Professional Storm Chaser Explains His Passion for the Dangerous Hobby

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Support scientist Tim Marshall, a 40 year veteran of storm chasing, monitors radar on his smartphone as they wait for thunderstorms to develop during a tornado research mission, May 9, 2017 in Portales, New Mexico. Tuesday was the group's second day in the field for the 2017 tornado season for their research project titled 'TWIRL.' With funding from the National Science Foundation and other government grants, scientists and meteorologists from the Center for Severe Weather Research try to get close to supercell storms and tornadoes trying to better understand tornado structure and strength, how low-level winds affect and damage buildings, and to learn more about tornado formation and prediction.

Understandably, many people have a deep-seated fear of storms and severe weather. But for 33-year-old Tanner Charles, it’s part of the excitement of storm chasing.

Throughout his career as a professional storm chaser and content creator, Charles has seen his share of severe weather. However, he admits the hobby also comes with some mental health challenges.

In a new interview, Tanner Charles opens up about balancing his passion with the widespread devastation storms can cause.

Storm Chaser Tanner Charles Explains His Fascination

Absolutely no one wants to see a storm cause damage to property or take lives. Tanner Charles admits he and other storm chasers often face criticism for their fascination with the storms in the first place.

“I get it. People don’t understand that empathy for what’s happening and the beauty that’s happening can be together,” Charles shared with PEOPLE. “People don’t think that you can do that for some reason when it comes to storm chasing, but we see it in a lot of different hobbies.”

The severe weather enthusiast compared his passion to other potentially dangerous hobbies.

“People love cars, even though people die in car accidents all the time. When a tragedy happens, they can still have empathy in that area,” the storm chaser continued. “Maybe tornadoes and weather is more nuanced because in its nature, it is destructive.”

Ultimately, Tanner Charles admitted he truly has empathy for people impacted by severe weather.

“That just goes being human. You’re on adrenaline, things are happening, but being able to make that switch is so easy, it’s usually really easy for me,” he told the outlet. 

Tanner Charles Explains Separating His Emotions From the Moment

Even professional storm chasers struggle with fear and other difficult emotions while capturing a storm in the field. However, Tanner Charles emphasizes how important it is for everyone to stay calm.

“You can’t feel the emotions while it’s happening or else you won’t be able to conduct yourself in a way that’s gonna help people’s lives and save people,” the 33-year-old told PEOPLE.

“There is this constant challenge of how can I communicate well that I love what I do, but I have empathy for what’s happening? You can’t really; you just have to make sure you genuinely have these emotions and make sure they come out genuinely,” Charles added.

At the end of the day, Tanner Charles and other stormchasers are so taken with nature’s beauty, even in the midst of severe weather.

“The adventure, the tracking something like this down. Most people will never see stuff I’ve seen, let alone be involved in it like I am. The challenge of forecasting, getting it, being there, just experiencing it,” he revealed.