Storm spotters can be either stationary or mobile.

If you are a stationary spotter (for example if you spot from your home or from work), you will have no choice in your position relative to the storm you are viewing. You will have to deal with what Mother Nature gives you.

If you are a mobile spotter, then positioning is very important with respect to visibility and safety. When storm spotting in a vehicle, one should always keep safety in mind. While one needs to be close enough to the thunderstorm to observe details below the updraft, a safety zone should be maintained.

This will depend on the particular storm and roads available, but try to maintain a ONE TO TWO MILE SAFETY ZONE. In the above example, we see a thunderstorm viewed from the southwest (looking northeast) at a distance not close enough to see details under the updraft. We can see the flanking line off to the right, the updraft towers on the back of the storm, and the thunderstorm anvil.

When possible, it is best to view a thunderstorm using the right-hand rule. This means that one should be positioned so the thunderstorm is moving from one's left to his/her right. For example, if a thunderstorm was moving from the west to the east, one would want to be south of the storm and looking toward the north. If the thunderstorm is moving toward the southeast, one would want to be positioned southwest of the storm looking northeast toward the storm. In both cases, the thunderstorm would be moving toward the right with respect to the spotter. If the storm is moving to your right, then the updraft portion of the thunderstorm should be situated between the viewer and the heavier rainfall. This should give a fairly unobstructed view of the base of the updraft. In the above example, the spotter is looking toward the west or northwest as the thunderstorm moves to the northeast. The darker area to the right is rainfall in the downdraft, while the lighter area toward the left is the updraft. In this position, the heavier rainfall will not block the spotter's view You are in good position to see the updraft and any funnels or tornadoes that could form.

Not all storm spotting conditions are ideal. Storm circulations can be wrapped in rain. Supercells can be embedded in squall-lines. Keep in mind that every storm and situation is different. There will be instances when your best view is from a direction totally contrary to what one would normally expect. Also, if mobile spotting, keep in mind that often times a supercell will have a tendency to curve to the right. In other words it will want to curve toward your spotter position. This will force a spotter to reposition him/herself further south than what one would normally expect.