This will be my second year and my husbands 20? something year for tornado chasing. It has been such an adventure! It seems that when the season is here, you will rarely get my husband off the weather stations and constantly watching he is always on top of things! We live in a valley in Kansas which we are pretty lucky so far being that they don’t go into the valley usually. Tornadoes are very interesting storms. The kids love them and we have alot of fun together.

Facts about tornadoes:

These dangerous storms cause 80 deaths and injure more than 1,500 people a year? They have different classifications which include weak, strong, and violent. Violent tornadoes only consist of 2 percent of the storms that we see and even though, they do cause up to 70 percent of the deaths each year. These storms are able to last up to an hour, or more.

Image via Wikipedia

Image via Wikipedia

Thunderstorms develop with warm moist air and confronting a east moving cold-front. This can cause Hail, Strong winds, and Tornadoes. These that are brought on in the early spring and winter, are often linked to strong frontal systems and move east. Large outbreaks of tornado occur mostly with this type of weather pattern. Numerous states are affected by Severe thunderstorms and tornadoes.

In the central Plains during the spring, these storms often develop on what is called a dry-line, which can separate very warm, moist air to the east from western dry air. During afternoon hours thunderstorms may form as the dry-line moves east.

Tornadoes occasionally accompany tropical storms and hurricanes that move over land. Tornadoes are most common to the right and ahead of the path of the storm center as it comes onshore.

Image via Wikipedia

Some tornadoes may form during the early stages of rapidly developing thunderstorms. This type of tornado is most common along the front range of the Rocky Mountains, the Plains, and the Western States.

Tornadoes may appear nearly transparent until dust and debris are picked up.

Occasionally, two or more tornadoes may occur at the same time.

This is a picture of Waterspouts

Image via Wikipedia

Waterspouts are weak tornadoes that form over warm water.

Waterspouts are most common along the Gulf Coast and southeastern states. In the western United States, they occur with cold late fall or late winter storms, during a time when you least expect tornado development.

Waterspouts occasionally move inland becoming tornadoes causing damage and injuries.

In the southern states, peak tornado occurrence is in March through May, while peak months in the northern states are during the summer.

Note, in some states, a secondary tornado maximum occurs in the fall.

Tornadoes are most likely to occur between 3 and 9 p.m. but have been known to occur at all hours of the day or night.

The average tornado moves from southwest to northeast, but tornadoes have been known to move in any direction. The average forward speed is 30 mph but may vary from nearly stationary to 70 mph.

The total number of tornadoes is probably higher than indicated in the western states. Sparse population reduces the number reported.

We live in a state that has basically two tornado seasons, and although they can be very dangerous I have to admit we look forward to the time of year that we can just get up and go! It is the spontaneous effect that we like. If we know its coming we alert the kids load up and every one is running and going! It is absolutely crazy! But the kids enjoy it too! Our 19 year old daughter just started going with us this past year and herself and her boyfriend are generally around here during the storms! We just sit and wait til “dad” says go! Although, the younger kids are ready to go this year. They are anxious about it. We won’t be able to follow like normal, but I think we are gonna let em go. LOl

Note: If you decide that you want to be a storm spotter or “chaser” as it is often called I recommend you take classes for it. You need to know all possible to do this about these storms. They are not predictable and you need to know every precaution while out there. What to do especially if one turns on you, because the chances of you outrunning it are slim. DO NOT ATTEMPT without the proper knowledge. It could be your life.

This article was not written in an attempt to teach you how to storm spot, but to just give some insight to these dangerous storms. And I had fun telling it!