Timothy Michael Samaras was born on November 12, 1957, in Lakewood, Colorado. From a young age, he was captivated by how things worked — especially the power of storms. Unlike many storm chasers who started with thrill-seeking, Samaras was first and foremost an engineer and scientist. He had no formal meteorological degree, but his technical expertise and curiosity led him to make groundbreaking contributions to tornado research.
Samaras worked for twenty years with the television network National Geographic and as part of TWISTEX (Tactical Weather Instrumented Sampling in Tornadoes Experiment), a project he founded in the late 1990s. His goal was to measure data from inside a tornado — something extremely difficult and dangerous to achieve.
He built custom instruments called “turtle probes” — heavy, low-profile devices designed to survive direct hits by tornadoes. In 2003, one of these probes captured a record-breaking 100-millibar pressure drop inside a tornado near Manchester, South Dakota — one of the lowest ever recorded at ground level.
Samaras’ work provided invaluable insights into tornado dynamics, helping improve understanding of wind speeds, pressure, and structural effects — knowledge that would one day aid in better forecasting and public safety.
His calm, methodical style stood out in the storm chasing community. Samaras was featured on Discovery Channel’s Storm Chasers series from 2007 to 2012, where viewers saw his scientific approach in contrast to more adrenaline-fueled chasers. He also appeared in National Geographic documentaries, and his footage of lightning and storm structure was widely praised for its beauty and precision.
Tragically, on May 31, 2013, during a massive tornado outbreak in El Reno, Oklahoma, Samaras, his son Paul Samaras (24), and fellow chaser Carl Young (45) were killed. The El Reno tornado was one of the widest ever recorded — at times measuring 2.6 miles across — and moved unpredictably with sudden shifts in direction and speed.
Their vehicle was caught when the tornado suddenly expanded and changed course, leaving them with no escape route. Data later showed winds over 295 mph (475 km/h) in parts of the storm — equivalent to a top-tier EF5 tornado. Tim’s last known act was reportedly trying to protect his son and partner as the tornado bore down.
Tim Samaras is remembered as a pioneer of scientific storm chasing — meticulous, humble, and deeply respectful of nature’s power. His instruments and findings continue to inform modern meteorology and storm-safety practices.
After his death, the National Geographic Society created the Tim Samaras Legacy Fund to support science education and atmospheric research. Many in the storm-chasing community still regard him as a role model for responsible and research-focused chasing.
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