With a rumble and roar as loud as a freight train, a monster tornado approaches your position. As the tornado nears, you hastily place atmospheric and video probes in its path. Then, you and your storm chaser team jump into a van and flee the scene. From a safe distance you watch the tornado pass directly over the probes. When it is safe to go back, you rush to collect the probes and the valuable data they have recorded.

 

If you can see yourself in this scene, you have an idea of what it would be like to ride along with researcher Tim Samaras as he chases storms across Tornado Alley. Tim tries to predict where a tornado might occur and then rushes to that location to study the developing storm. He uses weather maps, the Internet, and weather data such as dew point and temperature to identify where the storms are most likely to form. Once there, Tim and his team attempt to deploy probes in the path of any tornado that forms. The probes record air pressure, temperature, humidity, wind speed, and the direction in which the tornado is moving.

 

One of Tim’s most dramatic tornado encounters occurred in June 2003 in the town of Manchester, South Dakota. The tornado packed winds estimated at 418 km/h (260 mph) and was approximately 0.8 km (0.5 mi) wide. Tim’s probes collected amazing data. As the tornado passed over, the probes recorded the largest weather-related drop in air pressure ever measured.

 

Tim helps scientists better understand tornadoes. His work may help tornado forecasters more accurately predict where and when tornadoes could form. Tim hopes that such predictions will help save lives and protect homes and property.

 

Like Tim, you are about to take on a mission. You will learn how to collect weather intelligence, forecast severe weather, and predict the threat of tornadoes in your community.