Though it is normal for many to stay inside and watch a storm from the comfort of their own home, us, like many - enjoy getting in our cars and going out and getting into the heart of the action. Chasing a thunderstorm or tornado, or any type of severe weather event can be hit and miss. It's almost impossible to know exactly where to be and exactly at the right time.

However, that is all part of the fun! It wouldn't be a "chase" if you knew where to drive to and park up! Though we often find it best to find a suitable location to watch the storm from, perhaps a high vantage point such as a hill with a good view, (which we are lucky to have lots of in South Oxfordshire) we also enjoy driving into the heart of the storms and experiencing them on a one on one level!

Some people have lots of high-tech equipment to aid them in tracking the location and movements of the storm, but we don't. We use our instincts and the valuable resources online. You don't need high tech equipment to go out and enjoy a chase nor to predict one. A basic knowledge of weather and cloud types will usually help you decipher where a thunderstorm will appear and unleash.

There is basic equipment that we take with us, and that you can take with you too. All of the following are easy to find and fairly cheap to buy - and invaluable to take with you on any storm chase!

AM Radio
Any form of AM radio, even if it is an in-car AM radio will help you detect any lightning strikes. By finding a quiet area on any frequency, you will hear distinct crackles when there is a lightning strike in the vacinity. It's hard to tell just how far away the strikes are, (the radios usually detect up to about thirty miles) but it is useful for helping you find out whether the storm has broken and lightning is striking. AM radios, such as the pocket AM radio displayed, are cheap to buy. They also double up as a handy tool for keeping you entertained when you find yourself waiting for long periods of time! Any AM radio that takes batteries will do fine, just don't forget to take some spare batteries with you!

Notepad and Pens
An essential tool for anyone who wants to document what they see, hear, and even comment on the chase in general. Not all of us can afford a lap top so a notepad is vital for keeping up to date notes. If you have someone else with you and you're driving you might want to ask them to keep a track of the notes for you. You could always buy a dictaphone and transcribe from that onto the notepad or PC at a later date. Notepad and pens are very cheap.

Camera
Lots of people like to take pictures of the developing weather and even the thunderstorm when it is in progress. Photos are very useful for documenting the chase and are always great to look back on and share with others. It doesn't matter if you take a normal camera or a digital camera, though both have their own benefits. Digital cameras are fairly expensive though a disposable camera will normally do the job just fine and are fairly cheap.

Camcorder/Video Camera
For those who want to experience their chase over and over again or share it and show it to friends or other chasers, taking a video diary of the storm and chase can prove invaluable. A camcorder is a great tool for capturing both audio and visual elements of the thunderstorm. Nowadays, camcorders are getting cheaper and good second hand camcorders are easy to find. Usually you'll find someone in your family who owns one! Don't forget spare tapes!

Money
You may find yourself needing more petrol at some point, or if you didn't pack any food or drink you may find you need to buy some. Don't forget to take some money even if just for emergencies sake. Petrol can get expensive, take enough to cover your chase.

Mobile Phone
You may find that you want to get in touch with other local chasers or chasers in your area, having a mobile phone handy is essential. You should always consider taking one anyway in case you get into a dangerous situation and need to call for help for any reason. Mobile phones are getting cheaper and almost everyone has one. Remember, DON'T talk on your phone whilst driving, unless you have a suitable hands free kit.

You will also need to take maps to provide you with route information, and drink so you don't get dehydrated! Other handy tools for chasing could include cb equipment so you can keep in contact with fellow chasers on the road, and binoculars for spotting weather in the distance or simply looking at storms up close!

Don't forget to download and print out the A-Z of chaser terminology, which also has hundreds of other weather related words and meanings. Also you may want to download and print the SOstorms thunderstorm scale or the Beaufort scale or the Fujita scale. You may also find the TORRO tornado intensity scale useful too.