We’re not just chatting about the weather. I mean, we are…but there is also social commentary and a bit of moral outrage. This episode is longer than most because we left in more of the silliness. It felt called for.
REFERENCES
A warning for a tornado outbreak:
National Weather Service. “Summary of Significant Severe Thunderstorm and Tornado Outbreak of March 14–15, 2025.” https://www.weather.gov/pah/Mar14-15_2025Severe
Footage of 18-wheelers getting blown off the road around Amarillo:
The Weather Channel. “Powerful Winds Flip Trucks, Cause Texas Pile-Ups” [YouTube video]. March 14, 025. https://youtu.be/r64Jn4F8lXU?si=zz1e1zIZje2kSkcN
The National Weather Service…
...it’s part of NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)…
…they are in the Department of Commerce:
In case you’re not that kind of engineer:
NOAA. “What is Bathymetry?” https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/bathymetry.html
NOAA was created in 1970:
NOAA. “NOAA Heritage.” Updated October 24, 2024. https://www.noaa.gov/heritage
One of two uniformed services:
Vergun, David. “What’s in a Name? Demystifying the Collective Services.” March 18, 2019. U.S. Department of Defense. https://www.defense.gov/News/Feature-Stories/story/Article/1787716/whats-in-a-name-demystifying-the-collective-services/
NOAA has their own small fleet of ships that do things like soundings:
NOAA. “Ships of NOAA.” https://www.omao.noaa.gov/marine-operations/ships-noaa
Is that why we have a surgeon general?!
Hutchison, Floyd. “Surgeon General of the United States.” January 17, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/surgeon-general-of-the-United-States
Ships no floaty no more:
BoaterExam.com “Running Aground (Ship Grounding).” https://www.boaterexam.com/boating-resources/running-aground/
We shouldn’t overlook tsunami warnings:
National Weather Service. “Understanding Tsunami Alerts.” https://www.weather.gov/safety/tsunami-alerts
With apologies to Mack, it is, indeed, the U.S. Geological Survey:
National Weather Service originally started as part of the Army Signal Corp:
NOAA Library. “U.S. Army Signal Corps/Weather Bureau Annual Reports, 1861–1942.” https://library.noaa.gov/weather-climate/wb-annual-reports
They took it from the Signal Corp to the Department of Agriculture:
Chapin, Brenda. “Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin.” USDA. https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/blog/weekly-weather-and-crop-bulletin
If you need a taco metaphor for the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning:
13 On Your Side. “Severe Weather Awareness Week: Differences Between a Watch and a Warning” [YouTube video]. March 18, 2025. https://youtu.be/lG5oIQ
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