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EnglishWhat Is Thunderbolt Tours?
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Thunderbolt Tours is a storm chasing tour operator that has been running guided chase adventures since 2001 in two regions: Australia and the US Tornado Alley. It sells private, guided trips ranging from a single chase day to a 14-day expedition, aimed at people who want to be in the vehicle when severe weather develops rather than watching it on a screen. If you are a weather enthusiast, a photographer, or simply after an adrenaline experience and you are willing to travel to the storms, it is a fit. If you want a fixed itinerary with guaranteed sights regardless of weather, it is not.
What the company actually does
The core service is a guided chase: you ride with an experienced storm chaser who reads forecasts and drives you to where severe weather is expected. The company describes the experience as sitting "in the front seat as the sky explodes," with the guide and vehicle dedicated to you.
Two operating regions and seasons:
| Region | Season |
|---|---|
| Australia | November, December and February |
| US Tornado Alley | May and June |
The company states it has been chasing storms for 25+ years and operates on two continents. International visitors are explicitly welcomed, which matters if you are planning from outside Australia.
What you might see
The advertised targets are the classic severe-weather features:
- Supercells
- Lightning
- Giant hail (the site cites 10 cm hail found on tour)
- Shelf clouds
- Tornadoes
- Wall clouds
These are chase targets, not a menu. Storms do not perform on schedule, and no operator can promise a tornado on a given day. The value of a multi-day trip is precisely that it buys more chances to be in the right place.
Trip lengths and prices
Prices below are for one guest on a private chase, in Australian dollars including GST, as published by the company. US dollar figures are the company's own approximations.
| Tour | Duration | Price (AUD) | Approx. USD |
|---|---|---|---|
| One Day | 1 day | $1,900 | ≈ US$1,330 |
| Two Day | 2 days / 1 night | $3,950 | — |
| Three Day | 3 days / 2 nights | $5,950 | ≈ US$4,160 |
| Week Storm Tours | 7 days / 6 nights | $14,250 | ≈ US$9,960 |
| Fortnighter | 14 days / 13 nights | $28,800 | ≈ US$20,120 |
Two cost-relevant conditions:
- Sharing reduces the per-person price. Two to four guests can share the vehicle and the price, so the cost per person drops. Group pricing is available on request.
- Past customers get 10% off, per the company's Storm Adventure Discounts offer.
Payment is accepted via PayPal, Mastercard, Visa and American Express.
How to decide whether it suits you
Choose a shorter trip (One Day or Three Day) if you are in Australia during the season, want a taste of chasing, or are working around a short visit. The company notes that short-notice bookings are possible when storm forecasts look good in the coming days — useful if you are already in the country.
Choose a Week or Fortnighter if your priority is maximising the chance of a significant storm. More days mean more time to reposition and follow the weather wherever it goes, which is the whole point of a chase expedition.
Consider a group booking if you are travelling with friends or family — the per-person cost falls when two to four people share the vehicle.
Skip it if you need a guaranteed itinerary, fixed daily departures, or a sightseeing-style tour that runs regardless of conditions. Storm chasing is forecast-dependent by nature, and the schedule follows the weather.