TOP 5 Storm Chasing Events of 2021 - Tornado & Hurricane Season Highlights

After traveling thousands of miles in search of severe weather, these are our team's top 5 events from the tornado and hurricane seasons of 2021. Behind-the-scenes stories from several chases are also available on our podcast at www.tornadotrackers.org/podcast or on your favorite podcast app.
Music: Original score by The Tornado Trackers
Top 5 Storm Chasing Days of 2021
#5: Colby, KS Supercell - May 26
#4: Abernathy, TX Tornadoes - March 12 / Granbury, TX Tornado - May 3
#3: Lockett, TX Regional Tornado Outbreak - April 23
#2: Category 4 Hurricane Ida - August 29
#1: Selden, KS Tornado - May 24

[@forwardmotionenthusiast]

I rode out Hurricane Ida in Slidell, LA and it was the scariest thing I've ever experienced. Great footage!

[@cryptonite8495]

I agree with the compliments on the production, though I wish the electronic music was a few decibels lower so I could hear the wind better. When you said "I can hear it," I couldn't.

[@TornadoTrackers]

Great feedback! Thank you! Be sure to check out this playlist for the raw audio versions: kzbin.info/aero/PLO1NuP1tTRXlece9w3X7_ehhruNLR-qgz

[@tb8627]

Turn up your hearing aid kryptonite

[@nancycardenas7257]

Alejandra Gonzalez Bogota Colombia 🇨🇴 ❤

[@nancycardenas7257]

​@@TornadoTrackersAlejandra Gonzalez Bogota Colombia

[@nancycardenas7257]

​@@tb8627Alejandra Gonzalez Bogota Colombia

[@curtpyro1518]

Is anybody else loving this music but think this type of music is perfect for this production

[@TornadoTrackers]

Thanks!

[@nancycardenas7257]

Alejandra Gonzalez Bogota Colombia 🇨🇴 ❤

[@nancycardenas7257]

​@@TornadoTrackersAlejandra Gonzalez Bogota Colombia

[@snaggershane]

Exceptional Job!!!!!!!!!!!! WOW!!!!

[@TornadoTrackers]

Thanks Shane!

[@BangBangBeefyMacNCheesy]

CINEMATOGRAPHY IS ON POINT!!!! That is just amazing footage!!! Main story footage and B-Roll are both equally stunning!

[@TornadoTrackers]

Thanks so much! That means a lot!

[@nancycardenas7257]

Alejandra Gonzalez Bogota Colombia 🇨🇴 ❤

[@nancycardenas7257]

​@@TornadoTrackersAlejandra Gonzalez Bogota Colombia

[@bradleywarner8093]

This was sick! Can't wait for Spring. Also i thought your logo intro was a doritos commercial lol

[@TornadoTrackers]

Haha 😂 Thanks for watching!

[@MikeyJBlakeJR]

Dude's literally in the middle of a hurricane and apologizes for cursing. That's some high-level table manners.

[@donniev8181]

Great video and the music was perfect, I dont care what anyone says, it added suspense and intensity to the weather.

[@keiii8350]

Watching ida through a video brought back all the bad memories of going through it personally and took me for a loop. Houma was wrecked and is finally getting back in it’s feet even though so many still live in tents.

[@Channel-ld9ip]

Well done- expertly filmed and finely edited. Having endured both an F3 tornado on July 19, 2018 and a derecho on August 10th, 2020 in Marshalltown, Iowa, the footage humbly reminded me of their power. And a derecho is indeed an inland hurricane! I especially enjoyed images of mammatus clouds. They are otherworldly in their strangeness.

[@Oshsbaby]

I’m in CB iowa, that 08/10/22 was INSANE, that’s also my birthday! So I remember ut well

[@johnsnow1355]

Storm chasing the best way to self isolate before we were forced into social distance

[@kellidavis7637]

I see why the #1 was #1 that was unbelievable footage, Wow!!

[@scottwillis7559]

Those time-lapse shots were AMAZING! Keep up the good work!!

[@TornadoTrackers]

Thank you! Will do!

[@danielsantana5426]

@@TornadoTrackers por DANIEL DANIEL DANIEL

[@danielsantana5426]

@@TornadoTrackers DANIEL DANIEL DANIEL

[@danielsantana5426]

@@TornadoTrackers DANIEL DANIEL DANIEL

[@danielsantana5426]

@@TornadoTrackers DANIEL DANIEL DANIEL

[@EnderKiller225]

Funny thing about this last year. I was planning to take a few weeks off in May and head out west to see if I could spot anything, but I never got the chance. What I didn’t expect was a brief visit from an EF-1 in my home town! In… December?

[@zoltar2374]

I'm glad I'm apart of the Storm Chasing community.

[@rubikscooter5012]

Watching the tornado morph in a timelapse is absolutely mesmerizing. Really awesome video!

[@peterforister9287]

Remarkable production guys. The footage is of course amazing, and the video production is top notch. Congrats on an awesome year!

[@TornadoTrackers]

Thanks so much, Peter!

[@Joel-S]

I agree Espacily with hurricane Ida

[@danielsantana5426]

@@TornadoTrackers DANIEL DANIEL

[@danielsantana5426]

@@TornadoTrackers DANIEL DANIEL DANIEL

[@danielsantana5426]

@@TornadoTrackers DANIEL DANIEL

[@oleksiychekin6756]

Great work guys! But please, do your best to stay safe!

[@travisnickeystorms]

You all got some amazing footage last year! Spring can’t come soon enough!

[@TornadoTrackers]

Thanks Travis! We can't wait to hit the road again!

[@travisnickeystorms]

@@TornadoTrackers soon enough 🎥

[@taishaford6632]

Beautiful work

[@mayhemfurfeathersfun8553]

Amazing videos! So happy we don’t get these in the UK! We have a slight hurricane and all fall apart lol! Stay safe, excellent channel 😘

[@daniadejonghe4980]

Absolutely beautiful visuals.... really something.

[@TornadoTrackers]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@godisgood1359]

Could tou imagine if there was actually music that appeared when these storms arrived? S C A R Y!

[@Jerzygirl2764]

This whole video is outstanding. #3 is the most beautiful and unique images of tornados ever. And I’m 57!

[@tomvacura1373]

Thank you for putting my truck picture on your cover. That damn sure wasn’t where I should’ve been but wow what a picture!

[@TornadoTrackers]

Is that your yellow semi?! It made for an amazing shot, but we were so nervous for all you truckers! Glad you made it through there ok.

[@chrisnstar]

Great footage and video. I'm a Jansen but the closest I've ever been to a tornado was in central Wisconsin. On a 2 lane highway a tornado touched down right behind our truck. My husband did a heroic job of keeping the truck on the road and driving us away from it. We all were shaking, even the dog!

[@TornadoTrackers]

Whoa! That must have been such a nerve-wracking experience!

[@catherinehubbard1167]

Eerie and beautiful, the funnels and rushing clouds seeming alive. The hurricane looked like a huge tornado core. I thought the music added a lot, especially since there was no screaming. It’s odd to me how people keeping driving into visible tornados.

[@blakebayman1086]

"Brilliant video, guys!😉👍, That's called production film calibre, even the soundtrack was perfect..😊👍🔥I was gripped, crying, and excited the whole way through..it's been awhile since the film "Twister" and "Jurassic park 1", any chance of a big whirlwind for 2022!, Hey? Cool.."💖amazing..keep up the good work, legends.

[@TornadoTrackers]

Thank you for that amazing review! We're glad you enjoyed the film. We'll do our best to get you back in the front row of Mother Nature's show in 2022!

[@swordmonkey6635]

Tornado Chaser: Look at the tornado... it's so beautiful. Let's go chase it." Hurricane: You're adorable, but now I must show you the errors of you ways and witness the full power of this fully armed and operational hurricane!"

[@jamesjennings5487]

I was less than a mile from the lockett, tx tornados. lost my radiator in the hail that followed. What a wild day

[@a.w.3438]

Storm chasing would've been my second career choice or hobby

[@jeremysholl6440]

Awesome video love the tornadoes and the music is perfect all together a bad ass video

[@TornadoTrackers]

Thank you and thanks for watching, Jeremy!

[@jwest142]

I don’t hear anyone screaming “tornado” at the top of their lungs!Amazing footage by the way! Thanks for sharing.

[@TornadoTrackers]

Haha we make a conscious effort to not scream too much (although it does happens sometimes). Thanks for watching!

[@moskitouu]

I think your #2 should’ve been your #1

[@SeeNaturesFury]

What a gorgeous video this is! Well edited, great soundtrack and minimal commentary. Perfectly conveys the romance of chasing and the majesty of storms!!

[@TornadoTrackers]

Thanks for watching! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@abdulshukoor]

Hurricanes are much more devastating than a tornado.

[@tshaffer9681]

WOW.!!! THIS IS FANTASTIC.!!! EVERY THING IS AWESOME RIGHT DOWN TO THE MUSIC. I WANTED TO BE A STORM CHASER. TO ME THE WILDER THEY ARE THE BETTER THEY ARE. MOTHER NATURE'S FURY. THANK YOU FOR SHARING. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOURS STAY SAFE ALWAYS.

[@TravelsChases]

Wow!!!!! Lockett was amazing!!!

[@TornadoTrackers]

It really was!

[@happyfaic72]

Dude. The footage is amazing, and the music is even better. In love with this video! Is there more from where that drone shot in the intro came?

[@TornadoTrackers]

Thanks!! There wasn’t too much drone footage this year. We’re hoping to get it up a lot more in 2022. Glad you’re digging the music! It was produced by our team. You can listen to some of the tracks here: soundcloud.app.goo.gl/AE6WUkd8ciprvDDu5

[@AndrewPritchard]

Incredible as always.

[@TornadoTrackers]

Thanks for watching, Andrew!!

[@VictorAlbaa]

that was top quality production. Amazing piece of work

[@TornadoTrackers]

Much appreciated!

[@OriginalRaveParty]

Some very impressive footage.

[@TornadoTrackers]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@quik1515]

Great work as always! That Seldon tornado was a very fun chase for me

[@TornadoTrackers]

Glad you got to experience that event! It was pretty wild!

[@mallenfuentes1749]

And it was a nerve shocking experience

[@bvhamster]

I am from Houma and many believe is was stronger than a category 4. Lots of local boat workers had gotten readings of 180mph substained winds with 200+mph gust

[@TornadoTrackers]

Wow! We wouldn't be surprised. It was officially just barely below Cat5 strength at landfall, so it wouldn't have taken too much to push it over Cat4.

[@Joel-S]

You guys made my day! thanks love your vids!

[@markwalker2986]

Wow! I live in the UK 🇬🇧 and we do have storms and a bad weather but I so wish I could go storm chasing in the US 🇺🇸 that would be amazing. Great video and music which adds to the tension excitement.

[@TornadoTrackers]

Thanks Mark! Hopefully you get your chance to chase in the US some day.

[@markwalker2986]

@@TornadoTrackers that would be amazing.

[@TheTaintedTragedy]

After recently losing my house to an E3 tornado in Kentucky I have to say they are beautiful, like I watched the sky go from green to a beautiful vibrant purple but by God once you've been through it, its a huge realization of how scary it is sounds from peaceful silence to loud af, the destruction it leaves, how fast they take everything in seconds plus all the anxiety afterwards. You never here a tornado siren the same again. Gosh, how scary it must be to chase them.

[@TornadoTrackers]

So sorry to hear about your home. That must have been an absolutely terrifying experience. We’re glad to know you made it through safely!

[@TheTaintedTragedy]

@@TornadoTrackers Oh very much so. Definitely not an experience I want to ever go through again. I'm glad we made it safe as well along with many others. The community really comes together during these events.

[@TornadoTrackers]

@@TheTaintedTragedy That's a consistent silver lining to natural disasters: the community coming together. It's amazing to see neighbors rally together every time. It's a really beautiful sight to see in an otherwise awful situation.

[@11BravoMike]

The driver of the rig wanted to get flipped over, obviously. Beautiful video guys.🍿😯🥤

[@TornadoTrackers]

He was carrying produce. Everyone that stopped to check on him got free watermelon 😆

[@11BravoMike]

@@TornadoTrackers OMG that makes it even funnier! Glad he was OK.

[@rossrichardson7032]

Cool storm

[@antoniadasek9962]

As a European that has never seen a tornado, I really don’t get drivers who are frantically driving in the directon of the tornado. Especially truck drivers… seems like common sense to not drive right next to a tornado 🤔 10/10 production quality

[@SuddenDarkness2]

So good!!

[@TornadoTrackers]

Thank you!

[@alef962011]

Awesome video

[@TornadoTrackers]

Thanks!

[@pieandpep9136]

damm tornados look really cool

[@craigweaver5671]

beautiful time laspses

[@insideoutside9946]

Simply crazy guys, just crazy, just to know how can man create machines and even mechastructures but not able to control or make a F1 tornado, kinda ironic lol, but nature is astounding and completely incredible, visuals, color, you know what??, everything is awesome!! P.S: sounds crazy but I loved the first theme of the video, could you tell me what is the name??, that would be humbling and more than honored, thanks guys, stormy skies lol!

[@TornadoTrackers]

Thanks for the kind words! All the music in the video is orignal and created by our team. You can listen to the first track here: soundcloud.com/gabe-cox/approaching-the-storm?

[@anthonymorano5875]

Amazing Work!

[@TornadoTrackers]

Thanks so much, Anthony!

[@RickyRyanRay]

I personally love the music! I love that you’ve created an eerie ambiance with the footage and music choices. Very artistic and creative. I hope to capture tornados one day.

[@TornadoTrackers]

Thanks so much, Ricky! Hope you get your tornado someday soon!

[@r3ddp1l]

agree, big atmo, wonderful to watch

[@FrenchToastMan585]

Stranger Things vibes for real !

[@lilblackduc7312]

@@TornadoTrackers ..At 6:52, you say, "Wow, I can hear it". All I can hear is the damn Donna Summer music! Give me a break on the 'Disco Tornado', OK?!?!

[@nancycardenas7257]

Alejandra Gonzalez Bogota Colombia 🇨🇴 ❤

[@Michellethompson5231]

I like to think that I do a pretty good job chasing severe weather from my upstairs windows!!

[@delta049]

There were some truck drivers with damn tight schedules in Selden... hope they're all okay

[@CaptFomo]

Nicely done!!

[@Ethcon1]

This was fantastic!

[@TornadoTrackers]

Thanks Ethan!

[@carlitabonita]

The #5 Supercell is beautiful yet terrifying. I've never seen anything like that in person, but honestly it's mesmerizing. The tornados 🌪 were even beautiful. Your videography is absolutely stunning! 💯

[@TornadoTrackers]

That supercell was amazing to see in person. It felt like we were about to be abducted by aliens! 👽 🛸

[@SaadNabil]

New subscriber.

[@amilcarvalenca3381]

Good work guys.

[@TornadoTrackers]

Thank you!

[@Darksagan]

Great footage.

[@TornadoTrackers]

Thanks you!

[@heatherstub]

Please forgive me for asking, but were you not wearing your seatbelt during some of this footage? If so, please set a better example for us all by doing so. I'm asking, because I'm totally blind, and I hear that binging sound from the car, so it seems evident. Thank you so much for tracking these storms for us all, and stay safe out there.

[@dcshipps]

Amazing work guys. Did you also do the music?

[@TornadoTrackers]

Thank you! Yes, we created the sound track for the video.

[@kyleroberts3439]

Hello from Wales, UK. I found your guys podcast less than a week ago....and its fantastic...love all your backstories as to how you got into chasing and how you met, love the podcast and even better to see footage that goes with them, keep up the amazing work 🙂

[@TornadoTrackers]

Thanks for listening, Kyle! Glad to have you as part of the Tracker family.

[@mikemaby5497]

Cheers for this. 🤟

[@charliegillenwater8343]

This would have to be the most epic job ever what a rush

[@Rhodanide]

The music is what really did it for me. Is it on Spotify? I'd love it if it was!

[@TornadoTrackers]

Thanks! Those are original tracks made by our team. You can play several of them here: soundcloud.app.goo.gl/5zzxYufdEvXy8KrY6

[@Rhodanide]

@@TornadoTrackers Awesome, thanks! I love what your team does. Don't get much of anything up here in Maine besides the occasional blizzard, so you guys have really scratched my severe weather itch, so to speak. What program do you use to edit?

[@TornadoTrackers]

@@Rhodanide Oh I can 100% relate! I (Gabe) grew up in Maine. It was my childhood dream to move to Texas and chase storms, and somehow it all worked out. We use Premiere Pro to edit our videos.

[@Rhodanide]

@@TornadoTrackers Oh no way! What part? I grew up in Cape Elizabeth. I use premiere pro as well for my projects. Storm chasing was that little desire in the back of my head that got pushed down with the other responsibilities in my life, so sadly it never bore fruit. Seeing a tornado up close is definitely on my bucket list, near the top too.

[@TornadoTrackers]

@@Rhodanide I hear ya. I was on track to making film my career, because it was more responsible. But a weak tornado hit my office after I moved to Florida ( kzbin.info/www/bejne/pJzGdIyVos-cZ5I ) and brought all the dreams rushing back. I used film as my gateway into chasing. I grew up just outside of Lewiston in the town of Sabattus. Spent summers outside watching storms roll in and even rode out a few blizzards in Cape Elizabeth!

[@chronically.advocating]

Honestly I love the footage, but would much rather hear the as it happens narration and the sound ambiance of the storms than the background music. JMO though.

[@carljohnson3348]

The intro music gives me twister vibes (from the movie)

[@Eurobunneh]

Brilliant stuff. Utterly fascinates me and I’d love to see one in real life one day.

[@Joel-S]

was lockett a supercell

[@TornadoTrackers]

Yes it was! And a beast of a supercell too. That single storm produced at least 5 tornadoes.

[@Joel-S]

@@TornadoTrackers It's pretty impresive how 1 tornado can preduce more than 10 tornadoes.

[@KimberlyResaMD]

I feel like this is a movie but much better, and much more direct for dramatic effect - and incredibly scary!! I run for cover when we get hail the size of golf balls....over the years our 'typical sized hail' has gone from ice chips to huge (kill your car, grass, canopy over your patio, your head, etc) hail "bombs".

[@TornadoTrackers]

Oof yeah… Hail is no joke! We managed to mostly avoid it in 2021, but we’ve had some encounters with softball sized hail in previous years that our windshields did not enjoy 😬 Thanks for watching our video!

[@ermesborgnino4704]

Incredible music!! Hats off.

[@TornadoTrackers]

Thank you!

[@chantalemartinnaturalandme8]

Wow! Impressive!

[@TornadoTrackers]

Thanks!

[@beccasmithers2672]

Ooh huge funnel cloud. I'd be high tailing it outta there!

[@rosineterocha8797]

Deixa agente sem fôlego, muito bom seu vídeo , parabéns

[@Carrot-BOT]

really nice footage ! 👍 greetings from germany

[@TornadoTrackers]

Guten Tag! Thank you for watching!

[@kellydemelo9728]

Did anyone else see the random UFO fly in to also enjoy seeing the Tornado at the 13:47 mark lol??

[@lindawright878]

yes I was about to comment on it..

[@randomniceplays]

Last clip wasinsane! Wow!

[@TornadoTrackers]

The Selden, KS tornado is one of the wildest chases we've ever had!

[@tammypace7732]

The videos are so Beautiful... Been through everything except a tornado_ but had a few 3 to mikes away from me(.. Was wanting to to a storm chaser b q co in 1998..But had my daughter.. The video is Amazing by the way.. Hope you all are safe.. Just a bit jealous:)

[@TornadoTrackers]

Thanks for watching, Tammy! Hope you get to see one (safely) in person some day!

[@kimgreen7105]

Did you see the ufo fly into the twister

[@TornadoTrackers]

🛸 👀

[@Ferify77]

I know they are not a good thing to have but I would love to see a tornado!

[@4444brock]

Music was driving me crazy. Ended up turning the volume off.

[@TornadoTrackers]

Some people love it, some people hate it. Fortunately for the people who hate it, we have all our raw footage available to watch in our 2021 Playlist (just skip the Top 5 video). No music, just storm sounds and the occasional comment from the team :) kzbin.info/aero/PLO1NuP1tTRXlece9w3X7_ehhruNLR-qgz

[@JamesBurch93]

hey abernathy made top 5 nice!

[@TornadoTrackers]

Sure did! Hard to beat seeing two tornadoes during the year's very first chase day.

[@marciamccoy761]

So fascinating! Wish you would leave out background music tho so we could hear the actual sounds of the storms better. Stay safe!

[@TornadoTrackers]

We do have all our raw footage available to watch in our 2021 Playlist (just skip the Top 5 video). No music, just storm sounds and the occasional comment from the team :) kzbin.info/aero/PLO1NuP1tTRXlece9w3X7_ehhruNLR-qgz

[@fitfogey]

Yeah or just back the sound level of the bass chords down some but…their channel their choice. I do agree with you though.

[@TornadoTrackers]

@@fitfogey We're taking note of the *constructive* feedback we get. Thanks for being civil with your critiques! We're listening!

[@fitfogey]

@@TornadoTrackers You’re welcome. I do like the groove track just maybe a little lower. Great content regardless!

[@heatherbeavers6098]

Wh at is coming down from the clouds on the left at 13:47 frame?

[@leonoraarocho658]

Fun Fact: A tropical depression can be stopped with your voice's sound waves. No, like, seriously. That's how weak it is. Putting your hand in a 3 foot tall tropical depression makes it fall apart in a second.

[@Aco747lyte]

Excellent, well-edited footage in gloriously sharp 4K makes for 1st Class video filming! May I suggest that you contact Dr. Anton Seimon for extremely useful information on his Tornado and Severe Thunderstorm Research? This could enhance your knowledge and understanding of these tornadoes and severe electrical storms for your channel. I am most grateful for finding you. Many thanks! ~Wendi UK 🌻

[@brookelofton2832]

Wow 😲😳 Bless you

[@hhairball9]

9:17 that is so beautiful! And terrifying! Add 10:54 to that comment, also!

[@Shiny39]

Hey how can I be a storm chaser. Love your videos and the work storm chasers out and I was in Mayfield Kentucky when they got hit by a tornado

[@TornadoTrackers]

Thank for watching, Daniel. Before hitting the road, the first steps into storm chasing are learning to forecast, learning to identify different parts of storms, and (the best intro) attending a Storm Spotter training course. Every local National Weather Service office hosts these trainings at least once a year. I think most are online right now because of the pandemic, but you should be able to find a link and get the basic knowledge down. Once you have those down you can start to venture out and observe from a distance. The more experience you get, the more you'll know when it's safe to get a bit closer. The biggest thing is to be patient. Storm chasing is 80% driving, 19% waiting, and 1% actually chasing storms.

[@HellcatMad]

I appreciate no loud screaming and not too much talking. Music level is fine. I consider myself to be pretty ballsy. Grew up in the panhandle and Abilene area. Rode cuttin horses that hated females, motorcycles, had plenty of good old fashioned fights, even a few boys, even went to prison and had a few fights there, BUT I cannot say I would chase storms. BTW I [only got tagged in the eye in 1 fight which was a sucker punch I always won the fights🤣 but chasing tornadoes NOPE

[@Rodzilla5332]

If only we could hear anything except 90’s vampire video game music it would be a great production.

[@TornadoTrackers]

This is the best compliment we've gotten yet!

[@hendrikbreed7253]

Whatever happened to Pecos Hank?

[@nijiasheng711]

The BGM sounds like Dying Light’s soundtrack haha, extremely fitted with the tension of tornado formation and passage.

[@TornadoTrackers]

Thanks!

[@Tony.L9793]

i wonder if these strong tornadoes or huricanes have the power to overturn a heavy tank

[@TornadoTrackers]

A strong tornado definitely could. They can toss loaded train cars, which is probably about the same weight.