‘Twisters’ movie inspires next generation scientists

Scientists in a truck outfitted with instruments race toward a storm. National Severe Storms Lab/NOAA Storm-chasing for science can be exciting and stressful – we know, because we do it. It has also been essential for developing today’s understanding of how tornadoes form and how they behave. In 1996, the movie “Twister” brought storm-chasing scientists into the public imagination and inspired a generation of atmospheric scientists. With the new “Twisters” movie hitting theaters, we’ve been getting questions about storm-chasing – or storm intercepts, as we call them. Here are some answers about what scientists who do this kind of fieldwork are really up to when they race off after storms. Scientists with the National Severe Storms Lab ‘intercepted’ this tornado to collect data using mobile radar and other instruments on May 24, 2024. National Severe Storms Lab What does a day of storm-chasing really look like? The morning of a chase day starts with a good breakfast, because there might not be any chance to eat a good meal later in the day. The team looks at the weather conditions, the National Weather Service computer forecast models and outlooks from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Storm Prediction Center to...