Which is more dangerous, chasing tornadoes or general severe thunderstorms?

[calvinkaskey]

I am thinking in the east and central us trees from severe winds are much more hazardous than chasing tornadoes where you can find where they should be just visually and with reports. Also in the east with hills and or mountains flash flooding I think would be more deadly.

 

[Ben Holcomb]

Depends on a lot of things. Lightning and other drivers are probably the biggest hazards to chasing.

 

[calvinkaskey]

Lighting is much more common in advance and during the rain in thunderstorms than in the backside near a possible tornado usually also.

 

[Ben Holcomb]

You're right, lighting would be common if the storms happen during the day.

 

[calvinkaskey]

?

 

[STexan]

Any small community that's suffered a direct hit by and EF4 or 5 will tell you tornadoes are more dangerous and deadly then the general effects of a severe thunderstorm. Yes, "straight-line winds" from a common summer storm with a significant bow can cause widespread damage, it's not on the level of the winds associated with a tornado. Tornados are also accompanied by massive inflow and outflow winds across a larger area then the tornado itself. Hail will accompany either but along with an associated tornado becomes a much more significant issue. (My truck still has some side damage at the front fender of a larger hail stone from the El Reno Tornado that slammed into the side as I was about a 1.5 miles away from the center)

 

[calvinkaskey]

I'm talking about chasing dangers, ie having a tree fall down on your vehicle or running into a downed tree or drowning from flash flooding, etc.

 

[Jason Boggs]

I think for tornado researchers, severe thunderstorms would be more dangerous to chase since they are just used to chasing tornadoes. On the other hand, I think the tornado would be more dangerous to chase for the people that only chase severe thunderstorms. The researchers drive big trucks that would be hard to dodge trees in the road. On the other hand, small cars would be more able to duck and dodge the trees that are falling, and the one's that have already fallen. The big DOW trucks would be better in floods since they sit higher and people would not drown as easily since they are higher off the ground. The small cars would be a drowning death trap. <sarcasm/>

Ok, now for the real answer.........I have no idea.

 

[Marc R. O'Leary]

I think for tornado researchers, severe thunderstorms would be more dangerous to chase since they are just used to chasing tornadoes. On the other hand, I think the tornado would be more dangerous to chase for the people that only chase severe thunderstorms. The researchers drive big trucks that would be hard to dodge trees in the road. On the other hand, small cars would be more able to duck and dodge the trees that are falling, and the one's that have already fallen. The big DOW trucks would be better in floods since they sit higher and people would not drown as easily since they are higher off the ground. The small cars would be a drowning death trap. <sarcasm/>

Ok, now for the real answer.........I have no idea.

 

[Drew Terril]

Statistically speaking, you're much more likely to be killed in a wreck driving to/from the grocery store on a normal day than you are by any storm itself.

As far as weather related killers, flash floods are by far the number one killer. I chased Kentucky and TN for years (very hilly and heavily forested), and the lack of any kind of grid (roads just go off everywhere) makes it much more difficult, regardless of the type of storm. On the other hand, it is much easier to find high ground in a flood situation there than it is in another area I'm familiar with (NE OK/SE KS) that floods very easily, but has a great grid (at least until the Verdigris or Neosho spill over). I never had any close calls with trees falling close to me, but that's not to say it's not possible.

I do think you can avoid many of the risks you keep asking about by prior planning and maintaining situational awareness during the chase. Do a little research to find out if the area you're chasing in is flood prone, and if so, make sure you know where the high ground is. There's a saying we used when I was still in the Army. Prior planning prevents piss poor performance. That means planning for contingencies as well. Another of our sayings say that even the best laid plans do not survive initial contact. For us, it meant that once the bullets start flying, we're almost always going to backup plans. I feel it's a good attitude to have when you're coming up on a storm.

 

[Robert Forry]

Not to digress but chasing any kind of storm can be totally safe or could be putting a chaser in a dangerous situation. IMO, it's up to the chaser, their knowledge of weather, skills and abilities as a driver, and how aggressively or passively they choose to chase any given storm. In my own personal experience, it's been when I've gotten too aggressive during a chase where I've gotten myself and others into the most trouble. Driving too fast for conditions, flash flooding, not seeing the other guy, losing situational awareness, hydroplaning, etc, are all too real hazards out there, not to mention the downed power lines, trees, and other kinds of debris that are always inevitable during an event.

 

[ChristianT]

Either type of storm can be dangerous. For example, my experience with
tornadic storms have usually been pretty good. I usually find myself in a good spot watching a tornado several miles away. Keep in mind I have only seen three tornadoes so I don't have as much experience as others. I can see though that sometimes one can get so hung up on the tornado that you fail to notice another storm or dangerous part of your storm sneaking up behind you. I'm from Houston and I would say my most dangerous chases have actually been in pulse severe thunderstorms in the summer there. When I first started chasing I would drive right into these storms with damaging winds that I thought would barely be 60 MPH. Turned out it was more like 80 and knocked down trees and even caved roofs in not to mention the blinding rain in these storms. I would say those little severe storms can be more dangerous than some tornadic storms because especially if you are new you can misjudge how strong they really are and recklessly drive into them.