Storm chasing tours have limited capacity because each package depends on available vehicle seats, guaranteed window access, hotel coordination, professional guides and experienced drivers. Popular dates can therefore sell out well before the severe-weather season begins.
The 2027 booking page currently lists Tour 5 and Tour 5A as sold out. Travelers who try to select a full package are automatically added to the company’s waitlist rather than receiving a confirmed tour seat. Understanding the difference between a waitlist position and a completed reservation can prevent costly travel mistakes.
What Automatic Waitlisting Means
The registration section states that the booking system adds a customer to the waitlist when the chosen tour is sold out. This creates an opportunity to be considered if space later becomes available, but it does not confirm participation in the tour.
The FAQ explains that cancellations occasionally create openings. Those openings are handled through a waiting list on a first-come, first-served basis. It also warns that some people may remain on the list for a long time, so travelers should not depend on receiving a last-minute seat.
Which 2027 Packages Are Sold Out?
The current schedule lists two full 2027 packages:
- Tour 5: Six chase days from May 30 through June 4
- Tour 5A: Ten chase days from May 30 through June 8
Both packages begin with arrival in Wichita, Kansas, on May 29. They cover a sought-after late-May and early-June period when the chasing strategy begins moving northward while still including the classic Southern Plains.
Tour 5 includes five hotel nights, while Tour 5A includes nine. Their sold-out status reflects the demand for this seasonal window, but being on the waitlist does not guarantee that a cancellation will occur.
A Waitlist Position Is Not a Booking
Travelers should not treat automatic waitlisting as permission to purchase non-refundable flights or hotels. A confirmed seat requires direct booking confirmation from the operator.
The website does not clearly explain how waitlist notifications are sent, how much time a traveler receives to accept an opening or whether payment details are collected before a seat becomes available. These points should be confirmed directly with the company.
Before making travel arrangements, ask:
- Whether your waitlist position has been recorded
- How openings are offered to waiting travelers
- Which email address or phone number will be used
- How quickly payment is required after an offer
- Whether the same waitlist applies to both single and shared-room spaces
- Whether another available tour can be booked without losing the waitlist position
These questions help separate confirmed website information from details that are not publicly explained.
Why Last-Minute Planning Is Risky
Some travelers consider waiting until the forecast becomes clearer before choosing a package. The FAQ advises against this because tours generally fill well before the season begins.
Severe-weather forecasts also become more useful closer to the event, but the limited number of seats means availability may be gone long before a detailed forecast exists. The waiting list is maintained for cancellations, yet the company describes last-minute opportunities as unlikely.
A traveler who needs fixed vacation dates may be better served by choosing an available package rather than relying entirely on a sold-out option.
Consider Available Alternatives
The 2027 schedule includes tours from early May through late June. Someone waitlisted for Tour 5 or Tour 5A may compare an available package with similar seasonal characteristics.
Tour 4 covers May 23–28 and leads directly into the late-May period. Tour 6 runs from June 13–18 and follows the severe-weather season farther into the Central Plains. However, current availability can change as reservations are completed.
Selecting an alternative should depend on travel dates, budget, preferred tour length and regional interests. Travelers should not reserve two conflicting packages without first confirming the operator’s booking rules.
What Happens If a Place Opens?
The FAQ indicates that cancellations are handled through the waiting list in first-come, first-served order. A traveler offered a seat should review the package dates, price and payment terms before accepting.
The registration page states that each tour normally requires a US$1,000 non-refundable deposit per person. Deposits are unavailable after February 1, and tours booked after that date require full payment. The applicable amount may therefore depend on when the opening becomes available.
Conclusion
The automatic waitlist gives travelers a possible route into a sold-out 2027 storm chasing package, but it should not be confused with a confirmed reservation.
Tour 5 and Tour 5A are currently sold out, and any openings are managed through the company’s first-come, first-served waiting list. Because cancellations are uncertain, travelers should avoid non-refundable bookings until their seat is confirmed.
Reviewing available alternatives and keeping contact details current can improve the planning process while waiting for an opening.