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.
Schedule for 2023 — tentative dates
October 27, 2022
Informational Meeting 5 PM
November 18, 2022
Sign-up Meeting PM
May 11, 2023
Class begins
May 17, 2023
Field trip begins