Riding Out the Storm
A Storm Chaser's Daily Companion
Canadian summer heat brings severe weather. The combination of high heat and high humidity fuels atmospheric instability, which breeds storms with thunder, lightning, intense rain, flash flooding, hail, and strong winds that rearrange your patio furniture. When thunder rumbles, it’s advised to get indoors and avoid open fields, bodies of water, or sheltering under trees that attract lightning.
Picture yourself in the rain boots of meteorologist and storm chaser Mark Robinson. He’s not seeking shelter. Instead, he’s navigating around patio furniture, driven by the thrill of getting as close as possible to the heart of the storm. And in his Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, he can get close. Very close.
The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is the reliable vehicle of choice for meteorologist and storm chaser Mark Robinson. (The Weather Network)
What drives Robinson to chase a violent storm instead of turning tail and driving the other way?
“I've always been fascinated by severe weather, running around, and seeing what the extremes of Mother Nature are,” says Robinson. “I've jumped into four volcanoes. I've been to Antarctica and Mount Everest. I've been through 26 hurricanes, and I don’t know the exact number, but there have been countless tornadoes and hundreds and hundreds of thunderstorms. For North America, it's really all about the thunderstorms and the severe weather here. I find it absolutely, incredibly fascinating.”
The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is Mark Robinson's reliable companion while storm-chasing. (The Weather Network)
At the same time, storm chasing is more than just a hobby for Robinson. It's a career that he has dedicated countless years to, where the purpose of chasing a storm is to gather as much information as possible and report back to The Weather Network.
“The idea is to be out in those storms and show people this is what's coming towards you. This is what to expect,” says Robinson. “We can look at the radar, and you won't necessarily know what that storm is actually doing unless you've got somebody underneath it. So it might be producing a tornado, like on radar. Still, you can't really tell unless you've got someone underneath that storm absolutely saying, ‘Yes, I can see a tornado underneath that storm.’”
Severe weather in Canada reaches its peak during the summer, and Robinson has noticed an early start this year. In the pursuit of a storm, the vehicle becomes an integral part of the team—a third character. It must be comfortable for long hours on the road and responsive to any road condition or terrain. Robinson’s Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is equipped with Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC), an important feature that allows him to get up close and personal. “In any of the shows I've done, the car is critical to what we do because if you haven't got the right car, you're not doing anything. You need a car that can get the job done, which is getting into these storms and getting that information back to The Weather Network,” says Robinson.
Robinson drove his Outlander PHEV to Barrie, Ontario, in mid-June, where the forecast predicted extensive storm development.
“There was a wild and tremendous amount of rain, hail and winds we got into. We were in Waubaushene, and watched this giant gust come right over the top of us. The winds were so strong it got the car rocking,” says Robinson. “And then, trying to get south of the storm, we're travelling through the bay area, trying to get down the 400 and then pass Barrie to get ahead of that storm. And we were smack dab in the middle of the storm's core with hail and almost zero visibility. It felt like it was in the middle of a blizzard, and the car was amazing. It just stuck to the ground. I've been in other storm chase cars, and this one was just solid. I was super impressed with how well it held onto the ground as we got right to the core of a storm. And as I said, you could barely see in front of you, and the car did a great job.”
Robinson needs a reliable vehicle that can handle the conditions. He’ll be on pavement, and within seconds he will be on a dirt road. It’s the life of a storm chaser where, switching between road types, he wants to control and be able to switch his Outlander PHEV’s handling on the fly to match the road conditions. Even when the destination is a little further away, its twin-electric motor system balances performance and fuel efficiency, allowing the Outlander PHEV to go the distance. Up to a 3.6L/100km driving range reduces the anxiety of giving up the chase to find a gas station.
There are also the days Canadians love, which may disappoint a storm chaser. The storm conditions are ripe, but nothing happens after three or four hours. Sitting in a comfortable car and waiting is part of the job, as is the long drive home after stormy skies clear. As the adrenaline fades from sitting under the worst Mother Nature has to offer, Robinson isn’t looking to cool a refreshing drink with chunks of storm-fresh hail. He’s looking forward to the pursuit of what comes next, accompanied by a smooth ride home with some downtime before the next chase.
It’s crucial to understand that storm chasing is a profession, and safety is the top priority when dealing with severe summer weather. But, like Robinson, we all share the same commitment to safety and control every step of the way—behind the wheel of a smooth, safe, and controlled vehicle. And with Mitsubishi’s Outlander PHEV, this means you can drive like you want.
