ARLINGTON, Texas, April 3, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Most people hide from tornadoes, but one Texas based company actually spends hundreds of hours each spring tracking them. Over the past three years, the team of veteran storm chasers at Tempest Tours, Inc. has intercepted a record 60 tornadoes.
"It takes a long time to reach a high level of proficiency as a storm chaser," said Martin Lisius, founder and president of Tempest Tours in Arlington. "It's something that most people don't have the time or skill to achieve," he said. "However, there are many that share our passion and want to see what we see. We provide them with an opportunity to learn more about our dynamic atmosphere and to witness incredible storms safely."
Lisius began chasing storms nineteen years ago. Since then, he has founded several storm related groups including Tempest Tours, the Texas Severe Storms Association (TESSA), a non-profit dedicated to severe weather education, and StormStock, the largest collection of storm footage in the world. He has provided technical support for several TV and film productions including Warner Bros.' "Twister" in 1995.
Other Tempest Tours team members include Dr. Charles Doswell, a former researcher for the National Severe Storms Laboratory in Norman, Oklahoma, and William T. Reid, a climatologist and sixteen-year storm chasing veteran.
"The most satisfying thing about our job is sharing our knowledge with our guests," Lisius said. "The parameters necessary for significant tornadoes are complex, and we unravel that mystery for them," he said. "After several days on the road, they begin to understand how and why tornadoes form." Lisius points out that guests really want to see a tornado, but the task of intercepting one is challenging. "We can't promise them a tornado on every expedition, but we've been chasing storms for so long that it has become instinctive to us, so the odds are usually good," he said.
Tempest Tours operates storm chasing expeditions on the U.S. Great Plains in May and June. Information, including 2006 schedule and fees, can be acquired on-line at www.tempesttours.com or by calling (817) 274-9313.
Media professionals can access our on-line Media Resource Center at http://www.tempesttours.com/media_resource_center.html to acquire photographs and other information for use with this press release.