Reed Timmer

Dr. Reed Timmer is a meteorologist and storm chaser known for his work in atmospheric science and extreme weather research. Timmer earned both a bachelor's degree and a doctorate in meteorology from the University of Oklahoma. He has intercepted nearly 1,000 tornadoes and dozens of hurricanes, and is among the few individuals to document both an EF5 tornado and a Category 5 hurricane. Timmer's extensive field experience and academic background have established him as an expert in severe weather forecasting, safety, and survival.

Timmer gained national attention through his role on Discovery Channel's "Storm Chasers," where he led the TornadoVideos.net (TVN) team through Tornado Alley. He was the first to capture high-definition video inside a tornado using a 300-pound TVN tornado probe. Timmer designed the Dominator series of storm chasing vehicles, engineered to collect data inside severe storms. The Dominator 3, a 9,500-pound vehicle with reinforced features, is among his innovations. He also appeared in the documentary film "Tornado Glory" and created the web series "Tornado Chasers," contributing to the field of extreme weather media.

In addition to his television work, Timmer has advanced atmospheric science through innovative field research. Notably, he launched a trackable sensor by model rocket into a mile-wide EF4 tornado in eastern Kansas, collecting high-resolution meteorological data during a 30-mile journey inside the vortex. Timmer founded TVN Weather, a company providing live severe weather video content to media outlets. His tornado, hurricane, and blizzard footage has been licensed to more than 100 production companies and television networks. He co-authored the book "Into the Storm: Violent Tornadoes, Killer Hurricanes, and Death-Defying Adventures in Extreme Weather," documenting his field experiences. In 2026, he was the subject of the documentary "Never Stop Chasing."

Timmer has appeared on The Weather Channel's "Tornado Chasers," Larry King Live, Good Morning America, and The Tonight Show. He has been featured on National Geographic, Netflix, Disney, PBS, AccuWeather, and Jay Leno's Garage, and has collaborated with Richard Hammond of Top Gear and The Grand Tour. Timmer conducts storm spotter seminars for the National Weather Service, emergency managers, and the public, and has presented his "Dominate the Storm" tour in multiple states. Through his YouTube channel and social media presence, Timmer provides education on meteorology, storm chasing, and disaster preparedness, reaching a wide audience interested in severe weather and atmospheric science.