This thrilling documentary series follows a team of
intrepid scientists and filmmakers as they attempt

to pursue twisters in America’s Tornado Alley. In
the last episode of the series, tempers begin to
fray as the storm season winds down. Desperate
to achieve a shot from inside a tornado, Sean
decides to attempt a highly dangerous intercept
without radar guidance.
Every spring, filmmakers and scientists descend
on the Midwest of America to document one of
the most destructive weather patterns on the
planet. Filmmaker Sean Casey has travelled the
world recording nature’s extremes and is
determined to cap his latest film with the holy grail
of storm images – footage from inside the eye of a
tornado. In his quest to obtain this footage, Sean
has joined forces with meteorologist Dr Josh
Wurman and a team of tornado hunters with
state-of-the-art radar equipment.
The storm chasers are approaching the end of
the two-month tornado season and their
exhaustion is beginning to show. Six weeks of
constant travel, living in motels and early starts
have taken their toll. “This is like the fifth day in a
row I think we’ve chased for something,” says
scout team leader Justin Walker. “We’re all just
getting tired.”
The team has tracked 23 tornadoes so far this
season and Josh has gathered reams of useful
scientific data; however, Sean remains without his
prized shot. “The stakes are huge,” he says. “It
doesn’t mean financial ruin for me to not get the
shot, but it means my life is on hold another year.”
Their different objectives are beginning to drive a
wedge between the two team leaders. Sean feels
that Josh’s commitment is waning now he has the
data he needs, and his suspicions appear to be
well founded when the team sets off in pursuit of a
storm and Josh is nowhere to be found. In his
frustration, Sean even considers making a risky
intercept without Josh’s radar guidance. By the
time Josh catches up with the crew, the storm has
dissipated. “I don’t think he’s really with it right
now,” is the most charitable thing Sean can say
about his colleague.
With no promising weather patterns for the next
few days, Josh heads home to visit his family. No
sooner has he gone than Sean gets wind of a
storm forming in the Texas panhandle. The crew
races south, but without the Doppler radar, they
must rely on their eyes to manoeuvre the tank-like
TIV (Tornado Intercept Vehicle) into the storm’s
path. “I realise that without the radar we are taking
a stupid risk,” Sean admits. But once again, the
storm evaporates before they can get close.
Further bad luck strikes when the TIV breaks
down on its way to chase another tornado. The
$3,000 repair bill sucks up a large chunk of
Sean’s budget and forces him to economise –
beginning with accommodation. His assistant,
Byron, is less than thrilled to learn that he will be
sharing not only a hotel room with his boss, but
also a bed.
It is virtually the last day of the season before
the crew hears reports of another promising
storm front. The scout vehicle gets close enough
to drop a probe in the tornado’s path. This device
allows the team to measure the storm’s wind
speed, air pressure and temperature. Josh then
guides the TIV into a spot that should intersect
with the tornado. However, the storm changes
direction at the last moment and misses the TIV
by just 90 metres. Sean is forced to go racing
after it, with an unscheduled stop to take on
petrol along the way. At last the TIV is in the
perfect place – and an astonished Sean cannot
believe his luck when the tornado’s funnel unfurls
directly above his head...