Guest: Dr. Neil Jacobs

Every forecast, every watch or warning, every piece of storm research in America… starts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

And there’s a new leader in charge: Neil Jacobs.

Over the past year, as he waited for Congress to confirm his nomination, NOAA saw cuts to staffing, research and observations.

All while the infrastructure that predicts our weather keeps right on aging.

The Weather Channel's Jim Cantore sat down with Neil Jacobs, for an exclusive interview- his first as head of NOAA.

Chapters

1. 00:00 Introduction to NOAA and Leadership Changes
2. 02:55 Priorities in Weather Forecasting
3. 06:00 Advancements in Forecasting Technology
4. 08:50 The Role of AI in Weather Prediction
5. 12:03 Challenges in Weather Data Collection
6. 15:00 Improving Public Awareness and Response
7. 18:09 The Future of Weather Forecasting
8. 21:01 Navigating Controversies and Public Trust
9. 23:57 Looking Ahead: The Next Five Years
10. 26:50 Conclusion and Call to Action

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RECORDED FEBRUARY 25, 2025; Originally released March 26, 2025

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:

1. 00:00 California's Wildfires and Climate Change
2. 10:08 Daniel Swain: The Weather Geek's Journey
3. 19:52 The Importance of Effective Communication
4. 27:05 Linking Climate Change to Extreme Weather
5. 40:05 Understanding the Complexity of Weather Events

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RECORDED MARCH 4, 2025; Originally released March 12, 2024

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

1. 00:00 The Destructive Power of Tornadoes and Hail
2. 02:58 Sean Wu: A Journey into Meteorology
3. 05:57 Innovative HAIL Camera Technology
4. 08:47 Chasing Hail: The Challenges and Safety Measures
5. 11:59 Observing Hail: The Role of High-Speed Cameras
6. 14:46 Mobile Mesonets: Gathering Atmospheric Data
7. 17:59 Machine Learning and AI in Weather Prediction
8. 21:02 AI in Meteorology: Enhancing Forecasting Accuracy
9. 24:23 Hands-On Learning: Training the Next Generation of Meteorologists
10. 26:00 Tornado Research: Understanding Formation and Behavior
11. 28:05 Behind the Scenes of Twisters: A Meteorologist's Role
12. 32:20 Authenticity in Film: The Science of Twisters
13. 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.