Standing in front of a storm is where I truly feel alive. I am energized and renewed. My soul gathers it’s scattered pieces and I find myself again.

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Sometimes I wonder where my passion for documenting severe weather comes from. Perhaps it was a past life or perhaps it was my dad. I remember how much I enjoyed watching the intense lightning storms with him during my early childhood years in Arizona, before his accident. But that doesn’t explain my drive to document and understand tornadoes.

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Ever since I was about 5 years old, I would have recurring dreams about tornadoes. Dreams in which I was in a strange town, looking for shelter as a tornado was headed my way. I would start to enter the shelter when the tornado would hit. Luckily, I never died in my dreams. Somehow these dreams created a strong desire within to see a tornado in real life. Perhaps it was a way to conquer my fears.

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As I grew older, I continued to feel the pull to experience the power and beauty of Tornado Alley weather. When I was a freshman in high school, I moved to Minnesota to live with my Mother. I’ll never forget that first summer, when the sky turned dark with shades of green. The tornado sirens began to blare. I was mesmerized!!  All I wanted to do was stand out there and find that elusive tornado. Instead, I ended up in the basement as the storm passed, which was the safest option. I wanted more. At the same time, I thought I was strange because none of my friends shared this passion for dangerous weather. We didn’t have the internet and social media yet.

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It was in high school that my passion for photography was born. I took every photo class possible and learned how to shoot with an SLR and develop film and photos in the darkroom. I was so excited to join the yearbook team as one of the photographers. It was thrilling to capture special memories on film. Through the years, I continued to expand my skills and take on a variety of photography jobs.

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When I was 16 years old, my father came to visit 2 weeks before my birthday. I’ll never forget how happy he was and his final words of advice, “You can do anything you want to do! Don’t worry about the money. Follow your heart.”.  Later that week he fell off a horse and hit his head on the asphalt, suffering a traumatic brain injury. He ended up in a coma for 13 years. He could breathe on his own, but he could never open his eyes or communicate. Although, he did come to me in my dreams often, and we would have long conversations. And eventually he came to me in a storm (more on that later).

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I earned a Bachelor of Science degree at Saint Cloud State University, with a double major in Biomedical Science and Chemisty plus additional studies in Meteorology and Photography. During this time, I learned how to forecast all weather, with focus on severe storms. I graduated with highest honors and began my career in Chemistry & Photography and my lifelong pursuit of understanding and capturing tornadoes on film.

As I began working as a Chemist, I also began my real journey as a storm chaser and photographer on the side. My very first real chase was May of 2001 when I had the incredible opportunity to chase with the Doppler On Wheels (DOW) Research team, led by Josh Wurman. Sean Casey was also along on that trip, filming storms for an upcoming IMAX film. It was a dream come true to learn from the best of the best. I gained so much knowledge from listening to their forecast discussions, de-briefings and to see them in action! It was a 4 day chase trip. Finally, at the end of the trip we intercepted a very small, brief “bird fart” tornado at close range. It was thrilling and scary all at the same time! My first instinct was to run into the closest house and get into the basement. LOL!

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As I began working as a Chemist, I also began my real journey as a storm chaser and photographer on the side. My very first real chase was May of 2001 when I had the incredible opportunity to chase with the Doppler On Wheels (DOW) Research team, led by Josh Wurman. Sean Casey was also along on that trip, filming storms for an upcoming IMAX film. It was a dream come true to learn from the best of the best. I gained so much knowledge from listening to their forecast discussions, de-briefings and to see them in action! It was a 4 day chase trip. Finally, at the end of the trip we intercepted a very small, brief “bird fart” tornado at close range. It was thrilling and scary all at the same time! My first instinct was to run into the closest house and get into the basement. LOL!

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Not long after, I attended a Skywarn class hosted by the local National Weather Service, taught by Peggy Willenberg. Peggy and I quickly became good friends and chase partners. We soon became known as the “Twister Sisters”. I grabbed that domain name quickly, learned basic html and built a website. While chasing, Peggy would drive while I took on the role as photographer/ videographer and navigator. After we got together, life became a whirlwind! We intercepted the birth of a tornado about 100 yards away and quickly gained unexpected attention from the media. We were flown to New York the next day to appear on Good Morning America. We were exhausted but it was so exciting and unreal! Over the years we ended up being involved with a a National Geographic Documentary “The Tornado Hunters” and a WE TV Reality Series, “The Twister Sisters”. Peggy and I also helped educate others through many public speaking events, conference presentations and storm tours. We had many incredible adventures over the years and made close friends, including a family that we helped rescue from the basement after a tornado flattened their home.

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The best part about my adventures as “The Twister Sisters” was learning how our work, our show and our presence had inspired other girls and women to follow their passion for weather and storm chasing. I never realized the impact I was having on the World around me by simply following the call of my heart. It was humbling and emotional. I couldn’t ask for anything more from life.

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Going back to my father in the coma…. On June 12th, 2005 I woke up somewhere in Texas, ready to chase. The first words that came out of my mouth were.. “Today we are going to see a wedge tornado and my father is going to die.”  I didn’t think about it, I just said it very matter-of-fact. I couldn’t stop to process those words, as we had to hit the road for a big chase day with the production crew from the National Geographic special and a Minneapolis Star Tribune photographer. Later that day, I was standing on the side of the road near Jayton, TX and a huge tornado formed in the field directly in front of us. Nothing in it’s path but grass and maybe a few trees. As I watched that tornado form, I knew in that moment my father was leaving this existence and crossing the veil to the other side. I felt him there with me. I cried. An hour later I got the call from my brother. After 13 long years in a coma, my father left his body. It happened at the same time we were watching that tornado. My dad came to say Goodbye. And somehow he was part of that storm, that tornado. I love you dad. And I miss you.​​

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Since my adventures as the Twister Sisters, I have continued chasing storms each season, either solo or with storm tour guests. I sell video footage to various news networks and create content for YouTube. I was beyond excited and very honored to have my photograph of a tornado near Ashby, Minnesota licensed for use in the movie cover and poster of "13 Minutes" in 2021. The producer called me their "official photographer". The movie highlights community coming together to help each other, despite their differences, after the traumatizing event of a tornado destroying their town.
 

During all my years of chasing storms, I continued to work full-time as a chemist, part-time photographer and adult foster-care provider. I don’t know how I did it all! In 2010 I expanded my photography business, shooting weddings, portraits and commercial work.

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Over the years I have struggled at times with depression & anxiety, especially when COVID hit. During the pandemic, I worked on my self-care, found a great supportive spiritual community, spent time with a good therapist, and went back to school to learn therapeutic bodywork. I also organized my photography gear and hit the road to find the best storms in Tornado Alley. My depression lifted. I felt alive again! The cleansing winds of a thunderstorm took all my troubles away. 

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During the storm chasing season of 2021 I reached new goals with my storm chasing video and photography. It was a true honor to be awarded "Storm Chaser of the Year" at the National Storm Chaser Summit (2022), and to be recognized for intercepting the most recorded tornadoes in 2021.  

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After 25 years of chasing storms, I have decided it's time to pass on my knowledge, tips and tricks of the trade. Currently I am focusing my energy on helping others interested in weather and storms to learn and follow their passion. I offer mentoring options & private storm chasing tours with a max of 2 guests per trip. I also offer remote and in the field, hands-on mentoring sessions with focus on all things severe weather and storm chasing. Storm Chasing is a dangerous activity. It's very important to learn the science behind the storm as well as how to read the sky and safely navigate a severe weather system. Each session is customized per client, covering a wide range of topics from forecasting severe weather to learning how to use your professional camera and how sell video to media outlets.

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I am also a proud partner of "Girls Who Chase", an initiative founded by Jen Walton. The mission is "to inspire, empower and equip girls & women globally to pursue storms, the sciences and their passions – through the use of media, the creation of accessible education products & services, and by fostering supportive, welcoming community." We host an annual online "Spring Training" event where everyone (all ages and genders) is invited to a full day of learning from a variety of experts in the field of Meteorology and Storm Chasing. 

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I am grateful for everyone I have connected with on my journey and for every moment in this life. Thank you for taking time to read this and learn a little more about my story.

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With Love and Gratitude,

Melanie