Some of you have heard me mention my other passion during one of our meetings. Some of you may not know this about me at all. By weekday I am your insurance broker…but by the weekend, I chase tornadoes. I wanted to share a bit about my other passion with you.

                                                                                Me chasing a tornado (or the tornado chasing me) in Colorado May of 2015.

As a child, I spent my days on top of my roof at my home in Littleton, Colorado. Waiting for storms to form over the foothills. Not a typical day for most adolescents in my neighborhood or anywhere for that matter.  The complexity of weather (even today and age, we are not close to cracking the weather code) always astounded me. How can a tornado be so strong it can rip up asphalt but leave a single house untouched a block away?

Ever since I can remember, I have had a unique connection with the weather. More specifically, with the most powerful side of weather: Supercell Thunderstorms. I was actually caught in a tornado that struck Sheridan Blvd and my grandmother’s house (she and I were not injured) in Denver in 1981.
I even carried a weather briefcase that I carried around with me to track recent weather events and daily forecasts (Nerd Alert),

By the time I was 16 and able to drive, I knew I needed to venture out to find storms. At this point, a storm chaser was not an official title.  In fact, around this time, a movie you may have seen called “Twister” was released. I must have seen it in the theatre at least 10 times. I knew that I wanted to be a storm chaser. 

Over the years, I began to perfect my storm chasing skills. I spent time learning to forecast the best location and time to intercept a tornado.  Also, learning how storms work and how to navigate around them safely. Initially only driving to the Eastern plains of Colorado. When entering college, I did briefly consider becoming a meteorologist. However, I quickly learned that most meteorologists don’t work in the field they work in a TV station. My passion was feeling and seeing these monster storms in person. So I opted for a finance degree (and eventually, this led me to my other passion, the insurance world).

Fast forward to the internet age. I had been chasing for many years at this point. I also realized that I made a great decision with my career. With insurance sales being entrepreneurial, I could leave the office to chase a storm at will. I decided to create a storm chasing company called “Mr. Twister.” Ironically, one of my high school friends came up with this title. With the rise of social media, I decided to figure out a way to share the amazing sights I witnessed with the internet. I wanted these images to convey the incredible power and beauty that I felt in person. I needed to get some excellent photography equipment and learn to shoot professional landscape images. Over a few years, I worked and worked to get better at photography. 

Eventually, enough people started to follow the work that I was selling prints, and I even published a book titled “The Anatomy of Severe Weather.” As a gift, I am giving you access to the E-Version at this https://www.dropbox.com/s/ptnah6193gqy811/AnatomyOfSevereWeather-eBook.pdf?dl=0 
               

What a blessing to be able to pursue two of my passions in life. Seeing a powerful storm over a beautiful landscape is indescribable. Getting away from the business world in the spring every year to traverse the countryside is therapeutic. It’s not just the storms. I have always loved road trips. Storm chasing is a road trip with an incredible ending. I should say, not always. Mother nature being something we don’t fully understand yet, likes to play a fast one and has sent me on many wild goose chases. 

My family even supports my passion and often joins the fun by coming with me on many chases. Hannah (my wife) being my primary chase partner. She seems to always bring a stroke of luck with her. My kids are still a little weary of hour-long drives through nothing but cornfields.  

Over the years, I have collected so many memories and incredible stories. In 2016 I was within 100 yards of an EF4 tornado near Chapman, Kansas. The ground trembled as if an earthquake was occurring. The tornado bent railroad tracks at one point; it was so strong. Some do think I am crazy. I get that. However, safely (I emphasize safety, don’t do this without learning from a pro), being near a force of nature, so incredibly powerful, is life-changing. I actually do take individuals/groups on storm chasing tours, 
              
                                                                                       Chapman Kansas EF4 Tornado May of 2016.

One of my favorite experiences is teaching the next generation of weather enthusiasts. I have been lucky enough to be the guest speaker for many elementary school science classes. We live in a hectic world. Weather forces us to go outside and step away from the day-to-day. 

Please follow my adventures on my Facebook Twitter or Instagram pages. 

Here are some of my favorite photos.

                                                   A supercell storm producing a tornado over the Easterplains of Colorado in August 2019.

                                                                          Horses sense the storm approaching. South Dakota June 2015

                                                                              Lightning crashes down as a storm approaches Rapid City SD