Weather Geeks

Guest: Stephen Wooten, ResearcherAs a parent, there’s nothing more important than making sure your child is safe—especially when severe weather threatens their school day. Whether it’s the decision to delay, dismiss early, or shelter in place, we rely on school officials to make the right call. But as any parent knows, those decisions aren’t always black and white. Should schools be more cautious, or are they sometimes too quick to pull the trigger? And how much say should parents have in the process, if at all? Today on the show, we’re chatting with Stephen Wooten, a researcher who has been studying how parents feel about the tough calls schools have to make. As both a Weather Geek and a parent, this conversation hits close to home.Chapters00:00 The Importance of Weather Decisions for Schools02:49 Understanding Parental Perspectives on School Weather Protocols06:07 Research Methodology: Gathering Insights from Parents08:59 Key Findings: Preferences for Early Dismissals11:54 Infrastructure and Safety: Parents

Guest: John Trostel, DirectorFrom towering supercells to fast-moving derechos, severe storms are some of the most powerful and unpredictable forces in nature. Forecasting these storms requires cutting-edge technology, real-time data analysis, and years of research to improve early warning systems and save lives. That’s where institutions like the Severe Storms Research Center at Georgia Tech come in. Today on Weather Geeks, we’re diving into the groundbreaking work being done at SSRC—from tracking lightning patterns to developing new storm prediction models. We’re thrilled to welcome John Trostel, the director of SSRC, to tell us all about it…Chapters00:00 Introduction to Severe Storms and SSRC03:10 The Role of Co-op Observers in Weather06:13 The Birth of the Severe Storms Research Center09:03 Understanding Severe Storms in the Southeast12:08 Innovative Radar Technology and Its Applications15:02 Lightning Mapping and Its Importance18:01 Microclimates and Their Impact on Weather20:54 Future Research Direc

Guest: Jenny Dissen, NCICSWhen a hurricane strikes, the immediate damage is only part of the story. The real test comes in the days, weeks, and even years after the storm—when communities must rebuild, adapt, and prepare for what’s next. Hurricane Helene left its mark on North Carolina, exposing vulnerabilities but also sparking efforts to create a more resilient future. Today on Weather Geeks, we’re joined by Jenny Dissen of the North Carolina Institute for Climate Studies (NCICS). She leads Engagement for the Institute, and has been instrumental in some efforts to assess Helene’s impact and help communities recover, using data-driven strategies to strengthen preparedness for future storms. How do we learn from past disasters to build a more resilient tomorrow? That’s what we’re diving into today.Chapters00:00 The Aftermath of Hurricane Helene11:12 Personal Experiences During the Storm19:18 Infrastructure Vulnerability and Resilience34:20 Community and Partner Collaboration for Recovery39:04 Preparing f

Guest: Dr. Rick Spinrad, Outgoing NOAA Administrator From predicting hurricanes and monitoring our oceans to leading cutting-edge climate research, NOAA plays a critical role in protecting lives, property, and our planet. The phone that you may be listening to this podcast on right now would not have weather apps without NOAA. The computer you may be listening on won’t have easily accessible radar data over the internet without NOAA. But as the world faces more extreme weather and environmental challenges, strong leadership for the administration is more important than ever, especially in the face of political turmoil. Today on Weather Geeks, we’re sitting down with Dr. Rick Spinrad, the outgoing NOAA Administrator, to reflect on his tenure and the future of the agency. What were his biggest accomplishments? What challenges remain? And perhaps the biggest question of all—is NOAA going to be okay?Chapters00:00 Introduction to NOAA and Its Importance09:55 The Role of Private Sector in NOAA's

Guest: Daniel SwainWinds are howling outside Los Angeles, California on a dry January day. The hillsides north and east of the city erupt in flames. A wall of fire begins to consume neighborhoods faster than firefighters can keep up. As wind-driven embers continue to fly down hill - a thousand miles away, Daniel Swain’s phone begins to light up. Journalists, companies, officials - all want answers to California’s extreme weather and the impact of climate change. On this week’s episode of Weather Geeks we learn how one high schooler, with a blog, ignited his career to become one of the leading communicators on climate change and the Weather out West.Chapters:00:00 California's Wildfires and Climate Change10:08 Daniel Swain: The Weather Geek's Journey19:52 The Importance of Effective Communication27:05 Linking Climate Change to Extreme Weather40:05 Understanding the Complexity of Weather EventsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-

Guests: John Banghoff, Jonathan Guseman, Jase BernhardtWe’ve all seen it. A multi-car pile-up accident that seems unstoppable. One weather phenomenon is often at the root of these - snow qualls. These aren't your typical snow flurries; they can bring sudden, near-zero visibility and treacherous driving conditions in a matter of minutes. We're joined today by 3 meteorologists with snow squall experience: John Banghoff, and Jonathan Guseman from NWS State College and Dr. Jase Bernhardt, Associate Professor at Hofstra University. We'll explore the science behind these intense bursts of weather, why traditional winter warnings often fall short, and the critical steps being taken to better communicate the dangers. This is a deep dive into the evolving world of snow squall warnings.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Snow Squalls and Their Impact04:51 The Evolution of Snow Squall Warnings10:02 Challenges in Communicating Snow Squall Warnings15:06 Understanding Snow Squall Warnings and Their Importance

Guest: Dr. Sean Waugh, National Severe Storms Laboratory research scientistAs we’ve seen in the movies, and real life, tornadoes are some of the most destructive forces in nature, capable of leveling homes and damaging entire communities in a matter of minutes. And what about hail? It causes BILLIONS and billions of dollars in damage in the US every year. But how do we get up-close, real-time data on these violent storms in order to learn what is needed for better predictions? That’s where cutting-edge field research comes in. Today on Weather Geeks, we’re diving into the world of storm observation and mobile weather technology with Sean Waugh from NOAA’s National Severe Storms Laboratory. From deploying instrumented drones and mobile mesonets to braving the extreme environments of tornadoes and hailstorms, his work is helping scientists better understand the atmospheric conditions that drive severe weather for years to come…Chapters00:00 The Destructive Power of Tornadoes and Hail02:58 Se

Guest: Jason Deese, CEO of Flash Weather AIWeather forecasting has always been a mix of art and science, relying on tools like the Euro and GFS models to predict everything from tomorrow’s sunshine to next week’s storms. But now, artificial intelligence is reshaping the field, offering faster and more precise insights than ever before. Today on Weather Geeks, we’re exploring Flash Weather AI, a cutting-edge tool designed to revolutionize how we predict and prepare for the weather. How does it compare to the traditional models we’ve trusted for decades? And what could it mean for the future of meteorology? We’re excited to welcome Jason Deese, the creator of Flash Weather AI, to discuss this game-changing technology.Chapters00:00 Revolutionizing Weather Forecasting with AI13:42 The Future of Flash Weather AI23:27 Real-World Applications and Success Stories35:34 Overcoming Challenges and Looking AheadSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-no

Guest: Anthony Edwards, Newsroom Meteorologist with the San Francisco ChronicleWith every new year comes hope for a prosperous year. For thousands in southern California, that hope quickly turned into a nightmare. One week into the new year, devastation quickly set in when multiple wildfires began to spread in Los Angeles County. A historic Santa Ana Windstorm, with winds gusting to 100 mph in spots, sent flames into highly populated areas, prompting evacuation orders.Our next guest was following along every step of the way. Anthony Edwards is the newsroom meteorologist with the San Francisco Chronicle and joins us today to discuss the devastating start to the year for many residents in southern California.Chapters00:00 Introduction to California's Wildfires03:10 Understanding Santa Ana Winds and Their Impact06:05 Meteorological Conditions Leading to Wildfires09:00 The Role of Urban Areas in Fire Spread11:47 Communication and Evacuation During Wildfires14:59 Analyzing the Destructive Nature of Recent Fires17:

Guest: Eric Berger4.…3….2….1…. Liftoff! - of this week’s episode of Weather Geeks with our special guest - Eric Berger. Launching his career as a science & space writer, Eric’s trajectory would be considered - by most in the space industry - as ‘nominal’. However, Eric’s late stage separation would send him on a new course to launching the website we all know today - Space City Weather. Since 2015 - Space City Weather has kept Houston informed during extreme weather events. Hurricane Harvey, the February Freeze of 2021, extreme drought to extreme floods, and last year’s Derecho - to name a few. In all, you can sum up Eric’s career - so far - as one small step for weather and giant leap for science-kind.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Eric Berger and His Journey05:31 Transitioning from Space to Weather11:42 The Impact of Hurricane Harvey16:10 Lessons Learned from Hurricane Harvey19:56 Experiencing a Range of Extreme Weather Events25:02 Navigating the Era of Social Meteorology29:43 Key Lessons and Future Dire

Guests: Dr. Ilan Price, Senior Research Scientist, & Matt Willson, Research EngineerFrom the Euro to the GFS to the Canadian, there are multitudes of models that forecasters use to predict our daily weather. There are models for short-term severe forecasting, 10-day outlooks from your local news, and even models that predict our climate years into the future. As technology advances, so do all of these models and the technology we are focusing on today on Weather Geeks is AI. While it may seem like a buzzword these days, it can be used to enhance our industry and help us all reach our common goal: saving lives and property. We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Ilan Price to discuss GenCast, Google’s weather forecasting model that is entirely powered by AI. How does it stack up to the models we know and love? The answer may surprise you…Chapters00:00 Introduction to AI in Weather Forecasting02:10 Meet the Experts: Ilan Price and Matthew Wilson06:34 Understanding GenCast: The AI Weath

Guest: Dr. Philip Mulder, Assistant Professor at UW-MadisonOnce you become a homeowner, you are flooded with the overwhelming responsibility of protecting your home, which means that you are going to need home insurance! But is it fair that your insurance may cost significantly more because of the weather that tends to happen around you? Or, what if homeowner’s insurance isn’t even available to you at all because of the weather? That is the current reality for some home and business owners across the U.S. Today on Weather Geeks, we brought on economist Dr. Philip Mulder who has already crunched the numbers about why that is and how insurance providers can get away with this..Chapters00:00 Introduction to Homeowner's Insurance and Climate Risks02:53 The Role of the National Flood Insurance Program05:54 Challenges of Flood Mapping and Insurance Coverage09:08 Impact of Recent Hurricanes on Insurance11:54 Understanding Mortgage Escrow and Insurance Premiums14:56 Trends in Homeowners Insurance

Guest: Dr. Victor GensiniWhen discussions are had about Billion-Dollar Disasters, odds are your mind goes to the biggest hurricane landfalls and tornadoes that struck the country this year.  But the sneakiest of disasters has become hail storms.  As the convective storm passes through a town and dumps tons of ice on cars, roofs, and windows, the costs very quickly add up and the infrastructure is put to the test.  But do we know all we can about these hail storms and how we can mitigate future disasters? Today, we are welcoming back a friend of the show Dr. Victor Gensini to discuss his upcoming field campaign, which is the largest one that has ever been funded that focuses solely on hail.ChaptersIntroduction to Hailstorms and Their ImpactVictor Gensini's Journey in MeteorologyUnderstanding Hail: Current Knowledge and GapsThe IceChip Field Campaign: Goals and LogisticsA Day in the Life of a Field CampaignFuture Aspirations in Hail ResearchSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Cali

Guest: Weather Geeks TeamWorking as a meteorologist is never boring, because the weather changes every single day! With how volatile each day could be, there are a lot of notable weather events that occur over the course of the year, and 2024 is no exception! Dozens of billion-dollar severe weather events, multiple landfalling hurricanes, and major challenges in social science regarding weather communications. This year will go down in the history books in many different categories, and hopefully a lot can be learned from these events to set ourselves up for a safer and calmer 2025…Chapters00:00 Weather Events of 2024: A Year in Review04:39 Tornadoes and Severe Weather Trends10:17 Derechos: Understanding Wind Storms17:59 Hail Events and Their Impact20:47 Wildfires and Flash Flooding: A Dangerous Cycle22:38 Preparing for Unpredictable Weather Events23:24 Analyzing the 2024 Hurricane Season28:14 The Impact of Rainfall in Hurricane Damage29:19 Understanding Predecessor Rain Events33:27 Addressing

Guest: Dr. Robin Murphy, Professor at Texas A&M UniversityWith many natural disasters it takes time to fully understand the scope of the devastation. We have seen that countless times over the past few years with landfalling major hurricanes. The way that we currently assess storm damage is sufficient, but AI has recently changed the game in the way natural disasters are assessed. Joining us today is Dr. Robin Murphy, Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at Texas A&M University joins us to discuss how AI is playing a role in the assessment of natural disasters.Chapters00:00 Introduction to AI in Disaster Assessment03:18 The Evolution of Robotics and AI in Disaster Response05:44 The Role of Drones in Damage Assessment09:18 Real-Time Data Collection and Analysis16:27 Scaling AI for Large-Scale Disasters19:55 Unexpected Flooding and Rapid Response22:44 Advancements in AI and Operational Use25:48 Applications Beyond Hurricanes: Tornadoes and More28:30 Future of AI in Damage Assessment35:12 Conclu

Guest: Dave Titley, Co-Founder of RV Weather EnterprisesDescription: When you’re traveling somewhere, whether it’s on vacation or for business, odds are you are just going to check your phone’s weather app to let you know if you need to pack an umbrella or a heavier jacket at your destination. But what about traveling by RV the entire distance? Your journey could be plagued with weather impacts and you’re not going to want to check your phone app over and over and over. You’re going to want to turn to the RV weather experts! Our guest today is a friend of the show who has taken his 30+ years of meteorological experience and is giving it back to RV travelers across the country.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Guest: Everette Joseph, Director of NCARDescription: We have the NWS, NOAA. and NCEI, but another very valuable member of the meteorological alphabet soup is NCAR, the National Center for Atmospheric Research! However, NCAR is not constricted by any government regulations, so they are free to dissect the atmosphere as they please. However, they have a mission to uphold, just like our government organizations, to understand the world around and above us so they can indirectly protect future lives and property. Today on Weather Geeks, we have the Director of NCAR Everette Joseph to chat about atmospheric research in the past, present and future!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Guest: Evan FisherAs the summer season turns to cooler fall temperatures, the annual passage of time is marked by the changing of the leaves. Whether you're leaf peeping in New England or hiking to see fall colors across the Rockies, the weather will play a huge role in how those fall colors turn out and when the’ll start to turn. Joining us today is Evan Fisher, creator of ExploreFall.com, to talk about this colorful transition of seasons, and about how he’s merging science and data presentation to make a more accessible foliage forecast available. Chapters00:00 Introduction and Background02:58 Creating Fall Foliage Maps08:00 Using AI and Deep Learning for Fall Foliage Forecasting10:03 Challenges and Limitations in Fall Foliage Forecasting15:13 Microclimates and Tree Types19:54 The Impact of Climate Change on Fall Foliage26:01 The Role of GIS in Fall Foliage AnalysisSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Guest: Roy Wright, President & CEO of IBHSFool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. After a natural disaster strikes a community, it takes a lot of time to recover, since you have to not only rebuild the infrastructure but also allow the people to rebound mentally and physically. However, some communities along the Gulf Coast do not get the luxury of extended recovery, as they are struck by compound disasters. What are those, and what can we do to improve mitigation and adaptation of these vulnerable communities so we don’t get fooled twice? We brought Roy Wright from IBHS on the show today to discuss…Chapters00:00 Understanding Compound Disasters10:11 The National Academies Report on Gulf Disasters18:45 Community Engagement and Insights26:13 Key Recommendations for Future Preparedness32:57 The Role of IBHS in Disaster MitigationSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As Hurricane Milton bears down on the state of Florida, Dr. Matt Sitkowski and Dr. Greg Postel of The Weather Channel sit down to discuss this prolific storm.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.