Qld storm chaser Thomas Hinterdorfer opens up on his obsession for freak weather events

A Qld storm chaser who has travelled through America in search of the biggest tornado, twisters and hailstones on earth says he saw houses being vaporised by the freak events. WATCH

A Queensland storm chaser who travels to America was seconds from death when a multi-vortex tornado struck in his path on May earlier this year.

In rural southwestern Iowa, Thomas Hinterdorfer was 15 seconds from death after the most destructive and powerful twister formed and drew a line of destruction for kilometres through the town of Greenfield.

Fascinated by storms from an early age, the Toowoomba local is a professional meteorologist in Australia for 10 months every year.

But from mid-April to late June, he is a “storm chaser” travelling through America’s Tornado Alley in search of the biggest tornado, twisters and hailstones on earth.

“We were about 15 seconds from death in Iowa this year, with the first tornado made impact,” he said.

A Queensland storm chaser who travels to America was seconds from death when a multi-vortex tornado struck in his path on May earlier this year.

At the height of the deadly tornado’s power, calculated wind speeds on the ground were as high as 309-318 mph (497 to 512 km/h).

“It levelled a home behind us, it was chaotic, it was our goal to get out, that was our only goal and we drove maybe 300 metres down the road, and it continued to cross the road where we were, and it snapped power poles,” Mr Hinterdorfer said.

Mr Hinterdorfer said he was in the midst of five tornadoes in 21 minutes on the same day.

“They weren’t from the same storm, it was virtually five different storms, they were very fast moving,” Mr Hinterdorfer said.

“They had all parts of the house thrown across the road, and police were already on the scene. Then ten minutes later we had another tornado develop right in front of us that ended up being the Greenfield tornado that produced the highest wind speed ever on earth.”

Thomas Hinterdorfer chasing severe weather events in the United States.

Mr Hinterdorfer and his partner Katey use computer models and satellite imagery to navigate where the storm’s path and where the tornadoes are likely to form, with always having an exit plan if things become too dangerous.

Storm-chasers are often among the first on the scene after a tornado rips through an inhabited area, and are usually first on the scene to respond to calls for help.

A tornado at Hawley, Texas. Picture: Thomas Hinterdorfer

Mr Hinterdorfer he was one of the first on scene when the Elkhorn Nebraska tornado ripped through the town on April 26 and said it was an event that will likely stay with him forever.

“It hit as we were coming into town. We were pretty much first on the scene. I remember distinctly going through house to house, kicking down doors, to see if people were okay,” Mr Hinterdorfer said.

“There were houses completely vaporised and gone.

“I had the unfortunate experience of dealing with a dog that was going to die, and knew it and was still alive at the time, it was pretty confronting, and still gets to me.”

Image of lightning from Mt Coot-tha looking towards the city during the storm in Brisbane. Credit: Thomas Hinterdorfer

The national weather service said the tornado that occurred across Nebraska and Iwona during the afternoon and evening damaged and destroyed hundreds of homes.

While no fatalities were reported, it is understood several people were treated in nearby hospitals.

Queensland storm chaser Thomas Hinterdorfer at Merna, Nebraska. Photo: Supplied.

Mr Hinterdorfer said from his trips overseas, and how this can be applied here back home is that while we don’t see the extremes of America, we still experience damage, heartache and loss.

“We do get very nasty storms every season in south east Queensland, whether it is one or two days,” he said.

“While I think we’re experiencing them less often at the moment, for whatever reason compared to years ago, we are getting to that peak level every season at some stage.

“No matter the damage level. People are being impacted,” he said.

Originally published as Qld storm chaser Thomas Hinterdorfer opens up on his obsession for freak weather events