Extreme Tornado Tours

Name: Christoffer Björkwall
Tour: Tour 2
Year: 2023
Blogged about the tour: Read more

General review

The weather setup for this tour was not very good, we had the infamous Omega Block against us for the 6 days of the tour. Still, ETT tour guides managed to get the best out of what was available within reach for us during those days: a few supercells, giant hail, some amazing lightning shows and a supercell with a massive wall cloud that was very close to produce a tornado. Everything, from booking the tour to the goodbyes felt professional, clear, and safe. It is obvious ETT has been running tours for many years! I have been chasing with a majority of the tour companies in the market and ETT is definitely a top tier tour company. That shows, when you have very little weather to play with - and the tour guests are still content all of the time. Read my blog review for some more detail.

Tour guide review

I was in the same van all the time, so my tour guides were Trey and Alec. Nick was not on this particular tour. It should be noted that ETT has the youngest tour guides I have chased with, but there is nothing wrong with their experience (with hundreds of bagged tornadoes in their CV). They were knowledgeable, decisive and took good decisions every day, to the best of my knowledge.

Vehicle review

ETT runs the same Ford vans as every other larger tour companies I have been on. They are not bad, but they are not super comfortable either. It just is what it is.
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Name: Tim George
Tour: Anticipated Velocity Voyage Tour (Tour 4)
Year: 2023

General review

Although a relatively quite week this year on the storm front, there were some great storms around NM and TX that ETT hunted down, despite nothing outrageous forecasted. We did however see at least 1/2 dozen magical supercells, fierce hail storms and even some tornados on a low risk last day of chasing. Don't waste your money elsewhere, go with experience and quality rather than cheap and nasty, put your trust in Extreme Tornado Tours for your next adventure!

Tour guide review

3rd tour with Extreme Tornado Tours coming all the way from Australia. I wouldn't go with any other company, Nick and the team at ETT are professionals on and off the field. From the comfort of their vehicles to the choice of hotels to the restaurant choices they make, all of these factors contribute to the professionalism these guys show on tour.

Vehicle review

Vehicles used by ETT are comfortable, spacious and not overcrowded, choice of seats, USB ports for guests to use, air con, safe, kept clean and maintained regularly. I can't fault their vehicles and a more than happy to spend 8hrs a day in them if need be.
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Name: Meghan P
Tour: Anticipated Velocity Voyage Tour (Tour 4)
Year: 2023

General review

This is my second trip with ETT, as I previously chased with Tour 1 in 2022. I didn't think that it could get much better than last year's experience, until I went on Tour 6 in 2023. This trip was especially memorable because we saw a tornado on the very first chase day (near Higgins, TX), which set everyone's mood at an all-time high. Time and time again, the guides worked hard to find interesting weather events for us to experience. I truly loved seeing a massive mothership supercell near Springfield, CO and a crazy hail storm near Chugwater, WY. Go with an open mind, and try to see the beauty in all things! It isn't just about the tornadoes - you will experience some of the most beautiful (and remote) parts of the US. You will also make new friends on the tour, and our group has grown exceptionally close over the last few weeks. Please be advised that this is not meant to be a fancy tour with fine dining and 5-star accommodations every night. That is NOT what chasing is about, nor should it be. If that is what you are expecting, then be sure to manage your own expectations for the tour. Many of the places that you will chase are in rural areas with limited hotel options. There were only two hotels out of eight chase days/nights that I found to be subpar; the other hotels, such as the Candlewood Suites and the Best Western Premier, were excellent! As for the food options, the guides do a great job finding 'hidden gems' - with that said, if you are in chase mode or if it is late at night then your options may be limited. I would plan to pack a few snacks to hold you over in the event that you are chasing a storm with no time to stop and eat a sit down meal. The guides will definitely stop for bathroom breaks at gas stations where you can grab food and drinks. For down days (non-chase days) you may end up at a Wal-Mart or grocery store where you can stock up on essentials. You will also get to visit some interesting places when there are not any storms to chase. For example, our group went to Lookout Mountain in Golden, CO; the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial; followed the Yellow Brick Road to Dorothy's house in Liberal, KS; and paid our respects to Tim, Carl and Paul at the Twistex Memorial in El Reno, OK.

Tour guide review

Here is my review for the individual ETT guides, collectively known as "The Dream Team" of storm chasing: Trey (Lead ETT Meteorologist): Trey quickly recognized my passion for the weather, and let me tell you - he is a fabulous teacher! With Trey's guidance and expertise, I was excited to apply concepts that I learned in my meteorology program to what I was actually observing out in the field. He skillfully gaged each person's level of knowledge about the weather, and patiently explained what was happening in a way that inexperienced guests could understand. Trey is a thoughtful, strategic master of his tradecraft, flawlessly blending his experience in academia with his love for storm chasing to make accurate assessments regarding the best locations to observe severe weather. He is most definitely 'The Weather Whisperer!' Max: An accomplished documentarian and exceptional storyteller, Max eagerly shared his extensive experience as a storm chaser with ETT guests. Seeing his enthusiasm when we witnessed an amazing mothership supercell with near perfect structure was inspiring, and in that moment, you could truly see the passion that he has for storm chasing. Let me just say that I have never ever seen someone drive a white van like Max. He can NAVIGATE IT ALL, but his specialty is most definitely driving through a hailstorm at night with a cracked windshield and one operational wiper. He knows how to keep it 'between the lines' while staying cool, calm and collected...always ensuring that guest safety is the #1 priority! Max is a lean mean driving machine, and an absolute delight to have as a travel partner for over 3000 miles across 5 different states!! Stephen: There are no words to capture the amazingness of Stephen. He immediately makes everyone feel comfortable with his wonderful sense of humor and amicable nature. During the tour, he demonstrated his talent as a navigator, helping the team make split second decisions during a chase to ensure that guests are safe and still have a great view of approaching storms. Stephen's enthusiasm and positivity transferred to the guests, as well as his fellow guides. He is clearly the life of the party, sharing endless stories about his adventures as a member of the chasing community. Ask Stephen about photography, roller coasters or his most memorable weather experiences and you will be happy that you did! Ben: As the king of zingers with his dry sense of humor and chill demeanor, Ben is definitely the person that you want on your team when s*** gets real. He is the calm within a storm, no doubt stemming from his career as a firefighter and first responder. He is the strong, silent type and knows exactly when to provide input and when it is best to listen or observe. Ben has experienced both the exhilarating and the dark side of chasing, which gives him a unique perspective on severe weather. He is an excellent photographer, well-respected guide, huge asset to the ETT team...and an amazing human.

Vehicle review

The vehicles were in good working order, and were well-maintained. There was plenty of room for guests, as ETT does not cram too many people into the vans (2 guides and 6 guests max). There are also chargers in the vans, and a cooler is kept in the back with drinks at all times. The only way to possibly improve upon the vans (in the future) would be captains chairs (or installation of head rests) - but it is definitely not a deal breaker.
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Name: Extreme Weather
Tour: Anticipated Velocity Voyage Tour (Tour 4)
Year: 2022
Blogged about the tour: Read more

General review

Five star review! It really felt like our guides were out storm chasing and jus let us tag along. We have not had two good chase days, but saw an excellent tornado on one of them. Our guides did an great job of briefing us on the weather and the possibilities. On the day of the tornado, we ended up driving nearly 600 miles but we were in exactly the right spot at the right time. On off days, our guides took us to different national parks. We are at several excellent restaurants and at a number of fast food restaurants when we were in a rush. I would highly recommend ETT. My one caveat is that this tour is for people who love extreme weather. When there was a possibility of a good storm, we would chase it until we were sure it was gone. Several nights we were out until quite late. This is exactly what we wanted.

Tour guide review

Our four guides (Alec, Trey, Kevin, and Max) we’re all very friendly and accommodating. My son was very much into the weather and they did well working with him. I am a bit of a weather noob and they were good at explaining things to me.

Vehicle review

The vans were fine. Plenty of outlets. Plenty of water. We put in around 3000 miles in one week and we’re comfortable enough.
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Name: Judy
Tour: Anticipated Velocity Voyage Tour (Tour 4)
Year: 2022
Blogged about the tour: Read more

General review

The organisation was extremely professional, particularly the pre-tour information. All accommodation bookings went smoothly, and vehicles performed perfectly.

Tour guide review

All the guides gave the fullest information regarding weather prospects, and answered all our questions willinlye st ly. (willingly)

Vehicle review

. Perfect
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Name: Kenzie
Tour: Anticipated Velocity Voyage Tour (Tour 4)
Year: 2022

General review

This tour was one of the most memorable and exciting trips I’ve ever been on! This tour company knew right where to be to see the best storms. The whole crew was extremely knowledgeable, caring, accommodating, and compassionate! Extremely professional! The vans were comfortable with plenty of space! Would 110% recommend them to anyone! I will be back touring with them again someday!

Tour guide review

Best tour guides there is! Nick, Ashleigh, Alec and Kevin are amazing at what they do and are very knowledgeable. Even though we didn’t see a tornado touch down the storms they brought us to were unbelievable.

Vehicle review

The vans were very comfortable, spacious and clean. The only thing lacking was a cup holder for your drink.
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Name: Matt H
Tour: Northern Cyclone Trek Tour (Tour 7)
Year: 2022

General review

This was an awesome tour with an awesome tour group and awesome guides. The week's outlook wasn't looking that great, but they still managed to find us some great storms to chase, and even a tornado as luck would have it. On the days where there was nothing to chase, they did great with finding us cool things to do and places to visit, ranging from national attractions like Mt Rushmore and Badlands National Park to more local places like Carhenge and Chimney Rock. Hotels were overall pretty good, taking into account the lack of availability around and prices these days (thanks to Trey for being the self-described hotel snob and helping keep us in nice places). The arguably worst place we were in was a Motel 6 because nothing else was available, but it was actually a pretty nice Motel 6. Just would recommend to avoid hotels right across the street from train tracks next time (like that one in Thedford). Restaurant choice was overall great too - some very very nice restaurant choices and a minimum of fast-food stops except when we needed to be quick. Even if we sometimes didn't get in til late, usually the tour days started fairly late at 10 or 11am (even noon, once), so there was no need to stress out about getting up early. Overall, it was a great tour and I got to meet some great people, take a lot of great pictures, and make a lot of great memories. Definitely thinking to come back, maybe in 2024 (2023 tours are already fully booked, that's how in-demand these guys are). Even if we had gotten no storms at all, I think it would have been a pretty fun week-long getaway through the northern plains.

Tour guide review

Alec, Kevin, Trey, and Max were great guides They were very good at knowing when they could joke around and when to be professional and serious. On the 2nd day of the tour (thankfully, not a chase day) one of the vans (the newer one, ironically) had a bit of engine trouble crop up and they were able to pretty much seamlessly adjust the tour plans to accommodate. After a long day of driving around they were also still willing to hang out with the tour guests and have fun. At the end of the tour, we got back at a reasonable time and they took us all out to one nice, final dinner. Then a lot of us hung out until pretty late as one last hurrah.

Vehicle review

The vehicles were great, except for that one super-random mechanical failure. There was more than enough room to spread out and keep some luggage, and the windows were nice and big, and, most importantly, kept clean. I would warn that the view from the middle row, especially on the passenger side (because of the door), seems a bit worse than the other seats but it's still not bad. The seatbelts got in the way on occasion too. The only minor thing from my end: I'm a big guy and had trouble getting the seatbelts to latch in some of the seats, and I wasn't the only one in my van. I sort of wish I had thought to bring an extender of some sort.
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Name: Rhian.Wales.UK
Tour: Anticipated Velocity Voyage Tour (Tour 4)
Year: 2022

General review

I went on my first tour with ETT in June 2022; it was something I'd wanted to do since being a child and I had researched my tour company in great detail prior to booking. Chasing with ETT was everything I wanted it to be and so so much more! During the tour I saw my first and second tornadoes near Dorrance, KS. We also saw some stunning supercell structures, beautiful lightning and some good hail. We stayed in good hotels; even when we were located in the backend of nowhere! We ate like kings throughout the week and on days where the weather was uneventful we enjoyed trips to places of interest throughout the US. As a single woman travelling from the UK it was daunting but I need not have worried, being on the tour felt strangely like home. I felt safe, comfortable and cared for. I honestly cannot recommend ETT enough, it was a truly magical experience and I cannot wait to do it again, again and again.

Tour guide review

I thought the weather would be the outstanding highlight of the tour but what actually made it for me was the people; my fellow guests were wonderful and the guides were fantastic. I was lucky enough to have guides Trey Greenwood, Alec Scholten, Kevin Rolfs and Max Olson on my tour - all of whom were extremely knowledgeable, guest focused, safety aware, professional, personable and absolutely hilarious. I never for one moment felt my safety was at risk despite being in close range of supercells, tornadoes, lightning and hail.

Vehicle review

The van was super comfortable; it was well equipped and I had ample space to relax on the long drives, cold water was always available in the cooler and so was the air-conditioning.
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Name: Jen ETT 2022#7
Tour: Anticipated Velocity Voyage Tour (Tour 4)
Year: 2022

General review

My tour was great! ETT exceeded my expectations with friendliness, knowledgeability, and a passion for the chase. Extremely responsive to emails, calls, and texts. Went out of their way to ensure each guest felt welcomed, which was amazing as I was a newbie to the whole experience. I highly recommended ETT to friends and family members before, during, and after the tour. The only thing I would have changed: For an extra $15-20/night, our group could have slept better at night knowing the rooms were cleaner/more modern.

Tour guide review

Our guides were extremely knowledgeable and friendly. They were quick to answer questions and did a fantastic job of putting us in the right place at the right time for maximum storm potential, which paid off. I also felt safe with the guides and other guests. On down days, we weren't cooped up in the hotel. Our guides found interesting activities for us (even in rural/remote areas). They kept things entertaining even when we were traveling for multiple hours a day. I would chase with Alec, Max, Trey, and Kevin any day!

Vehicle review

The vans were very comfortable, clean, and spacious. We had a 15 passenger van but only 5-6 guests and 2 guides. The A/C worked great and the music choice was solid. They had a cooler in the back full of waters and whatever beverage/food you wanted to place in there. Once of the vans required maintenance on our tour, but the guides quickly and calmly resolved the issue overnight/on a down day. We were still able to do fun activities on the down day despite that obstacle.
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Name: Laura
Tour: Anticipated Velocity Voyage Tour (Tour 4)
Year: 2022
Blogged about the tour: Read more

General review

ETT went beyond trying to get us to active storm locations, no matter where. Dependable and roomy .

Tour guide review

The guides are very knowledgeable and safely is #1, they are friendly, and fun. On down days,they were always looking for incredible places to eat and sight see.

Vehicle review

Fantastic guides And definitely made the most out of every situation.
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Name: Laura
Tour: High Risk Excursion Tour (Tour 5)
Year: 2022
Blogged about the tour: Read more

General review

ETT went out of their way to find storms for us, and the van was roomy and everyone had a window seat, air conditioning and plenty of water and bathroom breaks.

Tour guide review

The tour was excellent, comfortable, very professional and we had great service from all of the guides. On down days we ate at fun, exciting new places, and the great sightseeing excusions.

Vehicle review

The guides were phenomenal on all levels. They were always checking the storm center data, and always making us a part of the discussions ,and filling us in on what to expect.
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Name: Dominique T.
Tour: Anticipated Velocity Voyage Tour (Tour 4)
Year: 2022

General review

I had a great adventure with ETT this year. I got to visit 4 new states this year. Though the storms weren't playing nice with us, ETT still makes it a great vacation. I have full trust in the team with their weather decisions. I love the family-like atmosphere. The other guests in the van also made it a fun trip. I'm an introvert at home but when I go on an ETT tour, it doesn't seem like it. Thank you again Nick, Trey, Kevin, and Alec for a wonderful vacation. It was also my first time meeting Trey and Alec. They are fantastic!

Tour guide review

The entire team does a great job at communicating. I especially love how silly they are on the radio sometimes. I get a good laugh out of that. I also love eating at new places. They always do a good job at picking restaurants.

Vehicle review

The vans are great. It's nice to be able to charge our devices. There's plenty of room as well.
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Name: Mitchell S.
Tour: Anticipated Velocity Voyage Tour (Tour 4)
Year: 2022

General review

Extreme Tornado Tours provides a first class experience. My wife and I were on tour #3, which was from May 6th-14th. We loved every minute of it. Nick, Kevin, Trey and Alec were very friendly and incredibly knowledgeable. They took the time to answer any questions we had, and also made everything fun and easy to learn along the way. They hold true to their motto “Be There” They out us where the storms were for the entire week.

Tour guide review

The crew was second to none. Their knowledge and experience in the field is very evident in how they make their decisions on where to chase. They put us in the weather, whenever it was. Incredibly well done.

Vehicle review

The vans they use are very comfortable. They have plenty of room to relax during the trip, and charging stations for your phones and other electronic devices. We logged just over 3,000 miles on this trip, and there was not a single time where we didn’t feel comfortable in the van.
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Name: Jennyt71
Tour: Tour 6
Year: 2020

General review

I joined ETT for Tour 6 this year. Before the tour started, I had several communications back and forth with the company and I was always answered quickly and in a friendly manner. Since there were so many unknowns this year, I really appreciated ETT keeping me in the loop with all changes and updates to their schedules and conditions with tours. Our group was smaller because of Covid restrictions - but that made it better for us. We had 4 guests and 2 guides for the week. We all became close friends and I learned so much from Kevin's weather updates/briefings throughout the trip. We saw amazing structure and giant (gorilla) hail but mother nature wasnt with us for tornadoes. We were right under the tornado warned cell that was churning and lowering - but never produced. Kevin and Alec put us right ON the storms each time - they knew exactly where to go if it was going to happen. We did over 3500 miles across 6 states and had an absolute blast the entire time. We chased up until the absolute last minute - our guides never gave up or called in early to stay in a town or near a convenient spot. Our van was clean, comfortable and had usb and conventional plugs. Everyone was able to hear the plans, updates and why we were going one direction or another. The hotels we stayed at were nice (all Wyndham owned), clean and offered amenities such as wifi and hairdryers. (Most, if not all, would have had breakfast - but that was not available due to Covid restrictions). By the end of the tour, the hotels had their pools open. We ate at great local spots that the guides knew about from past experiences. They were always mindful of what we would like or if we had any restrictions. Our down days or day with little driving let us visit beautiful parks like Sioux Falls, the Badlands and Mount Rushmore. We were able to stop in Wakita for the Twister Museum too (that was more than just a museum, speaking to the owner and seeing her home movies and listening to her stories was great). All I can say is that I will definitely be back. The guides were incredibly friendly, I was lucky to get with 3 other guests that couldnt have been nicer, the driving was safe and we visited states I had never seen before.. and it was exciting. It went by way too fast. I love car trips - so having Alec and Kevin take care of the driving, navigation and hotel details made it even better. Experiencing the massive hail was amazing - never have seen anything like it. I would highly recommend ETT for their communication before/during/after the tour, the guides' knowledge and professionalism and how they treat their guests.

Tour guide review

Kevin and Alec were fantastic guides. Alec was an incredibly safe driver that had impressive knowledge of weather/chasing. Kevin was our meteorologist that gave briefings throughout the day and explained all of the models, differences and what we were looking for when deciding on the best area to shoot for. Both Alec and Kevin got along great and were obviously close friends outside of work. They loved answering our billion questions on everything from weather to schedule.. to anything really. Extremely friendly and truly professional.

Vehicle review

The van we were in was a large Ford - brand new tires.. looked new (course I have no idea of the actual year).. but was always clean (extra clean since Alec and Kevin were pretty OCD about Covid circumstances). It was comfortable and we were able to move around quite a bit. We only had 4 guests - but even with 6, you would not be cramped at all. luggage all fit behind the seats and everyone had a window. AC worked great and we didnt have any issues.
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Name: Shawn L
Tour: Tour 3
Year: 2019

General review

Tour 3, 2019 was a great experience. The guides at ETT were extremely professional while also having fun and joking around during down times. There was a great balance here. I rode with Nick, and he would explain all sorts of things we were seeing, why they were like that, and why we were chasing or avoiding them. During stops, Kevin, Blake, and Ashleigh were always telling us about this or that, talking about past storms, what they were thinking about current storms and such. Very friendly, very funny, very fun. I learned a lot on this tour. We saw a great tornado in Charlie, Texas. The team tracked it carefully and knew exactly where to put us. A phenomenal experience. We also saw some incredible super cells with stunning structure, and some additional distant, but short tornados. They were on point with the storms. We always stayed at very nice, clean hotels. My biggest concern with hotels is cleanliness, and I had no issues with any of them. The lowest grade hotel we stayed at was a Model 6 one night out of necessity, and it was completely fine. All the other hotels were the kind I'd book for my other vacations. I can't wait to chase with ETT again in the future.

Tour guide review

ETT's service to their guests was top notch. They truly cared about our experience and safety. We would stop for lunch and dinner at various places, getting a full gamut of quick eats and nice sit-down meals depending on our schedule, as the storms are always the priority. They were great about briefing us at the end of the day, and the following mornings, describing what they were seeing, where we were headed, and what to expect. Now that I'm back home, all I want to do it get back in the vans and chase. I can't describe enough how fantastic my experience was. I'll never forget it.

Vehicle review

ETT's vans were fantastic. The seats were very comfortable, and very roomy (one van had individual seats, and one had rows that would normally seat three people, but was limited to two so all guests can have a window seat and room beside them for their personal things). We had power outlets the same as we have at home, so power was never an issue for my devices. The A/C had personal vents, so I could direct the air right at me, or close my vent. I was concerned about being too hot in the vans, but I was very comfortable. Riding in the vans was always fun. And when the rides were long, we had options like movies or video games on the TVs, or just relaxing with our own personal entertainment/sleeping.
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Name: Matt H
Tour: Tour #1
Year: 2019

General review

I gotta say this was the best adventure I've been on in my life. If you've ever seen the movie Twister...it's just like that minus the maps because they on our phones and laptops. We got to chase storms from West Kansas down to the West Texas oil fields and to Southern Oklahoma along the Red River. Here's a few of the things our tour got to see: storms forming off of the Rocky Mountains, the Twistex Memorial in El Reno, The Big Texan Steak Ranch & Brewery, supercells, Orphan Anvils, Hail-cores, Dust Devils, Prairie Dogs, a Rattlesnake, lots of lightning, the Red River, etc. One of the best things that came out of the trip was the camaraderie among the tour guests and guides. A lot of us formed friendships that didn't end with the trip. I could tell by the end of the first day that I was going to come back for another tour. I will caution those going on the trip for the first time that you won't see tornadoes every day (if you do consider yourself very lucky). Mother Nature is unpredictable and can change very quickly. We covered a lot of miles just to position ourselves for storms and sometimes it worked out and sometimes it didn't. Our tour didn't get our tornadoes until the end of our tour which was the highlight to cap-off our trip.

Tour guide review

I was very happy with our Tour Director Nick Drieschman, and guides Ashley, Blake, and Kevin. They made safety a priority with a system set up for getting out of the vans while observing severe weather. Anytime we had questions about weather, or the storms we were chasing they were more than happy to answer them. As someone who puts together Fishing, Kayaking, and Mountain Biking trips all over the country I can appreciate the hard work that Nick, Ashley, Blake, and Kevin put into this trip. It's not easy doing what they do, especially when Mother Nature decides to throw us a curve ball. There were storms that didn't produce tornadoes, but they ended up putting storms that had spectacular views of supercells, lightning, hail, and monsoon-like rains.

Vehicle review

Our vans were in good shape and took us all over KS, OK, and TX with no issues. Seats were comfortable for with plenty of space and they even had plugins in the back to charge our phones & laptops.
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Name: Linda M
Tour: Tour 5
Year: 2019

General review

My 10-day tornado tour with Extreme Tornado Tours (ETT) was an amazing adventure. Our tour saw 10 tornadoes and multiple other storms. Accomodations were well thought out and comfortable. Hotels had amenities like free breakfast and fitness center. Lunch stops were fast food - makes perfect sense. Dinner was often a nice sit-down with the entire group at the end of a long, successful chase day. The tour director/staff took time to get to know the guests and to have the guests get to know each other. Very nice touch. I made friends from all over the world on our tour. We had 2 'down' days during our tour with no storms to chase. ETT planned excursions for us including a visit to Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge where we saw bison and prairie dogs. The process to book a tour was easy. Communication after booking and before the tour was clear and very helpful for planning travel, what to pack, etc.

Tour guide review

Extreme Tornado Tours has the knowledge and experience to get you up close and personal to storms. The team works so very well together. They carefully plan each day - and adapt and adjust those plans as the weather changes - to give their guests the best chase experience. I learned first hand that tornadoes are like snowflakes - no two are alike. And we saw it all. While we had the luck of a productive weather pattern, getting us to the storms/tornadoes was pure ETT skill. Some days we saw multiple tornadoes... a total of 10 for the tour! We also saw amazing storms that may not have dropped a tornado, but produced stunning clouds and lightning. I also felt the strongest winds, and saw the darkest skies, of my life! Tour staff were all very skilled. They ensured not only that we got to the storms, but that we were safe and comfortable while doing so. The chase is crazy and exciting! You can feel the passion ETT has for what they do. And it's contagious. They share their knowledge so you can learn about the conditions making for a good chase day and the structure of an actual storm/tornado. And on top of all that, they are genuinely awesome people!

Vehicle review

The van was comfortable and seating is organized each morning so guests take turns with the 'best' seats - not that there's really a bad seat. Windows were wide and cleaned at each gas stop. When needed, the temp was adjusted to make everyone comfortable.
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Name: Tmk62
Tour: Tour 5
Year: 2019

General review

My sixth year with ETT. There will be a seventh in 2020. Can’t overstate how professional and squared away ETT is. It is well run, and not overcrowded. The thing with chasing is that the more people you are chasing with the more complicated it becomes. ETT keeps it personal and comfortable. They know how to find the storms and keep you close, but safe. It’s an experience unlike any other. They know what they are doing.

Tour guide review

See above review

Vehicle review

Vans were comfortable, equipped, and not overcrowded. This is crucial as you need to see out the windows, and not be blocked by others.
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Name: Bekah
Tour: Tour #1
Year: 2019

General review

Our tour got to see several amazing weather scenarios. They did a great job of getting us to what they thought would bring the best experiences! From hail, a couple of tornadoes and one up close, to amazing lightning set ups, and also saw a mothership formation.

Tour guide review

The guides were amazing. Always making sure we had something to do even on a down day. The places we stayed at were great and they really went above and beyond to make the whole trip worth while!

Vehicle review

They always made the best out of any situation we came on. They really tried their hardest to get us to the best set ups and kept us safe. We stopped often for bathroom breaks and stretching and always ate some of the best food around!
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Name: core
Tour: Tour 3
Year: 2019

General review

These guys are awesome! Nick, the owner, was especially accommodating to me since I had to switch dates (and tours) the last minute. He was great to deal with and very understanding with my scheduling dilemma. Extreme Tornado Tours (ETT) had great vans, expert chasers, and really got us into the heart of the storms. They seem really aggressive about getting you up close-- and they didn't disappoint! But Nick was big on safety and made sure everyone understood and followed the rules. He even spotted a rattle snake for us on the side of the road before anyone stepped on it ;-) Hotels were great, plenty of pit stops for bathroom breaks (when not in emergency chase mode), and great choice of non-chase activities and restaurants during down periods. I would definitely chase again with ETT!!!

Tour guide review

Tour was operated very professionally. No issues at all. Nick is a great leader and wants to make sure everyone is looked after and has fun. Plenty of activity options on non-chasing days. Nick and his team of Kevin, Blake and Ashleigh were great forecasters and had a high batting average in picking the right storms to chase. We saw tornadoes, lightning and some awesome mesocyclone storms. Extreme Tornado Tours got us right up close.

Vehicle review

Vans were comfortable and everyone had a window seat. Power outlets and USB connections for everyone. The WiFi was not working on my tour, but Nick says he will get that fixed with a new system.
Comment on this review

Name: Tom B
Tour: Tour 3
Year: 2018

General review

I felt as though our tour was exactly where it needed to be for every possible storm during the week of our chase. We chased down one of best tornadoes of the year out of a multitude of storms that could have been followed that day. I was very well taken care of before, during and after the tour.

Tour guide review

Nick and the ETT staff not only were great guides, they became my friends.

Vehicle review

Vans are very well taken care of, I felt as safe as I do in my own vehicles.
Comment on this review

Name: Court Keogh
Tour: Tour is not registered
Year: 2017

General review

ETT completely exceeded all my expectation, from start to finish. Being from Australia, communicating with other countries can be difficult due to time differences, this was never an issue. Nick was extremely responsive to any queries and made booking super easy. From the moment I arrived, the ETT team (Nick, Kevin, Blake and Ash) were incredible. It's their knowledge, ability to explain technical things without making me feel stupid, willingness to accomodate everyone and go above and beyond to ensure everyone is enjoying themselves and mostly their humour that makes them the best. I cannot comment highly enough on the food we had during the trip. We got a true taste of whatever state we may have been in with a real focus an making sure everyone is catered for. The accomodation were well above my expectations, we stayed in really beautiful hotels with excellent breakfast options no matter when we ended up after a day of chasing/driving. Never at one single moment was I bored, even on the large driving days to get into position for storm chasing. not only are the team ensuring we are entertained, safety is also paramount, they will get you as close as possible whilst always focusing on the guests safety. For me this was a trip of a lifetime and a dream come true. Thank you ETT. I will be back

Tour guide review

The guides are truly what makes this company the best. They have an incredible ability to be professional, warm, welcoming and hilarious all at the same time. For me the most amazing thing about the guides was their love and passion for what they are doing and want to share it with others.

Vehicle review

Vehicles are excellent, two different seat options to make sure everyone is comfortable, they purposefully keep the numbers down so that everyone has a window seat and therefore plenty of room.
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Name: Kyle Hetherington
Tour: Tour is not registered
Year: 2017

General review

The tour was excellent. The guides made the storm chasin days so much fun. They were amazing at forecasting (we hit the storm of the day every single day we chased) It was honestly the best 2 weeks of my life being there with them. Could not have made a better choice. They were very safety conscious at all times especially when on tornadic storms

Tour guide review

The forecasting by the guides was incredible. We hit 7/7 on chase days on being on the best storms in the area. They knew where to be when storms fired and knew when to leave a storm for a new one once the storms died off.

Vehicle review

The Vans were great. They had inverters and plug ins inside the van for charging cell phones and cameras which was super handy. And they weren't overfilled they gave everyone a lot of space to stretch out.
Comment on this review

Name: M
Tour: Tour is not registered
Year: 2017

General review

Tour was awesome. They obviously can't control the weather, but they were very knowledgeable about getting us in the right place to have a chance, and making sure we had other activities when there weren't storms. Hotels were all comfortable, and no problems at all. The weather we did see was spectacular. Definitely recommend.

Tour guide review

Guides were very knowledgeable and friendly, and always made sure guests were taken care of. Felt very safe with them.

Vehicle review

Vehicles were safe, comfortable, and had conveniences like satellite radio and 120v outlets for charging phones.
Comment on this review

Name: Russ
Tour: Tour 4
Year: 2016

General review

My wife and I lived my dream in May 2016. Travelling from the UK. I have followed storms all my life ( not literally) and chose extreme tornado tours because of the links with Reed Tiimmer although not exclusively because of this. My wife was worried she would be the only female and us the only Brits, not the case it was about 50/50 men women and about 7 Brits, some of who were veterans and chased before with ETT. I have to say it was the most amazing experience, we chased every day seeing some tornados and mega lightening storms. The ETT team were fantastic and made everybody feel welcome. Everything was explained before during and after, they really knew what they were doing. Storms and tornadoes are not guaranteed so dont expect them, the guys do their upmost to travel a lot of miles to get you the action. I definitely recommend ETT and once both of our daughters weddings are paid for we will be going again. Nick is a really nice guy. If you get scared in dangerous weather and driving situations then its not for you. You dont start the day till late on but can end up not getting back until early hours. Food can be on the go but they stopped at decent places when they could. All the hotel or motels we stayed at were good but its short notice so might not be top notch. When chasing it was important to listen when to stay or go. There are lots of photo opportunities and toilet stops.

Tour guide review

We had Nick and Bart as main tour guides but also Brayden and Kevin. Each brought a different dimension to the tour and all had brilliant interaction skills.

Vehicle review

In one of two vans with USB chargers for phones GoPro etc. We swapped around so we got to spend time with all the team members and tour guests.
Comment on this review

Name: Jennifer Giordano
Tour: Tour 5
Year: 2013
Blogged about the tour: Read more

General review

I would HIGHLY recommend ETT to anyone looking into tours. They are run by experienced chasers and meteorologists, and they do everything they can to ensure that guests not only see great storms but do so safely and while having fun. Not only do you see amazing storms, but you learn a lot of information from the guides and make life-long friends. I have gone the past two years now. In 2012 we had a slow year weather-wise, but the guides worked their tails of to get us to anything worthy of chasing. We all enjoyed it so much that 8 of the 12 of us returned in 2013 together (the other 4 had life reasons, ie babies being born, getting married, not able to get time off work). In 2013 we hit the jackpot weather-wise, and we saw 7 tornadoes, ranging from small and weak to the El Reno tornado. During El Reno, it was obvious how concerned the guides were, and they did their utmost to ensure our safety while doing interviews with tv/news stations to warn others.

Tour guide review

There are 5 main tour guides in ETT. Dave Holder is the resident meteorologist on tour, and is kind, funny, extremely knowledgable, and has the tour guest's comfort and wishes at the top of his priority list. Kevin Barton has chased for years, and you will know him as the man who built all of the Dominators (seen on Discovery's Storm Chasers). His eyes light up like a kid on Christmas when seeing storms, and noone explains a storm's structure like he does. Shanda, the lone female tour guide, is the utmost professional. She's been chasing for years, and is not only skilled in chasing, but is an amazing photographer. She makes memory books of the tours for each guest. Blake, another veteran chaser, is also a skilled photographer and loves to explain weather. He is fantastic at breaking down a storm and helping you understand what you're looking at. Matt is new to ETT as of 2013, but his understanding and instinct for storms is astounding. He's very laid back and puts all the guests at ease immediately. He also has a meteorology background.

Vehicle review

We call the ETT vans our home away from home. They are lovingly referred to as Red Van and Blue Van. They are 16 passenger vans that have been modified by Kevin to be the best vehicles out there for tour guests. The last seat is removed, leaving room for luggage, then 2 people per seat - so 6 guests per van - very spacious. Kevin has also cut out the ceilings of the vans (and replaced them with some fancy material) so that guests can see out the tops of the vans at the storms above. The vans are also rigged for Wifi and have power throughout, so guests can bring laptops, iPads, etc to keep themselves occupied. Vans are cleaned, tires rotated, oil changed, etc, between each tour. Occasionally you'll see a cracked window from hail - that makes it all the more fun!
Comment on this review

Name: Matthew Higgins
Tour: Tour 5
Year: 2013

General review

I lost count of how many tornadoes i saw, need i say more! I was well briefed each morning and during chases on what we were chasing and why. I also had no issues with the information provided prior to the tour or at any stage during. We stayed in good hotels and ate and drank very well! We had very little down time but during these periods we did visit some nice parks and some shops for technical supplies.

Tour guide review

A very strong point for ETT. All guides were very knowledgeable and experienced chasers who were willing to share their wisdom. I have been on other tours where the information flow was limited at best. We found storms everyday which either produced tornadoes or photographic super cells. All guides had a good sense of humour and made a decent effort to find nice, fun places to eat and drink.

Vehicle review

The vehicles were more than comfortable enough with enough room to host multiple suitcases and camera bags etc. The vans also have a see through roof so you can see whats going on above you. We also had a multiple coolers in the back to keep water cool.
Comment on this review

Name: Drew Myer
Tour: Tour 2A
Year: 2013

General review

Both of my tours with ETT were excellent. We were always under a storm if there was one and, despite not seeing a tornado on either tour, we saw some wicked things...well-defined wall clouds and funnel clouds, lightning, hail, etc. And when there wasn't weather to chase we were always on our way to see/do something interesting to stay entertained. Additionally, both of my tours with ETT had several tourists on board, which is important to me. Part of the fun is meeting new people from different parts of the world who are just as interested in weather as I am. I've been on other tours where only 1 or 2 other tourists were with me, and that can get pretty dull. The motel/hotel rooms we stayed in were generally pretty good as well. ETT always strives to make sure we stay in the best (but most reasonable) lodging available. Sometimes after a chase that's not always possible, but they do a good job of at least striving for it. One of the big reasons I chose to go with ETT is that I'm a fan of the Stormchasers/Tornado Chasers TV and web series and Reed Timmer. While we did get to meet Reed during both of my trips, they were both very brief, fleeting moments as we were preparing to chase storms. I fully understand how much Reed has on his plate and the number of people competing for his attention. But from the perspective of an amateur storm chaser and a paying customer of a tour that advertises getting to spend time with Reed, I was disappointed that it was for such a brief amount of time. I would hope in the future that ETT and Reed make an effort to have at least a sit down (over a meal?) to speak with Reed on a more personal level and under less frantic circumstances.

Tour guide review

The tour guides were one of the best things about the tour. They're consummate professionals, but also know how to joke around and keep people engaged and having fun. Most importantly, they're very knowledgeable forecasters and do a great job explaining the forecast and answering weather-related questions.

Vehicle review

The vans are comfortable and never over crowded. The best part about the vans is the see-through roofs, which allowed us to look straight up into the storms to see movement, lightning and especially hail coming straight down at us.
Comment on this review

Name: Niels Linthout
Tour: Tour 5
Year: 2013

General review

ETT is the best company around, although I haven't sampled any of the others. Being out there in the field with Reed (a few days of the tour at most though) is definitely a highlight! Plus, seeing the Dominator(s) up close is pretty cool too. As far as the tour was concerned, it was simply amazing! Every day (bar the last few days) was a chase day, and we got to see some awesome tornadoes. Including the deadly El Reno one, which got us in some hairy situations, but nothing the dream team of Dave, Kevin, Blake, Shanda and Matt couldn't handle. I felt very comfortable with the tour guides, they are definite pro's! Service was overall very good, although I'd wish they came together once after the season to discuss the good and bad points. That could make the difference. Since we had chase days every day (bar the last few) we didn't encounter any problems. The few small ones that did were handled on the spot. There was no bad weather (apart from the obvious) to speak of. Apart from that ETT is a very professional outfit, and we got on pretty much every tornado out there. I'd say don't hesitate and book yourself on a tour for next year!

Tour guide review

Dave Holder - amazing guy, runs his socks off to make it all happen! Kevin Barton - lovely man, never stops talking and/or singing! Blake Knapp - big dude and ever so nice! Knows a lot about tornadoes and weather. Shanda Hinnant - best driver ever! Will get you there safe and sound! Matt Phelps - awesome, one of the best!

Vehicle review

The vehicles are due for an upgrade I would say, although I'm reliably informed that at least one of the vans has already gone through it! Space is a bit limited, so make sure you get a good setup on day 1. Do take some time to figure it all out! ;-) Apart from that there is free wifi on board, the rooftops come of too and there are big coolers for refreshments (ice and water free of charge!).
Comment on this review

Name: Jen ETT 2022#7
Tour: Anticipated Velocity Voyage Tour (Tour 4)
Year: 2007

General review

My tour was great! ETT exceeded my expectations with friendliness, knowledgeability, and a passion for the chase. Extremely responsive to emails, calls, and texts. Went out of their way to ensure each guest felt welcomed, which was amazing as I was a newbie to the whole experience. I highly recommended ETT to friends and family members before, during, and after the tour. The only thing I would have changed: For an extra $15-20/night, our group could have slept better at night knowing the rooms were cleaner/more modern.

Tour guide review

Our guides were extremely knowledgeable and friendly. They were quick to answer questions and did a fantastic job of putting us in the right place at the right time for maximum storm potential, which paid off. I also felt safe with the guides and other guests. On down days, we weren't cooped up in the hotel. Our guides found interesting activities for us (even in rural/remote areas). They kept things entertaining even when we were traveling for multiple hours a day. I would chase with Alec, Max, Trey, and Kevin any day!

Vehicle review

The vans were very comfortable, clean, and spacious. We had a 15 passenger van but only 5-6 guests and 2 guides. The A/C worked great and the music choice was solid. They had a cooler in the back full of waters and whatever beverage/food you wanted to place in there. Once of the vans required maintenance on our tour, but the guides quickly and calmly resolved the issue overnight/on a down day. We were still able to do fun activities on the down day despite that obstacle.
Comment on this review

Name: BOGAN
Tour: Tour #1
Year: 2007

General review

I recently completed ETT 2021tour 2. Best vacation I've ever had. Two great guides who knew the ropes and were also just fun to hang out with. On days when weather was available they got us into it (four tornadoes and baseball size hail, all up close and personal, but never unsafe). We even had loads of fun on the days the weather didn't cooperate. Great weather briefing every morning. And they knew all manner of amazing places to eat.

Tour guide review

See above

Vehicle review

Large Ford van with three rows of bench seats for passengers and room behind the last bench for our luggage. Auxiliary power available for charging your stuff. Comfortable, clean, and seemed well maintained. They have bottled water on board and stop occasionally for snacks and bathroom breaks. TIP: I found it helpful to carry a fanny pack with gum and a few snacks in it.
Comment on this review

Name: Peter Smetana
Tour: Tour #1
Year: 2007
Blogged about the tour: Read more

General review

Tour was everything I expected. Guides got us to storms. Saw 1 tornado. Many supercell cloud formations. Van was comfortable and had electrical outlets to recharge electronics.

Tour guide review

Nick and his guides all were very professional. Always keeping us informed of what was transpiring during the tour. I never felt we were in harm's way. Always had great motels to stay in. And of course, excellent restaurants to eat in.

Vehicle review

Absolutely made the best of what was available.
Comment on this review

Name: Mark Antonson
Tour: Tour is not registered
Year:

General review

Tour was awesome.  They obviously can't control the weather, but they were very knowledgeable about getting us in the right place to have a chance, and making sure we had other activities when there weren't storms.  Hotels were all comfortable, and no problems at all.  The weather we did see was spectacular.  Definitely recommend.

Tour guide review

Guides were very knowledgeable and friendly, and always made sure guests were taken care of. Felt very safe with them.

Vehicle review

Vehicles were safe, comfortable, and had conveniences like satellite radio and 120v outlets for charging phones.
Comment on this review