The 5 Chase Modes: Secrets to Picking the Best Storm View

What if you could choose what kind of experience you want while storm chasing – incredible close-ups of the funnel, beautiful storm structure shots, or a safe view – without guessing where to go?

Today, we’re talking about the five modes of tornado chasing: Traditional Chasing, Structure Chasing, Hook Slicing, Notch Chasing, and Close Ranging and how to pick the perfect spot for your next storm chase.

It’s like choosing your seat at movie theater: some like to get the fully immersive experience up front, while others like to stay back and get the full picture. Tornado chasing is the same – some prefer wild experiences near the tornado, like Reed Timmer. Others prefer to get majestic shots of the storm’s full structure. Your position depends on what your chasing goals are.

Many new chasers think they’re stuck with whatever spot they get. The truth? Most of the time, you can choose. It’s usually possible to maneuver around the storm to get the experience you want. You just have to pick the right chase mode.

Each mode has its pros and cons. You have to balance safety, visuals, and stress levels. Pick the wrong one, and you might miss the tornado -- or even risk your life.

The Five Chase Modes

Position 2–5 miles to the right of the tornado’s path.

Pros: Safe distance with some tornado detail visible, less stressful.

Cons: Ground contact or rain-wrapped tornadoes may be obscured, structure less visible, frequent repositioning needed.

Position 5–10 miles downstream of the tornado.

Pros: Stunning photos of the tornado and parent thunderstorm, low stress, minimal movement, ideal for time-lapse.

Cons: Limited tornado motion visible, tornado often obscured, structure not always photogenic.

Position 1–2 miles behind the tornado, often transitional.

Pros: Striking views of front-lit tornadoes from the backside, visibility when others can’t see.

Cons: Some risk of large hail, left-moving tornadoes, stressful.

Position 1–2 miles left of the tornado’s path.

Pros: Best for spotting rain-wrapped tornadoes missed from traditional positions.

Cons: Highly vulnerable to left-moving tornadoes, large hail risk, very stressful.

Position within ½ mile of the tornado.

Pros: Dramatic video of near-surface tornado motion, high funnel detail, rain-wrapped tornadoes visible.

Cons: Extremely dangerous due to unpredictable tornado motion and satellite tornadoes, constant movement, highly stressful.

Choosing the Best Mode

If you’re new to chasing, I’d recommend trying Traditional or Structure Chasing first. Jumping into Notch Chasing or Close Ranging is risky for beginners. Instead, keep 2–10 miles from the storm – and out of the path. You’ll get a solid view, learn plenty, and keep stress manageable.

Here is a 4-step framework to choose the best chasing mode for any storm:

1. Clarify your chasing goal.
2. Assess storm characteristics.
3. Evaluate road options.
4. Select a viable mode that fits your goals and risk tolerance.

1. Clarify Your Chasing Goal

Are you after adrenaline? Maybe an epic photo of a ghostly-white tornado? Or just looking to have a low-stress chase? Your goal determines your mode (e.g., Close Ranging for “insane” video, Structure for images or timelapse, Notch Chasing for rain-wrapped tornadoes).

On your next chase, think through your primary goal (e.g., “I want epic views of the corner flow” or “I want a viral storm photo”). A clear goal ensures you pick the right mode. Here’s a guide for your choices:

Having said that, it is smart to choose a backup goal. As we’ll see, sometimes the road network—or even the storm itself—can keep you from reaching your primary objective.

2. Assess Storm Characteristics

Start by analyzing the storm’s key features. Are rain-wrapped tornadoes likely? Upper-level storm-relative winds can indicate supercell type (e.g., low-precip, classic, or high-precip).

When in doubt, use visual cues. Is the supercell base obscured by rain, or is it clear and visible?

If tornadoes are likely to be rain-wrapped, Traditional or Structure Chasing are the safest approaches. Experienced chasers with a higher risk tolerance might consider Notch Chasing. If the storm is free of rain, all chasing modes are viable options.

Could tornadoes exhibit deviant motion? A new method from Cameron Nixon and John Allen can help predict deviant tornado motion. (I cover these advanced techniques in my full-length course, The Tornado Chaser Transformation.)

If you haven’t forecasted, radar can provide clues. Have radar-confirmed tornadoes formed yet? If so, are they showing deviant motion?

If tornadoes are expected to have highly deviant motion, exercise extreme caution with Hook Slicing, Close Ranging, or Notch Chasing. Left-moving tornadoes are a significant hazard, as tragically shown by the El Reno 2013 tornado, the only known event to cause chaser fatalities.

Once you’ve evaluated these conditions, you’re prepared to examine your road options.

3. Evaluate Road Options

In this step, check the roads along the storm’s path. Are there any spots with no roads, like rivers or forests? Will cities slow you down?  Limited options can make chasing trickier.

Also, think about where the storm is heading. If you pick a certain road, will it take you to a risky part of the storm? If the roads aren’t great, you might want to switch to your secondary chase mode.

But if the storm’s features and roads aren’t causing problems, you can stick with your primary chasing mode.

4. Select a Viable Mode That Fits Your Goals and Risk Tolerance

Every chase modes has its pros and cons. My tip? Pick a mode that fits your goals, risk comfort, and the roads you’ve got to work with.

For instance:

• Say you’re dying to capture video of a tornado’s corner flow. You’re good with higher risk, but there’s no road to get up close. Close Ranging’s a no-go. So, you might want to choose Traditional chasing instead.
• Or maybe you’re chasing that perfect white tornado pic. Clearly, Hook Slicing’s your best bet. But radar is showing a high-precip supercell, so that plan’s looking unlikely. Next best thing might be an incredible structure shot. And high-precip storms tend to deliver on structure. So, you pivot to Structure Chasing.
• Or let’s say you’re desperate to spot a tornado, but the storm’s high-precip and you’re not about risking it all in the “bear’s cage.” Low risk tolerance means you pass on Notch Chasing go for Traditional Chasing.

So, there you have it—a framework for picking the perfect storm chasing mode! Whether you’re after big adrenaline moments or awe-inspiring structure shots, use the four-step framework to match your goals, risk tolerance, and road options. Don’t just wing it—plan ahead and get the chase experience you’re after!