"Road-trip roulette aided by meteorology" - Brad, a guest on Tour 1 in 2017.

To share the drama of our 2018 chasing season, enjoy daily chasing accounts, photos, video and comments at https://www.facebook.com/groups/164953656849506/.

Come and see what a great vacation experience you can have chasing storms on the Plains, on a unique collaborative storm chasing tour run on a non-profit basis - the best value-for-money tour group on the Plains.

There are two seats left on Tour 3 and one seat on Tour 4 for the 2018 season - if you'd like to book one of the tours, please click on www.stormgroupchasers.com/tours

What We Have to Offer You

Be part of a group of like-minded people joining together to pursue and capture the "whole severe storm experience" - tornadoes, supercells, lightning and severe weather of all kinds.

StormGroup Chasers has an impressive track record over the past seven years, with over 60 tornadoes witnessed, including some major EF5 tornadoes.  We have been on most of the major outbreaks over the years - including Joplin, La Crosse, Kingfisher, Ault, Moore, Carney/Shawnee, Hutchinson and El Reno.

In 2017, despite a difficult chasing season, we chased all severe weather available on 24 of the 44 days on the road, and experienced 9 tornado events. On May 16th, we chased a classic tornadic supercell for 5 hours - from initiation in Turkey, TX to a destructive tornado near Elk City, OK. Along with some other amazing storms that season, we brought home some great photographs, and visited some unique and interesting places.

Using only one vehicle, with 4 guests on each tour, this is a very nimble and flexible approach to storm chasing - no one is packed into large vans, and there are no large groups to herd through meals and rest stops.  We eat in unique local restaurants where possible, usually have picnic lunches with healthy food in parks/scenic areas - and lots of time to target all severe weather, while still maintaining a "humane" personal approach to each guest's needs on the long driving days.

Check out the testimonials page http://www.stormgroupchasers.com/testimonials from 34 very happy participants over the years, and the appreciative loyalty shown by repeat guests each year.

Experience each season's chasing highlights from 2011 through 2017 under Find out more about previous years tours, and scroll down on the pages to see what great vacation highlights are on offer.  

If you'd like to see what an actual tour looks like, click on Experience an actual tour and view the .pdf file for Tour 3 in 2017.

And, if you'd like to compare us with the other tour groups operating on the Plains, check out the independent review site at http://www.stormchasingusa.com/tour-operators/

During each chase season, detailed chase accounts, along with photos & video, are posted on our Facebook page - StormGroup Chasers - if you're interested follow us on Facebook.

Better yet, join us in 2018, or maybe convince someone else that they should have this unique experience - don't miss this opportunity to chase with a safe and proven team.

Booking Options and Direct Tour Costs

You can only book a 10 day tour now as the 7 day tours are all full - these are ten days chasing on the road.  To maximise your chances of seeing a tornado, come chasing for a full 10 days on Tour 2 or 3.

For a 10 day tour, the total direct tour costs are $2,675 US$ made up of your tour deposit of $2,000, plus 9 nights hotels on the road for about $675.

The tour deposit covers all tour operating costs, and also includes your hotel bookings in Oklahoma City for the opening and closing nights of your tour.

The Chase

Whether you know a lot about chasing severe storms or are just beginning to explore Mother Nature's fury, StormGroup Chasers will offer you a unique collaborative experience where the key words are communication, learning, photography and fun.

With access to all of the weather software and forecasting sites and models, you’ll be able to take part in the daily decision-making about chase targets, while learning about what drives severe storms, based on over fifteen years of chasing, severe storm forecasting and a life-time interest in the weather.

Each tour is either seven or ten days on the road using one chase vehicle, allowing flexibility of movement to make the best use of our chase days. With two drivers and four passengers, everyone has a window seat. While there is never any guarantee of tornadoes, StormGroup Chasers will chase all available storms for the best "severe storm experience".

While safety is paramount, being able to creatively photograph the experience is a primary objective. From the power and beauty of a tornado or supercell, to a striking cloud formation, or a beautiful sunset, or a scene encountered on route, each day will take into account our shared love of photography.

Tour Leadership

Your tour will be led by myself, Peter Wharton, as tour organiser and lead forecaster.  I started storm chasing in 2002 after a lifelong interest in severe weather.  My parents tell the story of me standing in my crib and watching a major lightning display one night in London - childhood imprinting for severe weather!

I've personally witnessed over 90 tornadoes in my years of chasing. An especially photogenic experience was the classic Campo, Colorado EF2 tornado on May 31st, 2010 - this was a "chaser's dream tornado" - one that chasers wait years to see, and then talk about forever!  In 2011, we were within a few miles of the destructive Joplin, Missouri tornado - a sobering experience, reminding us of the devastating impact of severe weather on local communities.  In 2012, we witnessed 7 tornadoes one magic afternoon/evening at La Crosse, Kansas - that evening's chase ended with a huge cone tornado just a mile away, popping out of the gloom only when backlit by intense CG lighting.  The 2013 tours included huge wedge tornadoes at Carney & El Reno, OK and Bennington, KS - unfortunately with tragic outcomes at El Reno, giving a pointed reminder of the need to be ever vigilant about safe chasing practices. In 2016 we were right underneath a supercell as it went tornado-warned south of Dodge City - we witnessed 13 separate tornadoes that afternoon on the one incredible cyclic tornadic supercell.

Despite all these dramatic events, the experience of closing in on a massive rotating "spaceship" supercell never ceases to amaze me - I really enjoy the challenge of targeting severe weather, rolling along on a superb road trip with great people, and doing my utmost to deliver the best possible chasing experience.

Mike Diamond will be returning as a third-year SGC alumnus to co-drive with me on Tour 1.  His lifelong interest in weather began as a child with daily thunderstorm-watching while visiting grandparents in Florida each summer, and culminates with being proud to participate in and lend a hand with the 2018 tour season.  His passion for the chase includes all aspects of the adventure, from the day-long cloud formations to the sightseeing and new regional foods, and especially the elusive twister hunt!

David Moore will be co-driving with me on Tour 2. He has had a long career with American Airlines, and his hobbies include music, astronomy, photography, soccer, weather, aviation, model building, and model trains. Born and raised in North Texas, he developed an interest in the weather in his teens.  David started watching tornado videos on YouTube in the late summer of 2016 and decided to experience storm chasing. After doing his research, and studying severe weather forecasting all that winter, he selected SGC and booked a tour with us in 2017. He found the experience unforgettable, and is looking forward to sharing with you his fascination with severe weather and the “close up” experience.

Rick Young has been chasing with me for 9 years, and will co-drive with me on Tour 3. Rick comes from a high-tech background and resides in Canada, spending winters in Florida.  His background supports his fascination and passion for severe weather.  He was with me for the "perfect tornado" in Campo. CO; a massive stationary wedge tornado near Bennington, KS; the tragic El Reno event; and many, many more. "Peter's small group approach gives everyone an opportunity to be involved, communicate, ask questions and learn".

Randy Hall has re-upped for his third SGC tour, this time in the co-driver’s seat for Tour 4. As the child of a WWII China-Burma-India Theatre pilot and radioman, Randy learned to fly at his dad’s knee and was awed by the beauty and power of the cumulus towers that surrounded them. Randy married his childhood sweetheart and fellow chaser, Jo Ann, and translated his love of flying into a career in aerospace. Every trip with Peter yields exciting chases, awe-inspiring weather, and life-long friendships with my fellow chasers.

Consider joining us for a personalised and flexible approach to experiencing the annual drama on the Plains - a unique collaborative chasing opportunity.

For further information, please use the Contact Us form.

P.S. Many thanks to Trudy Rudolph for her work on the initial design concepts for StormGroup Chasers, and the team at Brown Paper Bag for their design and execution of the web site.