How do you explain your love for storms/storm chasing to friends?

[Lazz]

Hi all,

 

Apologies if this isn't the right forum to post this in.

 

I was wondering, how do you explain your hobby to friends, who see storms as nothing more than the sky making a few noises every once in a while? I know that no one ever needs to justify why they like this sort of thing, but I quite like conveying my love and fascination of storms to people, even though sometimes it can be hard to do.

 

A few weeks ago, I was on a train with a friend, and we were talking about storm chasing, and he said:

 

"so let me get this straight. Your idea of a dream holiday, or at least a very good holiday, is to travel to the states, meet up with a bunch of people, travel many many miles in the hope of seeing and being in some of the most intense weather on the planet, with the ultimate goal of seeing a tornado, something which is known to kill people yearly and, lets face it, as much as you would be in good company who are knowledgable about these things, you are at least to some degree, putting your life on the line for this and your willing to pay upwards of £2000 for this experience to happen?"

 

Me: ".....erm........yeah, basically."

 

When a storm is coming over or when I am in one, it ignites something inside of me. An excitement. Its like nothing else in the world matters apart from that present moment in which I can be in awe of mother nature's power.

 

I see it from other people, just not on the same scale. When we're in a storm, people glance out the window and watch it. Its a few minutes of entertainment for them and they enjoy it while it lasts. Once its done, they get back to doing whatever it is they were doing.

 

For me, the effect is massively amplified. When I know a storm is likely to approach, assuming I am at home like today, I will regularly check the netweather forums. Im signed up to the NW Extra radar and regularly check the meteox and blitzortung radars. When I know a storm is approaching where I live, I will put a message out on facebook. I know many people might not be bothered, but given the crap that is posted on FB anyway, I figure if it helps alert even just one or several people to an approaching storm then it makes me feel good. I usually state which direction its coming from incase people want to obeserve it from where they are.

 

Then its on to phase 2. Getting the camera / camcorders out. Taking photos and recording video's, usually the videos are to be made into a timelapse but given the view I have from my place, it can also be used incase anything really interesting happens. I enjoy it while it lasts and feel very satisfied with myself if I get some good lightning shots.

 

Once it seems to be over, I stop recording and transfer the files to my computer. While this is happening, I read the forums and checkout any reports of what is happening elsewhere. If the videos/photo's that I have taken are good enough, I share them.

 

The funny thing about our love for storms, I find, is the 'downer' afterwards. Like a drug that has worn off. Most people love the sunshine after the rain. Back to being great weather again. For me, its a bit of a buzzkill but all good things must come to an end. Once all of the above is said and done, its then back to discussing the events on this forum, damage reports, people's experiences and their own photos and videos, and working out when we are next probably going to get a storm.

 

The root of all things storm related boils down to one thing; my fascination with tornadoes. Since about the age of 7 or 8, I've been captivated by them. Every time there was a program on tv about them, I would get my parents to tape it for me and then watch the tape over and over and over again. Nowadays, I have been known to watch hours of tornado footage on youtube. There is something about a giant whirling mass of wind that goes from the ground to the sky and picks up everything in its path, sometimes growling like a monster, that science doesn't really understand all that well, that I find intruiging. Beautiful yet deadly. So obvious in plain sight, yet so little understood. I used to watch the storm chasers program with Reed Timmer, until the drama/arguments between chasers became akin to an episode of Eastenders. We want to watch it for the severe weather and tornadoes, not the arguing

 

Maybe on second thoughts, the next time someone asks me why it is that I find storms so fascinating, I'll just link them to this thread

[derryweather]

The guys in work always ask how the hell I can like strong winds, snow, cold, storms etc but I can never explain it to them  They probably think I'm some sort of weirdo.

 

I can never find the words to describe it at all.  Maybe it's the power behind it, the adrenaline rush you get when you're standing in storm force winds, trying to stand still, having to lean into the wind just so you can stand up straight.

 

Storm chasing could maybe be compared to extreme sports... putting your own life on the edge!

[Qued]

I totally get what you say about the excitement and something igniting inside you. This afternoon I just had to go for a walk in the torrential rain and almost hurricane force winds that are still going on right now. As I leant into the wind, clutching the hood of my coat down over my eyes, I had a cheshire cat grin on my face. Some people might've thought it was a grimace but no, I was thrilled. Right now I'm a little worried the roof might blow off, the tiles are rattling so much (and I think our bin might've just escaped down the street) but It all just adds to the excitement. Oh, the lights just flickered!

[Lauren]

It's difficult to explain to people. I don't storm chase, but extreme weather makes me feel alive. I find thunderstorms so utterly relaxing and exciting at the same time. It awakens something within me. It is difficult to put into words and I think is something only other extreme weather lovers can relate to.

[Jane Louise]

It's difficult to explain to people. I don't storm chase, but extreme weather makes me feel alive. I find thunderstorms so utterly relaxing and exciting at the same time. It awakens something within me. It is difficult to put into words and I think is something only other extreme weather lovers can relate to.

I second you on that Lauren! the excitement and fascination is something else.

[Dami]

A lot of people I know find the weather boring, but when I younger I was very interested in fashion and would argue a girl needs to know what the weather is going to do, so to know what to wear!

My late father would love to jump in the car and chase with me, we used to go all over Sussex and Kent and met with some lovely, rain too heavy to drive storms. The thing I like is the minutes before the storm comes - the heat, the humidity, the low rumble of thunder- just the anticipation of whats to come. Love going out for a walk during weather like that.

[Hodgheg]

Its hard to explain. I drive my husband insane with my weather obsession. I try and explain it with my bigger fascination with nature. He is a scientists, specifically a chemist, so i try to explain it in a similar fascination to hi and his chemistry. Thankfully he's quite understanding as we are both just as bad, although he doesn't constantly show me youtube videos of chemistry, as i do with weather. As for friends, I'm sure I've alienated myself quite a bit.  

[Harry]

Its hard to explain. I drive my husband insane with my weather obsession. I try and explain it with my bigger fascination with nature. He is a scientists, specifically a chemist, so i try to explain it in a similar fascination to hi and his chemistry. Thankfully he's quite understanding as we are both just as bad, although he doesn't constantly show me youtube videos of chemistry, as i do with weather. As for friends, I'm sure I've alienated myself quite a bit.  

 

Exactly the same here...I describe it as a drug, explaining that because we get storms here so infrequently, I need to make the most of them. 

 

When I start giving snippets of interesting facts, some people ask more questions and get more enthused than they otherwise would have...others say "that's nice" then get back to whatever it is they are doing...I don't understand it, there is something so incredibly awe-inspiring about them. 

 

I drive people mad about it - whenever there are storm clouds looming or thunder/lightning expected, I become a little obsessive. My bf has got to used to it now - when I say "Oh, potential for storms" I get the "oh I'm not happy, in fact I'm quite sad - that means you wont be wanting to go shopping then (etc.)"...the question is always rhetorical Like you JH, its all about the youtube vids and the "you've got to see this" 

 

My colleagues have also all but accepted that when storms are going on while I am in the office, I won't be rooted to my PC screen working...I will be up and down from the window, have the radar/blitzortung minimised and be having a few extra cheeky cig breaks while its going. 

[storm84]

Just tell them about our weather, and that we have more tornadoes in the UK each year than any other part of the world on average. I think there is a difference between storm chasing and storm spotting, storm chasing is for personal thrills as when storm spotting you alert others of potential risks ie tornadoes, large hail etc, I myself chase but spot at the same time. I am from Portsmouth united kingdom . I am always looking for like minded people and chase partners to become friends with, so if you're friends don't understand your passion for Storm's and adverse weather, then make new friends that are. You can find me on Facebook under James Edwards