Tornado Tourism: Taking Texas by Storm

I don't know about you, but when I hear that a tornado has touched down nearby, I don't hop in my car to get a closer look. Clearly, many disagree as this has been gaining popularity across parts of Texas as of late.

Tornado tourism is a growing trend where people will pay to go on these trips and watch severe weather up close and in person. People flock from all over, including areas outside of the U.S.

Usatoday,com mentions that there are actually over a dozen of these adventure-seeking companies around America that take tours of tornado hotspots.

How much does one tour cost?

It really varies, but most prices range between 2 and 4 grand, depending on the duration of the trip and the number of people involved.

The average tour sees roughly 15 to 20 attendees separated between three different vans.

Are the tours, you know... safe?

Well, if you ask the National Weather Service, then no. BUT, they do admit that if one is interested in storm tours, they should do so with a professional company and with trained storm trackers rather than by oneself.

The key to these tours is to maximize the perception of danger while eliminating the risk. Try as they might, tour guides still have every guest sign a waiver before embarking that indicates that the company will do everything in their power to ensure safety, but weather is weather, and safety won't happen 100% of the time.

On one scary occasion, a lightning bolt actually struck a tour van, incapacitating it. The tour group inside were unscathed because the current traveled straight into the ground.

If you ever want to see a tornado or major storm in person, just make sure you do so in a safe manner with professional groups, not on your own, no matter how "into weather" you may tell yourself you are...