What are the most dangerous things about storm chasing?
The greatest dangers to storm chasers are not tornadoes, but instead, traffic crashes and lightning. Driving in heavy rain, high wind, dust and/or hail is obviously dangerous, even to the experienced chaser. The only known death of a chaser during an intercept happened in 1985, when an OU student slid off a wet road while trying to avoid a large animal. Even the most careful and conscientious driver may have problems under severe weather conditions — such as misjudging distance or hydroplaning. The solution should be obvious: Slow down on wet roads, watch for obstacles, animals and other vehicles in unusual and unsafe places; and drive very slowly whan making turns on wet surfaces. Given the hazards — and the proliferation of inexperienced and reckless drivers around storms, it may be a matter of great fortune that more deaths haven’t happened from vehicle wrecks. Lightning is especially insidious because you may never see or hear the bolt which kills you. Even when it doesn’t kill,
