Weather Women: Into the Bear’s Cage
In 2025, storm chaser Jessica Moore embarks on a season-long pursuit of nature’s most violent storms, she’s forced to confront the storms within—her health, her doubts, and the relentless question of whether she truly belongs. While the world sees a fearless chaser, she’s still searching for proof that she’s earned her place. Jessica has never been one to give up. But this time… will she?
JESSICA MOORE
METEOROLOGIST - STORM CHASER - PHOTOGRAPHER
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Jessica Moore is a meteorologist, travel writer, and professional photographer born and raised in Colorado. Her passion for storms began at a young age, shaped by the dramatic and diverse weather of the region. Inspired by films like Twister and the TV series Storm Chasers, she developed a deep curiosity for the science behind severe weather.
She earned a Bachelor of Science in Geoscience (with a concentration in Operational Meteorology) from Mississippi State University, all while actively storm chasing and applying her meteorological knowledge in the field. Through her lens, she has captured breathtaking storms, and her work has been featured on The Weather Channel, AccuWeather, ABC, NBC, CNN, CBS, and in publications such as Cosmopolitan Magazine and the Bulletin for the American Meteorological Society. She has also served as a field correspondent for WeatherNationTV, bringing real-time extreme weather coverage to audiences nationwide.
Jessica now runs her own storm tourism business, offering guided storm photography tours across the United States. Her tours provide world-class instruction in storm forecasting, photography, and safe positioning—helping enthusiasts and professionals alike experience the thrill of storm chasing while capturing its raw beauty.
Beyond the storms, Jessica is a devoted mother to her 13-year-old daughter, whom she hopes to inspire to follow her dreams—no matter how unconventional they may be. She has even introduced her daughter to the world of storm chasing, with three tornado sightings under her belt and many more adventures to come.
TORI JANE OSTBERG
STORM CHASER - PHOTOGRAPHER
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Tori Jane Ostberg is a fearless storm chaser, photographer, and writer based in Phoenix, Arizona. With an unrelenting passion for extreme weather, she has captured some of the most breathtaking tornadoes, lightning strikes, haboobs, and monsoons across the Southwest and Tornado Alley. Her raw and electrifying imagery earned her the 2025 Vortex Award for Best Daytime Lightning Photo at the National Storm Chaser Summit.
Beyond the chase, Tori is known for her authenticity, adventurous spirit, and deep connection to the storm-chasing community. Whether she's documenting nature’s fury or sharing stories from the road, she brings an unfiltered, honest perspective that makes her one of the most genuine voices in the field.
JENNIFER WATSON
Meteorologist | Storm Chaser | Emmy-Winning Broadcaster
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Jennifer Watson is an Emmy-winning meteorologist, storm chaser, and television talent known for her work on The Weather Channel’s Weather Gone Viral and Weird Earth. She has spent her career tracking extreme weather, delivering life-saving forecasts, and sharing the power of storms with audiences worldwide.
Her passion for meteorology ignited as a child but became a lifelong pursuit after witnessing the devastating Moore, Oklahoma, tornado on May 3, 1999. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Geography (with a minor in Mathematics) from East Carolina University and later obtained a Master of Science in Geoscience with an emphasis in Broadcast Meteorology from Mississippi State University. Her early career included on-air meteorology roles at WTVA in Tupelo, Mississippi, and WHNT News 19 in Huntsville, Alabama, where she covered historic tornado outbreaks, including the deadly 2011 Super Outbreak.
Jennifer has also played a role in cutting-edge meteorological research, deploying infrasound sensors to capture tornado data in the field. Alongside her work in broadcasting, she is a co-host of Storm Front Freaks, one of the top-rated geoscience and weather podcasts in the world. She also speaks professionally on weather, climate change, and social media strategy, inspiring the next generation of meteorologists. Today, she continues to report on the planet’s most extreme weather events, balancing her career with motherhood and a deep commitment to public safety and education.
MADDIE & HER PARENTS
FUTURE STORM CHASER - WEATHER CHICKEN
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At just 14 years old, Maddie dreams of one day becoming a storm chaser. While most kids her age are focused on sports or school activities, Maddie is obsessed with weather patterns, radar models, and the science behind storms. Her passion became undeniable the day she tried out for the basketball team—only to run straight to the car afterward, declaring “I’m never doing that again” before pulling up the Doppler radar to analyze a lake-effect snowstorm. That was the moment her parents realized: this wasn’t just an interest—it was her calling.
Determined to understand her world, Maddie’s parents attended their first National Storm Chaser Summit, stepping into a community they never knew existed. In real time, they watched their daughter light up, surrounded by like-minded chasers, meteorologists, and storm enthusiasts. What started as a simple effort to support her passion became a transformative experience—they realized this is where she belongs.
Though she hasn’t chased a storm yet, Maddie is preparing for the day she finally can. With the full support of her parents, she’s immersing herself in the world of storm chasing, eager to learn, grow, and eventually step into the field to experience her first storm up close.