Josh Mogermann says that the show let the viewers experience the brute force of nature at close quarters as trees and houses are ripped from the ground and thrown skyward

What prompted you to bring a series like Hurricane Man?

I’d been appearing on weather shows for years but they were not just small ones. I can recall the day a British TV producer approached me with his idea for a show, which follows me around the world on my dangerous storm chasing missions. There have been many TV series about tornado chasers but none about hurricane chasers. So I thought it was a great idea. Within six months, Sony BBC Earth approved the project and we started shooting.

The show let the viewers experience dangerous hurricanes from a front-row seat from different viewpoints. In each episode, one crew follows me as I hunt the hurricane's eye to collect data; the second crew stays with a local family to experience the storm through their eyes and third crew embeds with emergency services as they rescue people. The series started with a big bang: Category-5 Hurricane Michael, the fourth-strongest hurricane in American history.

How do you predict hurricanes and what compels you to run towards them?

I use several complex programmes that predict the weather. Like crystal balls, the models show me what might happen in the future. These models usually predict a hurricane days before it actually forms. So they help me anticipate a chase well in advance. It’s complicated to explain my love for chasing hurricanes. My obsession goes far back. I guess I was born with it. I grew up on an island off the East Coast of the USA. Even as a small kid, I remember getting excited when a hurricane would approach. As the wind howled, the trees waved, the house shook, I’d always have an emotional reaction to it, almost like I was taking a drug. I have mixed emotions about them. They’re truly horrible in one sense but I get a special feeling when I’m in one and I can’t resist it. I’ve spent my whole life hunting that feeling again and again. That’s why I chase them.

Have you ever faced life-threatening situations while tracking storms and other natural disasters?

I have faced life-threatening situations many times. I have been in buildings as they’ve blown apart from the force of the wind and the ones that have gone under water. I have rescued and protected several people on more than a few occasions. Despite all this, I have been lucky. Even after 28 years of chasing, I have only had some scratches and bruises.

What factors affect the number of tropical storms?

There are many factors. One thing I have noticed is that the activity is cyclical. It goes up and down quite a bit and different oceans are active in different years. For example, usually when the Atlantic is busy, the Pacific is slow and vice versa. This year has been weird because it’s been unusually quiet in both oceans. Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas was an exception.

What is the key to have a presence of mind at such complex situations?

Over the years, I have only gotten better at this — keeping my mind steady and focussed when a situation gets stressful or scary. The key is to take long and steady breaths. It quietens the mind and keeps you from freaking out.