Who doesn't love a good thunderstorm? As a kid I remember being in awe of the enormity and power displayed by nature in thunderstorms. In high school, I worked at a summer camp and when the late night thunderstorms would roll in, I'd sit out on the balcony of the cabin, watching the lightning bolts course through the sky.
If you're like me and have any interest in storms, tornadoes or hurricanes, Indiana Storm Chasers Convention is the place for you. Returning for their 11th year INChaserCon will take place Nov. 5, 2022 at the Hendricks County 4-H Fairgrounds & Conference Complex.
INChaserCon
To kick off the weekend, an evening ice breaker event will be held the night before on Nov. 4 at the Springhill Suites Indianapolis Airport in Plainfield. They will have a conference room reserved and the hotel restaurant and bar will be open.
The convention provides a weekend packed full of weather-related conversation, presentations, exhibitors and networking.
Weather enthusiasts, storm chasers, storm spotters and meteorologists come from around the country for this event.
All ages will be in attendance, and students are encouraged to attend!
History
Joseph (JT) Cooper is the founder of INChaserCon. He has chased storms for 16 years and studied meteorology at the College of DuPage and Mississippi State University.
He got the idea to start a convention in Central Indiana in 2011. At the time, there were no weather-enthusiast conventions anywhere in the Midwest.
About 15-20 people attended that first gathering, and it is grown substantially. In 2017, the event drew people from 18 states and as far away as Canada!
This year they are expecting anywhere from 250 to 400 people.
What to Expect
Beth Carpenter, the event organizer and eight-year storm chaser, stresses that the event is open to everyone. You don't need to be a storm chaser or even have a background or training in weather to attend.
The speakers cover topics everyone can understand, and they continue to diversify topics and speakers each year.
The convention will have seven guest speakers, including local meteorologist Krista McEnany of CBS 4 and Amber Hardwick of FOX 59. Each speaker will provide their own lecture or topic of discussion.
Chief Meteorologist Matt Standridge of KFSM-TV in Northwest Arkansas will cover cloud seeding, while Dr. Robin Tanamachi of Purdue University will provide her expertise on radar operation. With this lineup of speakers, it is set to be an informative event.
They will also offer a one-hour basic severe weather class for novice weather enthusiasts or for anyone who would like to expand their knowledge.
Tickets & More Info
You can find a complete list of speakers, the convention agenda and hotel and registration information by visiting the convention website. Ticket prices range from $20 (students with ID), $40 until Oct. 30 and $45 the day of the event.
To register and purchase tickets, click here.
Every registered attendee will receive two free raffle tickets for the opportunity to win some awesome prizes.
You can also contact Beth Carpenter by email if you would like more information on exhibiting at the convention.
