In May 2008, two Ball State University students went out to Carroll County, Ind., on a chase.
Using only a map, a weather radio and a weather scanner, Doyle McIntosh and Korey Klein were able to watch a tornado briefly touch ground.
This is just one instance of the Ball State Storm Chase Team witnessing this severe weather phenomenon.
For students like Klein, a senior meteorology and geographical information systems major, the storm chasing team was a part of why he came to Ball State. He said he heard about the team before the meteorology program and he has been a part of the team ever since.
Much like Klein, McIntosh, a senior geography and meteorology major, the storm chaser team was a very strong incentive to come to Ball State. He joined the team his freshman year and is now the assistant director of the team.
On June 19, McIntosh and six of the storm chase team members followed a tornadic supercell, going from Champaign, Ill., to Crawfordsville, Ind. — a chase of more than 75 miles. While they did not see a tornado touch ground, McIntosh said he saw a few funnels and that it was a fun chase.
This week is The Weather Channel's Tornado Week, and while storm chasing can be exciting, the team also does it as a service for the community.
McIntosh said the team acts as a "weather net" around Delaware County and works with the local weather service. When there are signs of severe weather, the team will chase it and report anything to the weather service that might appear to be a threat.
"Our main goal is to keep the public informed," Klein said.
It is the spotters and storm chasers who provide the weather service with information so people are given adequate warning when a storm approaches, he said.
The team meets on a regular basis, where they learn to use the different programs that enable meteorologists to track weather.
The time when the team must be their most alert is during tornado season. According to the storm chasers, the time when a storm is most likely to happen is from April to June. Direction of the wind and the changing wind speeds are two essential parts of a tornado.
These elements can lead to very severe weather quickly.
"It takes the perfect environment," McIntosh said.
Tornado season is only about three months long, but that does not mean that the storm chasers are done for the year. The team meets regularly, even in the winter, and they will sometimes have guest speakers, such as Tim Samaras from Discovery Channel's "Storm Chasers."
The Ball State Storm Chase Team go to schools across Indiana to make presentations about severe weather safety. They also participate in "Science on the Greenway," where they make tornadoes in a bottle for elementary school children.
The team is a philanthropic group, and they put their work into multiple facets. They participate in "Adopt-a-Highway" and clean a section of State Road 332 near Interstate 69 every year.
The team, composed of roughly 30 members, is open to all members. While meteorology students are encouraged to participate, anyone is welcome. For more information, contact the team at bsustormchasers@gmail.com.
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