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Driving on the freeways in Minneapolis-St. Paul with the sirens going off and a tornado touching down a couple miles away in rain, lightning, thunder, wind and hail? That's fun.
Also, once, in a storm, driving across the Wakota Bridge, lightning struck one of the huge transmission towers up on the hill across the river valley and it EXPLODED! Lit up the whole valley. But the power went out in all of the factories around the freeway .
I used to cross that bridge all the time, does it still smell like **** when you cross into South Saint Paul?
The people who post tornado videos on the internet are doing it in hopes that a news station will see it and play it on one of their newscasts. In the pre-Youtube days, the first person to give a high-quality video to a news station/the NWS would get around $20,000. For people with proper training about how to be in the safer areas near the tornado, this is a good supplemental income.
I try to avoid driving in snowstorms and blizzards if possible, but thunderstorms are exciting. I really miss the nasty storms in Eastern Nebraska. There have been times I've had to pull over but for the most part a thunderstorm is just a thunderstorm and not a big deal. Part of the reason for the lack of concern for severe weather is that the news and weather forecasters make such a big deal out of every little storm, people stop paying attention.
I remember a time I was driving home and my county was in a tornado warning. A tornado warning used to mean an actual tornado was nearby. This particular time I was driving the warning had been issued and expired before the storm even hit my county. It's ridiculous.
I got a better question, why the hell do people chase storms. Just to post some you tube video, or if they are lucky get some footage on TV. They get a rush from it, well as long as they aren't driving crazy. These people never seem to get injured, its the ones hiding from the storm that get hurt. They have no special equipment yet they often are flying down the rain soaked road trying to get video footage. The only ones that should be following storms are law enforcement and official storm spotters.
The same reason people go to sports games or attend church. It's something they enjoy doing.
I haven't noticed this, and I'm a transplant to the Midwest.
"Risky weather situations" are subjective and certainly not a reason to avoid going to work or about one's daily business. If that was the case I wouldn't leave the house every time it snowed or there was ice on the ground.
Hailstorms might put some dings in your vehicle, but that will happen whether you're parked or driving.
Tornado warnings, eh. For the most part you can see a tornado coming; if not the best strategy is to DRIVE to a freeway overpass or somewhere sheltered.
Your standard stormy weather - also eh. Turn on your lights and proceed more slowly.
I really can't see any of these excuses for why you skipped a day at work working out too well. As an employer I wouldn't accept "possible stormy weather" as a valid reason you couldn't show up for work.
I agree with most of your statement. Severe weather is quite common in this part of the country. The last major tornado that came through the area was during evening rush hour.
Oh and BTW its a VERY BAD idea to take shelter at an underpass during a tornado.
I spent most of my life up until 3 years ago in the Midwest (South Dakota and Nebraska). And as others have mentioned, in the Spring and Summer back there severe storms are so common, that you just need to adjust and drive wherever you need to drive without making a big deal out of it. Sure if it gets really crazy such as large hail or an actual tornado you stop and take shelter somewhere, but most of the time that will not be the case.
And as far as chasing storms. That is something my wife and I LOVED to do in those last 5 years or so that we were in Nebraska. It's not anything to do with being thrill junkies or anything, we are just absolutely fascinated with the grand shows that mother nature can put on, and it is a once in a lifetime experience to be able to get positioned somewhere out near a corn field where you can watch a supercell thunderstorm rotating like a giant UFO as it lowers down further and further as a tornado peeks out from underneath touching down somewhere out there in that corn field. Most people who chase storms (and yes, out on those country roads when an event is happening there can be a LOT of chasers on the roads) know what they are doing, they know how storms develop and which way they are traveling and so they know where to be in order to be safe yet getting a good view of the storm. That's why storm chasers never get hurt in these storms while people taking shelter at home DO often get hurt. They have access to radar via the internet in their cars, and they know if the storm is moving to the northeast, that they can follow it on the south or southwest side and be safe from the tornado, from hail, or anything else dangerous while still getting great views of the storm.
Sure many do get great footage which they post on Youtube or sell to TV stations, why not if you end up with great footage?
I would compare it to driving across California to see the grand scenes at Yosemite, or across Arizona to see the Grand Canyon. It's something spectacular created by nature that makes your jaw drop when you see it.
Location: Jefferson City 4 days a week, St. Louis 3 days a week
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Having lived in the Midwest my whole life, I'd have to disagree about bad storms not scaring us. I personally am bothered by all bad storms...snowstorms and severe thunderstorms. I still drive in them, but not as a willing participant.
If it's just a snowstorm, I don't see the problem...people still have to get to work, especially in essential fields (medical, fire, law enforcement, utilities). Storm chasers are just morons who deserve to get swept up like Dorothy.
There are different groups that chase storms, including those in the science field trying to advance knowledge in the field and improve warning systems. The rest seem to do it because they enjoy weather and want to see it in all its violence. It's a rush, I guess, and probably not much different than people who bungee or skydive or go rock climbing. Not necessarily idiotic unless you don't bother to take precautions.
Personally never been storm chasing, but back in high school I went to Cedar Point with friends and saw a huge waterspout over the Lake. Probably one of the most amazing things I've ever seen in person, and can understand wanting to repeat the experience.
Being from Kansas, tornados are just apart of life. I think we still hold the record for the most F5s of any state, and then because of the Wizard of Oz, it is just part of our image. It's strange because storms are almost revered in Kansas for their power, often being called the 'Finger of God'. And even though I'm not religious, the raw power of how a storm forms from nothing on the Plains is truly humbling.
I feel a strange connection to them. In fact, when I left Kansas, I bought a little keychain with a tornado on it to remind me of home.
I used to cross that bridge all the time, does it still smell like **** when you cross into South Saint Paul?
Crossed it just yesterday. It still smells bad, even with the car windows rolled up and the AC on its lowest setting.
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Lit up the whole valley. But the power went out in all of the factories around the freeway 
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to a freeway overpass or somewhere sheltered. 
