On top of a small, shrubby hill outside Pratt, Kansas, my brother Andy Rice—a former TV weather producer who now manages the development of weather visualization software at Weather Central—stood in the roadside dirt with his best friend from childhood and scanned the sky, looking hopefully for signs of trouble. If you’re chasing storms, this part of Tornado Alley is ideal terrain, dotted with hilltops that offer great vantage points for assessing the clouds. And now is the time to do it: Peak tornado season runs from April through July, though twisters can form at any time of year.
The United States sees more tornadoes than any other country, averaging 800 a year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Tracking one down can be an exhilarating experience, but it comes with serious risks. About 30 percent of American twisters are classified as “strong,” with wind speeds topping 110 miles per hour. Although only a handful reach “violent” status, with winds exceeding 205 miles per hour, these powerful storms account for 70 percent of all tornado deaths. This past April, the series of outbreaks in the Midwest and Southeast generated at least 600 tornadoes—more than any previous month on record. This year already ranks as the deadliest tornado season in decades.
