Home / Editor's Pick /

A tornado too close for comfort - Storm chaser's Blog

08:00
21 July 2024

Storm chaser's Blog
A tornado too close for comfort

From his first storm chase in the USA, this image of Hendrik in front of the legendary supercellFrom one of his storm chasing trips in the USA, this image of a very happy Hendrik in front of the 'Geuda Springs supercell', which is legendary between storm chasers. - © Hendrik Flügel

Too close for comfort — this storm chaser got more than he bargained for on one of his trips to Tornado Alley in the US.

Weather & Radar's Meteorologist Hendrik Flügel started storm chasing before he was allowed to drive a car, pushing up and down the hills around his hometown – by bike.

We love weather!

In the miniseries 'Storm chaser's Blog', Weather & Radar's meteorologists share their wildest experiences chasing storms. As avid photographers and storm chasers, their passion for weather is a lifestyle that reaches far beyond work.

Many storm chases in Europe later and with a driving licence in his pocket, it became clear that he, like many other storm chasers, needed to head over to the US to see the big stuff.

USA - Alone with the supercellread also

In 2018, on his first trip to the US, after two weeks of intense chasing across the Midwestern states, he and his team headed to New Mexico. This is his story:

“I think we might have been a bit less focused on this storm, after chasing for two weeks straight and this one looking to be a rather underwhelming weather setup.”

But as it turns out, even meteorologists can be mistaken.

While driving down into a canyon-like landscape, they encountered an intense thunderstorm and got stuck in heavy rain and hail, battering against their windscreen.

"We temporarily lost internet connection and lost track of where exactly we were located. Therefore, we didn't know in which part of the thunderstorm we were.

At one point, the rain stopped for a minute, and we went outside the car. Water was flowing down the muddy street, but something different caught our attention:

There was a roaring sound. It sounded like a plane starting right next to you.

Our view was very limited by the hills and heavy precipitation covering the sky, so we couldn’t see anything.

Later on, when we left the canyon, we could then see the massive supercell, which had been right above us half an hour ago, moving off to the northwest."

But it took another few hours until they saw a picture of a solid tornado touching ground in the canyon, nearby their exact past position.

"This solved the mystery of the massive roaring sound that we heard: We had been right next to the tornado, but could not see it.

I am hoping for this to remain my closest tornado encounter ever.”

While most storm chasing stories are those of beauty and natural drama, Hendrik's story is a reminder of the power that nature can produce.

Beginner's luck - the first tornadoread also
Weather & Radar editorial team
More on the topic
Saturday 28 June 2025

Grab the sun cream

High UV levels to end the week
Tuesday 1 July 2025

Not just the UK

Heatwave grips continental Europe
Monday 30 June 2025

Noctilucent cloud season

Shimmering clouds over UK and Ireland
All weather news
This might also interest you
Tuesday 1 July 2025

Breakfast brief

Heat reaches a peak, cloudy in places
Wednesday 2 July 2025

Breakfast brief

Cooler with stormy potential
Thursday 26 June 2025

Breakfast brief

Gusting winds return with bands of rain
All articles
Weather & Radar

www.weatherandradar.ie

facebooktwitteryouTubeContact uslinkList
Privacy Policy | Legal info | Accessibility statement