Today we’d like to introduce you to Brook Smith
Hi Brook, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve been fascinated by weather for as long as I can remember—going back about 20 years, to when I was just 4 or 5 years old. During a tornado watch, I once asked my mom if some headlights off in the distance were a tornado—I had no clue what a tornado really was at the time! Let’s just say, I’ve learned a thing or two since then.
A few years later, my elementary school took a trip to a nearby college that had been hit hard by a tornado. Most of the campus, including the chapel, still showed scars from the storm, but the Eternal Flame kept burning, untouched by the winds that shattered every chapel window. As a young Christian, this really caught my attention and sparked my curiosity about how weather works. From there, my love for all things weather-related took off. Whether it was TV shows, books—fiction or non-fiction—I wanted it all! I loved the weather books from the Scholastic Book Fair, the Storm Chasers TV show, and Twisters on Tuesday from the Magic Treehouse series.
By 3rd grade, I was telling everyone I wanted to be a meteorologist, and that passion stayed with me through middle school and high school. In 2017, I started my weather journey on Instagram with “brooksweatheradventures,” encouraged by friends and family to share my love for weather online.
When I got to college, I declared a major in Atmospheric Sciences at UND. I loved my first year—the classes, the professors—but eventually, the curriculum made me feel a bit disconnected from my love for weather. So, midway through my sophomore year, I decided to switch majors, hoping it would help me see things from a new angle. While it didn’t instantly bring back my passion, it did lead to a slow rediscovery, and by the summer of 2019, I was back in love with weather. The same summer, I wanted to bring a fresh feel to my weather Instagram- something to bring the brand more relatable to me and who I was. After brainstorming with my then-friend (now husband), I came up with the name “Freckled Weather,” inspired by the freckles that cover my face every summer.
By 2020, storm chasing had become a regular part of my life, though I was pretty basic about it—just using the SPC outlook to chase storms in a general area. In 2021, I saw my first aurora, which added another layer to my weather obsession. I got my first camera in late 2021 and started capturing the beauty of storms, auroras, and landscapes. 2022 was a whirlwind year—I got married, moved to a new city, and started my career. So when 2023 arrived, I was ready to dive headfirst into storm chasing, beyond just watching them roll through town. My husband spent countless hours helping me relearn and refresh everything I’d studied about forecasting in college, so I could chase my dreams… literally. Even though 2023 didn’t bring many severe storms to my area, it all felt like preparation for what was to come- 2024.
I saw a crazy amount of storms in 2024, including a couple maybe-nadoes to start off the season and ended the season with a powerhouse of a storm on the ND/SD border, seeing 5 tornadoes in one day. It was a really crazy and cool year that started off with a sweet opportunity to partner with the Tornado Titans, a group of chasers I have looked up to since high school. The following months included many amazing storms, meeting other local chasers, and being recognized and complimented by people in the weather community I have looked up to for years.
I cannot wait to see what the future holds!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has been a relatively smooth road, but it has come with many learning curves. When I started taking storm chasing seriously, I had to learn how to forecast effectively for my chases. Additionally, I needed to develop strong marketing skills to present my art well and familiarize myself with several new cameras. Despite the challenges, it has been an exciting journey filled with valuable opportunities!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a storm chaser based in North Dakota, specializing in capturing both storms and the Northern Lights. While these are my main passions, I love all types of photography. What sets me apart is my dedication to capturing nature’s most powerful moments while also drawing closer to God through His creation. I take pride in chasing my dreams—trying new experiences, improving my forecasting skills, and sharing the love of extreme weather and Jesus with others.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My husband has been my biggest cheerleader, teacher, and supporter throughout this journey. As a meteorologist himself, he has always been willing to help me deepen my understanding of forecasting and weather. We initially bonded over our shared love for weather when we met. He played a key role in refreshing my forecasting knowledge from my time as a meteorology major in college, especially when I decided to dedicate more time to storm chasing as a hobby.
Growing up, my family was incredibly supportive, and I am endlessly grateful for that. I’m also blessed with a wonderful group of friends who have been amazing supporters along the way.
Another key mentor and inspiration for me has been the Tornado Titans, a group that welcomed me into their partner program in 2024. This program played a significant role in helping me grow both in my weather knowledge and in the art of capturing storms through video and photography.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://freckledweatherphoto.mypixieset.com/
- Instagram: @freckled_weather
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/freckledweather/
- Twitter: https://x.com/freckledweather?lang=en
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@FreckledWeather
