The Hassles of Storm Chasing: Why Not to Chase

I have many friends who have expressed interest in storm chasing. Some of them are very worried about the danger yet still would like to participate. Others are not worried enough and don’t understand how to do it properly. Still others are simply unsure of how much they’ll enjoy it. In a previous post, I described the joys of storm chasing and why someone would want to storm chase. In this post, I describe the hassles of storm chasing and why someone shouldn’t chase.

On the road:

As I mentioned in my previous post, you will be spending approximately 12 hours per day on the road. Or waiting at truck stops. Or waiting in fast-food restaurants. Don’t chase if this would be difficult for you.

You will most likely find that spending 12 hours per day in a vehicle with someone will strengthen your relationship with them, but it can also put a strain on the relationship. If you know the latter is the case, then don’t chase with that person.

If you're on a tour, sometimes you will get someone who is difficult to deal with. Such behavior can run from whining and complaining to being verbally abusive. None of this has happened to me, as this is not a usual occurrence, but you will have to put up with it if it happens. And, of course, if you tend to be a complainer, try to tone it down when you're on a chase. There'll be a lot for people to complain about, just remember everyone is putting up with something. If you can't keep those thoughts to yourself, then please stay home.

You will primarily eat fast food, many times taking it to go, eating it in your van or car. If you are on a tour, you should assume you will have ZERO time to shop in a large grocery store, though you will have opportunities to shop in gas station or truck stop mini-marts. People with dietary restrictions should take notice of this and decide if you can navigate these restrictions.

You will have limited bathroom breaks even before the storms develop as you race to get into position where the storms should develop. Once the storms develop, you will have *no* bathroom breaks, required to relieve yourself on the side of the road, sometimes in very windy conditions. This can be particularly bad for women, though human shields can work well. If you have incontinence issues, or if you are simply just too modest, then storm chasing will not be for you.

Similarly, the occasional flatulence can occur for anyone without warning. Beano supplements are recommended. And, conversely, if you can't handle the occasional emmination, then don't chase. But this rule applies to ANY long-term vehicle ride.

Those who are carsick prone should not chase. Sudden turns and fast speeds on windy roads are required, so if you have anyone carsick prone you won't have a good chase.

Mobility required:

Nobody with mobility issues should chase. It is very dangerous for you and others if you can’t quickly get in and out of a vehicle in case you need to run away from a storm. Also, it will limit your ability to view storms. I’m sorry, but it just doesn’t work out for people with mobility problems--you’ll have to limit your activities to watching live streaming footage or seeing pictures after the fact.

Lack of physical activity:

Paradoxically, while mobility is required, you will nonetheless get very little physical activity on a storm chase. Remember, 12 hours in a van. Often, you get in to a hotel after the gym closes and leave before it's open. Other times, there is no gym. Jogging early in the morning works, but you must get up very early sometimes to do this. If you are on a regimen where you have to do weight training every day, you should probably skip the chase.

Dangerous:

Storm chasing is dangerous. I’ll address this in a later post, but suffice to say that, although no one has died storm chasing, and although many more activities people engage in are more dangerous, there is an element of danger nonetheless.

Lack of Interest:

Perhaps you’re just not interested in weather. Seeing a tornado is ho-hum. Fair enough, but then you probably didn’t read this post at all.

Conscience:

Finally, chasing may go against your conscience. I get heartsick every time I hear of a tragic story with tornado fatalities, probably because I chase and I feel a greater affinity for victims. Some people don’t like the idea of getting thrills from storms that kill people. If you are one of those people, I have some things to say. First, the storms are not going to kill more people when they are chased. Second, many times chasers are the ones that alert authorities to the storm initially, saving lives. Third, many times chasers help with search and rescue efforts. In other words, chasers don’t make it worse and can often make it better. Therefore, I maintain your conscience should be clear if you chase. But your conscience will dictate, ultimately, if you can chase.

Conclusion:

The point of these posts is to sell my friends and family on the joys of storm chasing, but that means I have an obligation to point out the negative aspects of storm chasing. I know people specifically who shouldn’t go on storm chases because of mobility and other issues listed here. But if, like me, you find these problems simply annoying, then I want to reassure that these mild concerns far outweigh the thrills of storm chasing.

Next Post: Where and When Chasers Chase