Local storm chasers to hold 2nd annual gathering in East Huntingdon

The Scottdale-based Brinker family are holding their second Meet the Storm Chasers on Saturday, following the success of last year’s event during the premiere of “Twister” at a local drive-in theater.

The Brinkers, known as PA Storm Trackerz, expect as many as 700 to come to the event at the East Huntingdon Township Volunteer Fire Company.

There, attendees can meet storm chasers from around the country, see their chasing vehicles and learn how to report weather events.

Notable storm chasers planning to attend the event include Tim Marshall from Texas, Team Zero’s Jaden Pappenheim from Michigan, KDKA meteorologist Trey Fulbright and WHSV meteorologist Cody Barnhart from Harrisonburg, Va.

Also at the event, attendees can see the StormCruzzer, a custom-built chase vehicle; hear from the Westmoreland /Fayette/Allegheny County Animal Response Team; and learn how to become a storm spotter.

“You need a lot of training to do what we do,” Joshua Brinker said about storm chasing.

A large component of storm chasing is reporting changing conditions back to the National Weather Service and documenting them, Brinker said. Even though chasers are not affiliated with the weather service, they work as a team, Brinker said.

“We’re out there to alert the public to what’s coming,” Brinker said.

The family operates a YouTube channel — PA Storm Trackerz — where they document their chases. The channel has more than 11,000 followers.

The Brinkers’ July 2024 event at the Evergreen Drive-In Theater in East Huntingdon attracted such a crowd they had to turn many away. They were so pleased with the turnout they started planning this year’s event not long after with the goal of making it free for participants, Brinker said.

All proceeds from this year’s Meet the Storm Chasers event will go to the East Huntingdon Township Volunteer Fire Company.