Weather Geeks

Latest Episodes:

Weather Out West Mar 26, 2025

Show notes

Guest: Daniel Swain

Winds 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 Change
10:08 Daniel Swain: The Weather Geek's Journey
19:52 The Importance of Effective Communication
27:05 Linking Climate Change to Extreme Weather
40:05 Understanding the Complexity of Weather Events

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Snow Squall Warning Communication Mar 19, 2025

Show notes

Guests: John Banghoff, Jonathan Guseman, Jase Bernhardt

We’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.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Snow Squalls and Their Impact
04:51 The Evolution of Snow Squall Warnings
10:02 Challenges in Communicating Snow Squall Warnings
15:06 Understanding Snow Squall Warnings and Their Importance
20:05 Forecasting Snow Squalls: Techniques and Challenges
22:22 Challenges in Forecasting Snow Squalls
24:37 Understanding Snow Squalls vs. Blizzards
26:41 Vulnerability on Highways During Snow Squalls
28:16 The Importance of Road Temperature Data
29:12 Communicating the Risks of Snow Squalls
33:46 Future of Snow Squall Warnings
38:20 Advancements in Weather Forecasting Technology
43:49 Climate Change and Its Impact on Snowstorms

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Chasing Hail Mar 12, 2025

Show notes

Guest: Dr. Sean Waugh, National Severe Storms Laboratory research scientist

As 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…

Chapters

00:00 The Destructive Power of Tornadoes and Hail
02:58 Sean Wu: A Journey into Meteorology
05:57 Innovative HAIL Camera Technology
08:47 Chasing Hail: The Challenges and Safety Measures
11:59 Observing Hail: The Role of High-Speed Cameras
14:46 Mobile Mesonets: Gathering Atmospheric Data
17:59 Machine Learning and AI in Weather Prediction
21:02 AI in Meteorology: Enhancing Forecasting Accuracy
24:23 Hands-On Learning: Training the Next Generation of Meteorologists
26:00 Tornado Research: Understanding Formation and Behavior
28:05 Behind the Scenes of Twisters: A Meteorologist's Role
32:20 Authenticity in Film: The Science of Twisters
36:41 Passion in Meteorology: Inspiring Future Generations

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Predicting Severe Weather Using AI Mar 05, 2025

Show notes

Guest: Jason Deese, CEO of Flash Weather AI

Weather 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.

Chapters

00:00 Revolutionizing Weather Forecasting with AI
13:42 The Future of Flash Weather AI
23:27 Real-World Applications and Success Stories
35:34 Overcoming Challenges and Looking Ahead

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

California’s Disastrous Wildfires Feb 26, 2025

Show notes

Guest: Anthony Edwards, Newsroom Meteorologist with the San Francisco Chronicle

With 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.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to California's Wildfires
03:10 Understanding Santa Ana Winds and Their Impact
06:05 Meteorological Conditions Leading to Wildfires
09:00 The Role of Urban Areas in Fire Spread
11:47 Communication and Evacuation During Wildfires
14:59 Analyzing the Destructive Nature of Recent Fires
17:54 Preventative Measures and Resilience in Fire Management
20:59 The Interplay of Drought and Atmospheric Rivers
24:11 Air Quality and Smoke Management
27:03 The Future of Meteorological Journalism

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Space City Weather Feb 19, 2025

Show notes

Guest: Eric Berger

4.…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.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Eric Berger and His Journey
05:31 Transitioning from Space to Weather
11:42 The Impact of Hurricane Harvey
16:10 Lessons Learned from Hurricane Harvey
19:56 Experiencing a Range of Extreme Weather Events
25:02 Navigating the Era of Social Meteorology
29:43 Key Lessons and Future Directions

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A Deep Dive into Google DeepMind Feb 12, 2025

Show notes

Guests: Dr. Ilan Price, Senior Research Scientist, & Matt Willson, Research Engineer

From 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…

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to AI in Weather Forecasting
02:10 Meet the Experts: Ilan Price and Matthew Wilson
06:34 Understanding GenCast: The AI Weather Model
10:47 Machine Learning vs Traditional Forecasting
13:22 Data Sources and Ethical Considerations
15:10 Handling Extreme Weather Events
21:15 Validation and Verification of GenCast
23:26 Impact of GenCast on Weather Forecasting

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How the Weather Can Affect Your Home Insurance Feb 05, 2025

Show notes

Guest: Dr. Philip Mulder, Assistant Professor at UW-Madison

Once 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..

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Homeowner's Insurance and Climate Risks
02:53 The Role of the National Flood Insurance Program
05:54 Challenges of Flood Mapping and Insurance Coverage
09:08 Impact of Recent Hurricanes on Insurance
11:54 Understanding Mortgage Escrow and Insurance Premiums
14:56 Trends in Homeowners Insurance Premiums
17:49 The Role of Reinsurance in Insurance Markets
21:05 Climate Change and Future Insurance Trends
23:59 Insurance Burden on Low-Income Communities
27:04 Future Research Directions in Insurance and Climate Risk

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

IceCHIP Field Campaign Jan 29, 2025

Show notes

Guest: Dr. Victor Gensini

When 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.

Chapters

Introduction to Hailstorms and Their Impact
Victor Gensini's Journey in Meteorology
Understanding Hail: Current Knowledge and Gaps
The IceChip Field Campaign: Goals and Logistics
A Day in the Life of a Field Campaign
Future Aspirations in Hail Research

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

2024 Weather Wrap-Up Nov 27, 2024

Show notes

Guest: Weather Geeks Team

Working 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…

Chapters

00:00 Weather Events of 2024: A Year in Review
04:39 Tornadoes and Severe Weather Trends
10:17 Derechos: Understanding Wind Storms
17:59 Hail Events and Their Impact
20:47 Wildfires and Flash Flooding: A Dangerous Cycle
22:38 Preparing for Unpredictable Weather Events
23:24 Analyzing the 2024 Hurricane Season
28:14 The Impact of Rainfall in Hurricane Damage
29:19 Understanding Predecessor Rain Events
33:27 Addressing Misinformation During Hurricanes
40:13 Looking Ahead: Climate Trends and Future Preparedness

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected