Tornado Alley – 4 storm chasing tours for the adventure of a lifetime

Extreme Tornado Tours – based in Oklahoma – began operating in 2008, after it was set up by Reed Timmer, from Discovery Channel’s television show, Storm Chasers. He wanted to create a way for storm enthusiasts worldwide to join in on storm chasing experiences firsthand.

Each team member is a seasoned storm chaser, who is said to eat, breathe, and live storm chasing. Two professional guides – one to drive and one to navigate – are assigned to each van, while the front van houses Kevin Rolfs – a meteorologist with over 17 years of experience. Tours cost between £2,600 and £3000 (excluding flights) and range from seven to 10 days.

Extreme Tornado Tours says they have a perfect safety record and a 50% client return rate, with many guests returning year after year. According to their website, one guest has been on 13 tours over five years and seen nearly 100 tornadoes.

Safety is noted as the company’s first concern, and is emphasised by their motto of ‘safety first, storms second’. Vans are fitted with an OSHA-approved first aid kit and fire extinguisher, tool kit, side external lighting for low light condition guest ingress/egress, and directional rear amber hazards for off-road stops to make it easier for them to be seen by other chasers/motorists.

When not chasing storms, Extreme Tornado Tours promises the ‘American experience’ – visiting famous restaurants, and iconic national parks and attractions. Their website says…

“Our guests have stood in front of Mount Rushmore, marveled at the Rockies mountain range in Colorado, visited the Twister Museum in Wakita, Oklahoma, and dipped their toes in the sand in the Gulf of Mexico after a fresh seafood dinner in Kemah, Texas! One of the most common things our guests beam about after a tour is how they got so much more out of it than just the storm chasing!”

For more on Extreme Tornado tours, check out their website.