Neil B. Ward

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Neil Burgher Ward (b. June 26, 1914 in Purcell, Oklahoma, d. April 12, 1972 in Norman, Oklahoma), American meteorologist, was the first scientific storm chaser, and third known storm chaser, developing ideas of thunderstorm and tornado structure and evolution as well as techniques for forecasting and intercept. He also was a pioneering developer of physical models of tornadoes, first at his home, then at the National Severe Storms Laboratory. He greatly furthered understanding of atmospheric vortices, particularly the tornado.^[1]

[edit] Biography

Ward first studied mechanical engineering at the University of Oklahoma. In 1939, he began working for the Weather Bureau as a weather observer, eventually becoming a forecaster. Earning two scholarships, he attended graduate school at Texas A&M University, the University of Oklahoma, and Colorado State University, beginning in late 1956. He studied fluid mechanics and developed an increasing interest in atmospheric vortices by the early 1950s.^[2] Neil was a research scientist at the National Severe Storms Laboratory, from the first year of its operation in 1964 to his death in 1972.^[3] He began actively pursuing storms on the road in 1961, coordinating with radar information via the Oklahoma state highway patrol.^[4]