Reed Timmer: Dominate the Storm

Dr. Reed Timmer is an extreme meteorologist and storm chaser with a PhD in meteorology from the University of Oklahoma. Known for his fearless pursuit of nature’s most violent storms, Timmer has intercepted over 1,000 tornadoes and more than 50 hurricanes throughout his career—making him one of the most experienced storm chasers in history. He’s among the few to have chased both an EF5 tornado and a Category 5 hurricane. In 2009, he designed the iconic Dominator storm-chasing vehicles—armored, aerodynamic tanks equipped with advanced sensors and hydraulic ground anchors to collect high-resolution data from inside storms. Timmer views chasing as both science and art, refined over decades of high-risk fieldwork.

A pioneer in storm data collection, Dr. Timmer has developed unique methods for deploying sensors using probes, drones, balloons, and even model rockets. Since 2020, he’s driven directly into 10 tornadoes using Dominator 3, and in 2023, launched a rocket-deployed sensor into a mile-wide EF4 tornado, capturing unprecedented atmospheric data up to 39,000 feet. His hurricane intercepts include Katrina, Rita, and Category 5 Hurricane Michael. Beyond fieldwork, Timmer shares real-time storm reports and safety updates through social media, television, and the RadarOmega app. Currently chasing with National Geographic, he lives by the motto: NEVER stop chasing.