Chase logistics

Chase day timing guide

A good chase day starts before sunrise and ends past midnight. Here is a realistic hour-by-hour schedule.

7:00 AM — wake up

First look at overnight model runs.
HRRR, RAP, NAM 12Z forecast.
SPC Day 1 Convective Outlook.
Coffee.
Assess target area.
Check road conditions ahead.

8:00 AM — decision time

Confirm target region.
Identify 2-3 primary target zones.
Estimate drive time from current position.
Plan gas stops en route.
Update chase group / partner.
Confirm hotel booking for tonight.

9:00 AM — drive begins

Big breakfast.
Hit the road.
Standard chase route: I-40 across Panhandle, or I-70 across Kansas.
Radio, podcast, or chase group Zello.
Monitor updated models on tablet.
HRRR 15Z run drops around 10-11 AM.

12:00 PM — lunch stop

Reach general target area.
Lunch at Braums, Casey's, local diner.
Study current conditions.
Look at satellite for cloud development.
Check dewpoints on ASOS.
Refine target within region.

1:00 PM — pre-target positioning

Move to specific chase zone.
Position typically 30-50 miles ahead of expected initiation.
Find a favorable observation point.
Ideally: rise for view, road exits both directions.
Watch skies.
Watch models continue to converge or diverge.
Cell service check.
Fuel check.

2:00 PM — waiting

The hardest part.
Storms are not yet firing.
Second-guess target choice.
Talk to other chasers at the gas station.
Stretch legs.
Update social media.
Nap if you can.
Not everyone can — some pace.

3:00 PM — first cumulus

Cumulus congestus start growing.
Cell towers form.
Watch for the first "true" storm.
Refresh HRRR.
Position closer to expected supercell.
Prepare cameras.
Ensure radar app is running with latest data.

4:00 PM — storm birth

First supercell fires.
Watch for rotation on radar.
Adjust position: 5-15 miles from storm.
On east or northeast side (for right-mover).
Watch for updraft striations.
Watch for RFD notch.
Watch for wall cloud.
Ready cameras.

5:00 PM — action

Rotation intensifies.
Wall cloud may drop.
Tornado watch upgraded or tornado warning issued.
Move to safe photography position.
Do NOT drive into RFD zone.
Maintain escape route east.
Photograph everything.
Livestream if that's your thing.

6:00 PM — potential tornado

If tornado develops, document.
Maintain 3-5 mile buffer from tornado.
Constant awareness of tornado motion.
If tornado is a wedge: extra caution.
If cyclic supercell: multiple tornadoes possible.
Report to NWS Skywarn.
Watch other chasers' positions.

7:00 PM — tornado dissipation or new cycle

Tornado ropes out.
New wall cloud may form.
Storm cycles or moves.
Reassess position.
Reposition if warranted.
Storms typically weaken as low-level jet shifts.
Or intensify with sunset.

8:00 PM — golden hour

Storm structure most photogenic at sunset.
Backlit cumulonimbus.
Mammatus lit orange.
Photograph aggressively.
This is the meta-goal of chase photography.
Some of the year's best photos taken here.

9:00 PM — chase winds down

Storms weaken as sun sets.
Photograph any structure remaining.
Assess next-day target.
Find hotel or check into pre-booked.
Contact family.
Text or call chase group.

10:00 PM - midnight — dinner and downtime

Dinner — often gas station or Waffle House.
Download footage from camera / drone.
Backup to portable SSD.
Post photos to social media.
Chase group debrief on Zello or Discord.
Update chase log.
Set alarm for tomorrow.

The next-day fatigue

Sleep 5-7 hours if lucky.
Multiple consecutive chase days = accumulated debt.
Rotate drivers with chase partner.
Nap in vehicle during quiet periods.
Coffee at each gas stop.
Recognize fatigue-driven errors.
Take a rest day between chase clusters.

Weather bust days

Not every chase day produces tornadoes. On bust days:

Nothing fires by 4 PM.
CAP holds too long.
Storms are elevated / non-tornadic.
You drove 400 miles for nothing.
Post-bust drive home is tedious.
Learn from bust: what did models miss?
Reassess for tomorrow.
Bust days are part of chasing.

Learn more