You can't talk about air travel without talking about weather. That's why all major airlines employ their own team of meteorologists. But what are their specifc responsibilities and how do they help get the planes where they need to be?David Dillahunt, the chief meteorologist at Southwest Airlines, joins the podcast to explain how he and his team support the daily decisions on air traffic — including delays, reroutes, and cancelations. He also discusses what weather concerns airlines the most...

As severe storm season nears its peak, we tackle some persistent myths about lightning and why they have continued for so long.   Meteorologist and lightning expert Chris Vagasky joins the team to explain why no place outside is safe during a thunderstorm and what lightning detection notifications on your weather app are really telling you. He also discusses lightning mitigation technology, the frequency of lightning strikes, and shares other facts and safety tips to help clear the air about...

Negative stories about climate change come at us every day, but there are positive stories bubbling up that illustrate the innovations being made to slow the pace of the warming climate and conserve the environment.In honor of Earth Day, CNN's Chief Climate Correspondent Bill Weir joins the podcast to share some of those stories from his travels. He also discusses what made him shift his career from sports reporting to the climate change beat, why positive story telling is so important, and...

How you get weather information is changing and changing fast. First came newspapers, then came television, but increasingly, people are getting their forecasts on digital platforms, including news websites, social media, and weather apps. With explosive growth in this sector, some meteorologists have chosen to focus on digital exclusively. In this special collaborative episode, the Lee Weather Team talks with Meteorologist Emily Gracey from The National Weather Desk and host of the Off The...

Colorado State University, one of the premier organizations behind hurricane seasonal forecasting, has issued its most aggressive April hurricane outlook on record — with 23 named storms forecast for the 2024 Atlantic season. Alex DesRosiers from Colorado State joins the team this week to talk about why this season is expected to be so active. He also discusses his research that looks deeper into what causes hurricanes to undergo rapid intensification. We want to hear from you! Have a...

After the warmest winter on record in the United States, trees are budding and blooming early in much of the country.  What does that mean for pollen and allergy seasons now and in the future?  And how does that impact fruits like peaches, cherries, and apples later in the season? Theresa Crimmins from the National Phenology Network at the University of Arizona joins the team to explain why some pollens are getting more allergenic, why some are not allergenic, and how you can help them...

Special Edition of "Across the Sky" It's our FIRST special edition episode and it's for a very timely guest.  College basketball statistician Ken Pomeroy (aka KenPom) comes on the podcast to talk about his wildly popular basketball analytics website. Why is he on? He's a meteorologist! Ken explains how he made the seamless transition from understanding statistics in meteorology to applying them to college basketball. He and the podcast team talk about the upsets that have already happened...

Thunderstorms, hurricanes, and heatwaves all impact how electricity is generated and how it gets to your home. But not all weather impacts it equally.  Plus, as renewable energy continues to scale up, how is high-precision weather forecasting going to ensure reliable power to homes and businesses? Meteorologists Jeff Mock and Erin Guidry Hurd from Dominion Energy in Virginia join us to talk about how weather impacts the power grid and how they work with other power companies to minimize...

Of all the seasons, spring is the most volatile. Warm, quiet conditions can quickly change to cold and windy. Thunderstorms and tornadoes can be followed by piles of snow. With the spring equinox occurring this week, the Lee Weather Team has pinpointed the 10 most important things you should know about spring weather. What is a red flag warning? What weather conditions cause pollen levels to rise and fall? When does the last freeze typically occur? The team dives into all of this. And no...

We're less than a month away from the astronomical event of the year, the 2024 total solar eclipse. Seeing a total solar eclipse is a truly awe-inspriring experience and you don't want to miss this one, because there won't be another visible in the United States until the mid 2040s. To get you prepared, NASA Ambassador Tony Rice joins the podcast this week with everything you need to know about the eclipse on Monday, April 8. What is it like to witness a total solar eclipse? Tony and the...

Thunderstorms and winter storms get top billing when it comes to air travel delays.  But what else should you be looking for when planning a flight or waiting at the airport? Rob Eicher from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University tells us what commercial air travelers should know about the types of weather that disrupt travel the most, both before and during a flight.  From tornadoes to turbulence, Rob has a few things to remember the next time you're stuck at the gate.  We want to hear from...

Late February and early March is usually when ice cover peaks on the Great Lakes. But there's not much this year. In fact, ice levels are at or near record lows. In a warming world, is this the new normal? Physical Scientist Bryan Mroczka joins the podcast this week from the NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab to give perspective. Bryan shares the history of ice cover on the Great Lakes and why this year's low amounts are truly exceptional. He discusses the impacts being felt across...

Computer weather models are the biggest tool meteorologists use to forecast the weather. But why are there so many, which one is the best, and why aren't they all better? On this week's episode, the weather team digs deep into the world of computer weather modeling, also known as numerical weather prediction. The team discusses how it all started and how it's advanced over time. They also break down the advantages and disadvantages of the various weather models, including the two that people...

Mike Witcher had been working as a broadcast meteorologist in Knoxville, Tennessee for more than a decade. Then, in 2023, he decided to take matters into his own hands. He created East TN Weather and became his own weather media company for local residents.  Mike is a part of a very small, but emerging sector of meteorology. Entrepreneurs who want to inform the public of what's going on with the weather. Mike sells his own advertising and it's up to him to provide updates around the clock....

Each year, The American Meteorological Society's Annual Meeting is the ultimate gathering for the weather community. Researchers, forecasters, and storm chasers alike come together to share their work, network, and try to solve some of meteorology's greatest challenges.  The 104th AMS Annual Meeting just wrapped up in Baltimore, Maryland. Two members of the Lee Weather Team, Meteorologist Sean Sublette and Meteorologist Joe Martucci, were in attendence and they share their thoughts and...

In order to predict how the weather will change, an accurate picture of what's happening now is needed. While current conditions at the surface are well known thanks to weather stations, there are significant gaps in the data higher up in the atmosphere. Unmanned aerial vehicles, better known as drones, could help fill in those gaps significantly. Dr. Jamey Jacob from Oklahoma State University is leading the charge on bringing drones into the field of meteorology. He joins the podcast this...

Weather and cars do not get along. Each year, about 21% of car crashes in the United States involve adverse weather conditions, resulting in thousands of injuries and deaths. We can't prevent bad weather, but new technology is being developed to keep drivers safer. Dr. Scott Mackaro, the head of Insights and Innovation for Vaisala Xweather, joins the podcast this week to talk about road weather data. Why is it so difficult for drivers to receive accurate information on road conditions? What...

According to NOAA and NASA, 2023 was the hottest year on record, as greenhouse gases from fossil fuels continue to increase. Renewable energy sources are scaling up, but how fast is the transitioning happening, and what are the roadblocks? Andrew Dessler from Texas A&M joins the team to talk candidly about energy solutions to climate change. We want to hear from you! Have a question for the meteorologists? Call 609-272-7099 and leave a message. You might hear your question and get an...

The month of January is often considered the most depressing of the year. The holidays are over, credit card bills are coming due, and the days are short and cold. While many suffer from the winter blues, for some it's a more serious condition known as seasonal affective disorder or SAD for short. Jasmine Wilson with the Ascension Medical Group joins the podcast this week for an in-depth discussion of SAD and how the weather plays a role in triggering it. She explains the symptoms that are...

2024 has arrived, but we can't start a new year without looking back at the previous year. There was plenty of weather to talk about in 2023. The United States saw a record number of billion-dollar weather disasters, so picking the biggest weather stories of the year was not easy. Ten events stood out to our meteorologists the most though. The team discusses each one from the beginning of the year until the end. From a phenomenal deluge in Florida, unprecedented levels of smoke, to a raging...

This week marks the official start of winter, arguably the most polarizing season of all. While some enjoy the spirit of the holidays, others bemoan the short, cold days. While some love the sight of fresh snow on the ground, others dread having to break out the the snow shovels and ice scrapers again. Regardless of how you feel about winter, there's a lot of weather to talk about, so this week the Lee Weather Team breaks down their top 10 things to know about the season. From how snow...

It's well known that snow, wind, and rain impacts whether or not people go out of their house to shop. What​'s lesser known is how the amount of rain and snow impacts how much online shopping Americans do. John Cardinale, a meteorologist and Director of Search Engine Optimization for Tapestry (owners of Coach, Kate Spade, and more), joins the podcast to discuss what trends he's seen and what companies are doing to drive online sales based on the weather. We want to hear from you! Have a...

Bob Dylan, the world renowned musical artist whose career now spans seven decades, has kept weather core to his writing. How so? Out of approximately 465 total Dylan songs, the word 'sun' is found in 63 different ones, 'wind' in 55, 'rain' in 40, and 'sky' in 36. 'Cloud', 'storm', 'summer', 'snow', and just 'weather' have been used in dozens more. Alan Robock, Distinguished Professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences at Rutgers University wrote all about this in his 2004 journal...

What do you get when you blend athletic skill with a love for weather? An elite ninja warrior, of course! Joe Moravsky is a meteorologist and the manager of the Stamford Ninja Academy in Connecticut. He has appeared on multiple seasons of the hit NBC series "American Ninja Warrior" and is one of the show's most successful contestants. Moravsky shares his unique story and discusses his background in weather and athletics on this week's episode. We want to hear from you! Have a question for...