When Does Thunderbolt Tours Run Storm Chasing Trips in Australia and Tornado Alley?

Updated

Thunderbolt Tours runs storm chasing adventures on two continents, and the seasons do not overlap. In Australia, the chase season is November, December and February. In the US Tornado Alley, it is May and June. If you want to book, pick the continent first, then match your travel dates to that window — the company has been chasing storms since 2001 and offers trips from one day to a fortnight.

Season windows at a glance

Destination Chase season Trip lengths available
Australia November, December, February 1–14 days
US Tornado Alley May, June 1–14 days

Note that January is not listed as part of the Australian season, and the Tornado Alley window is a two-month block rather than a full spring-to-summer stretch.

Why these months

The seasons reflect when each region's most violent weather is most likely. Thunderbolt Tours describes its target conditions as supercells, lightning, giant hail (10 cm hail has been found on tour), shelf clouds, tornadoes and wall clouds. The Australian window of November, December and February captures the peak of the southern hemisphere's warm-season storm activity, while May and June sit in the classic US Tornado Alley period.

Because the two seasons fall in different halves of the year, you can in principle chase in Australia in November–February and in Tornado Alley in May–June within the same calendar year.

Timing a booking around the forecast

Thunderbolt Tours builds its trips around the forecast rather than a fixed itinerary. The three-day tour, for example, is described as "three days following the forecast, with time to reposition and be in place for the best storm." That has practical consequences for how you book:

  • Short notice is workable. The one-day private chase is pitched at people who have just heard storm forecasts for the next few days — the site invites you to get in touch in that situation.
  • Longer trips buy more flexibility. A week (7 days / 6 nights) is described as giving the best chance at supercells, hail and lightning; the fortnight (14 days / 13 nights) follows storms wherever they go.
  • You are not choosing a date and hoping. You are choosing a window and letting the forecast decide where you drive.

What it costs to hold a place

Prices are per guest, private chase with your own guide and vehicle, in Australian dollars including GST:

Tour Duration Price (AUD)
One Day 1 day $1,900
Two Day 2 days / 1 night $3,950
Three Day 3 days / 2 nights $5,950
Week Storm Tours 7 days / 6 nights $14,250
Fortnighter 14 days / 13 nights $28,800

Two to four guests can share the vehicle and the price, which lowers the cost per person — group pricing is available on request. Past customers get 10% off. Payment is accepted via PayPal, Mastercard, Visa and American Express.

Practical points before you commit

  • International visitors are welcome, so the seasons above are usable for overseas travel planning.
  • Trip length should match your tolerance for uncertainty. A single day is a gamble on one forecast; a week or fortnight is the way to maximise the chance of a significant storm.
  • Book against the season, not a specific date. Since the schedule follows the forecast, confirm your window with Thunderbolt Tours directly rather than assuming a fixed departure day.