What Is It About The Weather

Each year millions around the globe deal with severe cases of the flu. So is weather to blame? Is weather a cause of you catching the flu? Does weather influence how flu spreads around the globe each year? Let’s dive into the issue and try to get to the bottom of the flu/weather connection. Some […]

Many places on the earth tend to experience a specific range of weather types, but what about when the unusual happens? In the past we have explored these limits, but what about when things seek outside the norms? Here are some links from this episode: Us Fleet Preparations – Tornadoes & Waterspouts https://www.cnic.navy.mil/content/dam/cnic/cnrj/cfa_okinawa/pdfs/NEO/Tornados/Tornado%20Pamplet.pdf Hawaii Ski […]

So what exactly happens at a weather conference? Is it just a bunch of meteorologists giving weather forecasts one after the other? In this episode we explore the world of weather conferences and in particular the upcoming AMS Annual Meeting where our host will discuss the results of the recent survey many of you participated […]

We wrap up our series on where our weather forecasts come from. In this last phase of the process, the delivery, we explore the challenges and future changes to look for as your weather forecast source does its best to turn the fire hose of weather forecast inputs into a coherent and accurate forecast for […]

Does weather play a role in your charitable giving? In particular, does cold weather make you more likely to help others or give to a worthy cause? In this winter season, we explore the connection between weather and how likely we are to donate to charities in this episode. Here are some links for those […]

Did you know that the Statue of Liberty was a bit of a jab at Napoleon? Maybe you have heard that the march into Russia in 1812, was the start of Napoleon’s demise. You may have also heard about some brutal weather Napoleon’s forces faced as it traveled from Moscow back home. However, was weather […]

Have you ever wondered where your weather forecast actually comes from? How about how much it changes from when the model spits it out and you actually receive it? Many forecasts that reach you will have undergone some sort of correction to improve its quality. Post processing is a common element of the forecasting routine. […]

Please take the survey – www.WhatIsItAboutTheWeather.com/survey. Do you ever think about your relationship with weather in terms of an equation? Maybe you should. From simple aspects of how weather makes you feel to the more complex evaluation of how you act when potentially dangerous weather is forecast. Understanding a logical course of behavior can be […]

Do you always pay attention to the weather? How about when it looks like clear skies are likely? Some seem to and clearly some others should, especially if they are in the demolition or nuclear waste industries! In this episode, we take a look at how seemingly benign high pressure systems can actually cause lots […]

Trust factors influences many aspects of our decision making process, and it is no different with weather. Who do you trust to educate you about weather? Who do you trust to prepare you for weather? Who do you trust to protect you from weather? Who do you trust to save you during weather? Who do […]

Have you ever wondered where your weather forecast actually comes from? The ways in which we receive our weather forecasts has changed quite a bit over the last two decades, from the delivery, to the creators, to even the sources of weather information. So how does it really happen, from the first measurement of temperatures […]

We certainly live in a time of increased sensitivity to issues as well as one that is more provocative. This disruptive time creates an interesting environment in particular for high profile weather forecasted events as well as strong criticism of when the forecasts fail to live up to expectations of the recipient. Are the criticisms […]

What weather do you find spooky? How about scary? Is there a difference between the two? Does it matter? We explore the idea of weather that may put you on edge or just scare the beejeebers out of you! Some useful links from this episode: On the nature of creepiness http://scottbarrykaufman.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/McAndrew-Koehnke-2016.pdf 10 of the spookiest […]

Have you ever wondered where your weather forecast actually comes from? The ways in which we receive our weather forecasts has changed quite a bit over the last two decades, from the delivery, to the creators, to even the sources of weather information. So how does it really happen, from the first measurement of temperatures […]

When dangerous weather is headed toward you, how prepared are you? What will you do if you find yourself stuck in dangerous weather situation or trying to deal with an event you were impacted by? We dive into the idea of what you might want to think about when planning for weather events that might […]

We often thinks about car wrecks or burglars breaking into our homes when we think about our insurance needs. However, have you ever really thought about what causes the bulk of insurance claims? (Hint – it might have something to do with the weather). In this episode we explore the many ways that weather influences […]

Who was the father of meteorology? While maybe not the first to document weather or have weather theories, Aristotle would become the defacto source of weather theory for nearly 2000 years. Imagine the earth being surrounded by water then air and then fire. Well, those beliefs lasted a long time and served as a baseline […]

Numerical weather prediction was born before computers and to this day leverages every technology advance we have seen. Why is it that weather forecasting is arguably the most effective discipline for maximizing the benefits of technology? Here a few useful links from this episode: The quiet revolution of numerical weather prediction http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v525/n7567/abs/nature14956.html The weather social […]

The way weather information is communicated has evolved significantly since the rise of television as have the skill sets of most meteorologists who engage with the public. Even as things have improved, is there enough emphasis on the communication element of the job? Have expectations become too high given the skills needed to not only […]

We have explored many cases of when weather changed history, but is it possible that history changed weather? We explore a well known event in the world’s history, the sailing of the HMS Beagle and its well known passenger … Charles Darwin. So what does this have to do with the weather? We explore this […]