Storm Experience
Are you a UND student interested in learning more about thunderstorms and tornadoes? Join us for the Annual Storm Experience - a class held near the end of May.
Storm Experience is a fun and exciting 3-credit UND course where you will learn how to forecast and safely observe severe thunderstorms.
You'll be taught and trained by Professor Gilmore and several experienced drivers/forecast assistants. We'll have class at a hotel room and in the class van during the trip. You'll visually document storms using your camera and keep track of storm characteristics in your notebook. You'll pick your favorite storm to document in a written class report.
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 Instructors
We will work hard during the trip to make sure you have a great learning experience and safe travels.
Dr. Matt Gilmore, Professor
Professor Gilmore graduated with a Ph.D. in Atmospheric Sciences from Texas A&M University in 2000. After postdoctoral fellowships at both the National Center for Atmospheric Research and University of Illinois, he arrived at UND in 2008 where he taught four innovative new courses: Extreme Weather and Climate, Storm Experience, Communicating Science, and Microphysics Parameterization and Simulation. He also currently teaches UND's Atmospheric Thermodynamics. He was an early adopter of High Impact Practices through activity- and experiential-based learning, enjoys giving instructional feedback to other faculty. He enjoys teaching graduate students how to distill their research topic into a speech that is understandable by anyone through the UND Three Minute Thesis (3MT). His research expertise is in microphysical parameterization and simulation of severe weather using weather models (tornadoes, hurricanes, hailstorms, etc).
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 May 31, 2025 (up to 10 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?
You will need to contact Professor Gilmore 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.