While storm chasing has gained recent popularity after the 2024 film Twisters, Penn State students have been tracking storms long before Glenn Powell made it cool. 

Founded in 2013, the Penn State Storm Chase Team is home to a diverse group of weather enthusiasts who share a unique passion for forecasting, tracking, and chasing severe weather.

The term “storm chasing” refers to the act of pursuing weather events, such as hurricanes and tornadoes, for the purpose of documentation and data collection. President of the team, Ann Ehrlich, emphasized how storm chasing can improve risk management plans, further scientific research, and allow students to apply their knowledge in a high-pressure environment.

“Storm chasing can be very useful for preparing risk analysis and planning emergency responses to damage caused by storms. At a student level, it shows Penn State students that they can forecast and chase these storms correctly, and that they can handle intense environments,” said Ehrlich. “It just opens up a lot of opportunities for students to practice their skills while creating some really great bonds.”

Even though a large majority of the team’s members are meteorology students, each member has a unique reason for why they are drawn to storm chasing and tracking weather. For the team’s treasurer, Chris Meyer, this interest sparked due to his family’s personal, first-hand experience living through severe storms.

“For me, I’ve been interested in storms for as long as I can remember. Some of my family members lived through the 2011 tornado that hit Joplin, Missouri, which played a factor in my current interest in studying storms,” Meyer said. “As soon as I heard that this was a club here, when I went to one of the high school visitation days at Penn State, I knew I had to join this club. I got involved as soon as possible.”

In addition to chasing local storms, the team holds bi-weekly meetings on campus where general members can learn about the technical aspects of severe weather and storm chasing logistics. Secretary Ashley Falk explained how these lectures are designed to provide all members, regardless of their background knowledge, with the basics of meteorology and the tools needed to safely chase.

“Our bi-weekly meetings are academics-focused. So, this includes learning about storm chasing and all aspects of severe weather. Each meeting is structured in a way where you’re learning more meteorology in the beginning, and then you get more into what storm chasing is and the tools that you can use while you’re on a chase,” Falk described. “For example, learning how to photograph while chasing is one of the last meetings we have. This structure allows for sequential learning for our members.”

While these meetings can help prepare students to embark on small-scale, local storm chases, the lectures primarily serve as preparation for the team’s annual Midwest storm chase trip.

Following the end of each spring semester, around 15 students are selected from the team to participate in a week-long storm chase across the Midwest. In past years, the team has tracked severe storms across Nebraska, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas, literally following wherever the wind takes them. 

Pinpointing storms to chase may seem simple due to weather tracking apps and technology, but Ehrlich explained how the Midwestern chase mostly consists of tedious planning, adapting to fluctuating weather predictions, and long periods of waiting. 

“I always describe our annual chase as a game, where you’re spending the days before preparing to place yourself in the most convenient location for where you think certain weather phenomena is going to hit. The challenge is forecasting correctly and making timely decisions to have the best chances of seeing the coolest and most severe weather,” said Ehrlich. “You have to be adjusted to do things on the fly, and you can end up chasing hours away from where you started.”

However, the team views this waiting game as an opportunity to explore the Midwest and bond as a group. Officer of Trip Affairs, Henry Adkins, is in charge of planning the non-storm-related elements of the annual chase, including group activities, excursions, and tourist stops. He explains how one of the most rewarding parts of the trip is not only seeing severe storms, but forming connections with his fellow teammates. 

“You can’t get severe weather every day in the same location, so it’s my job to figure out fun and educational things we can do in the meantime. My first year, we drove through Oklahoma and took a tour of the Storm Prediction Center. Another time, we went to a minor league baseball game, and to the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Texas,” Adkins shared. “The most memorable moments are not necessarily chasing the storms, but what we did as a group. I just like getting to know everyone. I always make new friends after the trip ends.”

With each annual chase, the team is reminded of its unrelenting passion for weather. From impressive, large-scale thunderstorms to whipping windstorms and vibrant sunsets, the team has experienced a wide range of weather phenomena firsthand. Adkins recalled one chase in which a double rainbow appeared after a severe storm, serving as a colorful reminder of why the team chases every year.

“One of the most memorable experiences was one time when we circled back behind a storm, and there was a crazy, very picturesque sunset. It was a little windy with the grass blowing, and when we looked back, we could see a double rainbow with lightning shooting around it. It was the beauty of the calm after the storm,” said Adkins.

As expected, storm chasing is not all sunshine and double rainbows. From popped tires, overnight hailstorms, and sacrificing sleep to reach their destinations, the team has met its fair share of obstacles while storm chasing over the years. However, Ehrlich highlighted how the team has learned valuable lessons on how to be flexible, think outside the box, and rely on each other during the challenging parts of a chase.

“Being adaptive and appreciating what you have gotten to see, not the storms you missed, is so important to learn from the experience. When I chased my freshman year, I came in with a lot less technical knowledge than everyone else,” Ehrlich explained. “Watching the upperclassmen analyze models and teach me about how to even look for the right ingredients for a storm was so valuable to me. I have just learned so much from my peers over the years on this chase.”

The Penn State Storm Chase Team is growing every day, with attendance increasing due to the recent popularity of storm chasing movies, media, and viral online content. 

The team has not only increased in size, but also diversified in its members. Ehrlich recently amended the team’s constitution to allow all majors, not just meteorology students, to be eligible for the end-of-year chase. Now, the team welcomes active members with backgrounds in business, agricultural science, and engineering, encouraging unique perspectives and multi-faceted expertise on the team. 

Vice President Frank Gargione shared how the team’s reach is not limited to the University Park campus, as the organization has successfully created a widespread, digital network of students, alumni, and weather experts. 

“We have a GroupMe with over 350 members made up of current, prospective, and former students. There are even members from across the country, so we are able to talk about the weather on a national scale and coordinate chases as a large network,” Gargione explained. “It’s really cool because if there is a storm threat announced, someone will just ask, ‘Hey, does anyone want to go chase’ and find people to chase with.”

Looking to the future, Ehrlich and the rest of the executive board plan to increase outreach and create new, enriching opportunities for the team. However, one goal remains at the top of the team’s list: to chase a tornado. The Penn State Storm Chase Team has not successfully chased a tornado since 2018, but this year’s chasers are determined to change that. 

“Our main goal as the board is to maintain the team’s strong legacy, and we’ve seen that with higher membership and higher involvement this year, which has been the biggest success,” said Ehrlich. “Connecting with new members and alumni as a team is super encouraging to see. But of course, our overall main goal is to see a tornado this summer on our chase!”