Do Storm Chasers Need a License in Texas?

You may soon need a license to be a storm chaser in Oklahoma, but what about Texas? This time of year, amateur and professional weather enthusiasts flock to this part of the country in hopes of witnessing a tornado first-hand. My advice to those folks would be to be careful what you wish for – with heavy emphasis on being careful. 

I need to make it clear that I’m all for storm chasing. Countless lives have been saved by those who are willing to risk it. But even experienced storm chasers can quickly find themselves in a jam. In 2013, three veteran storm chasers were killed in the EF3 tornado that tore through the Oklahoma City suburb of El Reno. 

LOOK: First-Person Video of Driving Into Tornado in Valley View, Texas

The thing about Texans is that many of us go outside and take a look the moment the tornado sirens go off. I’ll admit that I’m guilty as charged. As a young boy, I witnessed the tornado that struck my hometown of Vernon, Texas, on April 10, 1979 (aka Terrible Tuesday). The image of that black churning cloud and the blood-red sky behind it is burned into my memory. 

Witnessing one tornado is enough for me, so I’ve never had the desire to be a storm chaser. But for those who are willing to brave it, you can chase storms to your heart’s desire without a license in Texas.

NEXT: Watch Frightening Footage of 1999 Bridge Creek-Moore, Oklahoma Tornado

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