Weather Geeks

Guest: Sean PotterEvery big idea or organization has to get its start somewhere and the National Weather Service is no exception! More than 150 years ago, Congress established the U.S Weather Bureau in 1870, which would go on to eventually become the National Weather Service we know today. Our guest today dug into the life of the man who would become known as the Father of the National Weather Service. Sean Potter is the author of Too Near for Dreams, The Story of Cleveland Abbe, America's First Weather Forecaster. We’ll discuss Abbe’s life and passion as well as what motivated Sean to dive into the world of writing in addition to being a meteorologist..

Guest: Matt LanzaIntroduction: Texas just experienced one of the worst weather disasters in its history as temperatures plunged into a deep freeze. All-time cold temperature records were broken, sub-freezing streaks set new records, and the energy industry learned some very hard lessons. Houston is no stranger to extreme weather, and they were hit particularly hard with this event too. Today’s guest, Meteorologist Matt Lanza, was directly affected by the weather as his family was left without power. He joins us today to discuss the range of extreme weather conditions the Space City has seen through the years, and we’ll get his perspective on forecasting for day-to-day and extreme weather events for the region. 

Guest: Valerie TrouetForests can offer us picturesque views, but did you know they also offer us a look at the past? Why is that important? To better understand our climate, we need to study the past, and inspecting tree rings is a great way to do that! We’re ringing in the new year by talking to Valerie Trouet from the University of Arizona. She uses tree rings to study past climates, forest ecosystems, atmospheric circulation patterns and more. We’ll discuss what tree rings can actually tell us about our planet’s history and how we can use that to protect future generations.

Guest: Dr. Genevieve GuentherIntroduction: Climate change and its impacts are becoming a regular part of conversations among scientists and even the general public at large, but are we giving it the true attention it deserves? Should the media be doing a complete overhaul of how they tackle this issue? Today we’re talking with Dr. Genevieve Guenther, founder of End Climate Silence, who’s working to change how we talk about extreme weather and its connections to climate change in both the media and in our daily lives. With the majority of Americans now wanting to learn more about climate change, there’s never been a more opportune time to educate and call people to action.

Guest: Jim Coker, EMA DirectorToday’s guest has spent his life serving the Alabama community through multiple branches of law enforcement, and now, he’s taking that experience to the office of emergency management. Jim Coker is the Emergency Management Agency Director for Jefferson County, Alabama, and we’re sitting down with him to discuss the effectiveness of outdoor sirens when severe weather is approaching. We’ve heard countless stories of how people did or didn’t hear sirens before being hit by a tornado, but should an OUTDOOR siren be their main warning sign? Let’s discuss...

Guest: Zack LabeRemember when you were anxiously awaiting your report card? It’s very likely that these events were met with mixed emotions as you awaited the results. Well when it comes to grading the health of the Arctic, we should be nervous. This region of the world is seeing some of the worst impacts from climate change, and today, we’re chatting with one of the report’s authors, Climate & Atmospheric Scientist Zachary Labe who specializes in Arctic ice conditions. He’ll reveal some of the alarming results from the latest report, and we’ll discuss what the declining health of the Arctic means for the future of our planet.

Guest: David PogueOne of the major topics when discussing meteorology is climate change, and we’ve certainly heard a great deal about it over the past decade. With destructive Western wildfires and stronger hurricanes, it seems climate change manages to become a major part of the conversation, and rightly so. Today we are talking with author David Pogue, who wants us to know how to prepare for the effects of climate change in our personal lives. From planning your diet, to personal investments, to how to build and fortify your home, and even how to talk to your kids about climate change, his new book outlines it all. Let’s dig in...

Guest:  Deanna Apps, Detroit District of the U.S. Army Corps of EngineersIntroduction:When you hear people discussing rising water levels, you probably only think of SEA-level rise. But what about LAKE-level rise? Today’s guest is Deanna Apps, a Physical Scientist with the Detroit District of the U.S Army Corps of Engineers. She analyzes and forecasts water levels in the Great Lakes and produces weekly and monthly forecasts. As the region continues experiencing record water levels, we’ll ask her about the factors at play and how local agencies are working to mitigate impacts like coastal flooding and erosion. Let’s discuss...

Guest: Dr. Ashton Robinson CookWeather forecasting has made leaps and bounds in recent decades, and it’s hard to remember a time when we couldn’t get the latest forecast update with just a swipe of the finger on our phone.  But wouldn’t it be great if we could get an idea of what to expect MONTHS in advance? Well, you’re in luck because today we’re talking with Dr. Ashton Robinson Cook who has been a pioneer in understanding and improving seasonal forecasts, especially those for tornadoes.  We’ll find out how these forecasts are made and how events like La Nina and El Nino can affect them. 

Guest: Dr. Phil Klotzbach, Colorado State UniversityIf you are a purveyor of weather twitter, this man needs no introduction! Odds are you have seen at least one of his incredible and easily digestible hurricane stats during this past hurricane season as well. Today’s episode is with Dr. Phil Klotzbach from Colorado State University! We are going to discuss this monumental hurricane season and all of the records that it shattered. We will also talk about Dr. Klotzbach’s seasonal forecasts from CSU that he championed after the legendary Dr. William Gray’s passing. 

Guest: Mike Bettes2020 was, to put it lightly, an insane year.  Mother Nature didn’t care about a global pandemic either, as she lashed out during every single season.  From deadly tornadoes in the Spring, to raging wildfires in the summer, to a record number of tropical cyclones, to finally ending the year with a bonafide nor’easter!  Phew…  Well, I’ve got someone with me today who was in the studio talking about all of these events this year: The Weather Channel’s Mike Bettes!  We are going to go down the list to discuss the weather events that shaped our 2020. 

Guest: Steve Conney & Luke Stone, PowderchasersWhen you were a kid, you would fall asleep on a winter night dreaming of waking up to a snow day, though children that lived in the southern tier of the U.S. had a dream a little bit harder. You didn’t have to go to school and you could play in the snow all day! Well my guests today spend their days playing in the snow and have made a career out of it! Steve Conney and Luke Stone are members of the Powderchasers team that travels across the Rockies to forecast the biggest snowstorms to give you the freshest powder for your weekend ski trip! How will this upcoming La Nina winter impact their chases? Let’s find out...

Guest: Brian Cizek, Launch Weather Officer, 45th Weather SquadronWith new frontiers developing in spaceflight, it’s more important than ever to make sure we get the forecast right. There are many variables meteorologists have to monitor: cloud cover, precipitation chances, even cloud height and electric potential! To make sure every launch goes off without a hitch, you need a team of skilled, dedicated forecasters like those found at the 45th Weather Squadron. Today we’re happy to welcome Brian Cizek who serves as a launch weather officer. He’ll offer us an inside look at how these forecasts are made and why they need to be so accurate. Let’s get started in T minus 3...2...1...

Guest: Dr. Juliane Gross, RutgersLike searching for needles in a haystack, searching for meteorites on Earth is not an easy feat! How about searching for those meteorites while in the frigid wasteland of Antarctica? Well that is what my guest today did this past winter! Dr. Juliane Gross is an associate professor at Rutgers University and she studies the formation and evolution of the planets in our solar system. What do meteorites in the Antarctic have to do with her research? We are going to find out about that plus what living in the true frozen tundra is like!

Guest: Paul PisanoIntroduction: Ground transportation is something we all deal with on a daily basis, whether it’s in our cars, on a bus, or the subway. Navigating poor road conditions during inclement weather can be very treacherous, but new technologies and innovating thinking are working to keep people safe. Today we’re joined by Paul Pisano from the Road Weather Committee of the Transportation Research Board. Paul understands that ground transportation infrastructure is a vital asset that can’t be neglected.  With extreme weather conditions becoming more prevalent, we must ensure that the meteorological & transportation communities are working together to pave the way for smarter, safer, and more sustainable methods of travel.  

Guest: Mike NelsonIntroduction:Have you been struggling to understand climate change and what it means for you and your family?  What if I told you that in just 10 easy steps, YOU would be able to understand our Earth's changing climate?  Well today, we’re talking to meteorologist and author Mike Nelson who has written the book that answers those questions.  Mike Nelson has spent more than 40 years serving his local community as a broadcast meteorologist, and his work has helped revolutionize the industry.  We’ll discuss his amazing career and the journey that led to his writing this book.  Climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing our world today, and it’s important to have a messenger like Mike to help people understand how it works and how we can work together to reverse its effects.  

Guest: Mike EiltsIntroduction: When you hear the name, Mike Eilts, a few words may come to mind: storm chaser, atmospheric scientist, journal author, entrepreneur, pioneer of weather radar...and they’re all right! Today, we’re pleased to welcome Mike Eilts who currently serves as the Vice President of the Weather Business Unit at the Data Transmission Network, or DTN. His impressive career spans nearly 4 decades, and his innovative thinking has helped both government agencies and private companies to better serve their respective communities and clients.  We’ll discuss his early contributions to severe weather forecasting and verification, and we’ll also learn about his companies’ visions of using big data solutions to provide weather analytics and improved hazardous weather prediction to customers across the globe.  

Guest: Eric Jay Dolin, Ph.D.Introduction: Over the past several decades, the way we consume weather information and receive our latest forecasts has been revolutionized.  Millions of people can tune in to watch The Weather Channel during an impending tornado outbreak or approaching hurricane. With all this information so readily at our fingertips, it’s easy to forget how far we’ve come in our knowledge of weather and how it can shape our future. Today’s guest hasn’t forgotten the past. In fact, he loves to write about it… We’re excited to welcome best-selling author Eric Jay Dolin who has authored 14 books and more than 60 articles.  Today we’ll be discussing his latest book, A Furious Sky: The 500-Year History of America’s Hurricanes, and we’ll learn what his inspiration has been for his many acclaimed works. 

Guest: Dr. Craig Clements, SJSU Fire Weather Research LaboratoryIntroduction:We’ve seen a record number of acres of beautiful countryside go up in flames in 2020, and we’re not done yet. In recent years, many across the West have seen some of the deadliest & most destructive wildfires that our country has ever experienced. Whether they have been accelerated by climate change or extreme drought conditions, there is no denying that millions of lives have been changed forever as these millions of acres are scorched beyond repair. Today on the show, we are talking with someone who wants this trend to stop and wants to forecast the wildfires before they cause their destruction. His name is Dr. Craig Clements from the SJSU Fire Weather Research Lab in California and we are so excited to sit down with him today...

Guest: Margaret Crane, Child PsychologistIntroduction: I have had many Meteorologists come on this show and when I ask them how they got a passion for weather, a good number of them were scared of Mother Nature’s wrath at a young age. But that fear catapulted them into a passion for learning about the science behind what is happening in the sky. However, for some people, that fear doesn’t turn into passion and could even develop into a phobia. My guest today is Margaret Crane, who is a psychology PhD student specializing in anxiety disorders like storm phobias.