HURRICANE CENTER

National Tropical Weather Conference
  • 4.5 (17)
  • Nature
  • Updated Biweekly

HURRICANE CENTER: The people, science and decisions that protect communities before, during and after the storm.

  1. 16h ago

    S8: Episode 147: He Warned People About the Surge—Then It Surrounded Him

    Meteorologists spend their careers explaining what hurricanes can do. Scott Withers experienced that danger firsthand. While reporting from the Fort Myers area as Hurricane Ian made landfall on September 28, 2022, Scott and his photographer were overtaken by catastrophic storm surge. Water surrounded their vehicle, escape routes disappeared and the team found itself facing the very threat Scott had warned viewers about for days. Scott joins Alex Garcia on HurricaneCenter to tell the story behind his book, Ian’s Surge—a minute-by-minute account of the forecast, the reporting assignment and the fight to survive one of the most destructive hurricanes in Florida history. The conversation explores: How Scott entered meteorology and field reportingWhy journalists deploy into hurricanesWhat the forecast showed before Ian’s landfallHow quickly conditions deterioratedThe moment Scott realized the team was in serious troubleEscaping a vehicle surrounded by storm surgeThe strangers who risked their own safety to helpWhat it was like to remain exposed during the hurricaneThe physical and emotional aftermathWhy Scott waited before telling the complete storyHow he reconstructed the timeline for Ian’s SurgeWhat meteorologists misunderstand about public risk perceptionWhy “storm surge” can remain too abstract for many viewersHow Hurricane Ian changed Scott’s approach to warningsThe lesson he wants coastal residents and journalists to rememberHurricane Ian struck Florida’s southwest coast with maximum sustained winds of 150 miles per hour and produced catastrophic storm surge in communities including Fort Myers Beach. Scott describes Ian’s Surge not simply as a weather book, but as a survival story about what happens when scientific knowledge collides with the reality of a disaster. Support the show Suggest a topic or ask a question: alex@wxguide.com Visit our conference site: www.hurricanecenterlive.com Thanks for listening and please share with your friends and co-workers.

  2. Aug 12

    S8: Episode: 146 - When Rain Becomes a Flood - Jeff Lindner

    Harris County meteorologist Jeff Lindner explains why predicting rainfall is only part of the challenge—and how new forecasting tools, hydrology and lessons from historic floods are changing the way we understand risk. Jeff Lindner joins Hurricane Center Live for a wide-ranging conversation about tropical weather, extreme rainfall and the rapidly changing science of flood forecasting. Lindner is a meteorologist with the Harris County Flood Control District, where rainfall forecasts have to become something much more operational: How much water will fall? Where will it go? How quickly will rivers, bayous and streets respond—and when does that become dangerous? The Flood Control District continues to identify Lindner as one of its meteorologists and has long used his expertise in flood operations and public warning.  One of the most interesting parts of the discussion looks at the limits of traditional weather modeling and the next generation of higher-resolution and machine-learning guidance. Jeff talks about the challenge of turning increasingly sophisticated rainfall forecasts into useful hydrologic information—especially when small differences in where the heaviest rain falls can produce dramatically different outcomes. The conversation also reaches beyond hurricanes. Lindner discusses his recent field work examining historic flash floods in Colorado and an intriguing comparison between the catastrophic 1976 flood and a much larger rainfall event decades later. The lesson: rainfall totals alone don't necessarily determine the size of a flood. Duration, terrain, soil conditions, watershed response and changes to the landscape all matter. It is a reminder that forecasting the storm is only the beginning. Understanding what the water does next may be just as important. Support the show Suggest a topic or ask a question: alex@wxguide.com Visit our conference site: www.hurricanecenterlive.com Thanks for listening and please share with your friends and co-workers.

  3. Aug 5

    Episode 145: Andrew Femath USAA: Preparing for Extreme Weather

    USAA's Andrew Freeman joins HurricaneCenter Live to discuss hurricane preparedness, resilience, and how communities can better prepare before the next storm. Plus, a look at the current state of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season and why a quiet season isn't a reason to let your guard down. Support the show Suggest a topic or ask a question: alex@wxguide.com Visit our conference site: www.hurricanecenterlive.com Thanks for listening and please share with your friends and co-workers.

  4. Jul 29

    Episode 144: BEYOND THE HURRICANE HUNTERS: The Future of Storm Observation

    Hurricane Hunter aircraft have transformed our understanding of tropical cyclones, but there are still parts of a hurricane that are too low, too turbulent and too dangerous for a crewed aircraft to explore. That is where a new generation of uncrewed aircraft systems is changing the science. In this episode of the HurricaneCenter Podcast, we speak with Dr. Joe Cione, lead meteorologist with NOAA’s Hurricane Research Division and a leader in the development and deployment of emerging hurricane-observation technology. Dr. Cione explains why the lowest portion of a hurricane—the boundary layer immediately above the ocean—is so important to understanding storm structure and intensity. It is the region where the hurricane interacts directly with the sea, transferring heat, moisture and momentum, yet it has historically been one of the most difficult areas for scientists to observe. The conversation explores how small aircraft launched from NOAA Hurricane Hunter planes can descend into the eye, eyewall and lower levels of a tropical cyclone while transmitting measurements back to researchers. We also discuss: Why hurricane intensity remains more difficult to forecast than trackWhat scientists still need to learn about rapid intensificationWhy the interaction between the ocean and atmosphere mattersHow uncrewed systems complement aircraft, satellites, dropsondes and ocean platformsThe engineering challenges of operating inside hurricane-force windsHow observations are eventually incorporated into forecast modelsThe importance of collaboration among government, academia and private industryWhat the next generation of hurricane reconnaissance may look likeHow better observations can ultimately support earlier and more confident emergency decisionsDr. Cione has spent decades investigating the hurricane environment and developing ways to collect measurements from locations that were once inaccessible. His work has included the Coyote, Altius-600 and Black Swift uncrewed aircraft systems. A NOAA team that deployed an Altius aircraft into Hurricane Ian’s eyewall received the Department of Commerce Gold Medal for scientific and engineering achievement. Later Black Swift missions demonstrated extended flight time, communication range and the ability to operate within extreme hurricane conditions. This episode offers a rare look at the technology, science and human persistence behind the effort to better understand one of the atmosphere’s most powerful phenomena. Support the show Suggest a topic or ask a question: alex@wxguide.com Visit our conference site: www.hurricanecenterlive.com Thanks for listening and please share with your friends and co-workers.

  5. Jul 22

    S8:143 Rebuilding Together: Florida Recovery & Resilience After the Storm

    When a hurricane strikes, the first images are often wind, rain, storm surge and damage. But for many families, the hardest part begins after the cameras move on: finding help, repairing unsafe homes, navigating recovery programs and trying to rebuild a sense of normalcy. On this episode of the HurricaneCenter Podcast, Jose Garcia of Rebuilding Together Greater Florida joins the conversation to discuss the recovery side of hurricane preparedness. The discussion focuses on what happens after disaster strikes, why safe housing is central to recovery, and how community partnerships can help homeowners - especially vulnerable families - move from damage toward resilience. Jose shares perspective on the real-world challenges families face after storms: roof damage, water intrusion, unsafe living conditions, financial barriers, contractor concerns and the emotional toll of a long recovery. The episode also looks at how preparedness, mitigation and rebuilding stronger can reduce risk before the next hurricane season. The bigger message: hurricane preparedness is not just about tracking the cone. It is about what families, neighborhoods, nonprofits, local governments and partners do before and after the storm to protect people and restore homes. Support the show Suggest a topic or ask a question: alex@wxguide.com Visit our conference site: www.hurricanecenterlive.com Thanks for listening and please share with your friends and co-workers.

  6. Jul 15

    S8:142 - Bryan Norcross on Hurricane Communication Without the Hype

    When a hurricane threatens, the forecast is only part of the job. The bigger challenge is helping people understand what the storm means for them - without exaggeration, confusion or panic. In this episode of HurricaneCenter, meteorologist Bryan Norcross joins the program for a conversation about one of the hardest parts of hurricane season: communicating risk in a way that is urgent, accurate and trusted. The discussion centers on the balance between warning people early enough to act and avoiding language that makes every storm sound like the worst-case scenario. For broadcasters, forecasters, emergency managers and public information officers, that balance matters. If the message is too soft, people may not prepare. If it is too loud too often, people may tune it out. Support the show Suggest a topic or ask a question: alex@wxguide.com Visit our conference site: www.hurricanecenterlive.com Thanks for listening and please share with your friends and co-workers.

  7. Jul 8

    S8: Ep: 141 The Storm Is Over. The Danger Is Not.

    In this episode of HurricaneCenter, Meteorologist John Gordon joins the program for a focused conversation about indirect fatalities from extreme weather - the deaths and injuries that happen after the wind, rain, tornado, flood or hurricane has passed. The discussion reframes severe weather safety around the recovery period: carbon monoxide poisoning, flooded roads, hydroplaning, heat exposure, cleanup injuries, medical disruption and the risky decisions people make when power is out and stress is high. Extreme weather deaths are often counted by the headline hazard - hurricane, tornado, flood, heat or winter storm. But many of the most preventable fatalities occur indirectly. They happen when people drive into flooded roads, lose control on wet pavement, run generators too close to the house, work outside in dangerous heat, use unsafe cleanup tools, or lose access to power-dependent medical needs. This episode focuses on the part of storm safety that can be overlooked: what people do next. Support the show Suggest a topic or ask a question: alex@wxguide.com Visit our conference site: www.hurricanecenterlive.com Thanks for listening and please share with your friends and co-workers.

  8. Jul 1

    S8: Episode 140 Portable Generators: The Mistake That Turns Deadly

    Power outages are one of the most common after-the-storm problems - and for many families, a portable generator becomes the bridge between disruption and recovery. But generator safety has to come before convenience. In this episode of HurricaneCenter, Guillermo Rodriguez, PGMA Marketing Committee Chair, joins the program for a focused conversation on portable generator safety. The discussion centers on carbon monoxide, the colorless and odorless gas that can build up quickly when a generator is operated in or near an enclosed space. The key message is simple: take the generator outside. Not in the garage. Not on a porch. Not under a carport. Not near an open window. Portable generators should be used outdoors, far away from doors, windows and vents, with exhaust directed away from the home and any occupied space. The episode also highlights the importance of planning before the outage happens. Families should know where the generator will sit, how it will be connected, what it can safely power, which cords are rated for outdoor use, and where carbon monoxide alarms are installed. Support the show Suggest a topic or ask a question: alex@wxguide.com Visit our conference site: www.hurricanecenterlive.com Thanks for listening and please share with your friends and co-workers.

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4.5
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

HURRICANE CENTER: The people, science and decisions that protect communities before, during and after the storm.

Information

  • Creator
    National Tropical Weather Conference
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    147
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 @Storm Science Network Inc.
  • Show Website
    HURRICANE CENTER

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