Arrival Day – Sunday, May 3, 2026
Orientation Day – Sunday, May 3
- I’m so excited for another storm chasing tour! Today was orientation day, where we got to meet each other, talk about safety, and start planning our next few days.
- Dinner – San Marcos Mexican Restaurant in OKC.
- Tomorrow, there might be some storms brewing in southern Oklahoma. We’re planning to head that way bright and early tomorrow morning.
Day 1- Monday, May 4: Busted Chase Day
- Lunch: Smokin’ Joe’s and Arbuckle Mountain Fried Pies
- We are off to Marlow, Oklahoma, hoping the storms there will bring some action, but unfortunately, nothing came through, therefore it was a busted chase day!
- Dinner: Jimmy John’s in Ada, Oklahoma
- We made our way to McAlester, Oklahoma, to spend the night and get ready for the storms in (Most likely) Arkansas tomorrow.
- Lodging: AmericInn in McAlester, Oklahoma
- It looks like tomorrow might have a better chance of severe weather than today.
Day 2 – Tuesday, May 5: Another Busted Chase Day
- Lunch: McAlester’s in Fort Smith, Arkansas
- We decided to hang out in the Clarksville, Arkansas area, hoping for some severe storms to roll in. Sadly, the skies were too cloudy for any to form any good decent ones.
- While we waited, we got to see at a tornado probe up close and learn how it works with a group called “Outlaw Chasers.” A tornado probe is a special gadget that captures video and data from inside a tornado. They have to be placed in the path of a tornado to gather all that valuable information.
- Dinner: Wendy’s in Brinkley, Arkansas
- Lodging: Hollywood Casino & Hotel Tunica in Tunica, Mississippi
- This is my first time visiting Mississippi!
- Tomorrow, we’re planning to head south toward Jackson, Mississippi for potential severe storms there.
Day 3 – Wednesday, May 6: Chase Day…In Dixie Alley!
- Today was the best day so far in terms of storm chasing. Dixie Alley, located in the Southeast US, is a challenging area to chase due to limited visibility and poor road network. The region is densely populated with trees and hills, which often obstruct our view. I usually avoid tours 1 and 2 because typically those tours end up in the southeast US, but the weather had other plans! This would be my first time chasing storms in the Southeast US with Extreme Tornado Tours!
- We were fortunate enough to witness a large tornado moving through the Brookhaven, Mississippi area. Although we managed to see the circulation in certain areas, the trees blocked our view. Unfortunately, this tornado caused significant damage to homes in the area. You may be able to find damage footage on social media.
- Our tour guides went above and beyond to ensure that we had the best possible view of the storm, despite the numerous obstacles we faced.
- The weather was so intense that we had to make quick pit stops for lunch and dinner.
- Lodging: Best Western in Natchez, Mississippi.
- Enjoy this YouTube Short of yesterday’s storms: https://youtube.com/shorts/aBC0772Yo-4
- Also, check out a nearby lightning strike and watch as we scramble to get back in the van: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r13F0aX3AOY
WordPress changed formatting, so posts may look a little different.
Day 4 – Thursday, May 7: Travel Day
- Today, we drove from Mississippi, through Louisiana, and are currently in Texas.
- Lunch: Trapp’s in Monroe, Louisiana
- Dinner: Papacita’s Mexican Restaurant
- Tonight, we got to see a beautiful sunset before he headed to dinner.
- Lodging: Candlewood Suites in Longview, Texas
- Tomorrow, our focus is getting back to Oklahoma for more potential storms in that area.
Day 5 – Friday, May 8: Chase Day
- Lunch: Buc-ee’s in Denton, Texas! I finally made it back to the world’s greatest gas station.
- We’re back in Oklahoma, and the terrain is much better for chasing storms. We spotted a high-base supercell in the El Reno, Yukon area, producing nickel to quarter-sized hail.
- Check out these YouTube Shorts of all the action:
- Dinner: Ballers Bar and Grill in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
- We spent the night in Oklahoma City.
Day 6 – Saturday, May 9: Activity and Chase Day
- We began our journey in El Reno, Oklahoma, where we visited the memorial dedicated to the Twistex storm chasing team who tragically lost their lives in the devastating tornado that struck the area on May 31, 2013. The El Reno tornado stands as the largest tornado ever recorded, with a staggering width of 2.6 miles. Its unpredictable and rapid movement caught many storm chasers off guard. The tornado initially moved southeast, then east, rapidly expanding in size, before finally shifting northeast. This multi-vortex tornado left an indelible mark on the hearts of those who witnessed it.
- Lunch: Sid’s Diner in El Reno, Oklahoma.
- We made our way to Altus, Oklahoma, where we saw the first signs of storms brewing. From there, we drove south into Texas and then back north into Oklahoma, where the storms became more spectacular especially with the sunset in the background. I also captured a ton of lightning pics!
- Dinner in Hinton, Oklahoma
Day 7 – Sunday, May 10: Activity Day
- Lunch in Enid, Oklahoma
- As we approached the town of Enid, we were able to see the damage path of the EF4 tornado that went through the south side of town a few weeks ago. Thankfully there were no reported fatalities.
- Today is a truly special day! It’s the 30th anniversary of the release of the movie Twister. We had the pleasure of visiting the Twister Museum in Wakita, Oklahoma. The museum is dedicated to preserving the history and memorabilia from the movie. The town played a significant role in filming the scene where they visited Jo’s Aunt Meg and enjoyed a meal at her house. They also used the town to create a scene where it looks as if a tornado destroyed it, including Aunt Meg’s house. The debris was brought into the town to make it very realistic without using any CGI. This museum continues to keep alive the memories and props used during filming. It’s definitely worth a visit! Being there on the anniversary date was truly special. The town will be celebrating the anniversary on May 15th and 16th.
- Dinner: Pub W in Edmond, Oklahoma
Day 8 – Monday, May 11: Activity Day
- Mount Scott and Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge
- Dinner: The owner of Extreme Tornado Tours cooked for us at Lake Lawtonka. Absolutely delicious tacos! Plus, we got to enjoy the beautiful sunset!
Day 9- Tuesday, May 12: Activity Day & Final Day
- Visited Pop’s on Route 66 in Arcadia, Oklahoma. They sell unique soda flavors from around the world including a section called “Sodagusting” where the soda flavors are literally disgusting.
- Visit to the Cowboy Museum in OKC
Recap: What an amazing storm chasing adventure! Over the course of 9 days, I had an absolute blast exploring new states, witnessing incredible weather, and meeting some amazing people along the way. From the excitement of orientation and the anticipation of those early chase days to finally seeing powerful storms and even a large tornado in Mississippi, each day was a new experience. I loved sharing meals, exploring small towns, and visiting unique spots like the Twister Museum and the Wichita Mountains. Most importantly, I’m so grateful for our guides Nick, Trey, Adri, Andrew, and Justin, who worked tirelessly to keep us safe and make sure we got the best views possible. This trip was both thrilling and heartwarming, and I can’t wait to do it all again!
Dom Turner's Nature Photography 