METC 490 / 590 Field Study of Severe Local Storms

Storm Chasing Class at Ball State University

METC 490/590 is a classroom and field course where students forecast, observe, and document severe local storms and tornadoes. Students first learn about thunderstorm and tornado dynamics, weather forecasting, and storm chasing in the classroom. Then in May and June, they take a field trip to the Great Plains to forecast, observe, and document severe local storms.

Ball State has offered the class since the late 1990s, and I've led it since 2007.  We know how to find tornadoes and keep everyone safe.  You also see more on our trip because we're out for longer than most other universities and storm chasing tours.

METC 490/590 is open to current students at any accredited United States university.

Learn more by viewing the PowerPoint from the information meeting, viewing our Twitter feed, or emailing me.

Informational PowerPoint
Twitter Feed
E-mail Me!

Schedule for 2024

October 27, 2023

Informational Meeting 5:15 PM

November 16, 2023

Sign-up Meeting 5:15 PM

February 1, 2024

First $500 payment due

May 9, 2024

Class begins

May 15, 2024

Field trip begins