New Documentary Features Footage of Greenfield, IA Tornado

This week, I settled in to watch the new documentary Never Stop Chasing. The film revolves around professional storm chaser Reed Timmer, arguably the most famous storm chaser at the moment, and his crew's love, practices, and passion for following tornadic activity as it breaks out across the Midwest.

The film opens with the devastating 2013 El Reno tornado in Oklahoma, which took the life of three professional storm chasers, and served as a reminder that this line of work could be deadly. It just so happens that the documentary ends with an extended look at the horrific tornado that whipped through southwestern Iowa, specifically Greenfield, IA, in May 2024.

Never Stop Chasing is a Must-See for Weather Enthusiasts:

Not knowing a great deal about Reed Timmer, his crew, or his "Dominator" vehicles, I went into the documentary simply curious about the practice of storm-chasing. I do know that Timmer has been in Dubuque a couple different times, once for a show at the Five Flags Center in 2025, and again a few months ago to track the storm that rocked Lena, IL.

The documentary follows Timmer and his eclectic crew as they insert themselves in the middle of deadly supercells and impact zones as tornadic activity unfolds:

In the immersive documentary Never Stop Chasing, legendary storm chaser Reed Timmer pursues a life hunting the world’s most violent weather. Haunted by the tragic death of his mentor, Tim Samaras, in the historic 2013 El Reno tornado, and the sudden loss of his best friend and long-time chase partner, Joel Taylor, Reed’s life on the edge takes a severe emotional toll. Driven by an unshakeable compulsion, he pushes his mind and body to the absolute limit in pursuit of the perfect storm - per Never Stop Chasing's website

The extended look at the Greenfield, IA tornado in 2024 serves as the film's climax. It's the sole focus of the movie for about 25 minutes, just before the conclusion. During that time, we see Timmer's crew navigate the storm, film it from multiple different angles (including via drone), and then see them arrive in the town of Greenfield to aid in cleanup efforts.

The Greenfield tornado delivered winds as high as 185 mph, strong enough to be classified as an EF4. It killed five people, injured 35 others, and caused over $30 million in damages to homes, businesses, and even wind turbines. It was absolutely catastrophic for the small town of 2,000 people, and the film doesn't shy away from showing just how badly it damaged the town after the winds died down.

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Never Stop Chasing is presently in limited release in just over 100 theaters around the country. You can find out more about the documentary on the film's official website.

LOOK: The most expensive weather and climate disasters in recent decades

Stacker ranked the most expensive climate disasters by the billions since 1980 by the total cost of all damages, adjusted for inflation, based on 2021 data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The list starts with Hurricane Sally, which caused $7.3 billion in damages in 2020, and ends with a devastating 2005 hurricane that caused $170 billion in damage and killed at least 1,833 people. Keep reading to discover the 50 of the most expensive climate disasters in recent decades in the U.S.

Gallery Credit: KATELYN LEBOFF