surge that comes with the storm itself, the excitement it generates, and the drive for adventure and knowledge. Today’s storm chasers have specialized vehicles, state-of-the-art audio and video equipment, and an unquenchable curiosity that only gets fueled up and ready for more with every passing storm.
Storms are deadly and costly. The more we know about them, the better we become at predicting when and where they’re likely to occur and how big is their threat of danger. Every storm chaser, whether amateur or professional, contributes to the base of knowledge that has helped save lives and property. Their work has made weather forecasting a more reliable service and their first-hand accounts have educated children and adults alike to the very real potential for disaster when a storm front blows across the horizon.
Storm Chaser Publications
StormChasers.org - An invitation-only discussion forum founded by seasoned storm chasers for seasoned storm chasers.
Weatherwise: The Power, the Beauty, the Excitement - This online eJournal gives subscribers access to stories from weather enthusiasts of all walks of life, from the hobbyist to the professional. Subscribers are invited to join photo contests and submit articles.
Aware: Climate, Water, Weather - This publication of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) National Weather Service keeps emergency management services across the nation abreast of all the latest developments. Be sure to scroll down to the “Outreach Innovations” section for a look at the Dominator, an extreme tornado chase vehicle.
WeatherBrains - This weekly audio podcast “unites weather geeks worldwide” with regular and guest hosts, stories of storms current and historical, trivia, news, and archives of more than 200 podcasts.
Stormtrack - Keep track of storms and other storm chasers at this discussion-based website devoted entirely to storm trackers. Membership costs $5 and all members go through an approval process before access is allowed.
Other Storm Chaser Related Information
Multi-Community Environmental Storm Observatory - Live the storm through the eyes and camcorders of this small group of weather enthusiasts who share the common goal of reducing the number of people killed by dangerous weather events.
Storm Chaser: Official Website for US Storm Intercept Operations - Meet Warren Faidley, the “original, full-time, extreme weather adventurer.” MSNBC calls him “America’s Top Storm Chaser.” Watch his videos and television interviews and see photos Warren took as storms raged around him.
Spotter Network - These storm chasers, spotters, coordinators, and public servants keep track of all storms of note happening at every moment throughout the nation.
Storm Chase Ethics - See why this 20-year veteran of storm chasing says the volatile mix of science, adventure, and frontier bravado can get blown so far out of proportion that issues of ethics are important for both success and safety.
Storm Chaser Car Show - During the annual National Weather Festival, awards are given at the Storm Chaser Car Show for categories that include most hail damage, most unique, most working sensors, and best looking.
What They Do: Insider Info - Explore occupational aspects of a storm chaser, including what they do, how much they earn, and what education and experience are needed.
FEMA for Kids: Maggie’s Tornado Story - Twelve-year-old Maggie describes the day a tornado in her home town convinced her it might be “fun and fascinating to be a storm chaser.”
Observing Disasters - The National Science Foundation describes how and why storm chasers rely on radar-equipped trucks, some with 8-foot dish antennas attached, to study storms.
NOAA Photo Library - See amazing photos from the National Severe Storms Laboratory, a branch of NOAA.
General Weather Related Links
The Weather Channel - Get real-time weather reports from around the world, watch storm video footage, and read the latest weather news. Customize the site to your location and receive important weather alerts.
Kidstorm - Find lots of graphics and educational information on tornadoes, lightning, hurricanes, and storm chasing at this colorful website. Grown-ups like it, too.
El Nino / La Nina - See what NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory is learning about these highly influential climate events using ocean surface topography from space.
Cloud to Cloud: Forecasting Storm Severity with Lightning - The tools a weather forecaster uses to predict turbulent weather events is gaining sophistication as technology advances the science. See what meteorologists and storm chasers learn from watching the clouds and monitoring lightning.
NAOO Education- Links on tornadoes, droughts, hurricanes, lightning, and weather balloons.
Not everyone is game for strapping themselves to a pole in the face of a raging storm or running head first into one. Most of us run far away instead of as close as possible. Call them wild or call them crazy, the truth remains: storm chasers do make history. And the history they make keeps us all a lot safer, especially when ominous storm clouds start to gather overhead.
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