About the Chase

In conjunction with ongoing severe weather research, each spring from mid-May to mid-June, the Virginia Tech Geography Department conducts a field course in severe weather forecasting on location in the Great Plains.  This 3-credit course teaches students forecasting methods used in the prediction of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes.  Students are intrinsically involved in forecasting and navigation through unfamiliar territory in an attempt to intercept severe/tornadic thunderstorms, and collect data in the near-storm environment as a part of a mobile mesonet.  (GEOG 3524).  For information, contact Dave Carroll in the Department of Geography (carrolld@vt.edu).