Tornado Intercept Vehicle | A History Of Tornado Interception

In this episode, we tag along with IMAX filmmaker Sean Casey and his mission to film the inside of a tornado.
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Chapters
0:00 Intro
2:23 Sean Casey
4:16 TIV's Construction
5:41 TIV's Design
7:12 Problems
8:56 Sean's Partnership With Wurman
11:17 2005 Season
13:00 2005 Jayton Texas Intercept
15:16 2006 Double Intercept
17:20 TIV's Abandonment
19:57 TIV's Discovery And Restoration
22:20 Credits
Socials
Twitter: @matthewhornoi
Instagram: @matthewhornoi
All footage in this video is property of their respective owners. If you own any clips in this video and would like it to be removed, please contact me via email and we can sort it out. Thank you.

[@potatoesindrag4095]

I think honestly when Matt Hughes committed suicide that took the wind out of Sean's sails for awhile. The season end for tornado chasers was wrenching to saying the best. I am glad to see Reed and Sean getting back into it, because they had the passion and drive to bring good research and amazing videos to everyone. What they did for tornado research was truly unmatched.

[@Busdude97]

Right? Facts💯🔥. I feel the same way. The two are kinda like siblings and you could see that in them. Reed was kinda there for him after Matt passed away. And Josh wasn't really. Disappointing because I really like Josh and the friendship between was awesome and you could really see that. Sean, Josh, and Reed were all kinda like siblings in a way.

[@mikeyoung9810]

I didn't know this. rip matt. condolences to his friends and family.

[@roberthoffhines5419]

yeah, that was a gut punch when it became known. It was kind of on the front edge of the current epidemic. Of course, one suicide is a pandemic for the survivors.

[@mr.abrams8112]

@@roberthoffhines5419 he died in 2010 ?

[@roberthoffhines5419]

@@mr.abrams8112 sorry...epidemic of SUICIDES that is! I lost a friend right before that viral epidemic started.

[@puffypegion7815]

Sean Casey is back storm-chasing soon, and he is currently building what is essentially TIV-3 out of a Subaru Outback. Might have to do an episode on that someday lol. Great Video Matt!

[@tornadoclips2022]

Fr? Send link or show proof

[@Kaidhicksii]

While that's true, I wouldn't necessarily suggest that his new Outback is going to be TIV 3. Because in January 3 years ago, Sean stated that he had bought a new Ram 3500 4x4 diesel truck. In his own words, "Hello TIV3!" Whatever it is he's got planned, I am hyped. :D

[@puffypegion7815]

@@Kaidhicksii I guess you could call the outback is TIV-3 lite lol

[@simon96376]

If i were sean i would add six spikes 2 on each side 2 on the front and 2 on back and flaps on each side so the back front and sides and flaps on the tires and a turret and spikes go VERY DEEP and the flaps dig in the ground and they go down all at once and big airbags

[@takeastepback4059]

@@Kaidhicksii show proof

[@mr.dangernoodle6294]

I remember seeing the Discovery show on DVD when I was a kid, and I loved seeing the TIV. Ever since I stopped watching it, I've wondered about this car, and finally, I see this video about it. Cool to see that it's going back into the field soon.

[@SaltyNationalist]

And a huge CONGRATULATIONS to Dr. Reed Timmer for taking his Interceptor into an EF 3 successfully and get proper readings.. 😁👍

[@hsimpson7267]

Reed is a joke compared to Sean and his team

[@kimjunguny]

@@hsimpson7267 reed is a maniac not a joke, learn the difference.

[@hsimpson7267]

@@kimjunguny Fool

[@dopeman420]

@hsimpson7267 Reed will always be the king. Your the joke.

[@SaltyNationalist]

@@kimjunguny My guess is he didn't really pay too much attention to certain people in the credits of this documentary..🤷‍♂️

[@RKSNomad]

i didn't know it was found and being restored! man, i would love to see it in action again. With reed's Dominator 3 being back in action this year too, imagine the footage of these beasts rolling side by side into the fray.

[@andymiller3366]

Got to meet these guys as a elementary student. They brought one of their vehicles with them. It was a sight to behold.

[@Elixercostie]

Which one was it?

[@lolwut.4315]

Well Done video, Thanks for using my model in this!

[@Kaidhicksii]

Let's go! Exactly what I needed to kick things back into high gear, after yesterday's solemn event of remembering the Titanic disaster. I did not think you'd be able to get it out this quickly. Awesome job documenting TIV's career. The only minor gripes I have is how you didn't go into detail about the claws which were added later, and especially TIV's interception on a nighttime tornado in the final moments of S1E1 of Storm Chasers. According to Discovery, the winds in the funnel reached 200 mph, and TIV took a direct hit. Broadside. I continue to maintain that she is a much stronger vehicle than most people realize. I am really looking forward to her eventual return to Tornado Alley, and especially her new look and upgrades. While I'll miss the silver paint and the claws, the black makes her look badass, and her new engine, plus the rapid-deploy spikes and her airbag system should make her one of the strongest and most capable tornado intercept vehicles in the world. The best of luck to Robert, though since his current plans are to only get TIV fixed up just enough to drive into smaller tornadoes, in light of the current market and the difficulty in getting her new parts, I hope he remains extremely careful if he manages to get her out this year. Great job once again and can't wait for next episode!

[@jmstudios457]

They actually originally planned on including a segment about both that intercept and the Stuttgart 2008 intercept, but in the end they were scrapped

[@jessedeppeler8450]

Phenomenal stuff Matt! Keep up the fantastic work! Kudos from Australia

[@MesoHunterYT]

Very cool! Enjoyed this Matt. Keep up the good work!

[@CountryCoversOfficial]

Can't wait to see the TIV 2 video!

[@wadewilson8011]

How in the Hell was 4 wheel drive not one of the FIRST things factored in during the original concept. Especially KNOWING how many dirt roads and muddy conditions out west in tornado alley.

[@Ratkill9000]

It was cheaper to get the 1997 F-Super Duty truck than convert it to 4x4. TIV2 was built I think on a Ram 3500 or 4500 frame that was built to be a 6x6. You do have less to go wrong with a 2wd truck. Could've maybe have added a detroit locker or an e-locker to the diff and that would've helped a lot more than the open diff it had.

[@P_RO_]

@@Ratkill9000 Just no. You don't go off-road in those conditions without 4WD. Let your piggy-bank grow fatter for another year if you must but have what you need from the start.

[@J-1410]

@@P_RO_ Not to mention it was a two wheel drive dually pickup, the most helpless set up in mud and other low traction conditions.

[@kunahic8512]

Great video! Very well done. Based off a interview in 2009 Ronan Nagle said Tiv intercepted 9 tornados, all of these were filmed or documented in some way besides the first intercept in 2004. We can tell it was during that year due to some images of Tiv in its “Bushrag” livery and having a red tornado on the side of its nose meaning intercept Also Tiv had the nickname of COW earlier on standing for Coffin on wheels

[@Doglife0421Studios]

Coffin on wheels🤣🤣

[@TheCarson116]

Funnily enough that exact acronym ended up going to one of the Center for Severe Weather Research's DOW trucks: "COW", or "C-band (radar) On Wheels"

[@Merc69420]

Finally! I like this series.

[@DesertPunks]

I remember seeing Sean's film in IMAX at our local science center. After watching storm chasers for years finally seeing the film was amazing. I don't think anything captured my wonder like the TIV did.

[@darkninjacorporation]

Dude the production quality on these videos is fantastic!

[@emmettcoker7227]

One of the best videos I’ve ever seen

[@starprimeproductions7700]

This is an amazing video! With correct history! Thank you for this the only note I would add is when Ryan Sheppard collected it in California in what I believed 2012 but still amazing video non the less, thank you!

[@tarrenbaker1580]

Ryan Sheppard has TIV2

[@starprimeproductions7700]

@@tarrenbaker1580 yea he does but in 2012 he posted a video of him picking up the tiv for Sean Casey in California and driving it all the way to Kansas kzbin.info/www/bejne/kJnZl5-ioNmfq5o

[@ringmatzi7465]

Great work! R.I.P. Tim & Matt 💫

[@terizumbusch8408]

I just finished bend watching all the episodes of storm chasers and it was trulyis markable experience. In the checking out, what's going on. Now, I'm glad to find out that Reed and Sean are both back storm chasing. Look forward to future videos!

[@aliciaporter2461]

Thank you for information about tornadoes this is the best channel ever

[@xamiHD]

Another banger from you matt

[@DonaldHolben]

the first TTIV was scary as far as quality, But Sean was learning too weld soo... Tiv 2 was awesome!

[@Wutzmename]

0:41 RIP Tim Samaras 😢

[@hsimpson7267]

Also just so everyone knows, all 5 seasons of storm chasers is on You Tube for free

[@capapofa]

Thx

[@anotherkoogleboy]

the thunk of the barrel at 14:44 soo nice

[@anotherkoogleboy]

14:42

[@c0r323]

i literally clicked on this and got an ad with a barrel dropping on a table

[@sargentrowell81]

It's cool to see what's happened to the original TIV. I had wondered what happened to all of these vehicles we saw starting in Storm Chasers. It was cool finding that Reed was at least still active a few years back, but it was odd seeing he had ditched the dominators. It's exciting to know that Reed is trying to revive the dominators, and not the TIV is getting another chance too. Now I'm just left to wonder what happened to TIV II. Guess I'll just have to wait for the video on it to come out next.

[@Washman-jw3hl]

I thought the same thing. TIV2 was such a TANK! I really hope to see what happened with it soon. 👍

[@Doglife0421Studios]

Wasn’t there a DOM3 intercept just a few months ago?

[@Washman-jw3hl]

@@Doglife0421Studios he is doing a 3rd dominator I'm quite sure. I think it's a better design than the first two by far.

[@Doglife0421Studios]

@@Washman-jw3hl yes there is a dominator 3, there was a intercept with it this year

[@TheHeliKid]

TIV-2 is currently owned by Ryan Shepard and is still chasing.

[@slug..]

Wonderful documentary

[@MichaelClark-uw7ex]

Reed Timmer intercepted a tornado in Dominator 3 earlier today.5/12/23

[@RRRIBEYE]

lol, Sean will practically need to sacrifice himself to a BIG ONE just to match the footage and data Dr. REED collected! (I bet he's throwing a tantrum vs. appreciating Dr. REED's contribution of data and research to the field!)

[@MichaelClark-uw7ex]

@@RRRIBEYE I know I was watching Dr. Timmer's livestream when he did it. It was truly amazing, btw they estimated it as an EF-3 through pressure gradient calculations, their anemometer got chuffed by debris.

[@Storm-Fox]

You need to do a video of the dominators

[@RRRIBEYE]

Would definitely be worth watching. Sean? Not so much. Too much whining and tantrums. He's washed up.

[@lizard869]

​@@RRRIBEYEhave you seen Reed's tantrums? They could kill

[@skunkylite]

The tiv is just a beast

[@kylie-gracewagner2790]

Speaking of Reed Timmer... Never before in one lifetime has one man totally impressed so many geeky weather boys while disappointing so many beautiful weather girls...✅✅✅

[@swampysanta5445]

shows you that women are harder to please then guys doesn't it? people wonder why there is so many gays in the world and that is why.

[@kainhall]

i remember when it was just the little orange triangles they put out infront of the path (and 9 time out of 10 it missed) someone must have been like "well, then lets move the sensors" . and thus.... the Dominator and TIV was born . these shows.... and when i got caught in NASTY hail, and then saw a small tornado roping out (missed us by about 150 yards) this is why im so fascinated by weather today . still trying to see my first tornado (dont have the money to leave NE montana.... so tornadoes are pretty rare)

[@ImaplanetJupiteeeerr]

5:27 what a mouthful hahhahaha :DDDD

[@MarkoDash]

one of these would have been handy for the Starship launch

[@Bush.Man.Bucketz]

there is also the all the dominator's the 3rd one is out right now with Reed Timmer (he live streams his chases)

[@RRRIBEYE]

Sean has a lonnnnng ways to go to match Reed's amazing livestream from the other day! The finished edit with the drone footage was equally unprecedented - not to mention the data collected as well! AMAZING WORK Dr. REED! must suck being Sean knowing he has to practically sacrifice himself to a big tornado just to match Dr. REED, LMAO

[@johnsnow1355]

The spikes are not critical unless you are going to take on f3 tornados. The myth busters proved the dominator one with no spikes could take almost 200mph winds before loosing grip on the runway behind the jet engines.

[@MaximumMatt]

The mythbusters test wasn't a very good test. Real tornadic winds rotate around in a circle, while the Mythbusters only had the wind moving in one direction.

[@johnsnow1355]

@@MaximumMatt depending what side of the storm u are on u only get hit with wind from one direction. The only time u would see wind spinning around u would be in the actual tornado.

[@ryanglass1008]

@@johnsnow1355 hence the point of intercepting the tornado. To be inside of it

[@DonaldHolben]

One of the rams got bent in that test.

[@aviation4life640]

The jet test is not a really good test. The real danger is the debris flying around inside the tornado.

[@brianmateer3507]

Nice!!!

[@kindnuguz]

It would be more worth looking at buying old military equipment with the already built platform and only needing to add skirts. Heck I think even the HMMWV has airbag or air ride already and 4 wheel independent suspension that could be modified. $3,500 is going rate and many different versions and armors doors another $3-6k Or even Oshkosh L-ATV price: $250,000 for the civil version I don't know about all this patch work vehicles.

[@MaximumMatt]

While using a military vehicle as a platform would have probably made TIV 1 more durable and reliable, Sean didn't have a lot of funding to get TIV built. I also suspect Sean didn't think that TIV 1 would be in service for almost 9 years.

[@rickster9993]

Need to take a look at some of the military armored personnel carriers for a foundation for a storm-chasing vehicle.

[@johnsnow1355]

Too slow in top speed. Some tornados can move at 50-60mph

[@rickster9993]

@@johnsnow1355 I don't think their current vehicles can chase at that speed, especially on dirt roads. I've seen wheeled armored personnel carriers running down the interstate pretty fast.

[@steveo601]

An armored Hummer with a fire breathing engine. Could go anywhere, any time. 8000 pounds dry. Money would have to be thrown at it for heightened reliability. Would be insane intercept capability. Built in turret.😎👍👍😎🔥🔥🔥

[@OuterGalaxyLounge]

0:29 Siren atop City Hall, Louisville, Kentucky, with former Citizen Fidelity/PNC Tower, now 500 West Jefferson Building in the background. I live here, so it struck me right away.

[@hsimpson7267]

Amazing... Subbed.

[@cheekybungers3187]

Wow. Didnt know such a legend is parked less than a mile from my house.

[@theflock4916]

I love the difference in the two famous interceptors Sean takes calculated risks and analyses the situation, preferring a passive approach And Reed tapes a fucking camera to a fence 100 yards away from a tornado while his shorts rip off

[@tornadochasingsiege]

Even though the tiv1 was very crude and broke down a lot it was still a badass tornado interceptor

[@tornadoclips2022]

Yes!!!

[@STORMOFPASSIONTIV2]

Cool

[@randompersonlol7930]

what about reeds shoes? the "dominator?

[@EF5WEDGE]

Lol i have a signed Tiv hat from sean casey, when i go out and chase the hat will be my good luck charm

[@Rideeon]

not sure what the hype is. It's a normal Saskatchewan day the wind never ends

[@Tsuzumari_duels5900]

Kinda what I wanna get into WOOOO!

[@Ratkill9000]

1/8th steel is considered sheet metal by standards. You don't get plate until you are at 1/4" and up.

[@Sputnik0176]

Good dokumetary but I would really like a video about the dominators

[@xx_ironman77_xx1]

5:37- 5:38 the tornado attack vehicle was made first but it is not an street legal vehicle * it needs to be towed everywhere. Tiv 1 was the first street legal intercept vehicle because unlike tornado attack vehicle it doesn’t need to towed everywhere 💩 tiv 1 can go anywhere tornado attack vehicle is literally limited to the grass and mud instead of that it can’t travel on public roads

[@Nkw022]

What happens if your almost at the max threshold and your not near the funnel other than prey I mean it’s to late to get out of there

[@itskevinjustkevin]

TIV1 it technically a heritage unit

[@supraking7]

I remember when he used the TIV 1

[@jaydenminor9392]

You should do Dominator one

[@Bush.Man.Bucketz]

there is also the dominator 3 that is out right now with Reed Timmer (he live streams his chases)

[@xGameMasteRx]

The tiv 2 has been born

[@gottagift]

what a shame. Several encounters with tornados and somebody decides that drowning their sound out with music would be dramatic. I actually would have preferred to just hear the tornado.

[@RjBrown-ks5tz]

Im shocked he didnt use a 4 wheel drive to begine with. Set himself up for failure right off the get

[@lizard869]

Chances are that's the only truck he could get. 4WD is quite expensive and Sean didn't have that kind of money lying around

[@colecooper-ui8ke]

now tiv2 is next

[@kippnovak9833]

Did he ever finish the imax film...if so what was it called & was it any good ???

[@MaximumMatt]

Yes, he finished it. It was called Tornado Alley.

[@kippnovak9833]

@@MaximumMatt thanx max...

[@LUNITICWILL]

TIV 1 was a good vehicle, it's just that everything wrong with it was fixed in TIV 2

[@Anthony-qg3qo]

Guess this was the vehicle that was in that tornado movie twister

[@TheCarson116]

Would have been cool, but TIV1 was built around 7 years _after_ Twister came out.

[@NaV0909]

When next Video😥

[@TexasTimelapse]

They should have named the vehicle TIT....tornado intercepting truck.

[@P_RO_]

Dominatrux... 🤣

[@lizard869]

Pecos Hank has the Tornado Intercepting Toyota if it's any consolation

[@Randomcarguybc]

Noooo the spikes were super cool put the spikes back on

[@fuzzydunlop7928]

I feel like the concept of a tornado intercept vehicle, outside of a government body or huge company, is kinda folly. What was the Big Shot supposed to be. Anyway? It's dark as shit inside a tornado. People have known that for years. You'd need to drive into the spin-up phase of a multi-vortex, that'd be neat but once you have condensation funnel what are you hoping to see? I understand data capture, but what was Sean hoping to film?

[@steverpcb]

What happened to the TIV2 ?

[@MaximumMatt]

You will find out in Episode 3

[@DangerZoneGamingYT]

Don't leave the 1 sit

[@nikis6347]

is this series discontinued?

[@NeoJae]

no, im pretty sure its taking longer cause they scrapped the first version of ep 3, that being the tiv 2 due to copyright reasons

[@randompersonlol7930]

What happened to the Series... 9 months no new episodes I am really excited for the next one

[@TheCarson116]

Matt _was_ going to do an episode on TIV2, but claims that "copyright issues" would supposedly prevent him from doing so (even though he made this episode with neither a care nor a problem).

[@randompersonlol7930]

@@TheCarson116 Copyright issues? Who TF did that....

[@TheCarson116]

@@randompersonlol7930 ​That's what Matt _claims_ at least: considering he made this episode with plenty of copyrighted footage (including from Discovery's _Storm Chasers)_ I don't see why he couldn't make one on TIV2 (maybe if Matt was more specific on what he means by "copyright issues" I'd know).

[@randompersonlol7930]

@@TheCarson116 true but I am pretty sure that if you use the footage for "educational purposes" you can bypass that

[@TheCarson116]

@@randompersonlol7930 Sadly KZbin often won't even accept that even though it's completely legal.

[@danzmitrovich6250]

I will make my with Marmon-Herrington 4x4 military planetary drive axles from mraps and heavy duty sheets of aluminum military panels from Stryker body and windows from the Buffalo armored trucks

[@tcswag801]

Rip twistx

[@AgileCoast]

Every time i see Sean Casey, I instantly think of that scene from the movie Twister where Bill said "He's in for the money, not the science" and it's true. Sean is the real life version of Jonas Miller.

[@lizard869]

Sean didn't really do it for the money or science. He mainly did it for his family. So kinda for the money. But he also contributed some very good data to Vortex 2

[@AgileCoast]

@Hornet1. I disagree. He cared more about that "I-MAX Film" that he was producing than gathering actual scientific data on tornados. That's the only reason he had the T.I.V. built. Where as Reid Timmer built the Dominator to collect scientific data from inside a tornado.

[@AgileCoast]

@Hornet1. I disagree. He cared more about that "I-MAX Film" that he was producing than gathering actual scientific data on tornados. That's the only reason he had the T.I.V. built. Where as Reid Timmer built the Dominator to collect scientific data from inside a tornado.

[@irwinisidro]

I mean its not like he's doing it just for fun, for the most part. Of course he has a financial goal since he did mortgage his house. And he is a filmmaker at heart and profession. Storm chasing shouldn't be scientific exclusive. Heck before building the Dominator, Reed sold his footage to news outlets as income.

[@dabaadeedabadie]

dominador is the best

[@plasticlemmon3288]

Japan has 23 vending machines per person. This ratio is the same per capita. Japan has the highest amount of vending machines in the world.

[@plasticlemmon3288]

also nice vid

[@Shrek_Has_Covid19]

lemon

[@kathiecraig2803]

not sure if the TIV is street legal, but cool

[@MaximumMatt]

Believe it or not, it is.

[@Smile-he6md]

He forgot tiv 2

[@mrsir623]

What all music is on there?

[@MaximumMatt]

Music is listed in the credits at the end of the video.

[@billmadison2032]

I love that show, I wonder what happened to tiv 2. I like Sean Casey I could not stand Reed Timmer his yelling makes me want to punch him in the mouth

[@TheCarson116]

TIV2 was eventually sold to Ryan Shepard, who will _supposedly_ continue using it to chase tornadoes but according to at least one other comment here seems to mainly be using it for publicity purposes instead.

[@k1ngdill1]

torndao

[@Wutzmename]

Is the name TIV trademarked by Sean Casey?

[@RRRIBEYE]

Not sure, but his tantrums and whining should be! 🤣

[@dfpguitar]

Wouldn't fibreglass be way better than patchwork steel ?

[@MaximumMatt]

Perhaps, but keep in mind, Sean was paying for TIV 1 out of pocket. So fibreglass would have probably been too expensive.

[@jackseward7779]

Who is Mother Nature (The Weather Channel's favorite entity)? If you are going to be in awe of a storm, at least respect its Creator.

[@christianemmanuelf.domingo793]

Tracks, install tracks

[@webstercat]

Send a drone in.

[@GrandDawggy]

Lol how you think that's gonna work? You can't fly a drone in high winds never mind a tornado

[@somecallmehachi1244]

Tivussy

[@takeastepback4059]

ayo??

[@somecallmehachi1244]

@@takeastepback4059 🥴

[@chrissullivan63]

Dr Reed Timmer Is Better Yup Yup!!!!!

[@jessemazo4791]

you shoud let reed timmers do it right nextime.. you have no clue what your doing out there!!!

[@Bush.Man.Bucketz]

i came here to comment that as well that the Dominator 3 is out hunting right now and he even live streams his chases.

[@RRRIBEYE]

@@Bush.Man.Bucketz Sean is fun to watch throw his 'trademark' tantrums and whining bits. He's got zero entertainment value - and has fallen drastically behind from Dr. REED!! 🤪

[@J-1410]

@@Bush.Man.Bucketz Is that why they got stuck last year and lost trying to figure out how to get into a pasture in ND?

[@doctorartphd6463]

It seems a shame to let the TIV rot behind a barn... So much invested in this vehicle....

[@devildoggaming4603]

That was a major waste of my time

[@dopeman420]

Sean will never be Reed timmer....Reed is the king not Sean