PHOTO GALLERY: Missourian reader chases storms in Kansas

By Dustin Mazzio/Missourian Reader

April 16, 2012 | 5:27 p.m. CDT

Dustin Mazzio became an amateur storm chaser when he and a friend set out to intercept storm cells forming in Kansas on Saturday. On his 12-hour journey, he took pictures and video of supercells, funnel clouds and vortexes as they formed. He even recorded the development of a full blown tornado as it tracked through farmland for nine minutes. He was recording from just three miles away.

Mazzio took this photograph while chasing storms on April 14. | Dustin Mazzio/Missourian Reader

Mazzio said police pulled over to the side, giving the expression of "Good luck, but I wouldn't suggest you go any further." | Dustin Mazzio/Missourian Reader

Mazzio said he used basic radar found on websites like Weather Underground and Google Maps to track his location in relation to the storm. | Dustin Mazzio/Missourian Reader

Dustin Mazzio took this photo of a funnel cloud on April 14. Multiple sightings and touchdowns were reported in Kansas. | Dustin Mazzio/Missourian Reader