Famed storm chaser killed by multi-vortex Oklahoma tornado

[octoberlib]

Famed storm chaser Tim Samaras, along with his son Paul and fellow storm chaser Carl Young, were killed on Friday when a multi-vortex tornado hit El Reno, Oklahoma, family members revealed Sunday.

Samaras, featured by Discovery Channel’s “Storm Chasers,” appeared on MSNBC’s “The Cycle” just hours before losing his life as tornadoes menaced the Oklahoma City area for the second time in recent weeks. “The ingredients are coming together for a pretty volatile day,” he said.

Ten people were killed Friday as thousands of Oklahomans tried to flee the storms in their vehicles, packing the highways and turning them into parking lots as dark clouds gathered overhead. A rare multi-vortex EF-3 tornado that hit the El Reno area with winds up to 165 miles per hour reportedly killed Young and Samaras.

Several others who died that night were stuck in traffic along Interstate 40 when their vehicles were sucked up into a funnel cloud. Another storm chasing crew with The Weather Channel narrowly escaped with their lives after a specially retrofitted SUV was tossed roughly 200 feet, The Associated Press reported.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/06/02/famed-storm-chaser-killed-by-multi-vortex-oklahoma-tornado/

[fasttense]

1. Wow, fleeing a tornado in a car is not a good idea

These people should have nearby shelters, not be on the road.

About 15 years ago, a tornado threatened DC. I was going home and could see the tornado heading for a fully packed bridge. The bridge was a parking lot. I turned back and sought shelter instead of trying to cross. Luckily the tornado didn't hit the bridge. I could understand why people in DC didn't know how to respond to a tornado. They don't get them very often. But Oklahoma gets them regularly. They are in the heart of tornado alley and April, May and June is the most likely time of year for them.

[octoberlib]

6. I grew up in the Kansas City area and

my biggest fear was getting stuck in rush hour and having a tornado barreling toward me. The last place I'd want to be is in a car.

[magical thyme]

2. I read elsewhere the WC van was tossed 200 yards, not feet. nt

[octoberlib]

8. It was probably yards.

I thought I heard on the news that their vehicle got picked up by the tornado about 30 - 50 feet.

[Baclava]

3. sometimes you find what you're looking for

[uppityperson]

9. This is not the one the guys died in. The people in that vehicle survived. Here is Tim's truck

The ones who died were in a different vehicle, were a different group. This is their truck.

[Demo_Chris]

4. I want to see the footage these guys shot. I think they would want that as well. nt

[KharmaTrain]

5. MSNBC Is Showing It...

...cameras were rolling throughout the whole thing...fascinating and scary to watch. These dudes are lucky to be alive...and they know it.

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. Um. These dudes DIED.

How are they lucky to be alive?

[KharmaTrain]

11. The Weather Channel Guys Did Survive...

Samaras and his crew that died worked for the Discovery Channel.

The guy in that crushed Weather Channel vehicle was on MSNBC this morning...one of the people in the car is still in the hospital with some broken bones but overall they were lucky to walk away...

[proud2BlibKansan]

14. I realize that.

The OP is about the guys who died. So I assumed the film referred to would be theirs, since the reply was in response to the OP.

Sorry for the confusion.

[KharmaTrain]

16. No Problem...

...it's a tragic circumstance for all involved.

Cheers...

[AsahinaKimi]

13. I wonder if this is it?

[PD Turk]

17. no, that was shot from this vehicle

The TIV2, it's a specially designed and armored vehicle for close in work with tornadoes. The chasers that died were in a regular type car

[Tree-Hugger]

10. Such sad news

Tim Samaras was not some kid looking for a thrill and a cool video to sell. He was an engineer and a meteorologist. He did a ton of work studying various parts of storms in order to better understand why some storms produce tornadoes and why some don't and he did extensive research on lighting. His work is very highly regarding among weather scientists. His is the work that saves lives through better understand of storm formation and behavior to the ability to increase warning times. He was one of the most cautious storm chasers out there, always concerned for the safety of others. He had a reputation for being an extremely kind man. His son was talented as well. Carl Young, his long time chasing and research partner, has also done a lot of valuable work. These men contributed a lot to science and their work has and will continue to save lives. It's a heartbreaking loss.

http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/tornado-death-toll-includes-veteran-storm-chaser-son-19310012

[redqueen]

19. Thank you for this post. nt

[Hell Hath No Fury]

12. Having watched him on "Storm Chasers" -

I can say he was one of the more cautious, thoughtful chasers. His work involved trying to get data censors up into tornados -- much like in "Twister". He was very careful when approaching a storm, and was not one to take chances or engage in a chase simply to get footage. I was shocked and saddened to see he and his team were victims of that storm.

[proud2BlibKansan]

15. It's such dangerous work.

I'm hoping we can find other ways to get info on these storms without risking death by driving too close to them. I know a friend I went to college with studied meteorology and he said they can fly above the storms and more safely study them.

[cbdo2007]

18. Well, that's what happens when you drive into a tornado.

Ok, I'll be fair, I don't know that this guy actually drove into a tornado....but the guys in that Weather Channel video actually DRIVE TOWARD THE TORNADO, you can see it in the video. There is no need to have these guys this close to tornados. It doesn't give the story any more credibility to have them driving into a tornado when they coudl be watching it from 1/4 mile away.

[PD Turk]

20. If what I've been reading is correct

If what I've been reading is correct, they were caught in a traffic jam and couldn't get away. Apparently, one of the TV stations in OKC gave out the bad advice for the public to get in their vehicles and flee the tornado, and a lot of roads got jammed up. The tornado was a very large, rain wrapped, multi-vortex "wobbler" that caught a lot of chasers off guard. It was hard to see it coming and it made a sharp unexpected turn to the northeast.... just bad luck and a tragic turn of events

[cbdo2007]

21. Yikes! My apologies and RIP for the deceased....

if my assumption was incorrect.

I just got really upset seeing the Weather Channel footage on Saturday morning showing the guys actually driving into the tornado, and their cursing and yelling for dramatic effect, and I feel like it's irresponsible for them to be glorifying this hobby for ratings when hundreds of people are dying every year.

[PD Turk]

24. A lot of pro spotters and chasers

A lot of pro spotters and chasers got caught of guard by this one. The tornado was actually very wide and hanging a couple hundred feet off the ground and it was spitting erratic multiple vortices to the ground. At times it was wrapped by a wide rotating rain curtain. a lot of the spotters actually wound up underneath the tornado inadvertently. In a lot of the videos, the way to tell the pros from the amateurs is, the pros realize they screwed up and they're hauling ass out of there while the amateurs are parked on the edge of the road filming the vortices not realizing they are actually in the tornado.

[RobertEarl]

22. Not northeast, a southeast turn

99 out of 100 tornadoes move to the north and east. Being to the south east of a storm is the best place to observe. This storm turned to the southeast and caught them. They were expecting it to go north.

Here is my theory on tornado setup

http://www.democraticunderground.com/122818972

[PD Turk]

23. Hmm

Here's the track on the storm, I was getting the impression they were over in the area where the tornado went after it made the turn to the northeast after it had been tracking east for a while.



either way, it was a tragic turn of events