Drawn to chase storms

When the thunder rolls and the lightning flashes some people seek to hide.

Others stand in awe and wonderment taking in the power of nature.

Ryan Crouse clearly falls into the latter group.

Crouse said he has always been drawn to storms, running outside when younger anytime a thunderstorm struck just to watch the lightning and feel the storm.

In fact one time Crouse and his father were outside when a big storm hit.

"We grabbed onto to a pole and stayed outside watching and then when it moved on we jumped in a truck and followed it," he recounted.

And that's just what he's doing now as a storm-chaser.

"It's an interesting challenge," said Crouse. "It's because people say there's nothing to do, so I shall find it."

Crouse said storms are often contradictory things. He explained one moment the wind can be howling, and the lightning flashing, and then "there's this feeling of peacefulness".

Crouse recalled "I had goosebumps and then there's only peace."

Now Crouse chases after storms, mostly thunderstorms, although he hopes to find the telltale funnel of a tornado to follow too. He noted Saskatchewan is becoming more prone to tornadoes, with Yorkton sort of on the eastern fringe of the Regina to Saskatoon corridor most prone to such events.

So how does Crouse find storms?

It's part research, part contacts and part luck.

In terms of research Crouse he checks online sites such as AccuWeather, Canadian Prairie Storm, NOAA Weather Forecast Service, Environment Canada and several others regularly.

"You look at all the data, and it's never all the same," he said, adding from that you hope to get some general idea of where severe weather might strike.

And then there is a growing network of 'skywatchers' friends Crouse has made who call him when they see dark clouds rolling in. They are his eyes on-the-ground. Anyone wanting to tip Crouse to a storm can email him at [email protected]

Then if luck favours him, Crouse will jump in his vehicle and drive toward the violence of the storm.

In time Crouse hopes to head south to places like Oklahoma and Texas where tornadoes are more the prey of a weather hunter, but he's not ready yet.

"I don't know enough to feel safe, to be safe there yet," he said.

Crouse said while he loves being close to the centre of a storm, he knows there are dangers "especially at night when you can't see anything except where the lightning guides you."

In terms of safety Crouse did attend a recent workshop with CanWarn, a group which proclaims being the 'eyes and ears of Environment Canada'.

The group storm watches, and informs Environment Canada of severe events, information the EC staff can add to their own data to help provide a clearer picture of a day's weather events.

In time Crouse said he would not mind his hobby evolving into more of a career.

"It's the most amazing job one could have, if and when it becomes a job," he said.

Crouse is trying to raise the profile of what he does, and maybe generate a few dollars to offset the cost associated with chasing storms across the parkland.

Haas Nissan has come on board as a vehicle sponsor, and Crouse said he'd welcome others to support him.

In addition he will be streaming live video of storms this year, in addition to his penchant for shooting photos of storm skies and their earthly impacts.

The live-stream videos on his website at yorktonstormhunter.com, is a way to see a storm without being too close.

"You can watch it from a safe place and let me do the dirty work," he said.