Chased by the supercell - Storm chaser's Blog

The thrill of chasing — and sometimes being chased! Weather Reporter William Demasi is possibly one of Weather & Radar's most active storm chasers.

Just last Friday, he and his Italian team chased a supercell near Milan, but his most extraordinary experience was during last year's intense hail storms in Italy. This is his story.

"One of my favourite aspects of storm chasing is the anticipation—the waiting for the storm.

Consulting the WeatherRadar in the days, hours, and minutes before and then watching the inexorable approach of the supercell builds a unique excitement.

There's also the photographic aspect, the artistic challenge of capturing a beautiful composition amidst nature's chaos, which is equally important to me.

One of the most intense experiences I've had was during last year's powerful supercell in Italy.

After marvelling at its magnificent, detailed form, we felt it too, as we were suddenly overwhelmed by large hailstones.

Our car was destroyed in the onslaught, but thankfully, we were unharmed.

I cannot deny that I am attracted to the adrenaline rush. Chasing a thunderstorm, with its large hail and lightning, brings a thrill like no other.

Sometimes, it feels like the storm is chasing me instead of the other way around, and this reversal adds to the excitement. It's a priceless pleasure for my soul."