Music teacher by day, storm chaser by night.

Rachael Smith has found her passion in tracking wild weather, aside from educating students about music at Ecole Elmwood School in Altona.

It's been four years since Smith picked up the hobby, but her interest in tornadoes and everything alike has lingered since she first watched the 1996 movie called Twister when she was 10 years old.

"After watching that movie it kind of changed my life a little bit, because I became really fascinated with tornadoes," she said. "I remember going to the library the next time I could and I started researching these storms because I was fascinated."

Although her education background is not in weather science, Smith has kept up to date with research by reading articles and following fellow storm chasers on social media. She has since become involved with local groups such as NZP Chasers and Manitoba Storm Chasers. This has enabled Smith to travel across North America to tornado hot spots like Kansas, Oklahoma, North Dakota, Saskatchewan, and throughout Manitoba.

"There's always something new I see, something new I learn," Smith said. "My faith is very important to me and I don't actually fear going out. I feel like if God has put something in your heart you need to follow it, there's a reason. My faith is very strong, I just know he's going to protect me."

Especially this year, Smith says she has wondered why God has given her an interest in storms. She suspects it's the opportunities that appear in the aftermath of the weather events.

"These storms can hurt people, they can take everything that a person has, but I've learned in life it's not the material things that are important, it's the people around you," she said. "My goal now is to help those in need, whether it's spiritual, whether it's financial, whatever they need."

Smith recalls the first time she encountered a tornado two years ago near Rocklake, N.D.

"It touched down and I was speechless, I don't think I said anything; I was in complete awe," she said.

An hour later she saw her second tornado, almost a kilometre away from where she was situated. Since she began storm chasing, Smith has witnessed five tornadoes touch down. Depending on the dynamics of the weather on Saturday, Smith is prepared to chase her sixth.

"I feel pretty blessed to have this as part of my life, because you definitely feel really, really close to God in those moments."