Marc Weinberg ... Highlights Of My 15 Years As A Storm Chaser
In 1996, I began chasing tornadoes and hurricanes while I was in college at the University of Oklahoma. Since the day I began, I have seen 55 tornadoes (including 3 EF-4s and 2 EF-5s), 10 hurricanes (including Katrina), softball sized hail, and lightning that literally walked across the sky. I was witness to the strongest winds ever measured on the planet at 318 mph and the largest storm surge from a hurricane in US history at over 30 feet. My storm chasing has brought me close to some things that just cannot be described by words.
At first, I chased to witness the nature I was learning about it college. I was fortunate to work as an undergraduate and graduate research assistent to Josh Wurman. Dr. Wurman is the mind behind the Doppler on Wheels and I was fortunate to work with the team for 3 years learning radar meteorology from one of the best. In 1998, my tornado video got national recognition as I continued to be on every single major storm in the US. I was becoming very well know as a storm chaser and someone who shot some of the best video in the world. Within a year, I was on David Letterman, CBS Evening News, Dateline, Good Morning America, CNN, BBC, Montel Williams, and every possible television outlet you can imagine. CNN was quoted in the New York Post calling my video "some of the most thrilling and dramatic video of all time" and David Letterman was referring to me as "The Kid". In 1999, a monster EF-5 tornado went through the city I lived in and demolished the lives of many in Oklahoma City. It broke my heart to watch lives being destroyed and I reached a crossroad in my life. I felt I could no longer sit back witnessing tornadoes destroy lifes feeling there was nothing I could do. I decided to get into TV with the hope that my expertise as a tornado chaser and research background in radar meteorology would someday help save lifes. Today I still work with the same hope... I want to sleep well at night knowing I have used my skills and my life to make a difference in others lives.
With a little history about how I got where I am today, let me take you inside Hurricane Katrina and within 1/2 mile of the strongest tornado ever measured on the planet.
I hope the next time there is severe weather, you will trust WDRB to help you through. I use all my expertise I have gained as a storm chaser to help keep our community safe. I would love for you to stop by my facebook page any time and say hi...
Awesome Marc! Thanks for sharing...felt like I was right there holding the camera
Posted by: Keith Ladiner | 10/02/2012 at 07:37 PM
Keith, thanks for watching the video!
Posted by: Marc Weinberg | 10/02/2012 at 09:58 PM
These videos were so cool. When I was younger I played with the idea of being a storm chaser. Always loved storms.
Posted by: Jamie Brown | 10/02/2012 at 10:51 PM
Jamie, thanks for watching the video. I have to say I am fascinated by storms, but there is nothing I love about them now. Being witness to so much destruction leaves me grateful only one thing... the understanding of storms I have gained can now be used to help my community.
Posted by: Marc Weinberg | 10/03/2012 at 12:13 AM
Marc,I'm so glad you finally got what was yours,these videos are excellent.
Did yo have much trouble getting them released to you?
Posted by: Tracey Cannon | 04/10/2013 at 09:55 PM