President's Message
Registration opened earlier this month for our annual meeting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I thought I would use my July message to invite you to join me at the meeting, whether you choose to attend in person or online. The steering committee has been working on the agenda continuously since before the call for abstracts went out in February and I think there are many excellent presentations.
I mentioned in one of my other messages that the theme for the meeting is convergence. In keeping with that theme, one of the keynote sessions will feature a team of expert meteorologists and social scientists who will share their thoughts on how the most challenging issues confronting operational meteorology and society can be addressed by social scientists and meteorologists working together. Following a panel session with these experts, attendees will get a chance to break out into groups and discuss the topics further with the goal that the convergence of ideas in this conversation will lead to other interactions after the meeting. There are other great keynotes throughout the week that will be featured on social media—stay tuned!
Besides the content in the sessions, the annual meeting offers a great opportunity to interact with colleagues and meet new people. I asked some of our board members what they are looking forward to about the annual meeting and both were looking forward to the people.
Board secretary Bryan Karrick said,
One of the many things I look forward to when it comes to our annual meeting is catching up with friends I met at conferences past and have known for years. The exchange of ideas to improve our careers and to educate and inform the public is invaluable, and these conversations are best had with our colleagues face-to-face.
Likewise, Vice President Trevor Boucher mentioned how nice it will be to get back together.
It's been several years since we all had a chance to come together and spend the week sharing our science and our love for it. Even more than the topics, the people I haven't seen over the last couple years is something I am the most excited for. We have all been working so hard to get through the pandemic and keep moving forward with our work and I can't wait to "cheers" (and karaoke) with each other again.
I couldn’t agree more! (Well—I am not sure about karaoke.)
One thing I like about the NWA meeting is the way the meeting format fosters interaction and helps create a close-knit community feel. Keeping concurrent events to a minimum ensures you will be in the same room with many other attendees sharing the same experience and increasing the chance you will bump into someone you know or would like to meet.
My first NWA meeting was in Reno, Nevada, in 1997 during my first semester as a graduate student. I know it can be intimidating to attend meetings if you are a student or just starting out, but I can speak from my own experience that I enjoy when people I have never met come up and introduce themselves to me at a coffee break or before a session. I guarantee many others feel the same way. In addition to seeing friends and colleagues I haven’t seen in a while, I am looking forward to meeting some new people this year. Please come say hello if you get a chance!
Click here to register for the annual meeting.
Annual Meeting Updates: Register Now!
- Attendees have the option to attend in person or virtually.
- All registrants must indicate that they have read and agreed to the National Weather Association Release and Waiver of Liability to submit a registration. The Waiver contains our COVID-19 policies and other policies related to the meeting.
- NWA Members receive discounts on registration. You must be a paid and approved member prior to registering to receive the member discount on registration. Allow up to a week for approval of your membership.
Schedule:
The preliminary agenda is available. Please check back often and follow #NWAS22 on social media.
Saturday, August 20: Student Session/Events, Exhibitor set-up, Registration Desk opens
Sunday, August 21: Broadcaster Workshop, Master Class, Exhibit Hall
Monday, August 22: General Sessions, Exhibit Hall
Tuesday, August 23: General Sessions, Exhibit Hall
Wednesday, August 24: General Sessions and Annual Awards Luncheon
Showcase Presenters, check your email! All Showcase presenters should have received their Showcase instructions from matthew@factor110 on July 27. Watch for another email from @whova.com on August 1.
To learn more, check out our Showcase webpage.
Check out these Annual Meeting Events!
Return to Top
Introducing Community
Coming soon: NWA Community! This new platform lets members interact with other members and access the latest NWA happenings. We will be launching soon, so stay tuned!
Return to Top
New Seal Holder
What sparked your interest in meteorology?
Growing up in Tulsa, and seeing first-hand the damage from tornadoes and flooding, and nearly losing my father and grandmother in Tulsa's most costly flash flood (Dad had gone to get my grandmother, and both were lucky to escape).
What is the most memorable weather event you have covered on air?
Hard to say just one: Tornadoes, blizzards, floods, heat waves, cold snaps. They're all different, but if I had to pick one, the tornado on March 30, 2016 which struck the Tulsa area. Great warnings from our NWS partners, great views of the storm from our cameras and chasers led to no fatalities and only a few injuries.
What do you love to do in your free time?
Free time? I'm a PhD student, what is free time? LOL. Just spending time with my spouse and two kids. I am a private pilot and love to fly when I'm able to stretch my wings.
Do you have any unusual/hidden talents?
Bad impressions, terrible dad jokes, acutely refined antagonism
What do you love most about being a member of the NWA?
It's the applied science that I can take and use. The embracing of social science aspects of severe storm warnings for population subsets at higher risk. The annual conference is large enough to find great and varied presentations and posters, yet still small enough to not feel lost in a crowd.
Connect with James on Twitter: @jamesaydelott
Return to Top
New JOM Article
JOM: Analysis of the 12 April 2020 Northern Louisiana Tornadic QLCS
Link to Article
Authors for this new JOM article are Todd A. Murphy, Tessa M. Stetzer, Lauren Walker, Tyler Fricker, Brad Bryant and Charles Woodrum.
Abstract:
On 12 April 2020, a tornadic quasi-linear convective system (QLCS) produced two EF-3 tornadoes in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana in close proximity to instrumentation operated by the University of Louisiana Monroe’s (ULM) Atmospheric Science program. In addition to the in situ environmental information, a highresolution aerial damage survey was conducted by the ULM Unmanned Aerial Systems program. In this paper, these datasets are used to provide a comprehensive environmental and storm-scale analysis of the tornadic QLCS through northern Louisiana. In addition, we discuss the importance of aerial damage surveys, and how Doppler radar-derived tornado intensity estimates compared to the damage survey.
Return to Top
NWA Staff Member Recognized
Congratulations to Nicole! The Oklahoma Society of Association Executives (the Association for Association Professionals) has selected Nicole Van Every as the 2022 Excellence in Excellence in Innovation Award Recipient. This award is presented to recognize outstanding innovation for their association/company.
Return to Top
August 8 Webinar: Facilitating a Positive Office Culture
Click here to register for the webinar.
Return to Top
2022 Lightning Fatalities Update
From John Jensenius at the National Lightning Safety Council:
Unfortunately, a 27-year-old man who was struck by lightning Tuesday, July 19th, in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, has succumbed to his injuries. He was reportedly doing lawn maintenance for the family business when lightning struck a nearby palm tree.
There have now been 8 lightning fatalities in the U.S. this year. Based on the past 10 years, the U.S. averages 14 lightning fatalities through July 23rd. This is the first lightning fatality in Florida this year. Since 2006, Florida has seen a total of 80 lightning fatalities including this most recent one.
Lawn care/landscaping account for about 10% of work-related fatalities. Since 2006, there have been 9 work-related lawn care/landscaping lightning deaths in the U.S.; 7 of the 9 occurred in Florida.
Additionally, there have been 21 non-work-related yardwork/mowing deaths in the U.S. since 2006. Based on the past 10 years, July averages 8 lightning deaths. Since 2006, 154 people in the U.S. have died due to July lightning strikes.
A 41-year-old Army Reserve soldier was struck and killed at Fort Gordon, near Augusta, Georgia. He was participating in a training exercise at the time of the incident.
Since 2006, there have now been 18 lightning fatalities in Georgia, including 2 this year.
July is typically the deadliest month of the year for lightning fatalities, averaging 8.
Since 2006, there have now been 153 lightning deaths in July. Seven of the eight fatalities this year (86 percent) have been male. On average, about 80% of lightning fatalities are male.
Upcoming Events
August
NWA Annual Meeting
November
Northeast Regional Operational Workshop
Mid-Atlantic Chaser Conference
National Disaster Resilience Conference
International Association of Emergency Managers
Return to Top
Jobs Corner
Have you checked out our job page recently?
We update the job postings as they arrive, and they've been arriving more frequently.
Check out the newest job postings or submit a job posting here.
Return to Top
National Weather Association | 3100 Monitor Ave, Suite 123 | Norman OK 73072 | 405.701.5167
Publisher: Janice Bunting, NWA CEO
Technical Editor: Winnie Crawford
Digital Editor: Valerie Sharp
Submit newsletter items to [email protected]
using the NWA Newsletter Instructions for Authors
Copyright © 2022 National Weather Association, All rights reserved.
