America's Premiere Storm Chasing Tour Company!
Descriptions of our Storm Chasing Tours
Experience Tornado Alley yourself with our world-class storm chasing tours. We only chase in the open prairies where there are few trees to block our views for excellent viewing opportunities. We offer storm chasing tours that generally travel from the South Plains of Texas to the Northern High Plains Colorado to the Dakotas. As a result, each tour offers an unforgettable adventure with our knowledgeable and experienced storm chasers as your guides.
Tour 1
Up close and personal! That best sums up the start of our storm chasing season! We’d love to get close on every tour, as long as it can be done safely. However, in order to be safe, we need good roads! And as a result, we need to have a clear escape route in mind.
In the early part of the spring storm season, storms are common in the Texas Panhandle. As luck would have it, this area has the best roads in Tornado Alley! Most of the farm roads in Texas are of highway quality. There are a few areas where the road network has limited options, but usually, it’s entirely workable.
If you want to get close enough, you’ll have to duck, then this is the tour for you!
Tour 2
Tour 2 is one of our more popular tours. This is now almost mid May typically is the time of year when we see some the most powerful tornadoes. As the season gets underway, the plains experience numerous low-pressure systems. Each one pulls moisture up from the Gulf of Mexico and into the plains. Typically, by the first of May, there is ample moisture in the Central Plains to provide for massive tornado outbreaks and pure mayhem!
This tour in the past has seen as many tornadoes in a single week! From slow-moving LP tornadic supercells to fast-moving HP monsters, we’ve seen it all on this tour. Texas and Oklahoma are common areas we’ll be storm chasing in. Depending on the calendar from year to year, this tour is 6 days or more of storm chasing. The general rule-of-thumb is the longer you can chase, the better chances you’ll see more great storms and tornadoes!
Tour 3
The Peak Season Tour is our most popular tour. Mid May typically is the time of year when we see the most tornadoes. As the season gets underway, the plains experience numerous low-pressure systems. Each one pulls moisture up from the Gulf of Mexico and into the plains. Typically, by mid-May, there is ample moisture in the Central Plains to provide for massive tornado outbreaks.
This tour in the past we have seen many tornadoes in a single week! From slow-moving LP tornadic supercells to fast-moving HP monsters, we’ve seen it all on this tour. Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas are common areas we’ll be storm chasing in.
Tour 4
May is the month with the highest number of tornado outbreaks. As the fight between seasons persists, cold air from Canada mixes with warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico. This clash of air masses results in the most extreme weather on the planet.
This tour will likely spend most of its time chasing storms in the Southern and Central Plains. Namely, areas of the Texas Panhandle, Oklahoma and Kansas will be visited the most. A boundary separating dry air and moist air, known as the dryline, is commonly the focal point for severe storms.
The downside to this period is that occasionally cold fronts will push the moist air to the Gulf of Mexico. When this happens, it can take several days for the moisture to rebound into the plains. The upside, however, is the frequency of severe storms that are commonly tornadic.
Tour 5
The dryline is a boundary across a continent that separates moist air and dry air. While they occasionally occur in a few places on Earth, the most prominent example occurs in central North America. Specifically, in the Texas Panhandle, Western Oklahoma, and Kansas.
The dryline is often a focal point for severe weather. This boundary typically advances eastward during the afternoon and retreats westward at night. Tornadic thunderstorms often occur along the dryline, especially when it’s moving eastward. There are usually multiple target areas along with them on any given day when an upper-level low is overhead.
We will regularly be overnighting in towns such as Lubbock, Amarillo, Woodward or various locations in Western Kansas. Each day of chasing will begin immediately after a morning weather briefing. While this tour can drive long distances, shorter drives of less than 200 miles are more common. It’s also common to essentially wake up in our target area. As a result, we’ll spend the morning discussing whether and chase in the afternoon.
Tour 6
As the seasons progress into summer, low-pressure systems typically are located further north. As a result, the pull the moisture from the Central Plains “upslope” into the High Plains. This upslope flow can lead to almost magical looking storms. Because of the higher elevations, the air is “thinner” and as a result, storms can form with less moisture. This also makes the air less hazy which makes storms in the High Plains perfect for photography!
Colorado has three distinctive topographical features that form tornadic supercells. They are The Raton Mesa, The Palmer Divide, and The Cheyenne Ridge. The Palmer Divide commonly creates a feature known as the “Denver Cyclone Convergence Zone” (DCVZ).
As the air moves up from the terrain, it meets a wind from the west that is blowing off the foothills and creates a cyclonic low-pressure system at the surface. The result of this DCVZ is some of the most breathtakingly gorgeous storms one could ever hope to see!
We have witnessed many tornadoes in this region over the years and this tour happens right at the peak of the DCVZ activity!
Tour 7
As we approach the conclusion of our tours, the weather continues to improve rather than diminish. We find ourselves in the midst of the northern season, characterized by frequent storms occurring almost daily. This tour has consistently ranked among our most successful offerings, featuring a remarkable combination of breathtaking scenery and relentless convection. There is a possibility that you may experience the same fortune as our guests did and potentially witnessing a tornado similar to the one depicted in the thumbnail. This tour represents one of the prime opportunities for observing tornadoes and exceptional storm activity, spanning six days during a particularly dynamic segment of the season. With destinations such as the Rockies and Mount Rushmore on the itinerary, you may discover more excitement than anticipated during any downtime between thrilling chases. This storm expedition invites you to traverse the heart of the United States in pursuit of the most impressive supercells that nature has to offer.
Tour 8
For those eager to delve into the complexities of severe storm forecasting alongside storm chasing, this tour is an excellent choice. Spanning six days, the tour will mirror our standard offerings but will prioritize education on the meteorological aspects of storm chasing, guided by our skilled meteorologist. Participants will engage in detailed forecast discussions each day of the chase, regardless of the associated risk, partake in hands-on forecasting activities such as manual weather map analysis, and receive engaging lessons on the principles of severe storm meteorology. This time of year presents a wealth of unique storm chasing opportunities that allow for the practical application of various meteorological concepts, making it an ideal period for this educational tour. Additionally, with severe weather activity typically concentrated in the central and northern Plains during this season, there will be ample opportunities to witness remarkable sights between educational sessions and storm chasing. This distinctive experience is rare outside of a university environment, making it perfect for those who wish to enhance their storm chasing skills by understanding the scientific principles behind severe weather phenomena.
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