July was fairly active for significant hail in north-central U.S. Concentrations were noted in the eastern Dakotas and Minnesota (near the Red River Valley area), with more sparse concentrations across a broader portion of the U.S.
The Denver, CO hailstorm of May 2017 – Months of leadtime???
On May 8, 2017, Denver, Colorado experienced its costliest hail storm in history, with insured losses totaling roughly $1.4 billion (Source: https://www.denverpost.com/2017/05/23/hailstorm-costliest-ever-metro-denver/). The hail, ranging from 1-2.75 inches in diameter, was spawned by a severe thunderstorm that moved northeastward across western sides of the Denver Metro area during the afternoon.
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Exciting new developments toward long-range prediction of severe storms!
Skillful seasonal to yearly forecasts of severe storms (tornado, hail, and convective wind) are now a reality! In this and subsequent blog posts, I’ll be unveiling the fruits of my recent research, which has culminated in a platform for extended range severe weather outlooks and probabilistic loss guidance that demonstrate skill through 12-13 months.
Sample four month forecast valid April 2017 (pictured above)
Dissertation Award!
In June 2017, I was notified by the American Association of State Climatologists that I was selected as a recipient of their annual Dissertation Award! As part of receiving the award, I was invited to attend and present as their annual meeting in Asheville, Continue Reading
Chicago! Weather Risk Management Association…
Having a blast at this year’s 19th annual Weather Risk Management Association meeting. It’s being held in downtown Chicago – my first time in Illinois since 2005! Really exposing me to a world tying weather, business, and economy. Fascinated to learn about insurance information, agricultural interests in weather, and catastrophe bonds. Continue Reading
Published!
I finally got a portion of my dissertation (on the impact of ENSO on winter and early spring tornado outbreaks, read here!) accepted for publication in a major journal. The paper essentially diagnoses the relationship between ENSO and the character (intensity, frequency, and location) of tornado outbreaks from January through April. Continue Reading