storm chaser
Pursues severe weather
A storm chaser is someone who pursues severe weather—tornadoes, hurricanes, supercells—to observe, photograph, or study them.
Some chase for scientific research, others for footage or pure thrill: Storm chasers converged on Oklahoma as the tornado warning was issued.
The activity requires meteorological knowledge and carries obvious dangers.
Violent rotating windstorm
- supercellRotating severe thunderstorm
- mesocycloneRotating updraft in supercells
- radarRadio-wave object detection
- DopplerMotion-caused frequency change
funnel cloud · wall cloud · wind shear · cumulonimbus · updraft · downdraft · vortex · squall line
Recorded video material
- videoRecorded moving imagery
- photographyCreating images from light
- dashcamVehicle-mounted video recorder
- live streamReal-time online broadcast
time-lapse · IMAX · Twister · documentary · broadcast · social media · viral · verification
Emergency response hormone
- rushQuick sudden movement
- exhilarationIntense joyful excitement
- heart-poundingCausing intense physical excitement
- intenseExtreme in degree
fearless · daredevil · high-stakes · pursuit · spectacle · breathtaking · once-in-a-lifetime · bucket list
Systematic fact-finding effort
- data collectionSystematic accumulation of facts
- probeThorough examination or tool
- fieldworkResearch conducted on location
- atmosphericOf the air above
measurement · observation · scientific · weather balloon · hypothesis · analysis · NOAA
Source of potential harm
- riskPossibility of harm
- perilSerious threat of harm
- lightning strikeAtmospheric electrical discharge
- flying debrisObjects hurled through air
flash flood · hydroplaning · hail damage · power lines · unpredictability · fatalities · near-miss · safety protocol
Seize en route
- targetObject of pursuit
- positioningArranging in specific locations
- mobileCapable of movement
- caravanTraveling group with goods
windshield · dashcam · GPS · highway · rural roads · escape route · proximity · convergence
tornado
Violent rotating windstorm
- supercellRotating severe thunderstorm
- mesocycloneRotating updraft in supercells
- radarRadio-wave object detection
Doppler · funnel cloud · wall cloud · wind shear · cumulonimbus · updraft · downdraft · vortex · squall line · debris field
footage
Recorded video material
- videoRecorded moving imagery
- photographyCreating images from light
- dashcamVehicle-mounted video recorder
live stream · time-lapse · IMAX · Twister · documentary · broadcast · social media · viral · verification · eyewitness
adrenaline
Emergency response hormone
- rushQuick sudden movement
- exhilarationIntense joyful excitement
- heart-poundingCausing intense physical excitement
intense · fearless · daredevil · high-stakes · pursuit · spectacle · breathtaking · once-in-a-lifetime · bucket list · obsession
research
Systematic fact-finding effort
- data collectionSystematic accumulation of facts
- probeThorough examination or tool
- fieldworkResearch conducted on location
atmospheric · measurement · observation · scientific · weather balloon · hypothesis · analysis · NOAA
hazard
Source of potential harm
- riskPossibility of harm
- perilSerious threat of harm
- lightning strikeAtmospheric electrical discharge
flying debris · flash flood · hydroplaning · hail damage · power lines · unpredictability · fatalities · near-miss · safety protocol · shelter
intercept
Seize en route
- targetObject of pursuit
- positioningArranging in specific locations
- mobileCapable of movement
caravan · windshield · dashcam · GPS · highway · rural roads · escape route · proximity · convergence · real-time tracking
- daredevilsbase jumper, stuntwoman, stuntman, cliff diver, stunt driver
- live feedswebcam, traffic cam, security cam, CCTV, dash cam
- predictorsforecaster, prognosticator, prophet, seer, soothsayer
- weather buffsweather spotter, hurricane tracker, meteorologist
- Hobbyist Naturalistsamateur naturalist, citizen scientist, naturalist, birdwatcher, birder
- sky watchersstargazer, astronomer, astrophotographer, comet hunter, cloud spotter