Severe weather and tornado outbreaks can happen virtually anywhere in the world, and most frequently in the United States. However, not all storm setups are chaseable, so to speak. Sometimes the decision to sit a chase out is not based on proximity or money or logistics as much as it’s based on the terrain of the area. Chasers have to be very mindful of their location. Large rivers usually only afford crossings that are few and far between. Road networks can be very bad in places like north Texas and Arkansas.

However, the main detriment to storm chasers is: trees. Heavily forested and wooded areas make it near impossible to see the horizon and the sky around you. Places like southeast Oklahoma, much of Arkansas, and much of Missouri can be very tough for chasing. Almost the entire southeast part of the country is heavily forested; the Ohio River Valley is not much better, for the most part.

The forest biomass map below is a great indicator of places where trees can prevent chasing. It’s interesting that near the Mississippi River south of about St. Louis has some favorable, flat chase terrain. You can also see why chasers love western Oklahoma, western Kansas, and the Texas Panhandle!