From left, Carl Young, Tim Samaras and his son Paul Samaras were killed Friday, May 31, while following a tornado in El Reno, Oklahoma, relatives told CNN on Sunday. Their work tracking tornadoes was featured on the former Discovery Channel show "Storm Chasers."
Storm chasers killed in Oklahoma —
From left, Carl Young, Tim Samaras and his son Paul Samaras were killed Friday, May 31, while following a tornado in El Reno, Oklahoma, relatives told CNN on Sunday. Their work tracking tornadoes was featured on the former Discovery Channel show "Storm Chasers."
Courtesy Discovery Channel
Tim Samaras, 54, stands with an anemometer, a device used to measure wind speed. The May 31 tornado had winds of at least 136 mph, according to a preliminary National Weather Service rating.
Storm chasers killed in Oklahoma —
Tim Samaras, 54, stands with an anemometer, a device used to measure wind speed. The May 31 tornado had winds of at least 136 mph, according to a preliminary National Weather Service rating.
Courtesy Discovery Channel
Carl Young, 45, reads data in a storm-chasing vehicle. He was a part of TWISTEX, the Tactical Weather Instrumented Sampling in Tornadoes Experiment, founded by Tim Samaras to help learn more about tornadoes and increase lead time for warnings.
Storm chasers killed in Oklahoma —
Carl Young, 45, reads data in a storm-chasing vehicle. He was a part of TWISTEX, the Tactical Weather Instrumented Sampling in Tornadoes Experiment, founded by Tim Samaras to help learn more about tornadoes and increase lead time for warnings.
Courtesy Discovery Channel
Carl Young and Tim Samaras watch the sky. Over a decade the pair tracked more than 125 tornadoes together.
Storm chasers killed in Oklahoma —
Carl Young and Tim Samaras watch the sky. Over a decade the pair tracked more than 125 tornadoes together.
Courtesy Discovery Channel
Tim Samaras points towards their next tornado intercept opportunity in 2011. CNN meteorologist Chad Myers, who also covered the May 31 storm in Oklahoma, said Samaras was known for his attention to safety.
Storm chasers killed in Oklahoma —
Tim Samaras points towards their next tornado intercept opportunity in 2011. CNN meteorologist Chad Myers, who also covered the May 31 storm in Oklahoma, said Samaras was known for his attention to safety.
Courtesy Discovery Channel
Tim Samaras and Carl Young read data. At a meteorological conference, Samaras encouraged Young to gather data from inside tornadoes for his thesis, and a partnership was born.
Storm chasers killed in Oklahoma —
Tim Samaras and Carl Young read data. At a meteorological conference, Samaras encouraged Young to gather data from inside tornadoes for his thesis, and a partnership was born.
Courtesy Discovery Channel
Paul Samaras, a 24-year-old photographer, stands with Young outside their vehicle.
Storm chasers killed in Oklahoma —
Paul Samaras, a 24-year-old photographer, stands with Young outside their vehicle.
Courtesy Discovery Channel
Tim Samaras looks out at storm clouds. The Weather Channel described him as a self-taught forecaster and engineer who developed much of the equipment he used to measure storms.
Storm chasers killed in Oklahoma —
Tim Samaras looks out at storm clouds. The Weather Channel described him as a self-taught forecaster and engineer who developed much of the equipment he used to measure storms.
Courtesy Discovery Channel
Tim Samaras and Young were well-known to viewers of "Storm Chasers," which aired for five years on the Discovery Channel. Its last season was in the fall of 2011. "We are deeply saddened by the loss of Carl Young, Tim Samaras and his son," the network said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to their families."
Storm chasers killed in Oklahoma —
Tim Samaras and Young were well-known to viewers of "Storm Chasers," which aired for five years on the Discovery Channel. Its last season was in the fall of 2011. "We are deeply saddened by the loss of Carl Young, Tim Samaras and his son," the network said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to their families."
Courtesy Discovery Channel