Souped-Up, Tricked-Out Storm-Chasing Machines

The Dominator II

No, this isn't something out of "The Road Warrior."  The Dominator II is a converted 2011 Yukon with a customized shell that allows it to get dangerously close to tornadoes to film and gather scientific data. The vehicle has hydraulic spikes that can be lowered into the ground to prevent it from becoming a flying projectile. The gas mileage isn’t great, but if you come to a four-way stop at the same time as somebody else, the other driver will probably let you go first.

The TIV2 (Tornado Intercept Vehicle)

Hitchhikers beware: If this vehicle stops to offer you a ride, you may want to politely decline. Like the Dominator II, the TIV2 has a customized shell designed for venturing into tornado danger zones. A converted Dodge 3500 truck, it weighs around 8 tons and has hydraulic spikes that can be lowered 3 feet into the ground. Sure, it may look like a Soviet-era armored car, but at least the valet won’t have trouble finding it.

The Twistex Probe

This beauty specializes in monitoring and tracking the conditions around mega thunderstorms. It's packed with computers and storm-tracking instruments. If it doesn't already have DirectTV, the owners should strongly consider it. Another cool dish couldn’t hurt, right?

The Dow6 

We're willing to bet that this baby gets good cell reception and is 4G-capable. The Dow6 serves as both a mobile weather-tracking station and mission command vehicle. It requires nothing short of nine computers to keep everything straight and even comes equipped with a Doppler radar dish. If you were going to drive into a giant hail storm or toward a churning tornado, you could do worse.

Tricked out minivan

OK, this is no Dow6, but it was an entrant in the annual Storm Chaser Car Show. (Yes, there is such a thing.) The show takes place in Norman, Okla., each fall. Professionals and hobbyists from around the country attend to show off their rigs and compete for prizes. This vehicle was an entrant in the student category. Which would be worse, your kid wrecking the family minivan or turning it into a tornado hunter?

Fox 5 Storm Chaser

The FOX affiliate in Atlanta took matters into its own hands by fashioning its very own storm-chasing broadcast vehicle. This gives its weather team a jump on developing storm systems and allows them to roll in high style. (Check out that lightning bolt. Classy.) No word if News Corp Chairman Rupert Murdoch has taken a spin in this bad boy.

NOAA's WP-3D

If a little turbulence gets your heart thumping, then you won't want to fly on the WP-3D. Operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), this plane and another like it fly into hurricanes to gather vital data that weather satellites can't. No word if the crew is entitled to complimentary soft drinks and peanuts.

A-10 Thunderbolt

You may recognize the A-10 Thunderbolt as a ground attack aircraft — or as the Cobra Rattler if you played with G.I. Joe toys in the '80s. In 2011, the National Science Foundation was awarded a grant to refit a retired A-10 so it could fly into mega thunderstorms to gather data. All the weaponry, including the 30mm cannon mounted on front, was replaced with storm-tracking equipment. So if you see it roaring by overhead, remember you don't need to run for cover.

WC-130 Weatherbird

The United States Air Force couldn't possibly be left out of the hurricane-hunting game. This converted C-130 Hercules is capable of flying into hurricanes. Once inside a storm, its instruments and sensors transmit data to the National Hurricane Center. The WC-130 is capable of staying in the air for nearly 18 hours, which would make for a really long, bumpy flight.

What are these storm chasers seeing?

Sure, these trucks and airplanes are equipped to gather important scientific data, but what are they seeing? We've collected a few images — more evidence of why most of us aren't cut out to be storm chasers. 

This photo was taken in June near Goodland, Kansas, during a tour led by Cloud 9 storm chasers. (Yes, you can actually take a storm-chasing tour.) If you're looking for something a little more exciting than your standard bus tour, give them a call. 

Those aren't snowballs, but hailstones encountered during a storm in New Mexico this past June.

Hail fight!

This tornado was spotted during a Cloud 9 tour in May in central Kansas. A normal person would have dropped their camera and started running. This brave soul decided to snap an incredible photo instead.

Some people collect stamps for fun. Others, not so much. For example, a storm chaser in Colorado captured this twister on film. 

This shot of Tropical Storm Lee was taken in September 2011 from a WC-130J hurricane chaser. Pretty, isn't it?