Discovery Channel Storm Chaser Joel Taylor Dead at 38

Joel Taylor, star of Discovery's Storm Chasers, has died at the age of 38, Huffington Post reports. The cause of his death has not yet been determined.

Taylor was on the tornado-tracking documentary series from its premiere in 2007 through its end in 2012. He was team leader Reed Timmer's wheelman as they shot storm footage for TornadoVideos.net, the hub for one of the storm-chasing teams the show followed.

"RIP my best friend and storm chasing partner, Joel Taylor," Timmer wrote on Twitter. "I am shocked and absolutely devastated by the loss of my incredible, caring friend. We chased so many intense storms, and I wish we could have just one more storm chase. I'll miss you forever, Joel. We lost a legend."

Taylor grew up in Oklahoma in the heart of Tornado Alley, and studied meteorology at the University of Oklahoma. He lived in Norman, Oklahoma at the time of his death. He is survived by his parents, a brother, a sister and at least one niece, who was born Jan. 15.