We are Storm Hawks
A full-time storm intercept team tracking tornadoes and severe weather across Tornado Alley — streaming live, relaying spotter reports to the National Weather Service, and capturing the science up close so the data gets out first.
Our story
Storm Hawks started with a single chase vehicle, a laptop full of radar tabs, and a shared conviction that the best severe-weather coverage comes from the people willing to drive toward the storm. What began as a small crew swapping nowcasts on the side of a Kansas highway grew into a dedicated intercept team that's on the road every season.
Today we run coordinated chases across the Plains — forecasting the target box before dawn, positioning ahead of initiation, and broadcasting live as the storms fire. When we see rotation, hail, or damage, we relay it straight to the local NWS office and to everyone watching the stream.
We're not here for the adrenaline reel. We're here because a timely report can be the difference between a warning that lands and one that comes too late.
What we stand for
Data first
Every intercept is about getting ground truth out fast — hail size, wind, rotation — to the NWS and the people downstream.
Safety over spectacle
We chase with an escape route already planned. No shot is worth a life — ours or a bystander's.
Open to everyone
Live streams, forecasts, and alerts stay free. The storm doesn't care about a paywall, and neither do we.
Meet the crew
John Copeland
I'm John, I am the Vice President for Storm Hawks (formerly storm critters). During my free time, I like playing video games and storm chasing.
⚠ A word on safety
Storm chasing is dangerous and should be left to trained, experienced teams. Nothing on this site is a substitute for official guidance — always follow warnings from the National Weather Service and your local emergency officials, and never put yourself in the path of a storm to get a photo.
Got a storm to share?
Send us your photos and videos — they may be featured on stream.