Kelley and Randy were beloved members of the weather community. After completing his education, Reed Timmer shortly worked for a radio company. He loved it, and we were so happy for him, his mother Beth Short told WMAQ-TV. The Bureau of Forensic Sciences of Puerto Rico confirmed that the. Some episodes were also filmed in Dixie Alley, an area in the southeastern United States that is particularly vulnerable to violent tornadoes. The presenter began working on the hit show as a spotter for veteran Sean Casey. Read more about that here. Of the 60 EF5 tornadoes to hit since 1950, Oklahoma and Alabama have been hit the most - seven times each. More than half of those were people who had been cut or pierced. These people are willing to risk being killed by floods or 100-kilometer-an-hour winds for the excitement of watching the storm close up. Storm chasers killed after tornado rips through Kansas By Associated Press 11:26am May 1, 2022 A tornado that barrelled through parts of Kansas destroyed or damaged hundreds of homes and buildings, injured several people and left more than 15,000 people without power, officials said Saturday. We met Casey and his TIV-2 at SEMA two years ago. The worst day in the history of chasing was May 31, 2013, when a ferocious tornado killed three veteran chasers Tim Samaras, 55, his son, Paul Samaras, 24, and chase partner Carl Young, 45 . Produced by Original Media, the program followed several teams of storm chasers as they attempted to intercept tornadoes in the United States. On Tuesday, Storm Chasers star Joel Taylor died at 38. His body was found but the wildlife officer is still listed as missing. It truly is sad that we lost my great brother Tim and his great son, Paul. He graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno with a masters degree in atmospheric science. Officials in St. Charles County also reported that local schools suffered some damage. Discovery says it has been updated with 'Stormchasers' footage of the researchers. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 'If you live in downtown Oklahoma City, please go below ground. Storm chasers with cameras in their car transmitted video showing a number of funnels dropping from the supercell thunderstorm as it passed south of El Reno and toward downtown Oklahoma City. Tornado warnings were also posted Friday night near Tulsa and near St. Louis. }; RELATED: Scientists Put an Eye in the Heart of the Storm, Terry Garcia, Executive Vice President, National Geographic Society said Samaras was "a courageous and brilliant scientist who fearlessly pursued tornadoes and lightning in the field in an effort to better understand these phenomena. The tornado swept up the tornado-hunt truck he and a crew were traveling in, tossed it 200 yards into a field and smashed it to the ground. Mississippi school board upholds firing of administrator o Carole Baskin claims her dead husband found alive but no one noticed last year, I went to McDonalds drive-thru for lunch but left with bags of cash instead, Accused Idaho killer's unsealed search warrants reveal blood-stained mattress cover, Madonna: Im struggling to understand how to be a mother, Jen Shah posts, deletes cryptic message about the truth after prison sentencing, Kardashians are confused, concerned about Kanye Wests new marriage, Kitten born with same 'Zorro' mask as her father, The View Derailed by Audience Member Calling Whoopi Goldberg An Old Broad, Shakira allegedly discovered Gerard Piqu's cheating because of a jam jar. Stay tuned. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Great guys. Taylors team, from the website TornadoVideos.Net, consisted of meteorologist Reed Timmer and Chris Chittick, a photographer/probe technician. Standing water was several feet deep, and in some places it looked more like a hurricane had passed through than a tornado. According to meteorologists about six to eight inches of rain fell in a 12 hour period between 7 p.m. Friday and 7 a.m. Saturday. This story has been shared 108,939 times. The Storm Prediction Center said. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Large, long-lasting thunderstorms known as supercells are responsible for producing the strongest tornadoes, along with large hail and other dangerous winds. Samaras, 55, his son Paul, 24, and Young, 45, were all killed while trying to document and research the storm. Hail and high winds were the chief threat, though a tornado could not be ruled out, forecasters said. 'They had no place to go, and that's always a bad thing. "I'm not sure exactly why I chase storms. The family sheltered from the storm in a hospital parking garage. Then he joined the University of Oklahoma, where he studied meteorology. I still see handfuls of chasers on any given event continue to slice through the bears cage in search of the most dramatic footage., Chad Cowan, a photographer and filmmaker who pursues storms, also said he hasnt seen much altered behavior. 'My car was actually lifted off the road and then set back down,' Ms Black said. A memorial fund was set up by Discovery after his death. Flood waters up to 4ft deep hampered rescue attempts and frequent lightning roiled the skies well after the main threat had passed to the east. There is also the ethical question of whether close-up tornado footage from veteran chasers inspires copycat actions from beginners that places them in danger. Unlike many other reality stars, Reed Timmer puts his life at risk as one can also die during their work. She quickly regretted it. By Peter Gicas. With the severe weather knocking out power to nearly 120,000 customers in Oklahoma, according to electricity provider OG&E. Three storm chasers, including well-known tornado researcher Tim Samaras, were killed in the latest violent storm to hit Oklahoma. Matt Hughes 2010 SuicideAndy Gabrielson 2012 Traffic AccidentTim Samaras 2013 TornadoPaul Samaras 2013 TornadoCarl Young 2013 TornadoHerb Stein 2016 Cancer. Young started out working on Hollywood film sets until he was inspired to study the science of tornado dynamics. Even though Storm Chasers ended its run in 2012, Matts courage to face tornadoes and bring viewers the best coverage will always be remembered. She raised 3 kids while inspiring hundreds of students as a science teacher! Television images showed downed power lines and tossed cars as the storm systems dumped at least three inches of rain, stranding motorists in flood water. The property still open to the public is undergoing a moderate remodeling to clean it up and fix dilapidated structures, Weston said. The 25-year-old man, who was raised in Aurora, died in a collision with a vehicle driven by fellow storm chaser Kelley Gene Williamson, 57, of Cassville, Mo. Learn how your comment data is processed. Samaras' brother, Jim Samaras posted a statement on Tim Samaras' Facebook book early Sunday morning: "It truly is sad that we lost my great brother Tim and his great son, Paul. wid: "428986", 'It's not even close to anything like what we had last week,' Smith said. Martha Llanos Rodriguez, 30, of Mexico City, died when a semitrailer rear-ended a car she was riding in on Interstate 90 after Rodriguezs vehicle stopped short to avoid downed power lines, authorities said. In Missouri three people died in three counties after rivers rose to dangerous levels, and in Arkansas a sheriff was killed by flooding in Scott County on Friday. First responders rushed him to the hospital. How much money do storm chasers make? At present, he is free of rumors and controversies. The statement read, We want the public to know what his many family, friends and coworkers already know; Matt Hughes was truly a wonderful and caring person with such a kind and loving spirit. The officers had to contend with hail and strong winds as they worked to help motorists. He was not killed in the course of chasing storms an obsession he pursued for 15 years but after suffering a fatal injury at his home. 'Use a telephoto lens for gosh sakes. { Five tornadoes battered the Oklahoma City area on Friday, while another tornado hit the Tulsa area early Saturday. Perhaps it's to witness the incredible beauty of what Mother Nature can create" Samaras said in a Youtube video posted on his website. Fans were shocked When Matt's death was announced after a Storm Chasers episode in November 2010. From left, Drake Brooks, Nicholas Nair, Gavin Short.. RIP Kelley Williamson, Randy Yarnall & Corbin Jaeger. Next year, he will enter his forties. There is certainly risk inherent in tornado chasing, as with every other hobby, but Im not going to let that stop me from doing what I love to do, Cowan said. Andy Gabrielson and the allegedly drunken driver, Gregory P. Gilcrease, 55, of Sapulpa, died at the scene. "He was a pioneer, he was getting things and teaching us things that no one else could do. Wake up to the day's most important news. Zee said Samaras left behind a legacy of work. Lisa Marie Presley, Benjamin's mother, reacted to the death via a statement released by her manager: "She is completely heartbroken, inconsolable and beyond devastated but trying to stay strong for . and Privacy Policy. He also received a Ph.D. degree in the same field. Overall, the tornado was responsible for eight fatalities and over 150 injuries. In a post titled 'RIP Matt', Blaser described on his blog how he was taken to hospital and spent several days in intensive care: "One of our KAKEland StormChasers, Matt Hughes, was taken to the hospital after trying to take his life. I'll never do it again.'. The three storm chasers were mourned online by the weather community: Condolences to the families of stormchasers Kelley Williamson, Randall Yamall, and Corbin Jaeger killed in a TX car crash today. Not to mention, Reed has also dated the Emmy-Award weathercaster, Ginger Zee, who works for ABCs Good Morning America. He was previously married to the famous star, Maria Molina. A man's body was found about 1 p.m. on Saturday in a creek just east of Dobbs Road in Harrah, said Mark Myers, a spokesman with the Oklahoma County Sheriff's office. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. One of them was found dead a half mile away. However, the duo couldnt continue their relationship and separated after some weeks of being in a married relationship. The same storm also injured three Weather Channel storm chasers. + qs; Although the official boundaries of Tornado Alley are not clearly defined, its core extends from northern Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas, into Nebraska. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use 'For reasons that are not clear to me, more people took to the roads, more than we expected. Rick Smith, the warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather Service at Norman, said that while the storm packed a powerful punch, it wasn't as strong as the Moore tornado. In case you missed what happened, keep reading to know more details about Matts tragic death. This means more people can potentially access tornadoes and place themselves in harms way. Today is a tragic day for the storm chasing community: RIP Kelley Williamson, Randall Yarnall and Corbin Jaeger. They all unfortunately passed away but doing what they loved.'. 3 veteran storm chasers killed by Oklahoma tornado KELLY P. KISSEL and THOMAS PEIPERT Associated Press Three veteran storm chasers were among the 10 people killed when a violent tornado barreled into the Oklahoma City metro area. RIP my best friend and storm chasing partner, Joel Taylor, he wrote. The 41-years old Timmer has a net worth of around $250 Thousand. According to Mr West, their vehicle looked ' like it had gone through a trash compactor' when it was found. He has over 715K followers on his Instagram. Jim Samaras told The Associated Press on Sunday that his brother Tim . Multiple vehicles including even snowplows struggled to navigate the snowy highways. The region was fortunate because the storm touched down mostly in rural areas and missed central Oklahoma City. If you have ever watched the Discovery Channels reality TV series, Storm Chasers, then you would probably know the famous American meteorologist and storm chaser, Reed Timmer. Tornado chasers are a passionate bunch and, for the most part, undeterred by the risks. The storm was headed toward Oklahoma City, which has more than a million people in the metro area. Matt left behind his wife, Kendra, and two sons, Hunter and Collin. shares. FACT CHECK: Dave Ramsey Made a Statement About America Online, FACT CHECK: CIA Director Gina Haspel Found Dead, FACT CHECK: Kwik Trip Launches Kwik Strip Gentlemens Clubs. 11 people killed in the latest round of tornadoes and severe weather to hit Oklahoma Friday night. But before their stalking of the dangerous vortex turned deadly, their cries could be heard by Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Betsy Randolph. Their answer: not really. Louise Boyle Ill miss you forever, Joel. 'I think we are still a little shaken by what happened in Moore. They were the first storm researchers ever killed while . fatal accident involving storm chasers. Thank you.". May 13, 2022 / 7:02 PM / CBS Minnesota. Samaras and his Twistex team came to Tuscaloosa to help with recovery in the aftermath of the 2011 tornadoes, Alabama storm chaser Tommy Self said. The live stream ended when when Williamson, 57, and Yarnall, 55, blew through a stop sign, police said, and smashed into Jaeger as he attempted to cross a remote Texas intersection. In June 2013, the Discovery Channel aired a Storm Chasers special, Mile Wide Tornado: Oklahoma Disaster, which covered the deadly tornado that hit El Reno, Oklahoma, in May of that year. Wednesday, January 18th 2023, 8:14 am . What was the reason for their divorce? Matts journey on Storm Chasers began as a spotter for leading storm chaser Sean Casey. The revelation at the end of last week's episode of Storm Chasers that one of its stars, Matt Hughes, had died months earlier . What Happened to Frank Fritz from American Pickers? We've received your submission. 'I'm not sure why people do that sort of stuff, but it is very dangerous.'. The live stream ended when when Williamson, 57,. id: "beb5f82f-dce3-49e6-a836-cf24eb78a6f6", 'The trees were leaning literally to the ground. 'It was chaos. Her death came after three other storm chasers had died in the Midwest over the last two weeks while tracking tornadoes, as severe weather pursuits like those depicted in the 1996 film Twister had been recently trending upward in the US, according to meteorologists and chasers. 'Tim's research included creation of a special probe he would place in the path of a twister to measure data from inside the tornado; his pioneering work on lightning was featured in the August 2012 issue of National Geographic magazine. Martha Llano Rodriguez of Mexico City, Mexico, died. The seasoned storm chaser had dedicated his life to extreme weather, following storms for a quarter of a century. Your goal is to shoot the best twisters pictures without dying because . Tim Samaras, 55, along with his son, Paul Samaras, 24, and Carl Young, 45, died on Friday in El Reno after a tornado that packed winds of up to 165 mph picked up their car and threw it, somersaulting, a half a mile. Targeting DFW TX area today, A post shared by Reed Timmer (@reedtimmer) on May 8, 2019 at 5:05am PDT. In a separate incident, Brandon Sullivan and Brett Wright captured heart stopping footage of their exploits getting too close to the powerful twister near Union City, in southwest Oklahoma City. The salaries of Storm Chasers in the US range from $12,621 to $339,998 , with a median salary of $61,444 . Tim Samaras, 55, dedicated the last three decades to learning about tornadoes. It dumped around 8 inches of rain on Oklahoma City in the span of a few hours and made the tornado difficult to spot for motorists trying to beat it home. Rush hour traffic in the morning of Jan. 18 slowed to a crawl in Denver, Colorado, in the midst of a winter storm. His pioneering work included the development of probes which when left in the path of a tornado, can measure pressure drops. The documentary-style reality TV series premiered in October 2007. Matt was in the hospital for several days in intensive care, there was a 24 hour vigil outside the waiting room, family, other chasers, business associates, etc.". Three storm chasers died in a car crash near Spur, Texas, on Tuesday while reportedly live streaming a nearby storm. 'I'm wondering if the tornadoes from a couple of weeks ago didn't frighten people so badly that this time they were taking no chances and trying to evade it by car,' said Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett. The worry soon turned to flash flooding and floodwaters topped four feet in Oklahoma City on Saturday morning. 'We're scrambling around,' said Lara O'Leary, a spokeswoman for the local ambulance agency. The elder Samaras' body was still belted into their Chevrolet Cobalt, which was found on an unimproved county road parallel to Interstate 40. A meteorologist was killed in a car crash caused by severe weather while chasing a storm in Minnesota Wednesday. As of 2021, Reed Timmer is spending a single life. Three University of Oklahoma students were killed on April 29 after driving to Kansas to chase a twister, police said. On . This spring's tornado season got a late start, with unusually cool weather keeping funnel clouds at bay until mid-May. Whats too close for an amateur is different than it is for an experienced chaser. We are so saddened to hear about Joels passing. The Associated Press contributed to this report. It included his final storm intercept. Though we sometimes take it for granted, Tim's death is a stark reminder of the risks encountered regularly by the men and women who work for us. Drivers were encouraged to stay off the roads on Saturday, as emergency crews started to repair the flood-damaged roads and bridges, and began clearing trees and other debris from roadways to make it easier for first responders to get to the areas hit by the tornadoes. Jan 18, 2023 Updated 3 min ago. Seeing storms within their natural context has scientific and broader value so I am not anti-chasing, however, there are elements that have become a little wild, wild West-ish.. They were killed near El Reno in an EF3 tornado with winds up to 165 mph that ripped through the Oklahoma City area during rush hour. Storm chasers keep an even closer eye on weather data, but for a different reason. Still, for many the potential rewards outweighed the dangers, he said. This story has been shared 227,311 times. 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