Meteorology Matters

Hurricanes don’t just destroy buildings, they reshape communities. In this episode of Meteorology Matters, Rob Jones dives into how storms like Andrew, Katrina, and Ian left behind more than physical damage. From South Florida’s racial and ethnic divides, to gentrification in New Orleans, to today’s booming coastal housing markets, we explore how disasters deepen inequality. Who bounces back and who gets left behind?

Keywords

Hurric...

In this episode of Meteorology Matters, we dive into how Hurricane Katrina reshaped New Orleans, not just physically, but politically and economically. We uncover how “disaster capitalism” and neoliberal urban policies turned the city into a laboratory for privatization, gentrification, and displacement. From skyrocketing rents and the demolition of public housing to the cultural erasure of long-time Black residents, New Orleans be...

🌪️ Hurricane Preparedness & Forecasting 20 Years After Katrina

Episode Description:

It’s been 20 years since Hurricane Katrina reshaped the Gulf Coast — and the way we forecast and prepare for hurricanes. In this episode of Meteorology Matters, Rob Jones breaks down how forecasting has improved, where the biggest vulnerabilities remain, and why climate change is making storms more dangerous.

You’ll discover:

• How new satellites...

The Enduring Lessons of Hurricane Katrina and the Current State of U.S. Disaster Preparedness

Date: August 25, 2025

Twenty years after Hurricane Katrina, its lessons remain profoundly relevant, highlighting systemic failures in national preparedness, coordination, and the critical role of federal agencies. While significant strides have been made in hurricane science and forecasting since 2005, particularly through federally funded i...

A federal judge in Miami has ordered the state of Florida to dismantle the "Alligator Alcatraz" immigrant detention facility in the Florida Everglades within 60 days, citing severe and irreparable environmental harm. This ruling, a significant victory for environmentalists and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians, prohibits further expansion and mandates the removal of specific infrastructure. The facility, built on the site of a thwart...

Date: August 21, 2025

Current Status and Impacts of Hurricane Erin with Climate Context and Future Outlook

Hurricane Erin, a massive and dangerous Category 2 storm, is currently making its closest approach to the U.S. East Coast after 10 days of churning across the Atlantic. While its trajectory keeps the center offshore, its immense size (a "sprawling 1,000 miles wide," with a tropical-storm-force wind field extending 325 miles from...

Detailed Briefing: Hurricane Erin and Active Atlantic Tropical Systems (August 19, 2025)

This briefing summarizes the current status and forecast for Hurricane Erin, along with updates on two other developing tropical waves in the Atlantic, based on information from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) and other meteorological sources as of August 19, 2025.

1. Hurricane Erin: Current Status and Forecast Impacts

Hurricane Erin, currentl...

August 17, 1025: Hurricane Erin, recently a Category 5 storm, underwent one of the fastest intensifications ever observed, reaching the second lowest pressure ever recorded for an August hurricane after Hurricane Allen in 1980. While the storm is fortunate to be on a path that avoids direct land impact, its powerful energy will still significantly affect coastal areas.

Key Facts about Hurricane Erin:

• Intensification & Current...

Hurricane Erin, the first Atlantic hurricane of 2025, has undergone an "unusually rapid intensification," rocketing from a tropical storm to a "catastrophic Category 5 hurricane" in less than 24 hours. While its center is not expected to make a direct landfall on the U.S. mainland, it poses significant threats of heavy rainfall, flash flooding, landslides, life-threatening surf, and rip currents in the Caribbean and along the U.S. ...

The Trump administration is enacting significant policy changes across environmental regulation and space exploration, characterized by a consistent effort to dismantle climate-focused initiatives and streamline regulations, particularly benefiting the commercial space industry. These actions are drawing strong criticism from environmental advocates and scientists, who accuse the administration of climate denial and undermining cru...

Meteorology Matters discusses the escalating challenges posed by extreme heat and potential mitigating strategies. We include the underestimated health burden beyond mortality, the significant economic and infrastructure strain, and the re-emergence of ancient, sustainable cooling technologies. We highlight a critical need for expanded public health interventions and a re-evaluation of current cooling paradigms, particularly in reg...

There has been an unusual and concerning surge in Vibrio vulnificus infections and deaths across the southeastern United States, especially in Florida. This bacterium, commonly known as "flesh-eating bacteria," thrives in warm, brackish seawater and can cause severe, rapidly progressing illness, including necrotizing fasciitis, and has a high fatality rate. While infections are generally rare, experts describe the current situation...

Recent reports highlight significant disruptions and policy shifts across several key federal agencies, including the National Weather Service (NWS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), under the current Trump administration. These changes, characterized by deep federal cuts, staffing reductions, and attempts to alter climate science narratives, have raised serious concerns about p...

As we head through August, it is typical for hurricane season to awaken in the Atlantic Ocean and the models are starting to hint at changes afoot. Elevated Tropical Activity: The Atlantic basin is entering a period of increased tropical activity, consistent with a "backloaded" hurricane season. Conditions are becoming more favorable for development, with warm ocean temperatures and a "La Niña light" influence.

• Primary Threat: A...

13% of Floridian Deaths can be attributed to hurricanes and tropical storms? Recent research from both South Korea and the United States reveals a significant and largely underestimated public health burden associated with tropical cyclones (hurricanes/typhoons). Beyond the immediate, direct deaths typically reported, these studies demonstrate a substantial "excess mortality" that can persist for weeks, months, and even years after...

Meteorologist in Space

Deborah Martorell, a 54-year-old Puerto Rican meteorologist and journalist with over 30 years of experience, is set to become the "first meteorologist in the world (between men and women) to visit space." Her lifelong dream of becoming an astronaut, which began in childhood and was often "taken as a joke or saw me as this immature girl who wants to be an astronaut," is now becoming a reality.

Key Details of Mar...

Review of recent Trump Administration actions impacting the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), with a focus on deregulation, scientific research, and disaster preparedness.

In July 2025, the Trump administration has taken significant steps to dismantle environmental regulations and reduce federal involvement in climate science...

Pre-1890:

• Prior to 1890: Recordkeeping for temperatures in Tampa, Florida, begins.

1890:

• 1890: Temperature records for Tampa, Florida, officially start.

1892:

• September 1892: Temperature records for Plant City, Florida, officially start.

1895:

• Since 1895: Florida's average June temperature has been 79.9 degrees.

Early 1900s:

• Since 1902: Records for temperatures at Page Field in Fort Myers begin.
• Since ...