Storm Angler Alex Bartholomew

Storm Angler Alex Bartholomew Storm chaser and avid outdoorsman of 15+ years. Spending my life hunting down Nature's most beautiful to her most extreme.

06/18/2026

DANGEROUS begins to hide itself behind curtains of rain near Charleston, . These rainwrapped can be deceiving, because they may not look like a tornado at all.

June 17, 2026

06/18/2026

CLOSE RANGE intercept of a shredding trees near , . Captured with the X5.

June 17, 2026

Finally in my hotel after a wild chase day in . It’s hard to even summarize today’s events. It started with the first ...
06/18/2026

Finally in my hotel after a wild chase day in .

It’s hard to even summarize today’s events.

It started with the first warned storm of the day near Decatur, IL. That storm wasn’t going to get it done so I let it go in favor of a new storm west of town. Storms were absolute rockets today. So it was a game of staying way out ahead and letting it come to me. This storm would have a solid attempt at producing a tornado near Macon, IL but other than a couple of funnels, it too couldn’t get it done.

Once falling behind that storm, I gave the next one in line a shot. It looked cold and outflow dominant. This is not favorable for tornadoes. However, once the storm neared Charleston, IL, it quickly morphed into a tornadic behemoth. The storm dropped a significant tornado and immediately wrapped it in rain. I tried to stay out ahead, but suddenly the road I was on was closed with no warning. This forced me to backtrack TOWARDS the rapidly approaching tornado in order to take an escape route north. I managed to get on this northbound road and out of the tornado’s path, but strong winds feeding into the tornado still managed to blow me into a ditch. Thankfully, this ended up not being as bad as originally thought and I was able to drive right out.

Then came the next storm in line near Effingham, IL. On my approach to this storm, I was presented with a significant but photogenic tornado. Unlike the mess previously, this tornado was highly visible and much slower. I was able to view this tornado for almost 15 minutes before finally moving in for a close range intercept.

What a day. The adrenaline from the chase is still flowing so it may not sound like it, but I truly feel for the people of Illinois this year. Round after round after round of destructive severe weather has plagued this state since early March. It’s time they get a break please.

Had a close range intercept of a sunset lit near Effingham, earlier. Insane day.
06/18/2026

Had a close range intercept of a sunset lit near Effingham, earlier. Insane day.

UNBELIEVABLE NEAR EFFINGHAM, NOW!8:16pm
06/18/2026

UNBELIEVABLE NEAR EFFINGHAM, NOW!

8:16pm

06/18/2026

Wild high precipitation supercell near Allenville,

June 17,2026 6:30pm

06/18/2026

Just had SIGNIFICANT near Charleston, . One of the most intense intercepts of my life. About to go check on town

Dramatic looking near Maroa, 3:50pm
06/17/2026

Dramatic looking near Maroa,

3:50pm

Yall know the drill. First 🐟 then storms. Solid fishing mission in today. However, morning storms have cleared out and...
06/17/2026

Yall know the drill. First 🐟 then storms.

Solid fishing mission in today. However, morning storms have cleared out and the atmosphere is beginning to reload quickly. Could be a dangerous afternoon ahead! Please stay weather aware.

EXCEPTIONALLY busy weather day ahead.1. Potential Outbreak in the Midwest. Specifically across Central and into . T...
06/17/2026

EXCEPTIONALLY busy weather day ahead.

1. Potential Outbreak in the Midwest. Specifically across Central and into . The real question is how fast can these morning storms move out of the area and how quickly the atmosphere can destabilize behind them. If we get rapid recovery, intense tornadoes of EF3+ intensity will be possible. If we don't get recovery, a severe threat will remain in the form of damaging winds but less of a tornado threat.

2. We have our first Tropical Storm of the season! has formed off of the coast. Arthur will bring gusty winds, heavy flooding rains and perhaps isolated tornadoes along the coast today.

If you live in either region, stay weather aware and pay attention to any warnings.

I will be chasing Illinois today and will update as I can. Sometimes it can be tough when chasing solo.

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Kankakee, IL
60901

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