Travelers comparing the 2027 and 2028 schedules may notice that the tour structure remains almost identical while the calendar dates move slightly earlier. Both seasons begin with Southern Plains packages, continue through the peak May period, and finish with Central and Northern Plains tours in June.
The main difference is simple: every 2028 package starts two calendar days earlier than its 2027 equivalent. This changes the exact arrival and chase dates without changing the tour order, duration or general seasonal focus.
Why Every 2028 Package Moves Two Days Earlier
The 2027 schedule uses Saturday arrival dates followed by Sunday chase starts. The 2028 calendar follows the same weekly pattern, but the matching Saturdays and Sundays fall two dates earlier.
For example, Tour 1 in 2027 requires arrival on May 1 and begins chasing on May 2. In 2028, arrival moves to April 29 and chasing begins on April 30.
The same adjustment continues through the schedule. This appears to preserve the established weekend-arrival structure while keeping each package in a similar part of the severe-weather season.
Early-May Tour Differences
The opening packages remain focused on the Southern Plains, but their exact dates change:
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Tour 1 2027: arrival May 1; chasing May 2–7
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Tour 1 2028: arrival April 29; chasing April 30–May 5
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Tour 2 2027: arrival May 8; chasing May 9–14
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Tour 2 2028: arrival May 6; chasing May 7–12
The 2028 schedule therefore begins in April, even though most of Tour 1 still takes place in early May.
Travelers should pay close attention to this earlier requirement. A flight booked for May 1 would already miss the first active chase day.
Mid-May and Late-May Changes
The same two-day shift applies to Tours 3 and 4:
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Tour 3 moves from May 16–21 in 2027 to May 14–19 in 2028
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Tour 4 moves from May 23–28 in 2027 to May 21–26 in 2028
The seasonal purpose remains similar. Tour 3 stays within the peak Southern Plains period, while Tour 4 continues to cover a highly regarded late-May chase window.
These earlier dates may affect annual-leave requests, hotel reservations and international flight planning. Travelers should use the schedule for the correct year rather than assuming that a familiar package begins on the same numbered date.
Tour 5 and Tour 5A Differences
Tour 5 and the longer Tour 5A also move two days earlier in 2028.
In 2027, both packages use May 29 as the arrival date. Tour 5 runs from May 30 through June 4, while Tour 5A continues through June 8.
In 2028, arrival moves to May 27. Tour 5 runs from May 28 through June 2 and Tour 5A continues through June 6.
The package lengths remain unchanged. Tour 5 still provides six chase days and five hotel nights, while Tour 5A provides ten chase days and nine hotel nights.
June Tour Differences
The later tours follow the same pattern:
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Tour 6 moves from June 13–18 in 2027 to June 11–16 in 2028
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Tour 7 moves from June 20–25 in 2027 to June 18–23 in 2028
The regional focus remains consistent. Tour 6 follows the season into the Central Plains, while Tour 7 is designed around the later Northern Plains period.
Travelers considering Tour 6 should note that its 2028 arrival date is June 10 rather than June 12. Tour 7 requires arrival on June 17 instead of June 19.
What Does Not Change
Although the dates move earlier, the basic package structure remains familiar:
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Six-day tours include five active-tour hotel nights
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Tour 5A remains the ten-day option with nine hotel nights
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Wichita, Kansas, remains the base city
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Arrival takes place one day before active chasing
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Routes remain flexible and weather-led
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Forecasting, transportation, fuel, guides, drivers, briefings and guaranteed window seats remain included
The date change affects travel planning, not the need to follow the strongest practical weather opportunity.
Planning for the Correct Year
Travelers should verify the year before booking flights or hotels. The most common mistake would be using a 2027 date while reserving a 2028 package.
Before purchasing non-refundable travel, confirm the tour number, arrival date, first chase day, final chase day and outside hotel requirements.
Conclusion
The 2028 schedule differs from 2027 mainly because every package begins two calendar days earlier. The tour order, duration, base city and seasonal progression remain largely unchanged.
The shift keeps the packages aligned with similar weekly and seasonal windows, but it creates important differences for flights, hotels and annual-leave planning.
Travelers should always use the exact dates shown for their selected year. Reviewing the schedule carefully will help prevent missed departures and make the wider Wichita travel plan easier to organize.