Dar and Tree Tanner have been chasing weather in Central Alberta for more than a decade.
The Alix duo began taking pictures of storms and skies, both in the daytime and nighttime, with their phones 12 years ago.
About two years later, the self-taught photographers upgraded to DSLRs and began posting weather pictures to social media regularly. Their Team Tanner Aurora and Weather Chasers Facebook page now has more than 7,000 followers.
“We just love anything to do with weather and the sky. We always have,” said Dar.
Dar said the two of them have had a passion for weather since they were young. The two didn’t know each other at the time, but Dar said the 1987 Edmonton tornado caught their attention.
“We both (experienced) that big tornado in 1987. I was in Edmonton and Tree was on her way to Edmonton. We didn’t know each other then, but that opened our eyes to weather back when we were a lot younger,” she recalled.
“That was a scary day, Black Friday. I remember we were told to go to our basements. There were people from another country next door to us who were in the basement for seven hours because nobody told them to come out. Those poor guys.”
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Central Alberta is a great location for weather chasing, Dar said, adding that “you never know” what you’ll see when in the area.
“There could be really good storms coming from Drayton Valley, Rocky Mountain House, going through Leduc and the Camrose area. But for all we know there could be something in Olds or Innisfail. You never really know,” she said.
But 2022 hasn’t been too exciting of a year for weather chasing in Central Alberta so far, she noted.
“First we needed the moisture. We’re good with the moisture, but now we need the daytime heating to get really good storms,” she said.
“This has been a light season for us. It’s started late and hasn’t been that severe really. (Thursday) looks to be one of the best days so far this year. But who knows how it’s going to turnout.
“We hope to be out the whole day and half the night even.”
The two met 17 years ago and celebrated their 15th anniversary on Thursday. Dar said a storm would be an excellent anniversary present for the two.
For more on Team Tanner, visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/treeanddar.
sean.mcintosh@reddeeradvocate.com
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