Storm Experience
Are you interested in learning more about thunderstorms and tornadoes? Join us for the UND Storm Experience Class!
Interested in learning more? Sign up for our first interest meeting. No commitment required!
Summer 2025 dates: Monday, May 19th through Sunday, June 1st
The UND Storm Experience (ATSC 320) is an exciting 3-credit course where you'll learn to forecast and safely observe thunderstorms. Led by an Atmospheric Sciences Department professor and a team of experienced drivers and forecast assistants, this hands-on class takes learning beyond the classroom. You'll make forecasts in hotel rooms, conduct weather briefings on the road, and experience firsthand how classroom concepts come to life in the field.
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The May 2024 UND Storm Experience class, made up of 2 vans filled with 14 students, 4 forecast assistants/drivers, and 2 instructors, traveled over 5,500 miles in 10 days forecasting and observing severe thunderstorms across the U.S. Great Plains from North Dakota to Texas.
Meet the Instructor
We will work hard during the trip to make sure you have a great learning experience and safe travels.
Dr. Montana Etten-Bohm
Dr. Montana Etten-Bohm is an assistant professor and serves as the Undergraduate Programming Director in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at UND. Her teaching philosophy focuses on effective instructional strategies, and her research interests include undergraduate curriculum development, active and experiential learning, and lightning. Growing up in Alabama, and influenced by numerous tornadic events, she is passionate about understanding the environment we live in and the weather that shapes it, all while prioritizing safety and preparedness. She strives to share this passion both in and out of the classroom, especially with those who join her in the Storm Experience class, inspiring the next generation of meteorologists and weather enthusiasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Does it Cost?
Three credits of tuition plus fees, plus a $1,300 Field Trip Fee to cover travel expenses. Also, you should budget approximately $40-50 per day for food and incidentals.
Are There Class Prerequisites?
No. We will teach you everything you need to know. However, you will probably learn more if you have already taken some lower-level Atmospheric Science classes.
Can I Use This Toward My ATSC Major or Minor?
Yes, this counts as a career elective (ATSC majors) or upper-level elective (ATSC minors).
When is the Trip and Class?
We have a mandatory all-day classroom bootcamp the first few days of the summer session (May 19-20, 2025). We depart around May 21, 2025, and return on or before June 1, 2025 (up to 11 days of chasing).
Where Will We Go?
We go where the storms are. We've been as far southwest as Big Bend, Texas, as far southeast as College Station, Texas, and as far north as Glasgow, Montana.
Is There a Version of the Class Without the Field Trip?
Yes, but it is not being offered for 2025.
How Do I Enroll?
Contact Professor Etten-Bohm for a special permission number which will allow you to enroll. Not a UND student? No problem! It is easy to apply to UND to take one class. Already graduated from UND? No problem! Learn more about readmission.
What if I Need to Take Other Summer Classes or Work?
We recommend you sign up for other summer session classes or work that begins in June or later.