When most people picture storm chasers, they imagine adrenaline junkies racing toward tornadoes in customized vehicles packed with high-tech gear. But for Chris White, a veteran Virginia-based storm chaser, the reality is far less glamorous and far more methodical.
“Most of the time spent chasing involves driving, parking and waiting for storms to fire, and driving some more,” says White. “There is also a fair amount of ‘busts,’ meaning either no storms happen or none are worth chasing. It’s rarely wall-to-wall action.”
White’s journey to storm chasing began with childhood fascination. Growing up as a “military brat,” he lived everywhere from Hawaii to East Africa, experiencing diverse weather patterns. Though he considered meteorology in college, he ultimately pursued a general science degree and worked for the federal government. It wasn’t until 2002, inspired by his son’s meteorology studies at the University of Oklahoma, that White went on his first chase.
Today, White serves as an independent stringer for WDBJ7 television, live streaming severe weather events across southern Virginia. He’s also the founder of the Mid-Atlantic Severe Weather Conference.
A typical chase day starts days before the actual event. White monitors medium-range forecasts, then spends the morning of the chase reviewing National Weather Service predictions and numerical weather models. After coordinating with WDBJ7’s chief meteorologist, he heads to his target area, hoping to arrive an hour before storms develop.
Unlike the equipment-heavy portrayal in films, White considers himself a minimalist. “I don’t want to be distracted by fooling with a lot of equipment,” he explains. His setup includes a mobile hotspot, a livestreaming camera (an old smartphone), a fixed radar display, and another smartphone for time-lapse videos. Surprisingly, his most essential piece of equipment is decidedly low-tech: a paper map.
“Smartphones and digital maps are great, but if for some reason they don’t work, a paper map can always help me get out of a navigational mess,” White says.
The dangers of storm chasing extend beyond the obvious weather threats. White identifies driving as the primary threat. “The biggest risk has been and always will be driving on public roads, especially if chasers are in a hurry.” Lightning strikes, large hail, and losing situational awareness present additional hazards.
One May afternoon in 2006, White learned this lesson firsthand when chasing with his children in Spotsylvania County. After making a poor navigational decision, they found themselves in a tornado’s path on a narrow tree-lined road with branches falling around them. A quick U-turn by his son, who was driving, saved them from potential disaster.
Storm chasing also comes with practical challenges rarely depicted in media. “Here in Virginia and especially out west, bathrooms are not always handily available in rural areas,” White notes. “Since storms tend to fire in late afternoon, chasing them often continues into the evening. Stopping for dinner doesn’t usually happen, so having snacks available is important.”
White prefers collaborative chasing to minimize multitasking and combat the loneliness of solo pursuits. However, he’s selective about chase partners. “There’s a LOT of trust involved being on the highway in a near-storm environment, and that level of trust doesn’t come easily.”
For White, the rewards come from successfully predicting where storms will develop and providing real-time reports that aid public warning systems. He maintains perspective about his role, preferring to observe from a safe distance rather than getting dangerously close to storms.
“I’d rather stay back a couple miles to see the overall structure and activity,” he says, contradicting the Hollywood image of chasers deliberately driving into danger. “Even weak tornadoes can flip a vehicle.”
As technology evolves with smartphones, radar apps, expanded cellular service, and satellite systems, chasing becomes more accessible. But the fundamentals remain unchanged— patience, preparation, and respect for nature’s power.