Williams and students with Virginia Tech’s meteorology program are taking part in a 10-day expedition to see the atmosphere in action, understand the science behind severe weather, and learn what it truly takes to chase storms — safely.
The memorable 2024 chase started with a bang on “day 0″ in all places - Louisiana. The team found themselves in a tornado warning with up to 70 mph winds as severe storms developed and rolled through the southwestern part of Louisiana. From there, it was on to the Great Plains.
First Alert Meteorologist Isaac Williams, along with Dr. Barrett Gutter, took a field course of 8 students from Mississippi State University crisscrossing the Great Plains in May 2023. It was an opportunity for students to take what they learned in the classroom and apply it to the real-world of meteorology.
The chase then turned toward Michigan, where conditions began to align. What happened next would become one of the most significant observations of the entire trip: the team witnessed an EF-3 tornado in Gaylord, Michigan.
VIDEO
Students recall favorite moments for First Alert Storm Chase on last day
