Our Team Storm Chasing Team

Todd in front of TornadoTodd  –  Severe Storm Expert

 Welcome to America’s first storm chasing tour company. Since our founding in 1997, we have been America’s longest-operating storm chasing tour company. I have exceptional forecasting and logistical skills, I have been featured on National Geographic Television and media outlets worldwide, including BBC Television during Twister Week live. I  have been fascinated by severe storms and tornadoes since I was six. I have been chasing severe storms since 1991. This was before the internet existed. The real skill is forecasting and storm chasing without real-time data, as we have previously done. The others would be lost, not knowing where to go because they always had a working app for that. There are two kinds of storm chasers: “App storm chasers” and real storm chasers that can read the sky without needing the internet for real-time data. We have the skills to keep chasing when the internet goes down or does not exist. We have experience in that scenario and can guide you out of a dangerous situation if needed and not not panic in a dangerous situation and make good decisions in real-time.

Matt Amesz in front of StormMatt Amesz – Guide/Driver

Hi, I am from Perth, Western Australia. This will be my 15th year chasing storms with Storm Chasing Adventure Tours. I have been keenly interested in severe weather from a young age and have been fortunate to see many notable tornadoes and intense lightning displays. Seeing a tornado for the first time was a fantastic experience; it certainly got my heart pumping. Every day is like an adventure; who knows where you will end up and what you might see! Whether you see a tornado or not, it’s an experience of a lifetime and one not to be missed. I look forward to traveling with you all.

Chris Brown in front of StormChris Brown – Guide/Driver

Despite living in England, my most anticipated trip of the year is to meet up with Storm Chasing Adventure Tours. Storm chasing is a hobby for me, as I am the managing director of a travel company where we aim to send people where the weather is good. I have always been fascinated by severe weather, and as a youngster, I dreamt of seeing a tornado. Sadly, in the UK, the worst we ever get is severe thunder and lightning, and when this happens, I can usually be found outside (which my family thinks is mad). I am also an enthusiastic photographer and enjoy the photo opportunities that arise while chasing storms. I am excited to see you out on the Plains.

Phil Brown in front of StormPhil Brown – Guide/Driver

Hi, I’m Phil from England. I can honestly say that had you told me, before I started chasing with Todd, that every year I would count down the days until my next storm-chasing trip, I would have probably chuckled. I haven’t looked back since being persuaded by Chris (my brother and another Storm Chasing Adventure Tours Guide) to come storm chasing with him back in 2013. You will meet loads of really nice people and experience some extreme weather in the process.

Alan Coppel in front of stormAlan Coppel – Guide/Driver

Hi, I’m Alan from Orange County, California, and I’m excited to be chasing again this year with Todd as I have nearly every year since 2002. I’ve been a weather junkie all my life, but being a native Californian, I’ve always lived in the absolute worst place for it. I can remember, as a child, staying up all night in hopes of just catching a flash of lightning or a rumble of thunder from our infrequent thunderstorms. That’s why I look forward year-round to when spring rolls around so I can once again witness the incredible spectacle of some of the world’s most severe weather in the Great Plains. I’m taking an extended break from work life and doing a lot of international travel while concentrating on two of my favorite hobbies: scuba diving and underwater photography.

Cindy Dewees in front of StormCindy Dewees – Guide/Driver

Hello, I’m Cindy; I have always lived in Southern California, where we don’t get any exciting weather, at least nothing compared to Tornado Alley.  I work as a human resources manager for a large international retailer, so this annual trip is quite a departure from my everyday.  While chasing, I have seen numerous supercells and amazing lightning shows and met many great friends worldwide.  I look forward to another exciting week full of adventure and great memories chasing in the Plains… keep your eyes on the skies!

Anthony Ho in front of StormAnthony Ho – Guide/Driver

As a young boy, Anthony would huddle under the bed covers at night, watching the lightning flash through the edges of the shade and listening to the rumble of thunder as it shook his house. Today, after a 25+ year career as a special agent with the U.S. Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security, Anthony has traded in his handcuffs to pursue his dream of chasing thunderstorms across America and seeing a tornado drop from the sky. This will be his fifth year of storm chasing with Todd; his first year was filled with beautiful lightning bolts, manure-filled windstorms, bruising hail, and days filled with adventure. His hobbies include photography, learning to play the piano, and scanning the sky for storm clouds. He looks forward to sharing adventures and stories with you as we go storm chasing.

Ryan Hoke in front of TornadoRyan Hoke – Guide/Weather Forecaster

When I was a small child growing up in Louisville, Kentucky, I was fearful of thunderstorms. This fear turned into an intense fascination with weather during my elementary school years and signaled an exciting career ahead in broadcast meteorology. I started my weather forecast website for the Louisville area in high school, and that’s when Storm Chasing Adventure Tours owner Todd Thorn found me. Since then, I’ve been chasing with Todd and have seen more than a dozen tornadoes. Thanks to Todd, I also got a head start in my severe weather education and earned my meteorology degree from Mississippi State University. During my college years, I was a weather forecaster at a TV station in Tennessee, and now I’m living my dream as a meteorologist at WAVE News in Louisville, Kentucky. I put my skills to work for you through my daily weather briefings and by helping you understand the weather happening as we chase.

Tobi RodenfelsTobi rodenfels – Guide/Driver

I’m Tobi from Frankfurt, Germany, and the tour 2024 is my 6th storm-chasing adventure with Todd. It is always fascinating how powerful the weather can be at Tornado Alley, blue skies in the morning and a rotating thunderstorm a few hours later… fantastic… and it is good to know that Todd is a very experienced guide and safety is always a priority. The tours are not only about the weather; the people and the “road trip feeling” make these tours very special. I’m looking forward to meeting you at Tornado Alley!

Guide and Driver Nancy YoungNancy Young – Guide/Driver

When the weather turned nasty and everybody headed for cover, I headed outside to watch the clouds roll in. Chasing tornadoes is the next logical step. I’m Nancy Young, and I make my home in St. Louis, Missouri. I am a wife and mother to three grown sons. Severe weather, from blizzards to hurricanes to earthquakes to tornadoes, has fascinated me all my life. Chasing with an experienced guide like Todd Thorn allows me to view a tornado in the safest way possible.