Author: Dusty
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Holiday Weather Woes: Atmospheric Rivers, Flooding, and Coast-to-Coast Travel Disruptions in December 2025
The final weeks of December 2025 have been anything but calm for millions across the United States, as complex storm systems and unseasonably warm air patterns have brought widespread impacts just in time for the busiest travel days of the year. Let’s take a closer look at how this multifaceted weather pattern is affecting communities,…
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Severe Winter Storms and Scientific Uncertainty: How Dismantling NCAR Endangers America’s Weather Preparedness
America is facing a dual threat this week: an immense winter storm impacting millions in the northern and western states, and the looming shutdown of the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), a pillar of U.S. weather and climate prediction. As a meteorologist, I’m deeply alarmed — not just by the blizzard bearing down on…
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Early Winter Wallop: Heavy Snow, Arctic Air, and Floods Slam the United States
December often signals the official arrival of winter weather in the U.S., but the start of the 2025-2026 season has been remarkable for its intensity. Over the past week, millions of Americans across multiple regions faced a one-two punch of extreme weather: heavy snowfall and bitterly cold temperatures in the Northeast and Midwest, and still-receding…
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Atmospheric Rivers Unleash Catastrophic Flooding on the Pacific Northwest: Understanding the Science and Impact
The Pacific Northwest is currently grappling with what could become one of its most devastating flood events in recent memory. Over the past week, an intense atmospheric river has unleashed record-breaking rain across parts of Washington, Oregon, and into British Columbia, prompting mass evacuations, emergency rescues, and widespread infrastructure closures. As communities brace for additional…
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The Anatomy of a Tornado: How Nature’s Most Violent Storms Form and Affect Communities
When most people picture a tornado, they imagine a towering, twisting column of wind sweeping across open plains, uprooting trees and tossing debris. But how does this awe-inspiring natural phenomenon actually form—and what are its impacts on the communities it strikes? As a meteorologist, I’d like to take you through the science behind tornado formation,…
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Derecho Storms: The Science, Devastation, and Preparation for High-Wind Events
Derecho storms, though less commonly discussed than hurricanes or tornadoes, are among the most powerful and destructive weather phenomena in North America. Stretching for hundreds of miles and packing wind speeds that can rival those of major hurricanes, derechos leave behind swaths of damage, power outages, and lasting impacts on communities. What is a Derecho?…
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El Niño 2023–2024: How a Pacific Phenomenon Shaped Global Weather Extremes
By Dusty El Niño is a periodic climate phenomenon characterized by the warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean. Over the past year, the 2023–2024 El Niño event provided a textbook example of how a disturbance in ocean temperatures can ripple across the globe, reshaping weather patterns and impacting millions.…
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Flash Floods in the Desert: The Science and Surprising Risks Behind Sudden Inundations
Deserts are synonymous with scorching sun, parched landscapes, and rare rainfall. Yet, paradoxically, some of the most dramatic flash floods on Earth occur in these arid regions. As a meteorologist, I often encounter surprise when discussing the frequency and intensity of sudden floods in places like Arizona, Nevada, or northern Africa’s Sahara. Let’s explore how…
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Historic Hailstorms: Their Meteorological Origins and Community Impacts
As a meteorologist passionate about extreme weather, I’ve encountered countless fascinating phenomena, but few match the sudden ferocity of a hailstorm. Across the United States and around the globe, hailstorms can cause catastrophic damage in a matter of minutes—shattering car windows, decimating crops, and posing significant risks to communities. The Science Behind Hail Formation Hail…
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Hurricane Katrina: The Science Behind the Storm and Its Lasting Impact
When Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast in late August 2005, it became one of the most catastrophic natural disasters in U.S. history. As a meteorologist, I find Katrina to be a powerful case study in both extreme weather systems and their profound human impacts. How Do Hurricanes Like Katrina Form? Hurricanes, or tropical cyclones,…
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