Weather film may take viewers by storm

AUSTIN (KXAN) - A new virtual weather exhibit is about to take The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum by storm.

"Wild Texas Weather" is a 4D theater presentation that will literally blow audiences right out of their seats with the gale-force interaction.

The latest attraction takes audiences on a 22-minute weather journey, exposing them to Texas weather conditions such as hurricanes, thunderstorms, droughts and flash floods.

Special effects such as simulating wind, rain, lightning and fog will help audiences truly experience the state’s severe weather.

"Wild Texas Weather" trailer

The film is narrated by legendary Texas singer-songwriter Ray Wylie Hubbard and features artists Omar Kent Dykes, Toni Price and Carolyn Wonderland. Austinite David Hamburger composed the original score.

The idea for this weather exhibit actually came from one of KXAN's First Warning Weather team members, Shawn Rutherford .

Rutherford was watching a presentation at the Texas Spirit Theater years ago when he started thinking about an interactive weather presentation.

"As I was sitting there, I was thinking, 'These are weather elements,'" said Rutherford. "I thought this would be really cool if we could work this into a history lesson of all the kinds of weather we have in Texas. Everybody knows we have just about everything."

Rutherford wanted a safe and fun way for everyone to experience the incredible power of Mother Nature.

"Kids really haven't experienced it," said Rutherford. "As parents, we try to protect them from those things, but they kind of get a safe exposure to it."

Museum workers are almost finished with the movie, and the weather exhibit opens Oct. 26.

Tickets for the Texas Spirit Theater are $5 for adults; $4 for seniors, military, students, and children under 18. Discounts are applied when purchasing museum combination tickets.

Tickets may be purchased at Museum Ticketing by calling (512) 936-4649 or by visiting TheStoryofTexas.com .