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. 

However, Mark Robinson doesn’t follow the advice he has offered to tens of thousands of Canadians over his long career as a Weather Network meteorologist and storm chaser. Instead of seeking shelter, he is 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.

What drives Robinson to chase a violent storm instead of turning 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.”

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.”

Severe weather in Canada reaches its peak during the summer, and Robinson 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.

Just as the summer storm season was kicking off, Mitsubishi Motors of Canada and Pelmorex Corp., which owns and operates a number of high-profile weather-related brands, announced they were partnering together to make the Japanese manufacturer the official all-weather vehicle of The Weather Network and MétéoMédia.

"This partnership goes beyond media placement and includes brand integration, storytelling and vehicles that will allow our teams to venture out into severe weather conditions safely and with confidence," said Tami Coughlan, Head of Sales, The Weather Network."

Wrapped in an eye-catching and bold design that captures the dynamic nature of weather, the Mitsubishi SUVs are equipped with advanced safety features including Super All-Wheel Control, 360° camera views, reverse auto-tilt mirrors, additional airbags, and a tire pressure monitoring system. The Mitsubishi Outlander is designed inside and out to ensure Pelmorex teams in key markets can safely navigate through various weather conditions and provide on-the-ground reporting to deliver critical weather information to viewers.

“We believe this is a fitting partnership between our two brands,” said Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada President and CEO Kenji Harada. “Canadians are increasingly choosing Mitsubishi vehicles because they know they are safe, reliable and built for the Canadian lifestyle and weather conditions with our Super All-Wheel Control system. Similarly, we know Canadians rely on The Weather Network and MeteoMedia all year-long to keep them informed.”

Robinson drove his Outlander PHEV to Barrie, Ontario, in mid-June, where the forecast predicted extensive storm development.

“We were smack dab in the middle of the storm's core with hail and almost zero visibility,” he said. “It felt like it was in the middle of a blizzard, and the car was amazing. It just stuck to the ground.”

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.

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.