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Joel Taylor, “Storm Chasers” star

by Legacy Staff

Joel Taylor was one of the stars of “Storm Chasers” on the Discovery Channel.

Joel Taylor, one of the stars of “Storm Chasers” on the Discovery Channel, has died, according to multiple news sources. He was 38.

Taylor’s death was announced by fellow “Storm Chasers” star Reed Timmer on Twitter on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018.

“RIP my best friend and storm chasing partner, Joel Taylor,” Timmer wrote. “We chased so many intense storms, and I wish we could have just one more storm chase.”

The cause of death has not been announced.


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Taylor joined the cast of “Storm Chasers” during its first season in 2008. The documentary series focused on the lives of weathermen as they intercepted tornadoes in Tornado Alley, an area of the United State known for its severe storms. He stayed with the show until it was canceled in 2012.

The scientific data gathered by storm chasers is valuable, but it is a dangerous job. In 2013 former “Storm Chasers” star Tim Samaras, his son, Paul Samaras, and Carl Young, died while chasing a tornado in El Reno, Oklahoma.

An Oklahoma native, Taylor studied meteorology at the University of Oklahoma and was currently storm-chasing with Elk City-based Team Western OK Chaser.

“He was one of the most level headed chasers on the roads and truly a classy guy outside of chasing. He didn’t chase for the glory he chased because he had a true passion for storms,” the team wrote in a Facebook post.

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