HURRICANE CENTER

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

HURRICANE CENTER is a science podcast hosted by National Tropical Weather Conference, with 146 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

National Tropical Weather Conference hosts HURRICANE CENTER, a science show with 146 episodes published.

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  Episode #147

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

  Aug 19, 202634 minS6

  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 reporting Why journalists deploy into hurricanes What the forecast showed before Ian’s landfall How quickly conditions deteriorated The moment Scott realized the team was in serious trouble Escaping a vehicle surrounded by storm surge The strangers who risked their own safety to help What it was like to remain exposed during the hurricane The physical and emotional aftermath Why Scott waited before telling the complete story How he reconstructed the timeline for Ian’s Surge What meteorologists misunderstand about public risk perception Why “storm surge” can remain too abstract for many viewers How Hurricane Ian changed Scott’s approach to warnings The lesson he wants coastal residents and journalists to remember Hurricane 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.

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  Episode #146

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

  Aug 12, 202635 minS8

  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.

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  Episode #145

  Episode 145: Andrew Femath USAA: Preparing for Extreme Weather

  Aug 5, 202633 minS8

  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.

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  Episode #144

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

  Jul 29, 202633 minS8

  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 track What scientists still need to learn about rapid intensification Why the interaction between the ocean and atmosphere matters How uncrewed systems complement aircraft, satellites, dropsondes and ocean platforms The engineering challenges of operating inside hurricane-force winds How observations are eventually incorporated into forecast models The importance of collaboration among government, academia and private industry What the next generation of hurricane reconnaissance may look like How better observations can ultimately support earlier and more confident emergency decisions Dr. 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.

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  Episode #143

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

  Jul 22, 202628 minS8

  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.

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