Storm Chasers Tim and Paul Samaras, Carl Young killed in OK Tornado

[Shutterbug]

This makes me so sad. I remember Tim Samaras from the Discovery Channel's Storm Chasers.

According to one report when they found the car, the Tim was still strapped in but his son Paul and Carl Young were both pulled from the car by the tornado with one of them being found a half mile away.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/storm-chasers-tim-samaras-paul-samaras-carl-young/story?id=19308572#.UawCX5XxZFI

If I remember from series Tim was the one always playing it safe. I wondered what happened?

This same tornado ripped the hood from Reed Timmer's armored chase vehicle.

 

[Feralpeg]

I think we tend to forget just how dangerous storm chasing really is. Those men put themselves in very dangerous situations to get those amazing videos.

According to the article I read, the storm changed directions unexpectedly and they could not get out of harms way. At least they died doing something they loved.

 

[tennvalgirl]

Is this the same tornado that picked up The Weather Channel's Mike Bettes? He said the tornado they were videotaping changed direction on them.

 

[Elmo9607]

This is so shocking, so devastating. The tornado was quite large, rain wrapped, and behaving erratically. Tim and the TWISTEX crew were some of the safest, most level headed chasers out there. I was really hoping to meet him someday, he seemed so down to earth. He died doing what he loved, but that doesn't make it any easier

And yes, it was the same tornado that tossed Mike Bettes. These guys are pros, they have been either chasing storms or doing weather for years and years...just goes to show how incredibly dangerous storm chasing is. Hopefully these events will keep some of the amateur chasers off the road.

 

[tennvalgirl]

This is so shocking, so devastating. The tornado was quite large, rain wrapped, and behaving erratically. Tim and the TWISTEX crew were some of the safest, most level headed chasers out there.

That is so sad

I wonder if Samaras had only ever chased tornadoes in the plains where they are usually easy to see. Rain-wrapped tornadoes are the norm around Alabama and they are SO difficult to see and nearly impossible to track their direction.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I was watching the Weather Channel today and they were remembering them and talking about their advancements with regard to forecasting.

RIP to the Chasers.....

ETA...Here is a remembrance for them from the Weather Channel.

http://www.weather.com/video/weather-community-remembers-three-37107

 

[Elmo9607]

That is so sad

I wonder if Samaras had only ever chased tornadoes in the plains where they are usually easy to see. Rain-wrapped tornadoes are the norm around Alabama and they are SO difficult to see and nearly impossible to track their direction.

He always said chasing in the South was very dangerous and while he did chase there he was never very willing to go. One episode of Storm Chasers...can't remember which one it was, but they were in the Southern states (AK, MS) and he kept commenting how dangerous the chase was.

 

[mombrontrent]

I have never heard of these people before but it is sad to hear of their passing. I would never say that a storm chaser getting killed by a tornado was shocking though. It's highly dangerous and it sounds like they were fully aware of the risks.

 

[MissManda]

I remember seeing them on Storm Chasers. You could tell on the show that even though he wanted to be able to collect data from the storms that he was also very safety conscious. I was so shocked/saddened to hear these guys had been killed.

Tim had 30 years experience doing this. What a huge loss to the meteorology and scientific world.

It just goes to show what a dangerous and unpredictable storm this was. Not only did it kill these guys, but the Weather Channel crew is lucky to be alive, and it damaged Reed Timmer's vehicle (I had they were right behind the Weather Channel guys).

Just shows how powerful Mother Nature can be.

So sad.

 

[Shutterbug]

I remember seeing them on Storm Chasers. You could tell on the show that even though he wanted to be able to collect data from the storms that he was also very safety conscious. I was so shocked/saddened to hear these guys had been killed.

Tim had 30 years experience doing this. What a huge loss to the meteorology and scientific world.

It just goes to show what a dangerous and unpredictable storm this was. Not only did it kill these guys, but the Weather Channel crew is lucky to be alive, and it damaged Reed Timmer's vehicle (I had they were right behind the Weather Channel guys).

Just shows how powerful Mother Nature can be.

So sad.

CNN reported that his vehicle was smashed and twisted beyond recognition.

Mike Bettes was on the Weather Channel this morning talking about his incident. They were on the wrong side of the storm. Did a quick video broadcast then jumped into the vehicles to get south of it when it turned and one of the suction vortices got his vehicle. The camera was ejected from the car and actually filmed the vehicle being rolled.

http://www.weather.com/video/inside-tumbling-twc-vehicle-37089

 

[Jennasis]

The news this morning said one body in the wreck while the other 2 were found 1/4 mile away in opposite directions.

 

[Mickey'sMainMami]

Was really sad when I read that on MSN this morning.

 

[rszdtrvl]

The TWISTEX crew was one of THE SAFEST stormchasers out there. Tim was always soooo careful not to put his crew in harms way. I always watched Stormchasers when it was on the Discovery channel, and even have a "TVN" t-shirt, LOL.

Tim will truly be missed - I was shocked when my mom called me up to tell me yesterday.

My brother got to meet him and his crew, along with the TIV and Sean Casey during their stint at the Minneapolis state fair last year. He is taking the death of Tim and his crew pretty hard.

 

[Thundergod]

This tornado was not rain wrapped. It was in an open area. Tim and his guys were lined up along highway 81. It's unclear if they got caught up with other chasers and couldn't get away or if they were trying to help others.

The tornado took a sharp turn north and those along hw 81 that were once in a safe place were now directly in harms way. There were countless numbers of storm chasers along that stretch. This is the same area and same tornado that caught Reed Timmer and the Weather Channel guys off guard and also a KFOR storm chasing crew off guard.

Chasing in Oklahoma is one of the better places except for the fact you have a bunch of amateurs out there too. It's places like Arkansas and further east where you can't see due to the hills and trees that makes it highly dangerous.

Tim Samaras was one of the safest and well respected scientist out there. This just shows the nature of these storms and no matter how much you know about these things they can still be unpredictable.

 

[Shutterbug]

...... This is the same area and same tornado that caught Reed Timmer and the Weather Channel guys off guard and also a KFOR storm chasing crew off guard....

It took the hood off Reed Trimmers "armored" chase vehicle

https://twitter.com/reedtimmerTVN/status/340750458836623363/photo/1

 

[Thundergod]

Just an update, this tornado has been upgraded and now was the widest tornado ever recorded.

http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/na...pgrades-el-reno-tornado-to-ef-5-26-miles-wide


one more of the deaths was another storm chaser(though an amateur)
richard henderson

 

[Sheree Bobbins]

After viewing the video, I see the extent of the loss of these amazing researchers. It is so very tragic to their families, friends and to the scientific community as well.