Yep, We Went There With the Director of the National Weather Service

By Dr. Marshall Shepherd

“Wait, isn’t the show Weather Geeks on The Weather Channel? Yet, you asked the Director of the National Weather Service, Dr. Louis Uccellini, about his feelings on Naming Winter Storms?” We sure did.

From day 1, we said that we wanted WxGeeks to be a forum for the weather community, and I personally said, as expert host, that I didn’t want to shy away from any topic. So if your favorite “controversial” or provocative topic hasn’t appeared yet, trust me, it is coming.

On Sunday’s show Dr. Uccellini joins us for a candid and frank discussion with me. Louis is the past American Meteorological Society President that I succeeded in 2013, and we knew each other prior to that also.

Unless you are a Weather Geek that has lived under a rock this week, you are aware that an Android App single handily took down the National Weather Services website. This website provides valuable weather information to a variety of stakeholders and users. As articles by credible weather-focused writers noted, this has happened before. (see Mashable Link, Capital Weather Gang Link, Slate Link , and Gawker Link)

If you also notice something in the articles, NWS Director of Public Affairs Chris Vaccaro notes that the NWS Director will address the issue on WxGeeks this Sunday. This statement is exactly what we envisioned. The show is for the community and a place where such issues can gain a national forum that can be shared by weather enthusiasts, policymakers, and stakeholders alike.

Of course I ask him the appropriate questions to get at “what happened” and “what is being done.” I also argue that this incident highlights something that I have said many times—The National Weather Service, its infrastructure, and its people should be valued at the level of National and Homeland Security. After all, those 2 very entities rely on the National Weather Service as do the Weather Channel, local TV broadcasters, other valued private partners, academia, and all WxGeeks.

Remember, your favorite fast food burger place sells french fries, but they couldn’t without the potatoes. To my knowledge, NOAA/NWS still provides GFS, WRF, HRF, HRRR, weather satellites, dual-polarization radar, SPC, NHC, ASOS measurements, warnings, watches, outlooks and more. Hopefully, you get my point.

So, surely it was a tough week for the NWS, but kudos to them for coming on and facing the issue head on.

In Sunday’s show, we also discuss the NWS Weather Ready Nation initiative. We have a Weather-Interested Nation for sure, but is it Weather Ready? I ask the Director about this program. I also ask him about the new Storm Surge Outlooks and the new changes to the SPC Outlooks for severe weather.

We also take questions from “you,” @wxGeeksTWC followers on Twitter and Facebook. Hear what the Director says about naming Winter Storms, funding satellites, and whether winter weather communications/warning information is too complicated.

This show airs Sunday at Noon ET (11 CT, 10 MT, 9 PT) on the Weather Channel. And oh by the way, we also taped a 2nd show to air in a few weeks. In that show, we talk with the Director about the infamous “Is the Euro model better?” question. And next week’s show (Sept 7), we have FSU and NFL legend Warrick Dunn on the show to discuss how weather affects the NFL and a look back at the top 5 “Weather” NFL games of all time.

These next 3 shows are awesome…..