We have listed some of the most important FAQs for you. If you have any further requests or feedback concerning our website, we would be pleased to receive your eMail.
What is Stormchasing?
Stormchasers are people that are interested in watching and documenting unusual and severe weather event. These weather events provide in an unique adventure very majestic and memorable impressions and experiences in natural environment – far from loud megacities, industry and everyday hectic.
In their professional life, they are sometimes working as meteorologists whose passion for forecasting and witnessing weather and the forces of nature goes beyond their career. Quite often though, chasers come from all aspects of life, some have meteorology as a hobby, others are employed as photographers, doctors, hotel owners, architects etc. But they all have one thing in common: To experience the beauty and force of weather first hand. They are not seeking the ultimate adrenaline rush; they rather want to observe storms in a safe and responsible manner, always keeping a sufficient safe distance. It is therefore necessary to deal with and understand complicated, physical processes that shape our atmosphere, which can be rather difficult and very dry.
However, the result could be a front-row seat when Mother Nature reveals all her power and beauty!

Is this a dangerous activity?
Weather and climate in general have a tendency to behave in a pretty chaotic way and it can be sometimes difficult to forecast all the details yet the underlying processes all base on well-known physical laws and patterns. If one knows these „rules“, stormchasing can be a pretty safe pastime. Interestingly enough, one of the most dangerous things when chasing storms don’t emanate from the weather but from people. Traffic can be the most critical thing, a drive on a busy highway during rush-hour could be more risky than watching a supercell storm with golfball-sized hail!
What kind of weather will I see, what is it that does the Great Plains make so special?
The vast area between the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba up north and the US state of Texas down south belongs to the regions in the world with the most powerful weather events. During springtime, especially from April to June, very intense weather systems can develop in this area bringing days with severe weather with them. Nowhere else on our planet the probability of supercell storms and tornadoes is as high as it is in the Great Plains of North America during this time frame. Weather contrasts can be immense, you may experience 37°C (or 99°F) hot, muggy tropical air from the Gulf of Mexico on one day only to wake up to a blustery cold wind from the north and only 10°C (or 50°F) the next morning. During a severe weather episode which can last anywhere from one to more than four days, it is not uncommon to witness the whole range of the world’s worst weather including sweltering heat, rotating supercells, bow echoes, downbursts with hurricane-force winds, hail as big as your fist, flash flooding, breathtaking sunsets and yes – sometimes tornadoes.

Ok, but what are we going to do when the sun keeps shining?
Stormchasers distinguish between „good“ and „nice“ weather. In between the „good“ severe weather episodes (according to experience 30%), the weather on the Plains will be „nice“, sunny or at least dry most of the time (according to experience 70%). Drizzle and dull weather such as we regularly get in central or Western Europe is pretty rare.
Should a big area of high pressure manage to hold for several days bringing only sunshine, this doesn’t have to mean that you will be bored. Tornado Alley offers a range of opportunities and things to do when the weather is nice: swimming and boating lakes, the vast prairie with it’s special flora, rock formations (people interested in geology or wildlife might also find what they are looking for!) as well as the big cities like Dallas, Oklahoma City, Kansas City, Tulsa or Wichita with every possible kind of shopping prospects and a large variety of restaurants, the Route 66, Jazz and Blues Bars, Indian reservates, ghost towns, amusement parks and even more, plus the kindness and down-to-earth-attitude of the friendly people in this part of the US.

What is the goal of Southwinds Tours?
Our goal is to provide the participants something that many may have forgotten: To experience the original, awe-inspiring beauty and power of nature’s forces.
We love the whole spectrum of impressing weather phenomena that our atmosphere is able to show us. We try to ignite that spark of passion for these phenomena within our participants; after a tour you might see nature and especially weather from a different point of view. Furthermore, we like to explain how severe weather develops and why severe weather is not only dangerous but useful.
Do I have to be a meteorologist?
Not at all, we don’t expect you to have a degree in meteorology and not even previous stormchasing- experience. All you need to have is a fascination for nature and weather and the curiosity to experience a vacation of a different kind.
What can I expect to see on a typical tour?
When there is a severe weather pattern developing and all the ingredients for really bad storms come together, we could observe awe-inspiring, rotating supercell storms, the most powerful thunderstorm systems on earth. These supercells can grow as high as 50.000 feet while having the size of dozens, sometimes a few hundred square kilometers and they sometimes produce tornadoes. It is almost certain that we will witness spectacular cloud formations, extreme lightning, and dangerous damaging winds while having the beautiful wide background of the endless prairies. These massive storm systems will come across as even more menacing in a way that you won’t see very often in Europe.

Can you guarantee that I will see a tornado?
Honestly: No, we can’t give you a guarantee. Up until today, the dynamics of tornadoes are not completely understood. Although the mechanisms that are contributing to the formation of tornadoes are well known, there are still questions about small-scale processes going on below the supercell storm and especially in the vicinity of tornadoes. Hence, it is not possible to forecast the exact location of a tornado and thus we cannot guarantee that you will witness a tornado. However, we will guarantee that you will get into the area with the highest severe weather risk to maximize your chance to see a really intense thunderstorm and – if we are lucky – a tornado.
In case we see a tornado, how close do we get?
We will only approach a tornado as far as safe and responsible chasing allows us to. This means that there are certain rules when it comes to watching a storm and a tornado. We can assess how high the risk will be and in the interest of our tour participants as well as in our own interest, we will always choose a distance and a viewing angle that will allow us to watch the event without getting us in harms way.

How do you know where the strongest storms will occur?
Our lead meteorologist Lars makes regular morning and evening analyses and forecasts for the entire Great Plains. Moreover, the special forecasts and watches issued by the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) will be checked several times a day to find out where the greatest potential for severe weather will be. The next step is to pinpoint a so called „target area“, i.e. the portion of a state or a geographic region where the tour should have the best chance to witness severe storms. As the timeframe of the severe weather event gets closer, we will stay informed by continuously scanning the skies and monitoring the 24/7 NOAA weather radio. In addition, we use a satellite-supported radar and weather analysis program which provides us with the latest weather information and by scanning local chaser and skywarn spotter frequencies, we keep informed about the current weather in our area.

How much driving is there involved with the stormchasing-tour?
Weather and storm systems frequently develop on the scale of states or countries, while the area with the most severe activity can shift hundreds of kilometers or miles from one day to the other. This means that we certainly will spend a lot of time in the car driving, though we stop regularly for food, beverages and restrooms or just to relax a bit. As we are providing comfortable, four-wheel-driven SUV’s, spending time on the road will be pleasant overall. You can best prepare for long trips by bringing a good book or an mp3-player with your favorite songs.
How about the food?
Contrary to popular belief especially in Europe, the US offers more than just burgers and fast food. The spectrum of available eating places on the Plains goes from Mexican, to Chinese, to French and upscale dining. You have to look closely sometimes but the locations are there. In most cases, you should plan on spending about 5 to 20 $ per meal, depending on your eating preferences. The tour guides will try and find a nice place to eat at least once or twice a day. However, active severe weather days can get long and you should prepare for these by „stocking up“ on beverages and snacks. Breakfast is included in the tour price.

How do I get from the arrival airport to the first hotel/motel?
In most cases, the hotels/motels that we choose as our departure place provide free shuttle services to and from the airport. We will send you all relevant data once your reservation is confirmed, you can then just ask service personnel at the airport fort he shuttle buses or cars. After the last day of the tour, you are free to choose a convenient date for you to fly back home. In case you want to spend a few extra vacation days after the stormchasing-tour has ended, you can do so on your own initiative.
Do you have any details on immigration regulations?
Due to the events of 9/11 and related security concerns, the US have tightened the measures for immigration. Since January 12th, 2009, every visitor is required to register online at the ESTA-website of the Department of Homeland Security. This electronic registration will replace the old registration and data gathering process that had to be made by filling in several paper forms. You need to register and provide some personal details at least 72 hours before you plan to enter the US and you will then get an entry clearance. Registration on the ESTA-homepage is free of charge. For more information, please visit: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/
Please note: as this website is arranged mainly for members of the E.U., we cannot guarantee that all necessary information concerning immigration and customs in the USA is provided here. Please consult your airline, national immigration agency or embassy for further details on visa programs and immigration!

Where are we going to sleep?
Every one of our tour guests will be accommodated in a motel for which we reserve two-bed-rooms at least one day beforehand. We only book at well-known, clean and modern motel and hotel chains such as Comfort Inn, Super 8, Motel 6 or Days Inn. If you are travelling with one person, we ask you to find a roommate. However, it is also possible to obtain a single-bed-room by paying an additional fee. Check-in time will usually be in the early evenings, though the occasional „moon-light“ check-in after a long chase day may occur. In the case of severe weather we try to arrange our overnight stays in the path of thunderstorms. Therewith, we have the possibility to attend lightning shows and train ourselves in lighning photography.

Can I join the tour with a medical condiction?
Unfortunately, we de not have any equipment to provide „wheelchair accessability“. If you depend on a special medical attendance, we suggest not to join the tour or to consult your doctor. Keep in mind that stormchasing may require frequent and quick boarding and deboarding our SUVs!
What do I need to bring for luggage/clothing?
Ideally, our tour guests should not bring more than one suitcase plus rucksack or a light bag each, as we need sufficient luggage space for every participant. We recommend casual, light clothing with a few sweaters and a jacket for the occasional cool day. All our vehicles are fully air-conditioned, as are most restaurants and stores. Given the fact that almost all kinds of weather could occur during your stay, you should pack accordingly. Also, do not forget your sun blocker, the sun and UV radiation in the southern Plains have the same intensity as on the islands of Crete or Sicily. Most motels are equipped with laundry facilities, so clothing for about 5 to 6 days should be sufficient. Please bear in mind to bring swimwear, your video and photo camera, batterychargers, power adaptor plugs, sunglasses and personal pharmaceuticals.
Can children join the tour?
The tours are intended for participants at least 18 years of age. Children of at least 12 years age may join the tour in their parent’s company.
Do I need insurances?
We suggest to contract a trip cancelation insurance, overseas health insurance, baggage insurance, travel accident insurance and a traveler’s third party liability insurance.






















