Many of you will know Tim Samaras from Discovery Channel’s ‘Storm Chasers’, but news is coming into TheWeatherSpace.com that he, his son, and chaser Carl Young were among the people killed in Friday’s El Reno EF3 Tornado.
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Respected storm chasers have confirmed it. Samaras has not posted on his Facebook or Twitter Account since then leading even more suspicion that the news is true. Even further, Samaras and myself exchange e-mails after every chase event to see how things went and if a story can be written. I’ve yet to hear from him and I always get something back after a chase, even late at night.
Samaras was known for his company Twistex. Twistex designed probes that would measure a tornado’s environment. However one thing about these probes is one has to get out and put it directly in the path of the tornado and then get out of there before it picks you up as well. This was very similar to the 1996 hit blockbuster ‘Twister’, in-which the ‘Dorothy’ probes were taken off trucks and put in the tornado’s path.
Friday’s tornado was a dangerous tornado because it suddenly turned north toward the group of chasers, unexpectedly. This happens when the tornadic storm cycles, it pulls the tornado north into the core. The tornado of Greensburg 2007 was another example of one that made sharp turns as it occluded into the supercell.
Those of you who might say he deserved it and be mean about it … and yes there are people like that out there. Samaras would stop to see if any storm chaser was okay. He would stop a chase if a chaser needed help with starting their car or even hurt. He wasn’t just out there for kicks like 98% of chasers today are. He was a friend to everyone in the chaser community and everyone out of it, like myself.
One thing I want to add is I am shocked simply because he put safety first and I would swear Timmer would have gone before him. The tornado took a hard north turn and this likely made a no way out situation for the team, the same turn that took out the weather channel’s team. This turn was sharp and unpredictable …
Among the ones who passed was Paul Samaras (Tim’s Son), and Carl Young, another storm chaser.
I remember that morning seeing the potential for dangerous tornadoes. I reminded people on TheWeatherSpace.com Facebook to take my forecast seriously. Violent tornadoes were expected and I issued the Enhanced Tornado Watch 005. It was the first watch issued before the media even got a hold of it, issued 2-3 hours before anyone else would have known one existed. That is the power of TWS Tornado Watch products.
Storm chasers were in the center of the watch box. Read this article on that because it is too much to put in this one.
RIP Tim, Paul, and Carl …
*** Deadly EF3 El Reno Tornado Path on 5/31/2013 ***
It was this sharp turn that took the lives of three storm chasers and almost killed The Weather Channel’s crew on Friday. Within the pink outlined area is the likely zone that took everyone by surprise.
The tornado was going east and then it made a sharp north turn. During occluding tornado situations this is always a danger. The teams were not aware nor prepared for this sudden sharp northeast turn and they couldn’t escape it.
It was confirmed by Jim Samaras … Tim’s brother.
Later in the morning/afternoon the Spotter Network of spotters and storm chasers punch in their coordinates on North Dakota to make a large T.S. , P.S., and C.Y. to pay tribute to their fallen.
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5 Comments
We were so shocked to see the news about Tim, Paul, & Carl! We were huge fans of Storm Chasers - loved the “extreme” mentality of Timmer, but had so much respect and admiration for the way Tim and his crew chased. My husband and I were talking about the passion Tim had for the scientific aspect of tornadoes. There are lots of ignorant people out there who just don’t understand the importance of people who are willing to take risks in the name of science - just like astronauts and any other kind of explorers. We’re so appreciative of Tim and his crew - they will be missed!
My heart goes out to the Samaras and Young family . I am so sad for you and sending love and prayers your way . Jim hugs maybe Father be with you and the Young family in this sad time . God bless all of you .
I am incredibly saddened by this news. These men were instrumental to tornado research and I don’t think they will ever know just how many admirers they had. They also do not know how many people they have helped. I recall Tim to be one of the most cautious storm chasers I’ve seen so this news is truly shocking. While some understand what a loss this is to mankind, others who don’t should be thankful for the many, many lessons and the many, many lives saved because of these men.
Oh my gosh, I am so sad to hear this I watched them all the time this is so so sad for me. I will miss them so much on the shows. They passed doing what they loved. Pray for there families as they need a circle of love around them at this time.
A True Hero, makes his, or her life about saving lives. They don’t think they are Hero’s, but they are, none the less. Storm Chasers are a special kind of Hero. IMO, like a Soldier, Policeman, Fireman, Fighter Pilots. They go into Battle with the enemy, knowing that this day may come, but none the less, they go.
I didn’t know these brave men, but none the less.. my heart cries for their loss, for Hero’s are a dying breed on Earth.
RIP Hero’s..