Weather Geeks

Guest: Seth Borenstein, Associated Press
Every day, new scientific discoveries shape the way we understand our world — from extreme weather to the changing climate. But most of us don’t read scientific journals. Instead, we rely on journalists to translate complex research into stories that inform the public and help us make sense of what it all means. Today we’re joined by Seth Borenstein, a veteran science reporter with the Associated Press who has spent decades covering everything from hurricanes and heat waves to the latest breakthroughs in climate research. Over the years, his reporting has helped bring critical science stories to audiences around the world. In this episode, we’ll talk about how science journalism has evolved, how the media approaches reporting on Climate Change, and what it takes to translate complex science into clear, trustworthy stories for the public.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Guest Credibility
01:43 How Seth Became a Weather and Climate Geek
04:02 The Evolution of Climate Science Narratives
07:47 From Uncertainty to Scientific Certainty
11:53 Finding and Vetting Credible Scientific Sources
16:04 The Role of AP and Wire Services in Science Reporting
17:48 Break 1
18:16 Challenges and Opportunities in Science Journalism
21:52 How Seth Finds His Experts
25:03 Impact of Social Media on Climate and Weather Reporting
27:57 Dealing with Disinformation and Misinformation
28:39 Break 2
29:46 Memorable Stories and Impactful Reporting
32:20 Embedded Reporting with Storm Chasers
34:15 The Human Side of Weather Disasters
36:55 Advice for Future Climate and Science Journalists
39:25 Where to Find Seth's Work
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GUEST: Ken Graham, Director of NOAA National Weather Service
National Weather Service Director Ken Graham visited The Weather Channel for a wide-ranging conversation with Jim Cantore about the future of weather forecasting and public safety.
They will discuss ongoing efforts to modernize the National Weather Service, the challenges of maintaining critical infrastructure, the latest developments in forecasting technology and AI, and what improvements may be on the horizon for everything from hurricane forecasts to severe weather prediction. They also talk about staffing, observations, and the tools that help forecasters turn data into decisions when lives are on the line.
And as he marks four years as Director, Jim will ask Ken to reflect on the experiences that shaped his career, the accomplishments he's most proud of, and what he wants the public to better understand about the work happening behind the scenes every day.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Guest Credibility
00:59 Ken Graham's Ten and Progress Overview
02:24 Reflecting on Achievements and Vision
03:45 Staffing Challenges and Hiring Boom
05:19 Reorganizing for the Future
07:01 Modernizing Infrastructure and Cloud Transition
08:20 Partnering with Emergency Managers
08:59 Radars: Aging Systems and Next-Gen Plans
10:29 Private Sector Collaboration on Radars
12:48 Innovations in Data Collection: Drones and Balloons
13:42 NWS Chat and Communication Tools
14:17 Break 1
14:31 Communicating Strong El Nino and Hurricane Risks
15:47 Aircraft and Data for Better Forecasts
16:38 Improvements in Track and Intensity Forecasts
17:19 AI and Machine Learning in Weather Models
18:36 Future of High-Resolution and Rapid Refresh Models
20:17 Balancing Over-Preparation and Real-Time Response
21:28 Next-Generation Modeling and Cloud Computing
22:50 Break 2
22:50 Vision for Year 10: Fully Cloud-Based, Well-Staffed NWS
24:26 Memories of Weather Disasters and Motivation
25:37 The Drive to Save Lives and Limit Damage
26:30 Engagement with the President and Policy Support
27:35 Office Culture and Workforce Changes
28:49 Challenges of Modernization and Change Management
29:23 Supporting NWS Staff and Future Outlook

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Guest: Adam Fouche, University of Georgia
When you head to a big football game or an outdoor concert, you’re probably thinking about the music, the crowd, and the excitement in the air. But behind the scenes, there’s another team hard at work — one that’s watching the skies. From lightning delays to fast-moving thunderstorms, weather can quickly turn a packed stadium or festival into a serious safety challenge. Protecting tens of thousands of people requires careful planning, constant monitoring, and sometimes very quick decisions. Today we’re joined by Adam Fouche, Interim Associate Vice President for Environmental Safety, Risk, and Resiliency at the University of Georgia. His team works behind the scenes to help keep major events — from concerts to packed game days — safe when the weather takes a turn.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Guest Background
00:53 Adam Fouche's Weather Geek Origin Story
02:45 Adam's Role in Weather Safety at UGA
04:09 Weather Safety in Large Campus Events
07:09 Weather Risk Assessment for Events
10:22 Lightning Protocols and the 8-Mile Rule
12:57 Debate on Lightning Delay Rules
13:44 Break 1
15:15 Weather Support Models at SEC Schools
18:01 Collaboration with National Weather Service
20:04 Communication Strategies for Weather Risks
21:59 Psychology of Weather Risk Perception
25:01 Venue Design and Weather Vulnerabilities
26:07 Break 2
26:38 Understanding Severe vs. Non-Severe Weather
30:09 Technology and Weather Monitoring Tools
33:33 Public Safety Advice for Weather Preparedness

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Guest: Jordan Hall
Storm chasing has always lived right at the edge—part science, part instinct, and part, let’s be honest… a little bit of chaos. But these days, it’s not just about being in the right place at the right time—it’s also about capturing it, sharing it, and bringing people along for the ride in real time. Today on Weather Geeks, we’re talking with storm chaser Jordan Hall—someone who’s spent countless hours on the road tracking down everything from classic supercells to high-risk, high-reward setups… all while navigating what it means to be a storm chaser in the age of social media. We’ll get into some of his wildest chase stories, the decisions that matter most when things get intense, and how storm chasing is evolving in a world where your next viral video might be just one tornado away.
Chapters
00:00 The Thrill of Storm Chasing
10:01 From Hobby to Career: The Journey of a Storm Chaser
16:17 Break 1
20:10 Navigating the Challenges of Storm Chasing
23:03 Break 2
29:22 Navigating Personal Safety
29:59 The Role of Social Media in Storm Chasing
30:35 Pressure and Competition in Storm Chasing
32:06 Impact of Social Media on Storm Chasing
34:42 International Storm Chasing Adventures
36:55 Choosing Which Storms to Chase
38:06 Awe-Inspiring Natural Phenomena
39:39 Unique Chase Stories
40:09 The Intersection of Storm Chasing and First Response
44:32 Challenges of Chaser Convergence
48:01 The Storm Chasing Community
49:59 Advice for Aspiring Storm Chasers
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Guest: Dr. Michael Pritchard, Director of Climate Simulation Research
When we think about climate models, we often picture supercomputers humming away in government labs or university basements. But increasingly, some of the most powerful tools shaping the future of climate science are coming from an unexpected place — Silicon Valley. Today, we’re joined by Dr. Michael Pritchard, Director of Climate Simulation Research at NVIDIA. Yes, that NVIDIA — the company known for powering gaming, AI, and some of the world’s fastest computing systems. But behind the scenes, NVIDIA is helping drive a revolution in climate and Earth system modeling, using advanced GPUs and machine learning to build faster, higher-resolution simulations of our planet. In this episode, we’ll explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping climate science, what it takes to simulate Earth in unprecedented detail, and why the future of forecasting may depend as much on silicon as it does on physics.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to AI in Weather and Climate Modeling
03:21 Understanding NVIDIA's Role in Climate Simulation
05:34 The Motivation Behind Earth Simulation
07:40 AI vs Traditional Weather Modeling Techniques
11:10 Addressing Concerns About AI in Weather Forecasting
13:49 Break 1
14:19 The Earth 2 Project and Its Implications
18:37 Open Source Weather Models and Their Importance
23:33 Exploring GPUs and Their Role in AI
24:51 Stormscope: A New Era in Nowcasting
28:55 AI and Machine Learning in Mesoscale Forecasting
31:48 Break 2
32:15 Ensuring Ethical AI in Weather Forecasting
35:31 The Future of AI in Climate Modeling

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