As the Miami Hurricanes prepare for the College Football National Championship on MLK Day 2026, their name traces back to the Great Miami Hurricane of 1926 — and a storm-born identity.

As the Miami Hurricanes take the field in the College Football National Championship on Monday, January 19, 2026 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day), their name carries a deeper meaning than most fans realize.

The University of Miami was founded in 1925 — just one year before the Great Miami Hurricane of 1926, one of the most destructive storms in U.S. history. That hurricane delayed the opening of the university, reshaped South Florida, and ultimately inspired the Hurricanes nickname itself.

In this episode of Meteorology Matters, we explore how:

• A catastrophic hurricane helped define the University of Miami’s identity

• The ibis became a symbol of resilience and calm in the storm

• Miami evolved into a global hub for hurricane forecasting and research

• The National Hurricane Center, Weather Bureau, and NOAA became intertwined with UM history

• The Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science helped shape modern hurricane science

• And why a strange historical reference calls the 1926 storm “Hurricane Kate” — a name that may never have officially existed

This is the story of a university, a city, a storm, and a mystery — told just as the Hurricanes chase a national title on the biggest stage in college football.

As the college football national championship approaches on Monday, January 19, 2026 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day) in South Florida, it’s worth revisiting how deeply weather—and hurricanes in particular—are woven into the identity of the University of Miami.

Founded in 1925, the University of Miami’s identity was shaped almost immediately by the Great Miami Hurricane of 1926. From the Hurricanes nickname to the ibis mascot and the university’s long-standing role in hurricane science and forecasting, weather has been part of UM’s DNA from the very beginning.

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#CollegeFootball

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#HurricaneHistory

#MeteorologyMatters

#GreatMiamiHurricane

#SebastianTheIbis

#WeatherPodcast

#HurricaneScience

#MLKDay

00:00 Born in the Eye of the Storm

01:42 The Great Miami Hurricane of 1926

05:10 How the Hurricanes Got Their Name

08:24 Why the Ibis Became UM’s Mascot

12:15 Miami’s Rise as a Hurricane Science Hub

16:40 The National Hurricane Center & UM

20:05 The Mystery of “Hurricane Kate”

24:30 From Catastrophe to Championship

27:10 Final Thoughts Ahead of MLK Day Kickoff

Fog is back and so are the claims.

In Florida and across the southern U.S., people are reporting headaches, breathing issues, infections, and other illnesses during foggy weather, with some blaming “toxic fog,” chemical exposure, or government interference.

So what’s really going on?

In this episode, meteorologist Rob Jones explains what fog actually does to the human body, why symptoms like sinus pressure and headaches can occur, and why these fears resurface every winter — often lining up with flu season and stagnant air patterns.

We separate science from speculation, break down what fog can and cannot do, and explain why social media keeps turning normal winter weather into a viral health scare.

If you’ve ever wondered whether fog made you sick, this episode gives you real answers.

00:00 Is the fog making people sick?

02:10 Why fog is more common in winter

05:15 What fog can do to your sinuses and airways

08:50 Fog vs viruses and infections

13:10 Why this myth comes back every year

18:45 Final takeaway

In 2025, weather forecasting reached a turning point—just as climate extremes pushed storms to new limits.

ull description:

In this episode of Meteorology Matters, meteorologist Rob Jones examines how 2025 became a defining year for weather forecasting and climate risk.

🔍 This episode covers:

• How new AI-driven weather models dramatically improved forecast accuracy
• Why Hurricane Melissa became a real-world test of next-generation forecasting
• How record global heat is reshaping hurricane intensity and extreme weather risk

Smarter forecasts are helping save lives—but they can’t stop climate change. Here’s what the data from 2025 tells us about where forecasting is heading next.

🎧 Subscribe for clear, science-based weather and climate analysis.

In 2025, weather risk in the United States became about more than storms—it exposed systemic failures in disaster response, science, and preparedness.

Full description:

In this episode of Meteorology Matters, meteorologist Rob Jones examines a troubling convergence shaping the United States in 2025—where climate risk, institutional breakdowns, and a growing loss of talent are colliding.

🔍 This episode explores:

• Why scientists, professionals, and families are increasingly leaving the U.S.
• How disaster response failures are amplifying weather and climate risk
• What political and institutional pressure on science means for forecasting, preparedness, and public safety

From stalled disaster buyouts to the destabilization of America’s scientific workforce, this is a data-driven look at how weather risk extends far beyond the forecast.

🎧 Subscribe for clear, science-based weather and climate analysis.

The Life and Legacy of Dr. Neil L. Frank

Dr. Neil L. Frank (1931-2025) was a transformative figure in meteorology, widely regarded as the nation's foremost authority on hurricanes. His career spanned two distinct, highly influential roles: first as the longest-serving director of the National Hurricane Center (NHC) from 1974 to 1987, and subsequently as the chief meteorologist for KHOU 11 in Houston from 1987 to 2008. Dr. Frank's primary legacy lies in revolutionizing hurricane risk communication, shifting the focus from mere forecasting to aggressive public education and preparedness. He pioneered the use of mass media to deliver clear, urgent, and life-saving information directly to the public, becoming the nationally recognized face of hurricane warnings, or "Mr. Hurricane," in the 1980s. His unwavering philosophy was to prioritize public safety above all, famously stating, "I'd rather be on the safe side," a principle that guided his extensive efforts in education, international coordination, and resilient operational leadership. His contributions are immortalized by the "Neil Frank Award," which recognizes excellence in hurricane preparedness and communication.

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Biographical Overview

Early Life and Education

• Birth and Upbringing: Neil LaVerne Frank was born on September 11, 1931, in Clayton, Kansas, in the heart of "tornado country." He was the grandson of German-American farmers who had migrated from Pennsylvania. His father was a farm machinery mechanic and his mother was a school teacher. He was raised in a strict environment where the family abstained from alcohol, smoking, and swearing.

• Initial Ambitions: His early ambition was to become a basketball player and coach. At six feet tall, he enrolled at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas, to play basketball.

• Shift to Science: A professor at Southwestern College persuaded him that studying chemistry would be "good insurance for the future," leading him to earn a bachelor's degree in the subject.

Military Service and Advanced Studies

• United States Air Force: After graduating from high school, Dr. Frank enlisted in the Air Force, where he was trained as a meteorologist. He was assigned to Okinawa to study typhoons.

• Doctorate in Meteorology: Upon leaving the service in 1957, he pursued advanced studies at Florida State University, where he earned both a master's degree and a Ph.D. in tropical meteorology.

Career Trajectory and Key Roles

Dr. Frank's professional life was defined by two major careers, first in public service with the National Weather Service and then in broadcast meteorology.

Period

Role

Organization

Pre-1957

Meteorologist

United States Air Force

1961 - 1968

Meteorologist

National Weather Service

1968 - 1974

Hurricane Forecaster

National Hurricane Center (NHC)

1974 - 1987

Director

National Hurricane Center (NHC)

June 1987 - June 2008

Chief Meteorologist

KHOU 11 (Houston)

As the longest-serving director in NHC history, Dr. Frank oversaw U.S. hurricane forecasting and warning operations through numerous high-impact seasons. He transformed the role from a purely scientific one to a public-facing mission focused on preparedness and saving lives.

🎧 Whether you’re flying, driving, or staying put, this is the forecast you actually need.

As the year comes to a close, millions of Americans are on the move—and the atmosphere is anything but cooperative.

In this episode, we take a calm, science-based look at why the final week of 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most complex weather-and-travel periods in recent memory. More than 122 million people are traveling nationwide, including a record number of airline passengers, all while the country experiences sharp and unusual weather contrasts from coast to coast.

Across the central and southern U.S., record-challenging warmth is unfolding during what’s typically the coldest time of year. Meanwhile, the West Coast faces a multi-day atmospheric river, bringing flooding concerns, mountain snow, and rare severe-weather threats in California.

We also zoom out to place this week in context:

• Why 2025 ranks among the warmest years on record

• How a weakening La Niña is shaping current conditions

• What the transition toward ENSO-neutral could mean heading into early 2026

• Where weather may disrupt travel—and where it likely won’t

This episode isn’t about hype or headlines. It’s about understanding what’s happening where you live, how it affects travel this week, and what patterns are worth watching next.

In December 2025, the Trump administration announced plans to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), one of the world’s most critical institutions for weather, climate, and atmospheric science. The decision, revealed publicly without warning to NCAR leadership, was justified by the White House as an effort to eliminate what it called “climate alarmism.” But scientists, lawmakers, and observers across the political spectrum argue the move is far less about science—and far more about politics.

NCAR, founded in 1960 and funded by the National Science Foundation, serves as the backbone of U.S. atmospheric research. It operates elite supercomputers, develops the world’s most widely used weather and climate models, pioneered lifesaving aviation wind-shear detection, revolutionized hurricane forecasting with GPS dropsondes, and provides real-time forecasting support for wildfire response and national defense. Thousands of researchers, universities, private companies, and federal agencies rely on its centralized resources—capabilities no single institution could replicate.

The administration’s announcement immediately sparked alarm. Scientists warn that dismantling NCAR would set U.S. weather and climate research back by decades, degrading forecast accuracy for hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, wildfires, and extreme cold—at a time when climate-driven extremes are intensifying. Aviation safety systems, wildfire prediction tools, military forecasting operations, and global research collaborations would all be weakened. Economically, the loss would ripple through Colorado and beyond, damaging industries like insurance, aviation, and energy that depend on reliable forecasts.

Beyond the official rhetoric, many believe the move is politically retaliatory. The decision came amid a highly publicized feud between President Trump and Colorado Governor Jared Polis over the imprisonment of former county election official Tina Peters. It also coincided with the cancellation of over $100 million in federal grants to Colorado. Colorado’s congressional delegation has openly called the NCAR action dangerous and punitive, framing it as an attempt to punish the state rather than reform science.

The NCAR announcement fits into a broader pattern of actions undermining U.S. science: deep funding cuts to federal research agencies, mass departures of government scientists, removal of scientific data from public websites, and increasing pressure on universities to shift away from climate research. Graduate programs are shrinking, long-term projects are failing, and scientists describe a shift from advancing discovery to simply trying to preserve what still exists.

The response has been swift and fierce. Hundreds protested in Boulder, joined by elected officials and researchers, emphasizing the irony that the announcement came during an extreme wind event when NCAR’s models were actively protecting lives. Colorado lawmakers are pursuing legislative and legal avenues to block the dismantling, while the scientific community has spoken with near-universal condemnation—warning that losing NCAR doesn’t just hurt science, it endangers public safety and national security.

At its core, this is more than a budget fight or a political feud. It’s a reckoning over whether evidence-based science remains a pillar of American decision-making—or whether one of the nation’s most vital scientific institutions can be dismantled at the stroke of a political pen.

Environmental Health, Climate Policy, and Adaptation Strategies

This document synthesizes findings from multiple sources on the interconnected crises of chemical pollution, climate change politicization, and proposed adaptation strategies. The most critical takeaways are:

1. Pervasive Chemical Contamination: A study involving CNN reporters on three continents reveals that daily life results in exposure to a "cocktail of chemicals" from plastics, particularly phthalates and bisphenols. These substances, which leach from countless consumer products, are linked by a large body of scientific evidence to severe health consequences, including cancer, fertility problems, cardiovascular disease, and developmental disorders. This widespread, involuntary exposure represents a significant and under-recognized public health threat.

2. Politicization and Policy Stalemate: The current partisan divide on climate policy in the United States has historical roots. The administration of George H.W. Bush, which began with a promise to be the "environmental president," represents a pivotal missed opportunity for bipartisan action. Influenced by corporate lobbyists and internal political maneuvering, the administration shifted from acknowledging the "greenhouse effect" to promoting scientific skepticism, culminating in a failure to lead at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. This historical pivot laid the groundwork for decades of political inaction, a dynamic that continues with actions like the Trump administration's demand for the EU to reverse climate rules to facilitate fossil fuel imports.

3. Individual and Community Adaptation: In response to systemic environmental challenges and perceived governmental inaction, there is a growing focus on individual and community-level solutions. Recommendations range from specific actions individuals can take to reduce their exposure to plastic-related chemicals, to broader lifestyle models. A commentary on West Virginia proposes distinct strategies for resilience, including self-sufficient country living, the development of modern, climate-resilient housing to attract new populations, and the formation of communal arrangements for mutual economic and social support.