Ask a TV Meteorologist anything

326 Questions

Last Answer on December 24, 2019

I've read meteorologists use a lot of math in their studies. How about the geometry? Would you say meteorologists use more Euclidean or more Non-Euclidean geometry, specifically when studying tornadoes? Thank you!

Asked by Courtney about 7 years ago

Hi, Courtney. I’ll have to pitch that one to meteorologists in the research and numerical modeling fields. I certainly use their products but building them is out of my area. Thanks.

566 Votes

Hello. My boss has asked me to find out the amount of snowfall in a 5 day span in January 2016. Any idea on how can I get this info?

Asked by Erin over 6 years ago

Hi, Erin. I’d go to weather.gov (not .com). Click on your area of the map and it will take you to the local National Weather Service office and you’ll see phone and email on the bottom. Good luck.

564 Votes

About two weeks ago I witnessed what I believe to be a waterspout on a relatively small lake near my home in sw Wisconsin. It appeared out of ominous clouds that were bringing in a pretty severe storm. Do waterspouts happen on inland lakes?

Asked by Jeff Lawver over 7 years ago

Yup! Any body of water. Glad you got to see one! https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterspout

561 Votes

Have you ever had a situation similar or the same as rain in your back yard and none in the front?

Asked by If almost 6 years ago

Yup! Not too crazy. The rain has to start and stop someplace, why not over your house?! Thanks!

561 Votes

Also on Jobstr...

Call Center Employee (Retail)

What's the craziest unprofessional-phone-rep story you've ever heard?

iPhone & iPad Technician

Is Apple is still the young and hip brand or have mom and dad spoiled it?

School Bus Driver

If your bus is in an accident that was ruled your fault, would you lose your job?

Should the lacrosse fields be cleared of kids if you hear thunder and see lightening? Our couches seem to be relying on apps on their phone to decide. I always heard if you see lightening get off the field.

Asked by Stacey Marshall over 7 years ago

Absolutely, yes. The field should be cleared. Not doing so is irresponsible. If you can hear thunder you can be struck and lightning can travel many miles from a storm. Also wait at least 15 minutes after the last thunder before returning to play.

560 Votes

Do you ever get hate for wrong forecasts? (i.e emails, calls, texts, social media messages, letters, etc)

Asked by Afjafjeklafefj0923487323423423423423423423423432423 almost 6 years ago

There is a lot of that out there these days, especially on social media. I’m pretty lucky, doesn’t happen too often. Busted snow forecasts seem to be the worst. I’m in Texas so not as big a problem. Thanks!

558 Votes

How many weather models does a forecaster have to work with and where is the data for the weather models coming from?

Asked by Richard Ferstandig over 6 years ago

Complicated answer, Richard, but a good question. There are quite a few and I really can't give a number off the top of my head. Easily more than a dozen It is complicated because different models offer different solutions. Some are short range, some are longer range. Some are US based, others European and Canada and Japan. To further complicate the issue some models are run as "ensembles" meaning they are run from the basic initial data but small variations are introduced to give different solutions. The basic input data is collected twice a day from about 900 upper air sites, or weather balloons, launched twice a day, noon and midnight Greenwich mean time. The idea is to take a snapshot of the entire planet atmosphere at the same time. Also, more and more data, from satellites and radar for example, is now ingested into the models to varying degrees. A shorter answer is, on a regular day I'll look at three or four.

557 Votes

Showing 197 - 203

Show All

123 More Answers by TV Meteorologist

Last 7

26 27 28 29 30 31

...

Next 7 Answers

TV Meteorologist

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

I've read meteorologists use a lot of math in their studies. How about the geometry? Would you say meteorologists use more Euclidean or more Non-Euclidean geometry, specifically when studying tornadoes? Thank you!

Hello. My boss has asked me to find out the amount of snowfall in a 5 day span in January 2016. Any idea on how can I get this info?

About two weeks ago I witnessed what I believe to be a waterspout on a relatively small lake near my home in sw Wisconsin. It appeared out of ominous clouds that were bringing in a pretty severe storm. Do waterspouts happen on inland lakes?

Have you ever had a situation similar or the same as rain in your back yard and none in the front?

Also on Jobstr...

Should the lacrosse fields be cleared of kids if you hear thunder and see lightening? Our couches seem to be relying on apps on their phone to decide. I always heard if you see lightening get off the field.

Do you ever get hate for wrong forecasts? (i.e emails, calls, texts, social media messages, letters, etc)

How many weather models does a forecaster have to work with and where is the data for the weather models coming from?

TV Meteorologist

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

I've read meteorologists use *a lot* of math in their studies. How about the geometry? Would you say meteorologists use more Euclidean or more Non-Euclidean geometry, specifically when studying tornadoes? Thank you!

Hello. My boss has asked me to find out the amount of snowfall in a 5 day span in January 2016. Any idea on how can I get this info?

About two weeks ago I witnessed what I believe to be a waterspout on a relatively small lake near my home in sw Wisconsin. It appeared out of ominous clouds that were bringing in a pretty severe storm. Do waterspouts happen on inland lakes?

Have you ever had a situation similar or the same as rain in your back yard and none in the front?

Also on Jobstr...

Should the lacrosse fields be cleared of kids if you hear thunder and see lightening? Our couches seem to be relying on apps on their phone to decide. I always heard if you see lightening get off the field.

Do you ever get hate for wrong forecasts? (i.e emails, calls, texts, social media messages, letters, etc)

How many weather models does a forecaster have to work with and where is the data for the weather models coming from?

Login

Forgot Your Password?

Register

I've read meteorologists use a lot of math in their studies. How about the geometry? Would you say meteorologists use more Euclidean or more Non-Euclidean geometry, specifically when studying tornadoes? Thank you!