The Storm Chaser

Jaclyn Whittal puts herself in danger so that other people can stay safe.

February 2020

by Anna Starecheski

Courtesy of Jaclyn Whittal

There’s a tornado approaching. The sky is dark, and you can’t hear anything but the howling wind. What do you do? If you’re like most people, you run inside. But if you’re a storm chaser, you want to get as close to the action as possible.

Why? We talked to Jaclyn Whittal to find out. She’s a meteorologist—a person who studies weather—for Canada’s Weather Network. She’s also a storm chaser. Her goal is to gather information about a storm and share it on TV and social media so that people stay safe.

How did you become a storm chaser?

I started out as an actress and singer. But I was always interested in weather, so I went back to school for meteorology. The first time I chased a tornado, I was totally hooked.

How do you find storms?

We know that certain areas get bad storms at certain times of year. My team and I go to these places for weeks at a time and use meteorology tools to track tornadoes, hurricanes, and blizzards.

Why do you need to get so close to a storm?

Tornadoes can form in minutes, so even our best tools don’t always catch them in time. If storm chasers are close by, we can spot tornadoes quickly and get the warning out so that people can get to safety.

What happens when you actually find a storm?

We take pictures and videos of it. Sometimes I’ll livestream or tweet. At the same time, we need to be aware of the danger. Storm chasers always have an escape plan.

What’s the scariest day you’ve had on the job?

In 2013, I was in El Reno, Oklahoma. We were chasing the biggest tornado in history. Sadly, three professional storm chasers died that day. My team got out of the way just in time.

What traits does a good storm chaser need?

You have to be calm in intense situations. And you have to be tough, of course!