'Into The Storm': "Storm Chasers" Reed Timmer's Extreme Weather Adventures(PHOTOS) (VIDEO)

Over the last 12 years as an extreme storm chaser, I've risked my life documenting the most powerful and deadly natural disasters on the planet, including mile-wide F5 tornadoes, softball-sized hail, and over a dozen hurricanes in the U.S. and Caribbean, including the devastating Hurricane Katrina from Slidell, Louisiana. I've traveled over 40,000 miles a year across Tornado Alley from Mexico to Canada every storm season, intercepting over 250 tornadoes, many of which were from dangerously close range. I learned to respect the power of a tornado early in my career as a storm chaser, as I was grazed by an F5 tornado and covered in mud after abandoning my vehicle and seeking shelter under an overpass near Moore, Oklahoma on May 3, 1999, but also became obsessed with getting as close as possible to these beautiful but destructive forces of nature. 250 tornadoes and 12 years of meteorology training at the University of Oklahoma later, my team is now driving into the heart of violent tornadoes and hurricanes with our tornado tank (a.k.a. the Dominator), recording valuable data inside that others are unable or unwilling to collect. "Into the Storm" documents my hair raising tales as an extreme storm chaser, as well as my progression from a young thrill-seeker to scientist willing to risk my life to contribute to the young and exciting science of tornadoes and hurricanes.

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May 3, 1999 F5 tornado; Moore, OK (1/4)

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During my first year as a storm chaser, I was chasing a destructive mile-wide F5 tornado near Moore, Oklahoma, and abandoned my vehicle to take shelter under an overpass as the tornado was on a collision course. Just when this most powerful tornado in recorded history was about to hit me, it veered to the left. I was still grazed by 100+ mph winds and covered in mud from the south side of the massive circulation.

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During my first year as a storm chaser, I was chasing a destructive mile-wide F5 tornado near Moore, Oklahoma, and abandoned my vehicle to take shelter under an overpass as the tornado was on a collision course. Just when this most powerful tornado in recorded history was about to hit me, it veered to the left. I was still grazed by 100+ mph winds and covered in mud from the south side of the massive circulation.

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Comments

[dmcc2]

09:33 AM on 10/15/2010

I love Reed and his team and we're very proud of how they represent Norman, OK, but they are very lucky this tornado turned. People died that day taking cover under an overpass. It is one of the worst places to be. It's also hard to watch someone be so excited when I know what happened after that tornado crossed I-35...it destroyed our home.

[emncaity]

03:21 PM on 10/14/2010

Anybody who takes shelter under an overpass shouldn't be called anything close to a "professional" chaser.

[emncaity]

03:26 PM on 10/14/2010

Also: Anybody who gleefully shouts "Listen to it roar!", arms raised in some kind of extreme-sports victory pose, after seeing a farmhouse turned to splinters has got something seriously wrong. This is really, really bad behavior among serious professional chasers.

[Spazoid-droid]

02:00 AM on 10/17/2010

wrong! if ur out in the open under 1 of those bridges is the safest place you can be ...

[emncaity]

07:05 PM on 10/18/2010

Wrong yourself. The microenvironment under an overpass bridge actually accelerates winds and exposes you to debris; in fact, in certain structures it can even funnel debris toward you. (It's slightly different if you're talking about getting below a bridge that is already at ground level.)

A lot of people think your way because of the famous video from the '91 Andover (Kansas) tornado and the guy who survived a late-cycle twister with his daughters. But it's just not true. Just for grins, check these:

http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/safety.html

http://www.severe-weather-fan.com/tornado-myths.html

http://74.6.117.48/search/srpcache?ei=UTF-8&p=underpass+tornado+myth&fr=yfp-t-701&u=http://cc.bingj.com/cache.aspx?q=underpass+tornado+myth&d=4771670144779782&mkt=en-US&setlang=en-US&w=2d9a9096,9dde016e&icp=1&.intl=us&sig=imTuVUrWpg8flnYFOTDRYA--

[logic63]

12:54 PM on 10/14/2010

I gave this show about 15 minutes alst night adn I live in Oklahoma so I am very aware of storm chasing but the men (?) were so childish about each other and talked trash about each other. I wanted an educated reality show not weathermen of beverly hills

[dmcc2]

09:34 AM on 10/15/2010

Then Stormchasers isn't for you. It purposefully is not a "regular" storm show. We like it.

[logic63]

09:53 AM on 10/15/2010

I agree and not every show is enjoyable but my expectation was that the show was about the storms more than the personalities. Just giving an opinion not telling others what they should watch.

[Rall]

08:02 PM on 10/18/2010

Yeah. Turns out it takes someone not completely mature and reserved to drive into a tornado. Who knew?

That being said, the premier of the show definitely got pretty overblown. It does end up giving you good lessons in supercell formation, but it's mixed into the rather juvenile Sean Casey being bitter at the world, and Reed reacting to that by being rather juvenile himself.

[prostock69]

09:45 AM on 10/14/2010

Reed, just got done watching the premiere of "Storm Chasers." I love your show and your enthusiasm for tornadoes! Spring can't get here soon enough!