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jenni hughes

Jenni Hughes, a Tuscaloosa, Alabama native, has been chasing storms across the country for over 23 years. Her journey began as a weather-obsessed child attending Spotter classes and riding alongside her mother on storm spotting trips. At just 16, she hit the road solo as a storm chaser, intercepting her first tornado by 17. Jenni’s mission has always been about more than the chase — it’s about delivering life-saving early warnings and being there in the aftermath to help those impacted. Her experience during the tragic April 27, 2011 EF-4 tornado in Tuscaloosa, where she took part in search and rescue efforts, was a turning point that deepened her resolve. Since then, she has carried medical gear and chainsaws on every chase, always ready to assist. Today, Jenni proudly chases alongside her daughter, Valerie Hughes, passing on both knowledge and purpose. Together, they work tirelessly to bring ground truth reporting to the forefront and to serve those in need. Jenni is also writing about her experiences in the field to help others understand the heart, grit, and humanity behind storm chasing.

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A woman in a beige floral dress and a woman in a black dress with a graduation cap are standing outdoors in front of trees, smiling at the camera.
A woman with red hair, glasses, and a pink shirt, taking a selfie in front of a field with a dark storm cloud in the sky.
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A woman with long blonde hair wearing sunglasses and a gray shirt, smiling in front of a mountain landscape with dark clouds overhead.