Question: Why do you offer storm-chasing tours?

Answer: At Thunderbolt Tours, our aim is simple, to give you the same front row seat we enjoy in pursuit of nature's ultimate atmospheric show - severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. Thunderstorms evoke many different feelings within us. They appeal to our sense of the artistic - rich colours adorning cloud formations that appear to be sculpted from clay. From ground level, looking skyward at a 18 km high thunderstorm we feel a sense of awe and perspective. Thunderstorms and tornadoes provide us with a sense of wonder. Perhaps it is simply the sheer thrill, emotion and adrenalin of the hunt for severe weather. Whatever your fascination, no doubt it is something we share. Why not live it on a Thunderbolt Tour in Australia or the USA?

Question: Will I be travelling with a reliable tour operator?

Answer: Most certainly! We have perfected escorted storm chasing holidays and every year, over 50% of our passengers have travelled with us once before, and many more return to travel with us again.

Question: Why should I chase with you.?

Answer: We have prepared quite detailed information relating to how you should go about selecting a storm chase tour group, and why we feel we can provide you with the best experience in storm chasing. More information here.

Question: What would a typical day's chasing involve?

Answer: There really is no such thing as a 'typical day' and that is half the fun! It could be said that our day starts late the night before. At this time our guides gather weather data, discuss information with our lead forecasters and start to fill in the pieces of a stormy puzzle - our mission is to find out where severe thunderstorms will likely erupt the next day.

Come the morning of chase day, we fine tune our forecast, gather visual clues from the sky and then let the hunt begin! Thunderstorms generally will develop during the afternoon hours. This might require that we drive some distance or, perhaps, satisifed that we are already in the right location, we will view some of the local attractions while keeping a watch on the sky. If a thunderstorm develops and becomes severe, we might stay with it for several hours, or else we might leave it for another storm that perhaps shows more promise. Thunderstorms can last well into the evening or even be ongoing throughout the night.

Satisfied with the days rewards you might prefer to call it a day and have a celebratory steak. Or, you may wish to stick with it - spectacular nightime lightning perhaps? - the choice is yours!

Question: Will I see severe thunderstorms?

Answer: Just as you cannot predict if the snow will be great, or the fish are biting in planning your next ski adventure or fishing trip weeks ahead, we cant guarantee you will see storms everyday. In fact it is quite likely that on one or perhaps more days that storms might fail to materialise. Weather systems are constantly evolving and, therefore, making reasonable predictions of thunderstorm activity in more-or-less defined areas three or more days out is almost impossible. However, our tours operate during the "stormiest" months of the year - November / December / February in Australia and May / June in the USA. At these times we can find the necessary combinations of moisture (ie the air at ground level feels "muggy") and instability (the ability for air to rise upwards) persisting over quite broad areas, and also favourable vertical wind shear profiles (windspeed and wind direction changes with height) to promote the development of "Supercells", the most spectacular and violent type of thunderstorm. In addition, the areas we tour receive the most severe thunderstorms per year, on average, in each country. Finally, our expertise will put you in the right position to see severe thunderstorms whenever they occur in our tour area. View our gallery - you can see the odds are stacked firmly in your favour!

Question: Will I see a tornado?

Answer: The elusive tornado is considered by many the ultimate in storm chasing. To see a tornado, all the right atmospheric ingredients must come together at the right time and, of course, you must be in just the right location to view it. The US states of Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas and Nebraska are considered the epicentre of tornado alley, the most tornado-prone block of land on earth. Tornadoes also occur, though less frequently, in Australia. Our day to day planning and weather forecasting is meticulous - we can't guarantee you will see a tornado, but we will give you the best possible chance. We have seen tornadoes each and every year that we have chased in the United States.

Question: What if the weather is clear?

Answer: When the weather simply doesn't permit it and the skies are clear on a particular day, we switch to plan B! In Australia view unspoilt wilderness, lush sub-tropical rainforest, harsh outback landscapes, perhaps take in a spot of astronomy, relax in hot springs or enjoy a wine tour through one of Australia's premier wine growing regions. Eastern Australia is a tourist haven, and whenever we have a chance will show you some of the best of it. In the USA, enjoy a wide range of natural attractions, visit offices of the National Weather Service and simply enjoy a steak at the world famous Big Texan in Amarillo! When you register your interest in one of our Australian or USA tours, be sure to let us know your other interests, so we can help ensure you have the adventure of your life.

Question: Should I join an Australian or US Tour?

Answer: Is it the illusive lightning shot, or capturing timelapse with your video camera, or simply to just experience the awesome power of nature unfold before your very eyes? Both our Australian and USA tours provide you with a unique adventure. Why not try both and see for yourself? Storm chasing in Australia gives you the chance to really get away from it - each year, violent spring and summer supercell thunderstorms are commonplace. View these magnificent storms over unspoilt landscapes and wilderness. On the way you will see some of the sights and soak up the atmosphere that is uniquely Australian. In the USA there is a healthy culture that lives and breathes storm chasing. The weather in tornado alley during the spring is serious stuff and storm chasing is serious business. Here we find the highest frequency of violent tornadoes anywhere in the world. In other words, if your aim is to see a tornado then we would suggest your chances are better in Tornado Alley than eastern Australia. If you prefer violent electrical storms as a backdrop to a spectacularly beautiful country, then our Australian tours are ideal for you. Whatever you pleasure there is a Thunderbolt Tour for you.

Question: Am I at risk chasing dangerous storms with Thunderbolt Tours?

Answer: Storm chasing, particularly in the hands of inexperienced chasers is a potentially very dangerous activity. Lightning, hail, fierce straight-line winds and tornadoes can and do injure or even kill people. Our Tours do NOT seek to put you in the midst of violent thunderstorm with a history of producing hail the size of grapefruit!!. Our strategy is to put you up close and personal with the storms, to appreciate their power and give you an understanding of what you are seeing with your own eyes, but, more importantly, we seek to do this from a position of safety. Your safety is our highest priority - when we feel the threat of lightning is too great, or we are in a dangerous position with an approaching tornadic storm, for example, we will retreat as appropriate. Our guides are highly experienced storm chasers, having chased severe storms and tornadoes in Australia and the United States for over 10 years. We also have on board access to weather radar, satellite, lightning tracking and our own weather monitoring instrumentation to constantly monitor thunderstorm evolution.

Question: Why are your standard tours between 7 - 10 days long and do you have any other tours?

Answer: If each tour was three months long over the peak severe weather season, you would be assured of seeing multiple episodes of severe thunderstorms and tired tornadoes. We can also guarantee you would be dog-tired and perhaps you would be out of a job! So the short answer is that our tour lengths are optimal and based on the feedback from you, our customers. Long enough in that it gives you a very good chance of seeing severe weather and, on the otherhand, short enough so as to not take up your entire vacation time and are easily affordable. If you cant get enough you can stack succcessive tours using our Multi-Tour Option and enjoy very considerable savings on the standard per tour price. We do also offer special 'standby' expeditions - short, 3-day somewhat spontaneous tours that take advantage of a weather pattern very favourable for severe thunderstorms during which you may join a tour.

Question: What type of accomodation do you use?

Answer: We rely on comfortable mid-priced motels to ensure that you get the best possible sleep after each days storm chase action.

Question: How many people will be on tour with me?

Answer: Each tour vehicle is restricted to a maximum of 10 passengers. We will absolutely never squeeze you in to a vehicle. Our focus is on you enjoying the chase - you are guaranteed a window seat with Thunderbolt Tours!