Extreme Chase Tours

STORM CHASING TOURS FAQ

Storm Chasing Tours Tornado Tours and Vacations frequently asked questions

OKAY, I'M READY FOR AN AWESOME TORNADO TOUR WHERE DO I SIGN UP?

  

Who and what is Extreme Chase Tours?   
Extreme Chase Tours is a Storm Chasing Tours and Tornado Chasing Tours company owned and operated by famed professional storm chaser, meteorologist and professional photographer, Lanny Dean. Lanny started storm chasing in 1991 and by 1993 had a dream to take people storm chasing. In 1999 Lanny started Extreme Chase Tours part time, taking a few people from time to time. By 2002 Lanny had built a reputation and a strong name for himself in the weather world. He started working in the media as a severe weather reporter and photographer and he opened the doors to Extreme Chase Tours. Lanny is a 31-year storm chasing veteran that has seen and documented over 600 tornadoes to date as well as many hurricanes and all types of severe weather. Extreme Chase Tours offers storm chasing tours, tornado tours and photography tours. We educate our guests on storm chasing and all types of severe weather and the science behind it all. The Extreme Chase Tours Team is comprised of real storm chasers and meteorologists with over 120 years combined experience! We have intercepted and filmed over 700 tornadoes, 13 major hurricanes and hundreds of blizzards and winter storms to date. With over 50 tornadoes intercepted and filmed in 2007, 47 tornadoes 2008, 27 tornadoes in 2009, 22 tornadoes in 2010, 48 tornadoes in 2011 and 31 tornadoes in 2012 - simply stated: WE KNOW SEVERE WEATHER AND ARE SEVERE WEATHER EXPERTS!  Some of our team members have participated in many productions and storm chasing shows and are regularly contacted for severe weather consulting and video. We stress and teach to our customers severe weather education and how to stay safe. We also help to participate in the warning process by reporting to local National Weather Services Offices around the country and to local media outlets during tornadic and severe thunderstorm events. Please see our ABOUT page to learn more about us.

What is included in a Chase Tour?
Storm chasing tours include 6 days of storm chasing with a possible travel day on the last day as well as ground transportation during the tour.  You are responsible for evening lodging. Each tour will start with a safety briefing where we will go over how to stay safe. We will then give an introduction into storm chasing usually during the meet and greet dinner.

What can you expect to see and experience on a tour?
Our tours are designed to spend real one on one time with each of our storm chasing tours guests. We teach and show you what Storm Chasing is really like. In doing so, you will see severe weather of all types and probable tornadoes. On the chance that we have a "down day", we will go to the "local" sights and attractions or even go visit the local NWSFO (National Weather Service Office) near where we might be located. If you'd like to learn more about storm chasing, please check out our

HOW TO STROM CHASE page.

Lodging - What kind of Hotels do we stay at?
Our tour guides will choose clean and comfortable hotels such as Clarion, Comfort Inn, Sleep Inn, Quality Inn, Econo Lodge, Days Inn, Super 8 and others. Please note, that you are responsible for nightly lodging during the tour unless otherwise agreed upon. There are times when we may be required to stay at motels that are not nationally known chains in order to stay close to the next days severe weather set-up. These are generally smaller type motels that are very clean and comfortable. We refuse to stay at dirty or otherwise nasty hotels.

What expenses will I have on tour?
You are responsible for nightly lodging, meals, beverages, food items as well as any souvenirs while on tour. We do not cover these items.

What is the Deposit?
We require a non-refundable $700.00 per person deposit fee. This is required to reserve your seat on your tour and is due when you request your seat/tour. This is NON REFUNDABLE and is required to reserve your seat. We do not "hold seats" on promise to pay. Do you work on promise credit? We didn't think so, and neither do we. All Media and production or custom tours require a $1,000.00 deposit.

What should I bring while on Tour?
Please pack lightly, only bring 4-5 days worth of clothing in a small bag or smaller carry on type luggage bag/suitcase. We do not have a lot of room for luggage so please be aware of this. Please don't forget to bring your camera or video camera as we will not have any to loan out and you can get some amazing photo's like THESE Please make sure that you have enough money for any admission fees as well as food and drink etc...
 
What are the chances to see a tornado?
We have a held 100% tornado/funnel success rate until 2011, but currently hold a roughly 90% tornado success rate. However, we cannot guarantee that you will see a tornado while on tour. Although our storm chase tours are designed and scheduled during the best time of the chase season to maximize your chance of seeing a tornado.

Are there risks involved with Storm Chasing?
Extreme Chase Tours also holds a 100% safety success rate since our birth in 1999. But just as with any activity, there are some dangerous risks involved with storm chasing. Some of those dangers include but are not limited to: hail, high winds, tornadoes, flooding, debris, dangerous drivers, and others. The entire Extreme Chase Tours team is devoted to keeping you safe by practicing safety at ALL TIMES. We have outlined some of the risks involved in our liability waver which must be signed by all guests before going on tour. WE ASSUME NO LIABILITY FOR ANY INJURY OR LIABILITY CLAIM AND NO PARTIES SHALL OR WILL HOLD ECT OR ANY PARTY ASSOCIATED WITH EXTREME CHASE TOURS (ECT) RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY TYPE OF INJURY!    

What is the best time and date to go on a tour?
Although all of our tours offer a very high chance of seeing severe weather including supercells and tornadoes, the months of April, May and June are generally the peak of tornado season and offer the best chance of seeing severe weather and tornadoes. To really increase your chance of seeing a tornado we recommend going on a 10-day tour during the May-June time frame. To see our full storm chase tour schedule, please see our TOURS here
What kind of equipment or technology do we use and have?
We are the ONLY tour company that has a real time mobile doppler radar unit and we also have all of the latest weather tracking and forecasting tools and technology including full internet/Wi-Fi and mobile weather radar. For more info check out our TECHNOLOGY page.
    
Are alcohol or drugs allowed during a tour?
No alcohol or drugs of and kind are allowed or permitted during the tour. The tour guide/driver reserves the right to remove anyone from a tour for not following these basic rules. While we may have an adult beverage  at dinner (if possible), we do not allow alcohol or drugs in or near the van. What our guests do on their own time is their business, as long as it does not disrupt the tour. 

What about Refunds? PLEASE READ FULLY REGARDING REFUNDS
We cannot refund your deposit or payment for any reason. If you cannot go or cancel your tour we WILL NOT refund your payment. Please do not book a tour until you are comfortable with the dates. There are no refunds if you are removed from tour or leave a tour early for ANY reason. Extreme Chase Tours reserves the right to remove a guest from a tour for any reason. Extreme Chase Tours reserves the right to change and or modify tour dates at any time, We will NOT refund your money or deposit should changes need to be made. We will simply reschedule your tour for a later tour as agreed upon by reserving a tour with us. WE WILL NOT REFUND YOUR MONEY OR DEPOSIT IF YOU ARE LATE FOR THE TOUR. WE DO NOT DO REFUNDS. Please keep in mind that we may have others on your tour who are also wanting to see severe weather and have paid full price to do so. If you are late this will obviously effect their tour as well. PLEASE BE ON TIME as we will NOT refund your money for any reason if you are late or do not show up on time.  
  
Can I take photos and video while on tour?
Yes! In fact, we encourage you to bring your camera or videocam to shoot breathtaking video and pictures while on your tour!

I want to go, where do I sign up and pay?
Once you are sure of the dates for the tour you want and availability of the tour, all you need to do is pay the non-refundable deposit via the tour schedule page. Upon receiving the deposit payment, we will reserve your seat and send you an e-mail as your electronic receipt. You are then required to have full payment to us no later than Jan 1, of the year of your tour (Example: Jan 1, 2024). Please keep in mind that seating is limited, and we usually book our storm tours very quickly and early, therefore we ask that you register and book your seat as early as possible. If seating is still open after Jan 1, you are required to pay the remaining balance in 10 business days unless otherwise noted and agreed upon.

All STORM CHASING TOUR dates are subject to change with reasonable notification.
 Please see above

If arriving by air, you will fly into Tulsa International Airport. We usually require our guests to take an Uber or a cab to the base Hotel. The tour departure time on your first chase day is usually no later than 11am or as outlined by the tour guide. Please do not be late - we will not wait on you. If you have to make travel arrangements to arrive early to meet this time frame there are comfortable hotels near the airport. If you are driving into Tulsa for your tour, the Tulsa International Airport has convenient secure long-term parking. This is where you will leave your vehicle if driving in until we return from our tour.
 
We must have your $700.00 non-refundable deposit when you request your seat. You are required to have full payment to us no later than Jan 1, of the current year that you have reserved the storm chasing tour for. This excludes any guests booking after Jan 1 of the current year of their tour. If you book a tour after Jan 1 of the current year, you are required to have your remaining full payment/balance to us in no latter than 10 business days unless other arraignments have been made. There are no refunds on the deposit or payment. If you decide to give up your seat, cancel or cannot go on the tour that you have booked.

There are no refunds period. All liability waivers must be signed and returned to us no later than your arrival date.

For those who are in a "follow chase" we will still meet you at a designated location, usually at a designated location such as the base Hotel. Departure times (11am unless otherwise noted) will still apply. We will notify each guests at the meet and greet dinner what time we will need to leave for the following morning. Those interested in a single chase day tour, we offer 1 to 15 days and a discount for more than 5 days! CONTACT us for more info on single chase days.  

We are here for you, should you have any questions regarding payment, schedule, tour dates or other questions please feel free to contact us at:

Phone:

918-859-0248

NOTE: PLEASE READ FULLY!

Please pack lightly, only bring 4-5 days worth of clothing in a small type bag or carry on type luggage. We do not have a lot of room for luggage. There will be washers and dryers at some of the motels that we will be staying at should you need to do your laundry.

We encourage you to bring your own cameras to shoot breathtaking video while out on your Storm Chasing Tour, we will not have extras to loan out. 
 
On the chance days that we do not experience or see severe weather, we will go to the "local" sights and or weather related centers and sights. Some days may be "down days" in which we will forecast, model and drive to our next target zone in hopes of getting set up for the next round of severe weather. Some of these target zones may be hundreds of miles from each other so please be prepared for long hours of traveling and sitting. Some roads will be rough and or unimproved, restroom facilities may be primitive or non existent so prepare accordingly. If you suffer from vertigo or motion sickness contact you physician for appropriate medications.

Below are a basic list of questions that we are usually asked before our new customers book a storm tour with us.. Please take the time and read over all questions fully.

FREQUENTLY ASKED STORM CHASING TOURS QUESTIONS

We receive hundreds of questions from people interested in our Storm Chasing Vacations to our Tornado Tours as such, we have provided a list of basic questions and ideas to make your tour more comfortable and enjoyable to you. (Please see the question guide below) as well as our TESTIMONIALS as it will elaborate on previous guests' experiences while on tour, you can also read ABOUT OUR TOURS for additional info.

If you know which storm tour you'd like to go on, singing up is easy, just visit our 2024 TOURS page and follow the payment options for the specific storm chasing tour you have chosen.