Extreme thunderstorms

Storm hunters drive under the banner of science

Special vehicles enter the "eye of the storm".(Bild: Krone KREATIV/Umbimet/Stormhunters; SKYWARN AUSTRIA)

Thunderstorms and the like are becoming ever more localized, powerful and unpredictable: 14 European countries are now planning a large-scale project to research storms and tornado formation. Leading the way: an Austrian research group in Wiener Neustadt. What their task is and how "storm chasers" provide valuable help.

While others run for the hills when the sky turns black and threatening mountains of clouds gather, they quickly head in the opposite direction: "storm chasers" - also known as thunderstorm hunters - drive as close as possible to the danger zone in specially equipped vehicles and report on what is happening. Known primarily from reports by tornado chasers in America, a scene has also been established in Austria - such as "Skywarn Austria", which has also been supplying exciting material and valuable data to media partners and weather services since 2005 - from images and films to the direction of movement and development of explosive thunderstorm cells.