Stephanie E. Zick
@sezick.bsky.social
Associate Professor #VirginiaTech studying tropical cyclones. Alum @UFGeog @psumeteo & @RUMeteorology. Pittsburgh native. Run, hike, swim #RecoveryIsPossible
Reposted by Stephanie E. Zick
Echoing colleagues: Think before you (re)post. #Melissa is about to impact a relatively poor part of Jamaica. I doubt we will know the true extent of the devastation for days or weeks.
Information vacuums fill with disinformation. Expect a lot of “breaking wind” on SM.
Map source: World Bank
Information vacuums fill with disinformation. Expect a lot of “breaking wind” on SM.
Map source: World Bank
October 28, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Echoing colleagues: Think before you (re)post. #Melissa is about to impact a relatively poor part of Jamaica. I doubt we will know the true extent of the devastation for days or weeks.
Information vacuums fill with disinformation. Expect a lot of “breaking wind” on SM.
Map source: World Bank
Information vacuums fill with disinformation. Expect a lot of “breaking wind” on SM.
Map source: World Bank
Reposted by Stephanie E. Zick
#Melissa's landfall intensity of 185 mph/892 mb ties it with the Florida Key's Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 as the record minimum pressure of any TC making landfall *anywhere* the NATL basin. I feel for the residents of #Jamaica 😞
Zoomed in G19 visible meso loop courtesy of @cyclonicwx.bsky.social
Zoomed in G19 visible meso loop courtesy of @cyclonicwx.bsky.social
October 28, 2025 at 5:14 PM
#Melissa's landfall intensity of 185 mph/892 mb ties it with the Florida Key's Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 as the record minimum pressure of any TC making landfall *anywhere* the NATL basin. I feel for the residents of #Jamaica 😞
Zoomed in G19 visible meso loop courtesy of @cyclonicwx.bsky.social
Zoomed in G19 visible meso loop courtesy of @cyclonicwx.bsky.social
Reposted by Stephanie E. Zick
The western end of Jamaica where #Melissa is projected to make landfall has the least well-built structures of anyplace on the island. Graphic is from a 2021 paper, "Poverty and hurricane risk exposure in Jamaica": www.researchgate.net/publication/...
October 28, 2025 at 1:53 AM
The western end of Jamaica where #Melissa is projected to make landfall has the least well-built structures of anyplace on the island. Graphic is from a 2021 paper, "Poverty and hurricane risk exposure in Jamaica": www.researchgate.net/publication/...
Reposted by Stephanie E. Zick
Hurricane #Melissa Advisory 24: Melissa Now a Category 5 Hurricane. Destructive Winds and Storm Surge and Catastrophic Flooding Will Worsen On Jamaica Through the Day and Into Tonight. http://hurricanes.gov
hurricanes.gov
October 27, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Hurricane #Melissa Advisory 24: Melissa Now a Category 5 Hurricane. Destructive Winds and Storm Surge and Catastrophic Flooding Will Worsen On Jamaica Through the Day and Into Tonight. http://hurricanes.gov
This is something we cover in week 1-2 of atmospheric thermo by exploring soundings from the tropics, midlats and poles. The tropical tropopause is higher and colder than it is in other locations. And this is a pretty iconic example!
A special 1800 UTC sounding from Kingston, Jamaica, reveals that the tropopause is above 100 mb. The large temperature difference between the cold tropopause and warm sea surface temperatures is very favorable for intense tropical cyclones. #Melissa
October 26, 2025 at 11:28 PM
This is something we cover in week 1-2 of atmospheric thermo by exploring soundings from the tropics, midlats and poles. The tropical tropopause is higher and colder than it is in other locations. And this is a pretty iconic example!
Reposted by Stephanie E. Zick
*** JOB OPPORTUNITY AT UNIV OF FLORIDA IN GIS ***
JOB - The Department of Geography at the University of Florida invites applications for a full-time, 12-month, non-tenure track Lecturer/Assistant Instructional Professor position in GIScience and Geographic Artificial Intelligence (GeoAI) explore.jobs.ufl.edu/en-us/job/53...
October 13, 2025 at 2:20 PM
*** JOB OPPORTUNITY AT UNIV OF FLORIDA IN GIS ***
Reposted by Stephanie E. Zick
While I’m at the UCAR Member’s meeting, I’m reminding everyone of the internships, workshops, and other student opportunities that they have available! www.ucar.edu/exhibit/stud...
Exhibit resources | University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
www.ucar.edu
October 8, 2025 at 12:48 PM
While I’m at the UCAR Member’s meeting, I’m reminding everyone of the internships, workshops, and other student opportunities that they have available! www.ucar.edu/exhibit/stud...
Reposted by Stephanie E. Zick
MS position for Fall 2026 available to study Hurricane Ecology w/ me at #UCF and with @jefferybcannon.bsky.social from @thejonesctr.bsky.social! Funded half time as a TA and half as an RA. See web for details: tinyurl.com/9pm33ttt
Please RT and share with your bright undergrads!!
Please RT and share with your bright undergrads!!
October 7, 2025 at 8:23 PM
MS position for Fall 2026 available to study Hurricane Ecology w/ me at #UCF and with @jefferybcannon.bsky.social from @thejonesctr.bsky.social! Funded half time as a TA and half as an RA. See web for details: tinyurl.com/9pm33ttt
Please RT and share with your bright undergrads!!
Please RT and share with your bright undergrads!!
Reposted by Stephanie E. Zick
Here is a 4-day track summary of Hurricanes #Humberto and #Imelda, showcasing an example of the #Fujiwhara Effect. They approached and interacted with each other, coming within 465 miles, but did not complete an orbit around a common center or merge before moving back away from each other.
[1/4]
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October 1, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Here is a 4-day track summary of Hurricanes #Humberto and #Imelda, showcasing an example of the #Fujiwhara Effect. They approached and interacted with each other, coming within 465 miles, but did not complete an orbit around a common center or merge before moving back away from each other.
[1/4]
[1/4]
Reposted by Stephanie E. Zick
Please share with anyone who cares about NSF support for graduate students and take 30 seconds to sign and leave a comment.
The deadline for the 2025 Graduate Research Fellowship Program is about one month away and literally no one can apply. #NSFGRFP
jasonjwilliamsny.github.io/grfp2025/
The deadline for the 2025 Graduate Research Fellowship Program is about one month away and literally no one can apply. #NSFGRFP
jasonjwilliamsny.github.io/grfp2025/
An Open Letter to U.S. STEM Leadership on the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program
An Open Letter to U.S. STEM Leadership on the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program
jasonjwilliamsny.github.io
September 25, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Please share with anyone who cares about NSF support for graduate students and take 30 seconds to sign and leave a comment.
The deadline for the 2025 Graduate Research Fellowship Program is about one month away and literally no one can apply. #NSFGRFP
jasonjwilliamsny.github.io/grfp2025/
The deadline for the 2025 Graduate Research Fellowship Program is about one month away and literally no one can apply. #NSFGRFP
jasonjwilliamsny.github.io/grfp2025/
STUDENTS! VT Geography is recruiting GTAs for Fall 2026. Come work with me, studying tropical cyclones and their precipitation. Students with undergraduate research and/or Python programming experience are highly encourage to apply.
September 24, 2025 at 3:23 PM
STUDENTS! VT Geography is recruiting GTAs for Fall 2026. Come work with me, studying tropical cyclones and their precipitation. Students with undergraduate research and/or Python programming experience are highly encourage to apply.
Reposted by Stephanie E. Zick
The tide gauge at Duck NC, in the northern Outer Banks, is predicted to experience major flooding from Hurricane #Erin during the Thursday evening high tide. This would be the fifth-highest water level since records began in 1999, 0.82' below the record set during Cat 2 Hurricane Isabel of 2003.
August 19, 2025 at 4:28 PM
The tide gauge at Duck NC, in the northern Outer Banks, is predicted to experience major flooding from Hurricane #Erin during the Thursday evening high tide. This would be the fifth-highest water level since records began in 1999, 0.82' below the record set during Cat 2 Hurricane Isabel of 2003.
Reposted by Stephanie E. Zick
A large portion of the Atlantic coastline will see the risk for high surf and rip currents this week due to #Erin.
🟥Risk of Rip Currents is High🟥
Life-threatening rip currents are likely. Swimming conditions are unsafe for all levels of swimmers. Stay out of the water.
nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/grap...
🟥Risk of Rip Currents is High🟥
Life-threatening rip currents are likely. Swimming conditions are unsafe for all levels of swimmers. Stay out of the water.
nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/grap...
August 18, 2025 at 5:59 PM
A large portion of the Atlantic coastline will see the risk for high surf and rip currents this week due to #Erin.
🟥Risk of Rip Currents is High🟥
Life-threatening rip currents are likely. Swimming conditions are unsafe for all levels of swimmers. Stay out of the water.
nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/grap...
🟥Risk of Rip Currents is High🟥
Life-threatening rip currents are likely. Swimming conditions are unsafe for all levels of swimmers. Stay out of the water.
nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/grap...
Reposted by Stephanie E. Zick
NEW: i spoke to nine (!) scientists across several disciplines whose work was cited in the new Department of Energy report that downplays the severity of climate change. all of them say their work was misrepresented, cherry picked, and/or lacked context —
Scientists Say New Government Climate Report Twists Their Work
A new Department of Energy report “fundamentally misrepresents” climate research and leaves out key context, multiple scientists cited in the report tell WIRED.
www.wired.com
July 30, 2025 at 8:38 PM
NEW: i spoke to nine (!) scientists across several disciplines whose work was cited in the new Department of Energy report that downplays the severity of climate change. all of them say their work was misrepresented, cherry picked, and/or lacked context —
Reposted by Stephanie E. Zick
Right then...
A quick review of the DOE's new 'critical review' of climate science. Whether it's worth a formal community response - I'm still not sure, but here's my first thoughts
/thread/
A quick review of the DOE's new 'critical review' of climate science. Whether it's worth a formal community response - I'm still not sure, but here's my first thoughts
/thread/
I can't imagine there will be any problems with this summary of climate science
July 30, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Right then...
A quick review of the DOE's new 'critical review' of climate science. Whether it's worth a formal community response - I'm still not sure, but here's my first thoughts
/thread/
A quick review of the DOE's new 'critical review' of climate science. Whether it's worth a formal community response - I'm still not sure, but here's my first thoughts
/thread/
Reposted by Stephanie E. Zick
Proposed NOAA cuts would destroy the basic infrastructure for weather research–including hurricane and flash flood forecasting–and take decades to recover from. “It’s like blowing up a dam and trying to rebuild it by gluing the pieces back together. It won’t work. You have to start from scratch.”
Cuts to NOAA increase the risk of deadly weather tragedies » Yale Climate Connections
The Trump administration's budget plan for 2026 would eliminate the lab that developed a key flash flooding tool.
yaleclimateconnections.org
July 7, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Proposed NOAA cuts would destroy the basic infrastructure for weather research–including hurricane and flash flood forecasting–and take decades to recover from. “It’s like blowing up a dam and trying to rebuild it by gluing the pieces back together. It won’t work. You have to start from scratch.”
Reposted by Stephanie E. Zick
We don't have a NWS app thanks to the lobbying of Accuweather.
For Canadians following some of the tragic flooding in the US, this is a good chance to remind everyone that the federal government has a free weather app (WeatherCAN) that a) doesn't track any extraneous data b) has no ads c) has the most accurate alerts.
www.canada.ca/en/environme...
www.canada.ca/en/environme...
WeatherCAN - Canada.ca
Get your latest forecast information directly from Canada’s official weather source.
www.canada.ca
July 7, 2025 at 9:23 PM
We don't have a NWS app thanks to the lobbying of Accuweather.
Reposted by Stephanie E. Zick
Flood forecasting being cut: “Promising NOAA research-to-operations efforts that would actually help with some of the challenges I discuss above, including Forecasting a Continuum of Environmental Threats, Warn-on-Forecast, and FLASH would be terminated under the current FY26 presidential budget.”
I have spent the last 24 hours looking at media reports and social media posts about the Texas Hill County tragedy and being appalled by the level of misinformation I am seeing. I have tried to put together an updated, more reasoned summary I hope you'll read.
open.substack.com/pub/balanced...
open.substack.com/pub/balanced...
Latest on Texas Hill Country flood tragedy
Chantal makes landfall in South Carolina
open.substack.com
July 7, 2025 at 12:10 AM
Flood forecasting being cut: “Promising NOAA research-to-operations efforts that would actually help with some of the challenges I discuss above, including Forecasting a Continuum of Environmental Threats, Warn-on-Forecast, and FLASH would be terminated under the current FY26 presidential budget.”
Reposted by Stephanie E. Zick
Predicting such storms is at the cutting edge of science right now, and the stakes are rising in a warming world in which they are intensifying. Yet this is precisely the kind of research that NOAA/NSF have funded in the U.S. over decades that is at imminent risk of disappearing.
July 5, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Predicting such storms is at the cutting edge of science right now, and the stakes are rising in a warming world in which they are intensifying. Yet this is precisely the kind of research that NOAA/NSF have funded in the U.S. over decades that is at imminent risk of disappearing.
Reposted by Stephanie E. Zick
The other day I posted a list of NOAA Research contributions to forecast operations at NHC. I decided to add a little flesh to that list with this Substack post.
franklinjamesl.substack.com/p/hurricane-...
franklinjamesl.substack.com/p/hurricane-...
Hurricane Forecasting and the FY-26 NOAA Budget Proposal
If NOAA were really interested in providing the American public with “gold-standard, cutting-edge data, models, and forecasts”, they wouldn’t be trying to get rid of the people who make it happen.
franklinjamesl.substack.com
July 2, 2025 at 8:53 PM
The other day I posted a list of NOAA Research contributions to forecast operations at NHC. I decided to add a little flesh to that list with this Substack post.
franklinjamesl.substack.com/p/hurricane-...
franklinjamesl.substack.com/p/hurricane-...
Reposted by Stephanie E. Zick
"With the proposed shuttering of AOML, HRD, and their sister cooperative institutes, we could lose all tools currently available to estimate and forecast hurricane intensity. It’s a seismic blow to the arsenal of tools forecasters rely on to confidently deliver timely and accurate predictions."
It's hard to adequately summarize how destructive NOAA's 2026 proposed budget released on Monday is for hurricane forecasting, but I crammed all I could into today's newsletter. I encourage everyone with interests along the coast to read it carefully. ⬇️
NOAA Proposes Permanently Closing Premiere Hurricane Research Institute
In its proposed 2026 budget released Monday, NOAA closes all federally funded weather and climate research labs, including the one responsible for maintaining the nation’s top hurricane models
michaelrlowry.substack.com
July 1, 2025 at 3:45 PM
"With the proposed shuttering of AOML, HRD, and their sister cooperative institutes, we could lose all tools currently available to estimate and forecast hurricane intensity. It’s a seismic blow to the arsenal of tools forecasters rely on to confidently deliver timely and accurate predictions."
Reposted by Stephanie E. Zick
I sought comment from NOAA and the Department of Defense on this and received this reply today from NOAA's spokesperson. They suggest we use the surviving ATMS microwave that degrades significantly at the edges. You can see how much worse off we'd be with Erick last week if we only had ATMS.
June 27, 2025 at 8:55 PM
I sought comment from NOAA and the Department of Defense on this and received this reply today from NOAA's spokesperson. They suggest we use the surviving ATMS microwave that degrades significantly at the edges. You can see how much worse off we'd be with Erick last week if we only had ATMS.
Reposted by Stephanie E. Zick
A comparison of what we see from geostationary infrared imagery vs. what we get when passive microwave imagery like what SSMIS provides is available.
This is Hurricane Otis in 2023 as it was gearing up for extremely rapid intensification prior to impacting Acapulco as a category 5 storm.
This is Hurricane Otis in 2023 as it was gearing up for extremely rapid intensification prior to impacting Acapulco as a category 5 storm.
June 27, 2025 at 5:48 PM
A comparison of what we see from geostationary infrared imagery vs. what we get when passive microwave imagery like what SSMIS provides is available.
This is Hurricane Otis in 2023 as it was gearing up for extremely rapid intensification prior to impacting Acapulco as a category 5 storm.
This is Hurricane Otis in 2023 as it was gearing up for extremely rapid intensification prior to impacting Acapulco as a category 5 storm.
Reposted by Stephanie E. Zick
A huge blow was dealt to hurricane forecasters this week as a critical tool was abruptly terminated by the Department of Defense and NOAA. The immediate discontinuation of data from three weather satellites will severely impact hurricane forecasts this season and beyond. More ⬇️
Critical Hurricane Forecast Tool Abruptly Terminated
U.S. Department of Defense announced Tuesday it would no longer process and deliver data essential to most hurricane forecasts
michaelrlowry.substack.com
June 26, 2025 at 1:17 PM
A huge blow was dealt to hurricane forecasters this week as a critical tool was abruptly terminated by the Department of Defense and NOAA. The immediate discontinuation of data from three weather satellites will severely impact hurricane forecasts this season and beyond. More ⬇️
Reposted by Stephanie E. Zick
When job announcements are released, I’ll be most happy to share them. Additionally, if interested, I recommend updating your resumes and ensuring they’re more detailed to demonstrate your alignment with the expected job functions depending upon the grade level you’re interested in. More later…
SCOOP: The National Weather Service has secured permission to hire about 125 new meteorologists & other specialists as it faces acute staffing shortages in wake of Trump admin. cuts www.cnn.com/2025/06/02/w...
National Weather Service adding around 125 new hires after laying off hundreds | CNN
The new hires would not make up for all the personnel lost in the Trump administration’s cutbacks, but could reduce the number of offices that need to cut back on 24/7 operations.
www.cnn.com
June 3, 2025 at 1:15 AM
When job announcements are released, I’ll be most happy to share them. Additionally, if interested, I recommend updating your resumes and ensuring they’re more detailed to demonstrate your alignment with the expected job functions depending upon the grade level you’re interested in. More later…