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TWISTEX

TWISTEX, an acronym for the Tactical Weather-Instrumented Sampling in/near Tornadoes EXperiment, was a pioneering tornado research initiative founded and led by photojournalist and engineer Tim Samaras in June 2003.^[1] The project aimed to advance understanding of tornado dynamics by deploying compact, autonomous probes—equipped with sensors for measuring wind speeds, pressure drops, temperature, humidity, and other parameters—directly into the paths of forming or active tornadoes.^[2] These "hardened" devices, often buried or positioned strategically during storm chases, were designed to withstand extreme conditions and provide unprecedented in-situ data to improve forecasting models and structural engineering standards for severe weather resilience.^[3] Samaras, who began his career in engineering before transitioning to storm chasing and contributing to National Geographic documentaries, assembled a multidisciplinary team including meteorologists, engineers, and videographers to execute TWISTEX missions across the U.S. Great Plains.^[2] Key innovations included the development of probes that captured rare measurements, such as the first documented pressure drop inside a tornado during a 2003 deployment in South Dakota, which revealed insights into supercell thunderstorm processes and tornado genesis.^[3] The project's work complemented larger efforts like NOAA's VORTEX programs, emphasizing rapid, targeted sampling to fill gaps in mobile radar data.^[4] Tragically, TWISTEX concluded on May 31, 2013, when Samaras, his son Paul Samaras, and team member Carl Young were killed by the El Reno, Oklahoma, tornado—one of the widest and most intense ever recorded, with winds exceeding 300 mph in subvortices.^[1] Their vehicle was overwhelmed by a sudden multiple-vortex structure approximately 2.6 miles wide, despite the team's expertise in probe deployment and evasion tactics.^[4] The incident highlighted the inherent risks of close-proximity tornado research, while Samaras' legacy endures through the data TWISTEX contributed to meteorological science, influencing modern warning systems and storm modeling.^[3]

Background and Founding

Objectives and Motivation

TWISTEX, the Tactical Weather-Instrumented Sampling in/near Tornadoes Experiment, was founded by Tim Samaras in the early 2000s as a dedicated field research initiative to gather direct measurements from tornado environments.^[5] Samaras, an electrical engineer by training and a passionate storm chaser, established the project from his base in Bennett, Colorado, drawing on his self-taught expertise in meteorology to bridge critical gaps in severe weather science.^[5] His motivation stemmed from personal experiences during high-impact events, such as the 1999 Oklahoma tornado outbreak, which killed 46 people and exposed the limitations of existing observational methods in capturing the internal workings of tornadoes.^[5] At the time, tornado research predominantly depended on remote sensing technologies like Doppler radar, which excelled at mapping broader storm structures but failed to provide precise, ground-level data on in-tornado conditions such as rapid pressure drops, extreme wind speeds, temperature fluctuations, and humidity levels.^[6] These shortcomings left scientists with an incomplete picture of vortex behavior, hindering advancements in prediction and mitigation strategies; as noted in prior reviews, in-situ observations from tornado cores were exceedingly rare due to the dangers involved.^[6] Samaras sought to overcome this by pioneering closer-range sampling, emphasizing the ethical imperative to collect such data responsibly to inform engineering designs and public safety measures.^[5] The core objectives of TWISTEX focused on deploying ground-based instrumentation to record real-time thermodynamic and kinematic parameters— including temperature, humidity, pressure, and wind—within and adjacent to tornadoes, aiming to deepen insights into tornadogenesis, low-level vortex dynamics, and tornado persistence.^[6] By addressing the scarcity of high-resolution datasets, the project intended to refine numerical weather models and enhance early warning systems, ultimately reducing the human and economic toll of these violent phenomena.^[6]^[5]

Initial Development

The TWISTEX project was conceived in the early 2000s by engineer and storm chaser Tim Samaras, who had been developing tornado probes since the late 1990s, with formal inception around 2003 following his successful collaboration with academic researchers. Samaras secured initial funding through a grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to build prototypes, supplemented by personal resources as he prototyped devices in his basement workshop. By June 2003, he obtained the first of 18 grants from the National Geographic Society, which supported early field preparations and marked a pivotal step toward organized operations.^[2]^[7]^[8] Early probe development centered on first-generation "Turtle" devices, rugged, low-profile cylinders approximately 8 inches in diameter and weighing up to 45 pounds, designed to withstand debris impacts and high winds while remaining anchored to the ground. These prototypes featured basic instrumentation, including barometric pressure sensors and thermistors for temperature measurement, encased in hardened materials like steel and foam to protect against environmental hazards. Samaras iterated on designs inspired by prior tools like the TOTable Tornado Observatory, emphasizing deployability from vehicles and aerodynamic stability to enable placement in tornado paths without human proximity.^[3]^[7]^[9] Testing protocols in the 2003-2005 period relied on ground-based simulations, including wind tunnel experiments to assess probe durability under simulated gale-force winds exceeding 200 mph, addressing challenges such as structural integrity and sensor calibration amid vibration and debris. Non-tornado deployments in severe weather events allowed for initial data collection on pressure gradients and temperature variations, refining accuracy before risking tornado intercepts. These phases highlighted issues like sensor drift in extreme conditions, leading to reinforced anchoring mechanisms and waterproofing enhancements.^[10]^[7] Early collaborations included partnerships with the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) for data validation and analysis, where TWISTEX probes' outputs were cross-referenced against radar and mobile mesonet observations to verify measurements. Additional ties formed with Iowa State University's tornado research lab for instrumentation software and the University of Northern Colorado for foundational studies on near-ground tornado dynamics, laying the groundwork for integrated research efforts.^[11]^[12]^[9]

Research Methodology

Core Sampling Techniques

Core sampling techniques in TWISTEX involve the deployment of specialized, hardened probes designed to capture in-situ measurements directly within the tornado vortex, focusing on near-ground conditions to elucidate internal dynamics such as pressure deficits and associated thermodynamic gradients. The primary instruments are the Hardened In-Situ Tornado Pressure Recorder (HITPR) probes, which feature an aerodynamic conical design with a diameter of 0.51 meters and a low-profile height of approximately 0.15 meters to minimize aerodynamic lift and ensure stability in extreme winds. These probes are constructed from durable materials, including steel bases and reinforced housings, to withstand impacts from debris and wind speeds exceeding 200 mph (89 m/s), while housing fast-response sensors positioned near the top (about 0.12 m above ground level) for measuring atmospheric pressure, temperature, and relative humidity at a 10 Hz sampling rate. Complementary video probes, with a larger 0.76-meter diameter, incorporate multiple cameras for photogrammetric analysis to estimate wind velocities and debris motion within the core, though wind measurements primarily rely on integrated mobile mesonet data during intercepts.^[13] Deployment strategies emphasize rapid positioning in the tornado's anticipated path, typically 100 to 500 feet (30 to 150 meters) ahead of the vortex base, achieved through coordinated vehicle intercepts guided by real-time radar data, visual observations, and GPS-equipped mobile mesonet platforms. TWISTEX teams, operating from specialized probe deployment vehicles, halt briefly—often within seconds—to manually place probes in linear arrays along roads or open terrain, prioritizing the hook echo or rear-flank downdraft regions for optimal core sampling. This approach allows for targeted placement under the tornado's inflow, though it requires precise timing to avoid peripheral sampling, where pressure gradients are less severe. Probes are oriented with sensors facing the expected wind direction to capture rapid changes, such as pressure drops up to 100 hPa, which reflect the intense low-pressure core.^[13] Data collection occurs via onboard data loggers that record measurements during the event, with retrieval either through post-tornado recovery or, in some cases, real-time radio transmission from surviving units; for instance, during the 24 June 2003 Manchester, South Dakota, tornado, an HITPR probe documented a record 100 hPa pressure drop over 12 seconds as the vortex passed directly overhead, providing critical evidence of near-ground vortex intensity. Temperature gradients of several degrees Celsius and humidity fluctuations are also captured, aiding in the analysis of buoyancy-driven vortex maintenance. Video probes supplement this by enabling stereo photogrammetry to derive three-dimensional wind fields, though single-probe deployments limit accuracy to tangential estimates exceeding 200 mph in core regions.^[14] Technical challenges in core sampling include ensuring probe survivability amid high debris loading, where impacts can exceed 100 g-forces, necessitating iterative hardening of designs like weighted bases and aerodynamic shaping to prevent toppling or displacement. Accurate in-core placement versus peripheral sampling remains difficult due to the small radius of maximum winds (often <50 meters) and rapid tornado motion (up to 40 m/s), compounded by limited temporal resolution in mobile platforms that may miss sub-second vortex transients. These issues have driven advancements in probe redundancy and integration with mobile mesonet for contextual validation, though only a subset of deployments achieve direct core intercepts.^[13]

Environmental Sampling Methods

TWISTEX employed mobile mesonet vehicles as a primary tool for environmental sampling, consisting of armored vans outfitted with anemometers, thermometers, and hygrometers to measure inflow winds, updraft speeds, and humidity gradients in the tornado's immediate surroundings, typically up to 1.5–4 km from the vortex.^[15] These instruments, mounted at approximately 3 m above ground level, recorded wind velocities every 2 seconds, along with temperature, relative humidity, and pressure, enabling detailed profiling of near-surface conditions in the inflow layer.^[15] For instance, during intercepts in 2008, the mesonet captured gusts exceeding 46 m s⁻¹ in rear-flank downdraft outflows, providing insights into the thermodynamic and kinematic environment supporting tornado formation.^[15] The sampling approach relied on coordinated deployment of three to four vehicles positioned strategically around the mesocyclone, targeting the rear-flank downdraft (RFD) and forward-flank regions to map convergence zones, gust fronts, and outflow boundaries.^[15] Teams used real-time guidance from NEXRAD radar to navigate these areas, often intercepting multiple RFD surges during a single supercell event, such as on 23 May 2008 near Quinter, Kansas, where vehicles sampled evolving outflows associated with cyclic tornadogenesis.^[16] This positioning allowed for spatiotemporal coverage of environmental gradients, including dryline-like boundaries in the forward flank, which complemented direct core measurements by revealing broader storm-scale influences on vortex dynamics.^[15] Key metrics derived from these efforts included wind shear profiles, such as increases from near-zero to 46–50 m s⁻¹ over 1 km in inflow regions, and thermodynamic profiles documenting buoyancy variations critical to tornado genesis modeling.^[15] Pressure deficits of 4–15 mb were also recorded in RFD outflows, alongside humidity gradients that highlighted moisture convergence zones.^[17] Integration with mobile radar systems, like Doppler on Wheels, produced hybrid datasets combining mesonet thermodynamics with velocity fields, as seen in analyses of the 29 May 2008 Tipton, Kansas, tornado where surface observations validated radar-derived updraft structures.^[18] Among TWISTEX innovations for environmental sampling, photogrammetric video probes—equipped with seven cameras capturing at 30 frames per second—provided elevated visual data for stereo reconstruction of 3D wind fields in the near-tornado environment, deployed successfully in two of nine sampling cases to address gaps in surface-only measurements.^[15] These probes, often paired with the mobile mesonet, offered confirmatory imagery of inflow patterns and multiple-vortex interactions up to several kilometers from the core, enhancing the resolution of peripheral dynamics without direct penetration risks.^[15]

Team and Personnel

Core Members

Tim Samaras founded TWISTEX in 2003 as its director, lead engineer, and principal investigator, bringing over 30 years of experience in storm chasing and electronics engineering to design and deploy specialized probes for in-situ tornado measurements.^[19]^[1] His innovations included durable, low-profile sensors capable of withstanding extreme winds, which captured groundbreaking data such as a 100-millibar pressure drop during the 2003 Manchester, South Dakota tornado—the largest ever recorded in a supercell tornado.^[7]^[1] Samaras emphasized safety in operations, conducting over 125 tornado intercepts while prioritizing ethical data collection over reckless pursuit.^[1] Paul Samaras, Tim's son, served as the team's primary videographer and photographer, handling camera operations to document probe deployments and storm encounters.^[20]^[1] Joining chases in his early 20s, he contributed vivid visual records that supported research analysis and public outreach, including images sold at events like ChaserCon; his artistic eye complemented the technical focus of the project.^[7]^[20] Carl Young acted as the team's meteorologist and primary driver, leveraging his master's degree in atmospheric science for storm forecasting and real-time navigation to optimize probe placement along tornado paths.^[1] With a background in special effects and adjunct teaching in extreme weather, he partnered with Samaras since 2003, deploying probes and capturing key footage, such as during a 2004 Iowa tornado, while balancing aggressive intercepts with risk assessment.^[1]^[7] The core TWISTEX team typically consisted of 3 to 5 members during peak operations, with Tim, Paul, and Carl forming the fixed nucleus whose complementary expertise—engineering for probe innovation, meteorology for targeting, and media for documentation—enabled swift, coordinated deployments in dynamic storm environments.^[7]^[1] This synergy allowed the group to execute targeted intercepts efficiently, prioritizing scientific rigor and safety amid unpredictable conditions.^[7]

Collaborators and Former Members

TWISTEX collaborated with the National Geographic Society, which awarded 18 grants over the project's duration to fund probe development, instrumentation, and field deployments, enabling the team to conduct in-tornado measurements starting from its early expeditions in 2003.^[7]^[1] Sean Casey, a National Geographic filmmaker and storm chaser, contributed media support through his work on the Discovery Channel's Storm Chasers series (2009–2012), which featured TWISTEX operations and helped secure visibility and supplementary funding for the project during that period.^[7]^[21] Tony Laubach, a meteorologist, served as a key occasional contributor and former member from 2007 to 2011, leading the mesonet operations by driving the M3 instrumented vehicle, assisting in near-surface data collection, and performing post-chase analysis for select deployments across the Great Plains.^[22]

Field Operations and Deployments

Successful Probes

TWISTEX achieved several successful in-tornado probe deployments prior to 2013, collecting the first direct measurements of near-ground pressure and wind within tornado cores rated EF0 to EF3 on the enhanced Fujita scale. The inaugural success occurred on June 24, 2003, near Manchester, South Dakota, where a probe intercepted an EF4 tornado, recording a record pressure drop of approximately 100 hPa—the largest ever measured at the surface within a tornado core.^[23] These efforts, including during the Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment 2 (VORTEX2) in 2009 and 2010, utilized hardened in-situ probes, video probes, and mobile mesonet instrumentation to sample thermodynamic and kinematic data. By 2010, tornadoes had been successfully probed on nine occasions, yielding datasets that resolved fine-scale details of vortex structure and confirmed models of rapid pressure gradients driving suction vortices.^[15] A notable deployment occurred on May 29, 2008, near Tipton, Kansas, where probes intercepted an EF3 tornado, recording a pressure drop of 15 hPa. This event marked a technical success in probe survivability, with mobile mesonet instruments capturing inflow winds of 30–44 m s⁻¹ (approximately 67–98 mph) at ~3 m above ground level and peak tangential wind speeds near 70 m s⁻¹ (about 156 mph) consistent with Doppler radar observations of the vortex.^[15] Video analysis of debris motion further validated these estimates, providing hybrid datasets on tornado evolution when integrated with mobile radar scans. Recovery rates were high, with the majority of probes intact post-event, enabling comprehensive analysis of near-ground dynamics. In the Bowdle, South Dakota, EF4 tornado on May 22, 2010, TWISTEX deployed probes via four mobile mesonet vehicles into the rear-flank downdraft and near-tornado environment, measuring peak 1-second wind speeds of 40 m s⁻¹ (about 89 mph) during internal surges. These observations, combined with mobile radar data, highlighted rapid environmental changes supporting tornado maintenance, with probes recovering thermodynamic profiles that aligned with radar-derived storm-relative winds. Overall, such integrations produced valuable hybrid datasets across 5–7 core probes by 2012, advancing understanding of tornado genesis and intensity. Early deployments informed iterative improvements, including enhanced probe anchoring with stakes and hardened casings to better withstand debris impacts in intense storms, following initial challenges with displacement in particle-laden vortices. These adjustments increased post-event intact recovery to approximately 70% in subsequent operations, prioritizing robust design for data integrity in debris-heavy environments.

Notable Chases

During the 2008 Oklahoma severe weather season, the TWISTEX team conducted multiple intercepts of supercell thunderstorms, including events near Broken Bow on May 10, Quinter on May 23, and Tipton and Beloit on May 29, where mobile mesonet instrumentation captured environmental data on flows within and near low-level mesocyclones.^[15] These operations focused on sampling thermodynamic and kinematic conditions in the rear-flank downdraft (RFD) outflow regions, revealing wind speeds of 40–50 m s⁻¹ associated with storm-relative inflows and pressure perturbations of 3.5–14 hPa.^[15] In 2011, TWISTEX expeditions included chases across the Midwest during active tornadic periods, such as the April outbreaks that produced EF4 tornadoes in Missouri, where the team combined proximity sampling with core environmental measurements to document inflow dynamics during high-intensity events.^[22] These efforts built on prior seasons by integrating mobile platforms to assess buoyancy variations and vorticity in supercell environments near St. Louis.^[24] TWISTEX chase tactics emphasized coordinated vehicle convoys for optimal positioning, often deploying multiple mesonet-equipped vehicles in north-south arrays to transect RFD gust fronts and hook echo tips, while relying on real-time radar data and visual spotter coordination to navigate dynamic storm motions.^[25] Operational challenges included adapting to nocturnal storm development, where reduced visibility complicated intercepts, and multi-vortex systems that introduced erratic wind surges and required rapid repositioning to maintain safe sampling distances.^[25] Beyond probe deployments, non-probe highlights included mobile mesonet transects that measured updraft-influenced inflows, such as during the 2010 Bowdle, South Dakota, event on May 22, where four vehicles documented ground-relative wind speeds up to 25–30 m s⁻¹ in RFD internal surges supporting EF4 tornado genesis.^[25] From 2005 to 2012, TWISTEX participated in over 50 chases across the U.S. Great Plains, accumulating extensive environmental datasets from supercell outflows.^[15] The project's operational evolution shifted from broad exploratory chases in its early years to more targeted expeditions following successful integrations with larger campaigns like VORTEX2 in 2009, prioritizing precise RFD sampling to inform tornadogenesis models.^[15] This refinement enhanced data quality on mesocyclone inflows, with core team members handling convoy logistics to support multi-vehicle arrays during high-risk setups.^[22]

The 2013 El Reno Incident

Deployment and Events

The supercell responsible for the 2013 El Reno tornado developed in central Oklahoma on May 31, 2013, near the intersection of a cold front and dryline, emerging from an initial line of multicell thunderstorms in an environment of extreme instability.^[26] High convective available potential energy (CAPE) values exceeded 5000 J kg⁻¹, combined with strong vertical wind shear of 25–30 m s⁻¹ over the 0–6 km layer and a deep moist boundary layer capped by an inversion, fostering rapid storm organization and intensification.^[26] The supercell produced a massive tornado that touched down at 6:03 p.m. CDT approximately 8 miles west-southwest of El Reno, expanding to a record width of 2.6 miles (4.2 km) while exhibiting multiple subvortices and rain-wrapped structure that obscured visual details.^[27] Drawing from prior successful probe deployments in field operations, the TWISTEX team positioned their Chevrolet Cobalt near El Reno, guided by real-time radar data from mobile platforms to intercept the tornado's projected path along rural roads.^[3] Around 6:23 p.m. CDT, as the tornado tracked east-southeastward across U.S. Highway 81 at approximately 40 mph before veering northeast, the team halted on a dirt road near Reuter Road to deploy instrumentation directly in the inflow region.^[4] They attempted to place two "Turtle" probes, designed for in situ measurements of pressure, temperature, and wind, about 200 yards apart in an open field to capture comparative data across the tornado's path.^[28] Environmental conditions included gusty southeasterly inflow exceeding 100 mph, reducing visibility in the rain-wrapped core and turning dirt roads muddy, which hindered vehicle maneuverability as the team attempted to relocate eastward.^[27] Radar observations indicated a subvortex intensifying and shifting north-northwest at speeds up to 79 m s⁻¹ within the parent circulation, approaching the deployment site as the team monitored readings.^[4]

Fatalities and Investigation

During the 2013 El Reno tornado on May 31, the TWISTEX team's Chevrolet Cobalt was struck by a rapidly moving subvortex about 4 miles (6.4 km) southeast of El Reno, Oklahoma. The incident occurred around 6:21–6:24 p.m. CDT (2321–2324 UTC), when the subvortex, exhibiting forward motion speeds of about 175 mph (282 km/h), overtook the vehicle near the intersection of Reuter Road and Radio Road. Tim Samaras, his son Paul Samaras, and colleague Carl Young were killed instantly; the vehicle was mangled and displaced roughly 600 meters (about 2,000 feet) into a field.^[4]^[27] Investigations by the National Weather Service (NWS) and detailed analyses from mobile radar deployments, such as Doppler on Wheels (DOW), revealed the tornado's complex multiple-vortex structure as a key factor in the fatalities. The NWS rated the tornado EF3 based on ground damage surveys, despite radar estimates indicating peak winds exceeding 290 mph (470 km/h) at low altitudes, but emphasized its record-breaking width of up to 2.6 miles (4.2 km)—the widest ever documented in the U.S. No evidence suggested errors in TWISTEX probe deployment contributed to the incident; instead, the subvortex's trochoidal path, low visibility from rain-wrapped conditions, and only 30 seconds of potential warning time limited escape options. The analysis highlighted how embedded subvortices, with ground-relative winds of 130–150 m s⁻¹ (290–335 mph), created unpredictable hazards within the parent circulation.^[27]^[4] Although the TWISTEX team did not successfully deploy or recover in-situ probes during the fatal encounter, mobile radar observations supplemented these findings, documenting pressure perturbations and wind fields that underscored the tornado's violent, rain-obscured nature.^[4] In the immediate aftermath, local authorities and fellow storm chasers located the wreckage around 7:00 p.m. CDT, initiating recovery operations amid ongoing severe weather; the bodies were transported to the Oklahoma Medical Examiner's Office for autopsy, confirming deaths due to traumatic injuries from the impact. Media notifications followed swiftly, with NWS issuing updated warnings based on the event. The loss of its founder and key personnel effectively ended TWISTEX operations, shifting focus to broader community discussions on chaser safety.^[27]^[4]

Legacy and Impact

Scientific Contributions and Publications

The TWISTEX project significantly advanced tornado research through direct in-situ measurements of near-ground pressure, wind, and thermodynamic variables, addressing a critical pre-existing gap where such data were scarce or absent due to the hazards of close-range sampling. Prior to TWISTEX, tornado studies relied heavily on remote sensing like Doppler radar or damage indicators, leaving uncertainties in internal dynamics; the project's probes provided the first robust dataset of pressure drops of up to 100 hPa in tornado cores, confirming theoretical models of suction vortices.^[15] This data has been shared with NOAA for integration into broader meteorological research, enhancing post-project analyses of tornado formation and evolution.^[29] A seminal publication from the project is the 2010 study by Karstens et al. in Monthly Weather Review, which analyzed nine tornado intercepts using hardened in-situ pressure recorders and mobile mesonets, documenting a maximum pressure deficit of 100 hPa and measured winds up to 50 m/s (estimated up to 98 m/s), thereby validating computational models of tornado wind fields and multiple-vortex structures.^[15] These findings demonstrated how subvortices contribute to extreme localized winds, improving predictions of tornado damage potential. Post-2013, the El Reno tornado was analyzed in Wurman et al.'s 2014 study in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, revealing a multiple-vortex mesocyclone with subvortices exceeding 130 m/s based on radar data, which explained the event's unusual lethality and refined understandings of rain-wrapped tornado hazards.^[4] TWISTEX data influenced integrations with larger initiatives like VORTEX2 by providing complementary ground-level observations to radar datasets, including probes during overlapping campaigns that measured near-surface pressures and winds in nine intercepts from 2002-2008, aiding validations of suction vortex models and near-surface thermodynamics.^[25] It also supported enhancements to National Weather Service warning algorithms by quantifying rapid pressure changes that correlate with tornado intensification, reducing uncertainties in lead-time forecasts. By 2015, TWISTEX efforts yielded approximately 8 peer-reviewed publications, collectively cited in more than 150 studies, underscoring their role in advancing multiple-vortex dynamics research.^[30]

Media Coverage and Public Awareness

TWISTEX and its leader Tim Samaras received significant exposure through television documentaries and series that highlighted the team's daring deployments of instrument probes into tornado paths. The Discovery Channel's "Storm Chasers," which aired from 2007 to 2011, prominently featured the TWISTEX team across multiple seasons, showcasing their engineering innovations and field operations during real-time intercepts. Episodes often depicted Samaras and his colleagues positioning probes to capture in-tornado data, drawing millions of viewers; for instance, the 2010 season premiere attracted 2.22 million total viewers, ranking as the network's top-rated telecast in key male demographics aged 25-54 and 18-49. National Geographic produced several features on Samaras's work, including the 2013 documentary "The Last Chase," which examined his career and the El Reno tornado, as well as earlier magazine articles like "Storm Chasing in Tornado Alley" that detailed probe deployments in South Dakota tornadoes. News coverage of TWISTEX prior to 2013 focused on the team's scientific breakthroughs, such as successful probe recoveries that provided rare measurements of tornado wind speeds and pressures. Outlets including National Geographic highlighted these achievements in profiles, emphasizing how the probes revealed internal storm dynamics previously inaccessible to researchers. Following the 2013 El Reno incident, media attention shifted dramatically, with specials and reports underscoring the inherent risks of close-proximity tornado research; for example, The New York Times covered the tragedy in detail, noting Samaras's role in advancing storm science despite the fatal outcome. CNN and other networks aired segments on the event, portraying the TWISTEX fatalities as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by dedicated researchers. This media portrayal significantly boosted public awareness of both the scientific value of tornado research and the perils of storm chasing. "Storm Chasers" episodes, viewed by millions cumulatively, educated audiences on tornado formation and instrumentation, inspiring interest in meteorology among younger viewers and leading to informal educational outreach like school discussions on severe weather safety. Post-2013 coverage amplified messages about responsible chasing practices, contributing to broader societal recognition of how such efforts inform warning systems and reduce casualties. The narrative surrounding TWISTEX evolved from tales of heroic scientific intercepts in pre-2013 media to cautionary stories of vulnerability after the El Reno deaths, influencing public perceptions of storm chasing as a high-stakes endeavor blending innovation with peril.

Memorials and Ongoing Influence

In the aftermath of the 2013 El Reno tornado, a memorial was dedicated on October 31, 2015, in El Reno, Oklahoma, to honor TWISTEX team members Tim Samaras, his son Paul Samaras, and Carl Young, who perished while deploying probes into the storm. Situated near Highway 81 at the approximate location where their vehicle was overtaken, the site features a granite marker inscribed with biographical details of the researchers and an overview of the TWISTEX project's goals in advancing tornado instrumentation. The dedication ceremony, held during the National Weather Festival, underscored their pioneering role in storm chasing and included the establishment of the Carl Young Memorial Earth Science Scholarship at Lake Tahoe Community College to support future meteorologists.^[31]^[32] The storm chasing and research community maintains annual remembrances at the site, particularly around May 31, with visits and tributes reflecting on the team's legacy during tornado season. These gatherings, observed as recently as the 10-year anniversary in 2023, foster discussions on ethical chasing practices and the human cost of scientific pursuit. In parallel, a scholarship fund perpetuates their influence by funding earth science education, ensuring their commitment to safer, data-driven tornado research endures.^[33] The El Reno incident left a notable void in direct, in-situ tornado probing, as highlighted in 2015 assessments, with the absence of TWISTEX's unique instrumentation and leadership stalling similar ground-based deployments due to funding and safety challenges. No direct successor project has emerged, but the team's collected data continues to bolster weather modeling efforts, providing rare near-surface measurements of pressure and wind dynamics. This legacy has indirectly shaped advancements in complementary technologies, such as enhancements to mobile radars like RaXPol, which have improved rapid-scan polarimetric observations of tornado evolution since 2013.^[34] TWISTEX's emphasis on close-range sampling also influenced a shift toward safer alternatives, including drone-based systems that probe tornado interiors without endangering personnel. Projects like OTUS, active in 2025, have successfully deployed drones into tornadoes to gather real-time wind and atmospheric data, echoing TWISTEX's objectives while mitigating risks associated with wide, erratic storms like El Reno. These developments, alongside heightened National Weather Service guidance on the hazards of rain-obscured and rapidly intensifying tornadoes, have enhanced overall chaser protocols and public safety measures. As of 2025, such innovations continue to reference foundational in-situ datasets from earlier efforts, informing broader studies on tornado intensity and environmental interactions.^[35]^[36]^[27]

References

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This man risked his life to study tornadoes — until one killed him
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In 2009, I made the decision to pursue a doctoral degree in Meteorology at Iowa State and continue working with Dr. Gallus, Tim and TWISTEX. During this time, ...Missing: founded | Show results with:founded<|control11|><|separator|>
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### TWISTEX Probe Design, Specifications, Deployment Strategy, Data Collection, Technical Challenges, and Pressure Drop Examples
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[22]
TWISTEX Era - Meteorologist Tony Laubach
Tornado Core Sampling ... Each of the participating TWISTEX vehicles will have a mobile mesonet (MM) station mounted on the roof including the probe deployment ...Missing: design | Show results with:design
[23]
Near-Ground Pressure and Wind Measurements in Tornadoes
Aug 5, 2025 · Rogersville, with one of the most notable in-situ data sets gathered by the late Tim Samaras, where a 100-hPa pressure deficit was documented ...Missing: testing protocols
[24]
The Bowdle, South Dakota, Cyclic Tornadic Supercell of 22 May 2010
The tornado formed 11 km west-southwest of Bowdle and moved at an average speed of about 8 m s−1 to the east-northeast over its 27-min life span. Peak damage ...
[25]
A Multiscale Overview of the El Reno, Oklahoma, Tornadic Supercell ...
On 31 May 2013 an unusually broad and very intense tornado formed in a supercell in central Oklahoma, resulting in eight deaths (http://www.srh.noaa.gov/oun/?n= ...Introduction · Data · Synoptic- and mesoscale... · Storm organization and...
[26]
[PDF] May 2013 Oklahoma Tornadoes and Flash Flooding
Three experienced storm chasers associated with past NOAA research projects were killed by the El Reno tornado and other chasers were injured. The three ...
[27]
Three storm chasers killed by Oklahoma tornado | Inquirer News
Tony Laubach, a fellow participant in the Tactical Weather Instrumented Sampling in Tornadoes Experiment, or TWISTEX ... 200 yards (meters) into a field and ...
[28]
Storm Chaser Tim Samaras: One Year After His Death, His Gift Is ...
May 27, 2014 · Tim Samaras, killed by the El Reno tornado in May 2013, had an unmatched gift for data collection and invention.Missing: founded | Show results with:founded
[29]
Timothy M. Samaras's research works | Applied ... - ResearchGate
11 TWISTEX 2008: IN SITU AND MOBILE MESONET OBSERVATIONS OF TORNADOES · Article · Full-text available. 538 Reads. Christopher Karstens. ·. Timothy M Samaras.Missing: original | Show results with:original
[30]
Twistex Memorial dedicated to 3 killed in El Reno - KOKH
Oct 31, 2015 · Carl Young taught extreme weather and Geology and Lake Tahoe Community College before joining the TWISTEX team, he often played the role of on ...
[31]
Twistex Memorial Dedication Ceremony - Stormtrack
Oct 20, 2015 · The dedication ceremony will follow the National Weather Festival on Saturday October 31, 2015 at 4 pm CDT in El Reno, OK at E 10th Street (aka ...
[32]
El Reno tornado 10 Years Later: Community remembers pioneering ...
May 31, 2023 · Wednesday marks ten years since the May 31st tornado that hit parts of El Reno and left several people dead, including storm chasers.
[33]
Two years later, TWISTEX research still feels void of storm chaser ...
Jun 6, 2015 · While others in the field continue to do tornado research, data that fuels weather forecast models remains key to advancing the science ...
[34]
Student Storm Chasers Develop Drones to Probe Killer Tornadoes
Oct 22, 2014 · Drones could learn more about the inner workings of these destructive storms with less risk.
[35]
OTUS Project Collects Critical Surface Wind Data Inside Of Tornadoes
Jun 27, 2025 · Tornadic wind speeds near the ground have been difficult to measure. A new project called OTUS sends drones into the CD lower part of funnels to determine ...