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  • What to know about Epic Universe, Universal Orlando’s new theme park

    ORLANDO, Fla. — Florida residents and visitors will be flocking to Orlando beginning Thursday for Universal Orlando’s highly-anticipated grand opening of its fourth park, Epic Universe.

    💫 MORE EPIC UNIVERSE COVERAGE:

    The park will feature five themed worlds: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic, Super Nintendo World, How to Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk, Dark Universe and Celestial Park.

    If you’re one of the many thrill-seekers about to experience Universal’s latest installment, here’s what to know before heading out.

    • Plan ahead
      There are bound to be large crowds with the park’s opening, as well as long wait times for rides and attractions. Map out everything you want to experience first before heading out, and take advantage of Universal’s Express Pass option.
    • Hydrate!
      The park is opening just before the summer break season gets underway for Florida. Be sure to drink water so that heat exhaustion and dehydration don’t ruin your day.
    • Wear comfortable clothing
      Epic Universe is built on 750 acres of land, so be prepared to do a lot of walking!
    • Establish meeting places
      Cell phone service may be limited due to the number of people at the park, or if you and your group split up on wanting to do different activities, it’s important to have a place where you can all meet back up at afterward.
    • Be courteous
      Many people are looking forward to experience Epic Universe for the first time. Be respectful to other attendees, as well as the Universal Orlando Team Members, to ensure a good time for all. 
       

    Staying Cool at the Park

    Here are a list of items that will help you beat the heat! Spectrum News did not receive any compensation for the mentioning of these items below. We put together the list to give visitors ideas on what they might want to bring to the park during the hot summer months.

     

    “Beyond this gate, find gardens green

    And epic worlds to fill your dreams…”


     

     

    The Five Worlds

    Celestial Park 🌌✨☄️

    Adventurers will begin their journey at Celestial Park. At the entrance of the gate stands The Chronos, a device that is keeping the portals to the other four worlds open. Directly across from the entrance stands Universal Helios Grand Hotel, a resort that’s inside of Epic Universe. It has a dedicated entrance into the park itself and can be seen throughout all areas of Celestial Park. With an interstellar theme and orchestral music heard throughout the area, guests will be able to enjoy a serene environment before they explore the worlds. For those looking to dive into some excitement beforehand, Stardust Racers is a dual-track roller coaster that emulates the movement of a comet zooming through the cosmos. For more of a relaxed atmosphere, guests can ride on Constellation Carousel, or cool off from the Florida heat in Astronomica, an interactive water play area.

    READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Celestial Park

    Highlights of Celestial Park at Universal Orlando’s new Epic Universe theme park include Constellation Carousel, Stardust Racers and Pizza Moon. (Spectrum News)

    SUPER NINTENDO WORLD 🍄⭐🎮

    Another world of Epic Universe includes a widely-known video game franchise. Super Nintendo World is filled with vibrant colors and loads of nostalgia. If you’re a fan of the Super Mario World series, you’ll be able to spot notable landmarks from the games, such as Princess Peach’s Castle and Bowser’s Castle. Guests will be able to roam around the Mushroom Kingdom, interacting with the yellow “?” Blocks while listening to the iconic game audio tracks playing in the background, almost as if they were in a video game themselves.

    Fans of the Mario Kart racing games team up with Mario, Luigi and Princess Peach to face off against Team Bowser in “Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge.” With the help of special goggles, guests can collect coins and launch shells as they navigate through different landscapes. Guests can compete either individually or as a team member, interacting with their favorite Super Mario characters on the ride. If you’re looking for a more leisurely ride, you can hop on the back of Yoshi and search for glowing eggs throughout the Mushroom Kingdom aboard “Yoshi’s Adventure.”

    Super Nintendo World also brings the world of Donkey Kong to life with a lush, jungle theme and its own interactive experiences. Guests will be able to join Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong on a quest to protect the golden banana on “Mine Cart Madness.” Riders will board a coaster designed like a mine cart and zip through the track at high speeds with motifs from the video game.

    And staying true to its theme, Super Nintendo World offers opportunities for guests to play interactive games in the form of Power-Up bands, which are available for purchase at various retail spots in Universal Studios Hollywood as well as inside Super Nintendo World at the 1-UP Factory store. Wear a Power-Up band featuring your favorite Super Ninendo character while playing games and collecting digital keys to defeat Bowser Jr. to recover the stolen Golden Mushroom for Princess Peach. And just like in your favorite video games, you can also use your Power-Up band to collect digital coins.

    READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Super Nintendo World

    Highlights of Super Nintendo World at Universal Orlando’s new Epic Universe theme park include Princess Peach’s Castle, themed merchandise and Mine Cart Madness. (Spectrum News)

    Dark Universe 🌕🦇🧛

    Discover a world of myth and mystery as classic Universal Monsters such as Frankenstein’s Monster, Dracula, and the Werewolf come to life in Dark Universe. With gothic designs throughout the area, guests can venture into the village of Darkmoor, where Dr. Victoria Frankenstein’s monstrous experiments roam freely. In “Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment,” guests can venture into Frankenstein Manor, where Dr. Victoria Frankenstein continues her family’s experiments. The ride gets you up close to iconic monsters in the form of animatronics, like The Wolf Man, The Mummy, The Creature from the Black Lagoon, the Brides of Dracula, and more.  As she attempts to control the power of these monsters, Dracula breaks free, enraged and seeking vengeance.

    If you survive the manor, you can learn about the origin of The Wolf Man on “Curse of the Werewolf.” Guests will enter the wagon camp of The Guild of Mystics, where they will be greeted by the guild’s all-knowing seer. She warns that you carry the mark of the werewolf, and after boarding a wagon, the ride then takes guests on a high-speed adventure through a forested track as you try escaping other werewolves lurking around. 

    If you feel that the rides might be too intense for small children, kids can still get in on the monstrous fun with the “Darkmoor Monster Makeup Experience.” Guests will have the opportunity to transform into their favorite Universal Monster with the help of special effects artists. You can also opt for temporary tattoos instead of full makeup. You can book a makeup appointment on Universal Orlando’s website. Prices start at $45 for the “Experiment” ticket, which features face makeup, and $169 for the “Transformation” ticket, which includes face makeup and matching accessories.

    READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Dark Universe

    Highlights of Dark Universe at Universal Orlando’s new Epic Universe theme park include Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment and The Manor Storehouse. (Spectrum News)

    The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic 🧙‍♂️🦉🪄

    This world brings the third installment of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter areas featured in Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. The world at Epic Universe brings themes from the “Fantastic Beasts” films and the British Ministry of Magic from the “Harry Potter” series through a shopping district called Place Cachée in 1920s Paris.

    Guests will be able to use the Métro-Floo to travel from Paris to the British Ministry of Magic for the featured attraction, “Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry.” You can explore the departments within the ministry while the trial of Dolores Umbridge is about to get underway. The trial doesn’t go exactly as planned, however, as Umbridge plots to escape before being brought to justice. Guests will team up with the series’ beloved main characters — Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger — to stop Umbridge aboard an omnidirectional lift while also avoiding Death Eaters and other evil creatures.

    And don’t forget to get your wands ready! Like Universal Orlando’s wizarding worlds in its other theme parks, this world features numerous new interactive wand experiences throughout the area, where guests can cast spells in various locations and witness the magic come to life. You can also use your wands to interact with fantastic beasts and enchanted objects. Cosme Acajor Baguettes Magique offers wands available for purchase, designed by esteemed artisan wandmaker, Cosme Acajor.

    After an action-packed wizardly adventure, guests can unwind and enjoy a live stage show at Le Cirque Arcanus, a circus featured in “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.” Ringmaster Skender steals Newt Scamander’s suitcase — which contains fantastic beasts from around the globe — in an attempt to restore the circus to its former glory. It’s up to circus employee Gwenlyn to rescue the creatures from Skender in a mix of live performances, puppetry and special effects.

    Tip: Le Cirque Arcanus contains a preshow, which is standing room in a circus tent. This can tend to get hot and crowded, especially during the summer months.

    READ MORE: Everything you need to know about The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic

    Highlights of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic at Universal Orlando’s new Epic Universe theme park include Le Cirque Arcanus, Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, Cosme Acajor Baguettes Magique and K. Rammelle. (Spectrum News)

    How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk 🐲🪓🗡️

    Explore a world filled with Vikings and dragons alike from the “How to Train Your Dragon” movie series. The Isle of Berk features iconic characters such as Hiccup and Toothless, Astrid and Stormfly, Ruffnut and Tuffnut, and more. The world features many family-friendly rides, such as Hiccup’s Wing Gliders. Guests can experience what it’s like to fly on a dragon with the help of a winged contraption created by Hiccup. The ride reaches speeds of up to 45 mph and heights of 50 feet through the air as you soar alongside Hiccup and Toothless.

    There are also opportunities to hang out with Hiccup and Toothless during a meet-and-greet at the Haddock Paddock. Visitors can pet and interact with Toothless, and see him respond in a friendly manner.

    Park goers can also expect to see other Vikings and dragons roaming around Berk.

    At Fyre Drill, guests can join in on some playful competition with Viking twins Ruffnut and Tuffnut on an interactive boat ride. Families can use water cannons aboard their boat to shoot at flame-like targets — and other boats.

    Guests can also do mid-air acrobatics and barrel rolls on Dragon Racer’s Rally. The ride elevates guests in the air up to 67 feet with the help of Viking-crafted, dragon-riding trainers to practice the abilities of a champion dragon racer.

    And Berk isn’t short of live entertainment — The Untrainable Dragon is a heart-warming, family-friendly show that features characters Hiccup, Toothless, Gobber and Astrid as they solve the mystery of The Untrainable Dragon. It’s filled with numerous musical performances, elaborate sets and larger-than-life dragons – including the fan-favorite Toothless who soars over the audience, spanning nearly 27 feet.

    Little Vikings can hone their skills in an interactive play area called Viking Training Camp. The area includes an agility course, musical drums and chimes, an interactive sheep launcher game and multiple towers to climb and explore.

    READ MORE: Everything you need to know about How to Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk

    Highlights of How to Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk at Universal Orlando’s new Epic Universe theme park include a meet-and-greet with Hiccup and Toothless, as well as rides such as Dragon Racer’s Rally. (Spectrum News)

    New Epic Universe Hotels 🏨🛎️🌴

    Universal Orlando opened three new hotels adjacent to its Epic Universe park — Universal Helios Grand Hotel, Universal Terra Luna Resort and Universal Stella Nova Resort.

    Universal Helios Grand Hotel, the “crown jewel” of Universal’s hotels, is the newest hotel to open. The 500-room hotel overlooks Epic Universe, and has a Mediterranean-inspired feel. It offers rooms with views of the theme park, as well as a dedicated entrance to the park for ticket holders — which is just steps away.

    The new Universal Helios Grand Hotel, located at Epic Universe in Orlando, Fla. (Spectrum News)


    READ MORE:     New Universal Helios Grand Hotel welcomes its first guests

    Universal Terra Luna Resort and Universal Stella Nova Resort offer space-themed rooms and proximity to Epic Universe as well, at an affordable price point. Both hotels feature a variety of cosmic-themed dining options and numerous amenities.

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    You can plan your vacation, purchase Express Passes, shop for merchandise and get additional information on Universal Orlando’s website.

    Whether you’re attending the park’s grand opening or going on a later date, Epic Universe features interactive experiences that are bound to immerse guests into their own epic adventures.

     

    “You wonder next which path to chart

    The answer lies within your heart.”

     

    Meet the Insiders

    DeJanae Phillips

    DeJanae Phillips is a Digital Producer with Spectrum Bay News 9. A born and raised Tampa native, she joined the company in 2022 and covers Florida attractions. She graduated from the University of Central Florida with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.

    Anna Wronka

    Anna Wronka is a Digital Producer with Spectrum Bay News 9. She joined the company in 2022, and currently focuses on coverage of Florida attractions. She has a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University.

    DeJanae Phillips, Anna Wronka

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  • NHC updates cone of uncertainty and other parameters ahead of hurricane season

    The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has unveiled updates to the cone of uncertainty for the upcoming hurricane season, as well as refined other parameters. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Inland tropical watches and warnings will be shown on an experimental map with the cone, similar to 2024 experimental map

    • Potential Tropical Cyclones will be issued up to 72 hours out from a storm

    • A new rip current risk map will be provided by NHC during a tropical event


    Thanks to positive feedback from the 2024 hurricane season, the cone of uncertainty graphic will now display inland watches and warnings to better communicate the wind risk away from the coast. 

    The size of the track forecast cone will appear slightly smaller, about 3 to 5% in the Atlantic basin, compared to 2024. According to the NHC, “the cone represents the probable track of the center of a tropical cyclone.”

    Here is a look at what the new experimental cone will look like.

    The traditional operational cone of uncertainty, without the inand watches/warnings, will continue to be distributed by the NHC. The new, experimental, graphic will be available on the National Hurricane Center website and usually update approximately 30 minutes after the advisory release.

    This experimental graphic will be released for both full and intermediate advisories. 

    Potential Tropical Cyclones

    Since 2017, the NHC has used potential tropical cyclone (PTC) forecasts to alert the public of threats before a storm has even formed. Beginning this hurricane season, they can alert the public up further in advance, now 72 hours out.

    For more information on PTCs, click here. 

    Rip current risk

    Due to increases in rip current and surf fatalities during a tropical event, the NHC has decided to better highlight the risk during tropical events. 

    “They will now provide rip current risk information that originates from local National Weather Service (NWS) Weather Forecast Offices (WFOs) in a national rip current risk map when at least one active tropical system is present.”

    The map will provide rip current risk information but will not give specific information on the height of the surf. Here’s a prototype. 

    2025 Atlantic names

    Here’s a look at the list of names for the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season. 

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

    Meteorologist Stacy Lynn

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  • May’s Flower Moon lights up the sky this week

    Spring is in the air in more ways than one this week, as May’s full moon will brighten the skies early this week. The second full moon of the season, called the Flower Moon, will rise above the horizon Monday evening.

    What You Need To Know

    • May’s full moon is named the Flower Moon

    • The full moon will peak Monday afternoon

    • Unobstructed views of the horizon allow for best sightings


    It is no surprise how the Flower Moon got its name with flowers in full bloom during the month of May.

    There are other names for the celestial event. Native American names also have a spring flavor, including Budding Moon and Planting Moon.

    This year’s Flower Moon will appear smaller than normal because of the moon’s farther distance from Earth thanks to its elliptical orbit.

    Best time to see the Flower Moon

    The full moon will come to full peak Monday afternoon but still provide optimal viewings two days before and after peak. Be sure to find a place with unobstructed horizon views for the best sights.

    The best viewing will be just after moonrise Monday, May 12. You can find the best time, check out the moonrise calculator.

    • New York: sunset at 8:03 p.m. EDT, moonrise at 8:31 p.m. EDT on Monday, May 12.
    • St. Louis: sunset at 8:03 p.m. CDT, moonrise at 8:31 p.m. CDT on Monday, May 12.
    • Los Angeles: sunset at 7:45 p.m. PDT, moonrise at 8:14 p.m. PDT on Monday, May 12.

    The next full moon will be the Strawberry Moon, which occurs on June 12, 2025.

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

    Meteorologist Ian Cassette

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  • Tornado reports for the year through April 30

    In recent weeks, top stories have featured violent weather with tornadoes, damaging winds, large hail and flooding that injured people and infrastructures, and even caused fatalities.

    How do these values compare to the average? Are we seeing more tornadoes than we used to or is this just par for the course at this time of the year?

    What You Need To Know

    • There have been 689 tornado reports since Jan. 1

    • 2025 ranks second to 2011 for the most tornado reports through the first third of the year

    • Tornado reports are preliminary and these reports are not the same as actual tornadoes numbers



    Tornado reports so far

    If it seems like 2025 has experienced more tornadoes through the first third of the year than normal, the data backs this up. From Jan. 1 through April 30, 2025, the Storm Prediction Center has received 689 tornado reports. 

    However, these are preliminary tornado reports and these reports reports are not the same as actual tornadoes.

    “In realtime, the National Weather Service collects what are called preliminary local storm reports. For tornadoes, these can be thought of as eyewitness reports of the tornado,” explains Matthew Elliot, warning coordination meteorologist at the Storm Prediction Center.

    Reports such as damage or video of a tornado are documented, showing the location of the damage and tornado. Each report will count as one tornado preliminary report.  

    However, Elliot mentioned that sometimes there may be multiple reports of the same tornado, especially longer-track ones, leading to overestimated tornado counts.

    “Some preliminary reports end up not being tornadic after a ground survey has been completed while others are surveyed and entered into the official database, but never have a preliminary local storm report issued,” he said, noting that’s rare, but it does happen.

    Take a look at the map and see the path of the individual tornadoes confirmed by the National Weather Service. Find out the wind speeds, storms reports or check out damage photos by clicking or tapping the tornado or thunderstorm icons on the interactive maps below.

    January tornado reports

     

    February tornado reports

     

    March examples of tornado reports

    March 14, 2025 tornadoes

    April example of tornado reports

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

    Meteorologist Stacy Lynn

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  • 8 ways to celebrate Earth Day

    Every year on April 22, people around the world celebrate Earth Day. It marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970. 

    More than 1 billion people in over 193 countries participate in Earth Day every year with a collective goal of making our planet a better place. Whether it’s educating, advocating or mobilizing in your community, there are lots of different ways to help.

    What You Need To Know

    • April 22 is Earth Day

    • It marks the birth of the modern environment movement in 1970

    • This year’s theme is “Our Power, Our Planet”

    • Weather Explained: Earth Day



    The idea of Earth Day came about in the 1960s, when people starting becoming more aware of how environmental pollution threatens human health.

    Prior to the EPA being created in 1970, Americans drove inefficient cars that used leaded gas and industries were free to pollute the environment with harmful smoke and gas. In 1969, a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, Calfiornia, inspired action for students and Americans to become more conscious about air and water pollution.

    Wisconsin Sen. Gaylord Nelson and young environmental activists created “Earth Day” as a day of protest in 1970, choosing a day between Spring Break and final exams to maximize student participation. At the time, more than 20 million Americans joined to demonstrate against industries that were polluting the environment.

    Since its establishment, it’s continued to grow into a worldwide movement, with millions of participants in hundreds of countries every year on April 22. Each year has a different theme for people to focus on. Earth Day’s 2025 theme is “Our Power, Our Planet,” calling for everyone to unite around renewable energy so we can triple clean electricity by 2030.

    You can learn more about the history of Earth Day and its initiatives here.

    How you can participate

    There are a lot of simple ways to celebrate Earth Day and make an impact, no matter how big or small. A simple way to start could be buying reusable bags for your trips to the grocery store, or getting a reusable water bottle instead of drinking out of single-use plastic bottles.

    If you want to be more involved, you could pick up trash around your neighborhood or community, or plan to carpool or take public transportation. There is no action too small!

    Here are eight ways you can make every day Earth Day.

    If you want to go out in the community and help with others, there are Earth Day events all around the world.

    Learn more about Earth Day activities in your community with the interactive map below. 

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

    Meteorologist Reid Lybarger

    Source link

  • 8 ways to celebrate Earth Day

    Every year on April 22, people around the world celebrate Earth Day. It marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970. 

    More than 1 billion people in over 193 countries participate in Earth Day every year with a collective goal of making our planet a better place. Whether it’s educating, advocating or mobilizing in your community, there are lots of different ways to help.

    What You Need To Know

    • April 22 is Earth Day

    • It marks the birth of the modern environment movement in 1970

    • This year’s theme is “Our Power, Our Planet”

    • Weather Explained: Earth Day



    The idea of Earth Day came about in the 1960s, when people starting becoming more aware of how environmental pollution threatens human health.

    Prior to the EPA being created in 1970, Americans drove inefficient cars that used leaded gas and industries were free to pollute the environment with harmful smoke and gas. In 1969, a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, Calfiornia, inspired action for students and Americans to become more conscious about air and water pollution.

    Wisconsin Sen. Gaylord Nelson and young environmental activists created “Earth Day” as a day of protest in 1970, choosing a day between Spring Break and final exams to maximize student participation. At the time, more than 20 million Americans joined to demonstrate against industries that were polluting the environment.

    Since its establishment, it’s continued to grow into a worldwide movement, with millions of participants in hundreds of countries every year on April 22. Each year has a different theme for people to focus on. Earth Day’s 2025 theme is “Our Power, Our Planet,” calling for everyone to unite around renewable energy so we can triple clean electricity by 2030.

    You can learn more about the history of Earth Day and its initiatives here.

    How you can participate

    There are a lot of simple ways to celebrate Earth Day and make an impact, no matter how big or small. A simple way to start could be buying reusable bags for your trips to the grocery store, or getting a reusable water bottle instead of drinking out of single-use plastic bottles.

    If you want to be more involved, you could pick up trash around your neighborhood or community, or plan to carpool or take public transportation. There is no action too small!

    Here are eight ways you can make every day Earth Day.

    If you want to go out in the community and help with others, there are Earth Day events all around the world.

    Learn more about Earth Day activities in your community with the interactive map below. 

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

    Meteorologist Reid Lybarger

    Source link

  • 8 ways to celebrate Earth Day

    Every year on April 22, people around the world celebrate Earth Day. It marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970. 

    More than 1 billion people in over 193 countries participate in Earth Day every year with a collective goal of making our planet a better place. Whether it’s educating, advocating or mobilizing in your community, there are lots of different ways to help.

    What You Need To Know

    • April 22 is Earth Day

    • It marks the birth of the modern environment movement in 1970

    • This year’s theme is “Our Power, Our Planet”

    • Weather Explained: Earth Day



    The idea of Earth Day came about in the 1960s, when people starting becoming more aware of how environmental pollution threatens human health.

    Prior to the EPA being created in 1970, Americans drove inefficient cars that used leaded gas and industries were free to pollute the environment with harmful smoke and gas. In 1969, a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, Calfiornia, inspired action for students and Americans to become more conscious about air and water pollution.

    Wisconsin Sen. Gaylord Nelson and young environmental activists created “Earth Day” as a day of protest in 1970, choosing a day between Spring Break and final exams to maximize student participation. At the time, more than 20 million Americans joined to demonstrate against industries that were polluting the environment.

    Since its establishment, it’s continued to grow into a worldwide movement, with millions of participants in hundreds of countries every year on April 22. Each year has a different theme for people to focus on. Earth Day’s 2025 theme is “Our Power, Our Planet,” calling for everyone to unite around renewable energy so we can triple clean electricity by 2030.

    You can learn more about the history of Earth Day and its initiatives here.

    How you can participate

    There are a lot of simple ways to celebrate Earth Day and make an impact, no matter how big or small. A simple way to start could be buying reusable bags for your trips to the grocery store, or getting a reusable water bottle instead of drinking out of single-use plastic bottles.

    If you want to be more involved, you could pick up trash around your neighborhood or community, or plan to carpool or take public transportation. There is no action too small!

    Here are eight ways you can make every day Earth Day.

    If you want to go out in the community and help with others, there are Earth Day events all around the world.

    Learn more about Earth Day activities in your community with the interactive map below. 

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

    Meteorologist Reid Lybarger

    Source link

  • April’s full moon is called the ‘Pink Moon’

    April’s full moon is this weekend, and it’s called the “Pink Moon.” It is also going to be a micromoon.

    It will peak Saturday at 8:22 p.m. ET.

    What You Need To Know

    • Saturday’s full moon is also known as the ‘Pink Moon’

    • It’s the first full moon of the spring

    • The first full moon after March 21 sets the date of Easter


    The Pink Moon didn’t get its name from the its color. Rather, it got its name from a flower. Since it’s the first full moon of the spring, it usually coincides with the blooming of pink wildflowers, or phlox.

    (Pixabay)

    This year’s Pink Moon is also the Paschal full moon, which is the first full moon after the spring equinox. It marks the start of Passover and determines the date of Easter every year. Easter always falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after March 21, or after the Paschal full moon.

    It’s also going to be a “micromoon,” so it will appear smaller than a regular full moon. It’s not because the moon is actually smaller, but because of the farther distance from the Earth, also known as apogee.

    It will reach its peak illumination at 8:22 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 12.

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

    Meteorologist Reid Lybarger

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  • ‘No more changing of the clocks’: Trump calls for permanent daylight saving time

    It’s been just over a month since we “sprang forward” and changed the clocks to daylight saving time. President Donald Trump said on Friday we should remain on it permanently. 

    This is a stark contrast to what he was saying in December. 

    “The Republican Party will use its best efforts to eliminate Daylight Saving Time, which has a small but strong constituency, but shouldn’t! Daylight Saving Time is inconvenient, and very costly to our Nation,” he wrote on his social media back on Dec. 13, 2024. 

    However, his Truth Social Post on Friday was boasting something completely different.

    A hearing convened Thursday by the Senate Commerce Committee was debating this issue. Trump’s endorsement might help settle the debate for lawmakers. 

    Sunshine Protection Act

    On March 15, 2022, the U.S. Senate voted unanimously in favor of the Sunshine Protection Act, which would make daylight saving time permanent, meaning Americans would no longer have to change their clocks twice a year to account for the time change. 

    While the Senate passed the bill, nearly three years later it remains stalled in the House and has not been signed into law by President Trump.

    Vote in Live Poll: Cancel daylight saving time or stay on it permanently?

    Meteorologist Stacy Lynn

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  • Florida wins its third national title, rallying for 65-63 victory

    SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Florida and Walter Clayton Jr. somehow overcame Houston’s spirit-crushing defense Monday night to will out a 65-63 victory in an NCAA title-game thriller not decided until Clayton’s own D stopped the Cougars from taking a game-winning shot at the buzzer.

    Clayton finished with 11 points, all in the second half, but what he’ll be remembered for most was getting Houston’s Emanuel Sharp to stop in the middle of his motion as he tried to go up for the game-winning 3 in the final seconds.

    Clayton ran at him, Sharp dropped the ball and, unable to pick it up lest he get called for traveling, watched it bounce there while the clock ticked to zero.

    Will Richard had 18 points to keep the Gators (36-4) in it, and they won their third overall title and first since 2007. The Cougars (35-5) and coach Kelvin Sampson were denied their first championship.

    This was a defensive brawl, and for most of the night, Clayton got the worst of it.

    He was 0 for 4 from the field without a point through the first half. He didn’t score until 14:57 remained in the game. He finished with one 3-pointer and, before that, a pair of three-point plays that kept the Gators in striking range.

    It was Florida’s defense, not Houston’s, that controlled the final minute.

    After Alijah Martin made two free throws to put Florida ahead 64-63 — its first lead since 8-6 — the Gators lured Sharp into a triple-team in the corner, where Richard got him to dribble the ball off his leg and out of bounds.

    Florida made one free throw on the next possession and that set up the finale. The ball went to Sharp, who was moving to spot up for a 3 when Clayton ran at him. That left him with no choice but to let the ball go.

    Sampson, who designed a defense that held Florida under 70 points for only the second time this season, looked on in shock.

    Instead of Sampson becoming the oldest coach to win the title at age 69, 39-year-old Todd Golden becomes the youngest since N.C. State’s Jim Valvano in 1983 to win it all.

    Associated Press

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  • March kicked off a busy spring severe weather season

    After a record-setting number of tornadoes last year, 2025 has started off with a well above-average number of tornadoes thanks to the month of March and its near-record tornado count.

    What You Need To Know

    • March 2025 tallied more than 200 tornadoes, that’s more than double than an average March

    • 15 EF3 and EF4 tornadoes were observed in March

    • Three separate multi-day outbreaks occurred during the month


    Based on a 25-year average from 1999 to 2023, March accounts for 95 tornadoes, which is the fifth-highest total on a per-month basis. March 2025 accounted for more than double that number, with at least 215 tornadoes confirmed by the National Weather Service. These numbers are preliminary and will be verified later in the year. 

    The usual hot spots for tornado formation during the spring were hit hard by multiple outbreaks during the month. However, a few states that rarely see severe weather in the spring saw tornadoes as well, including West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Michigan.

    Tornado damage from an EF3 tornado near Alton, Mo. on March 14, 2025. (Photo by NWS Springfield)

    Violent tornadoes in March

    The sheer number of tornadoes is notable, but the strength of these early spring tornadoes is also remarkable. Over the last three years (2022-2024), only three EF4 tornadoes were reported in March. This past March saw three EF4 tornadoes on its own. We also saw at least 11 EF3 tornadoes, which outpaces the average for a typical March over the last three years. 

    (Photo NWS Little Rock, Arkansas)

    (Photo NWS Little Rock)

    Multi-day outbreaks 

    Severe weather outbreaks can span multiple states and multiple days, and this past March saw three separate multi-day and multi-state outbreaks.

    The outbreaks from March 4-5, 14-16 and 30-31 were responsible for most of the tornadoes this past month, and also for the strongest of the tornadoes. The March 14-16 outbreak was particularly devastating as it saw all EF4s and EF3s reported during the month.

    Tornado damage from an EF3 tornado in Poplar Bluff, Mo. on March 15, 2025. (Photo by NWS Paducah

    We’ve also had a very busy start to the month of April, with a widespread tornado outbreak the first two days of the month. Preliminary tornado reports have been scattered as National Weather Service offices that were hit hard on the 1st and 2nd deal with more severe weather. We may not have a handle on just how many tornadoes touched down across the country until later in April.

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

    Meteorologist Nathan Harrington

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  • National Weather Service cuts back weather balloon launches

    The National Weather Service (NWS) announced that it is eliminating or reducing weather balloon launches across multiple offices around the country. This comes in response to NOAA layoffs and a lack of staffing necessary to continue regular launches.

    What You Need To Know

    • The National Weather Service is cutting back its weather balloon launches

    • Data from weather balloon launches helps improve model forecasts

    • Less data could harm forecast accuracy for severe, winter and tropical weather


    The NWS launches weather balloons twice daily from more than 100 upper air sites across the United States, Caribbean and Pacific Basin. These balloons reach up to 100,000 feet in the atmosphere with a radiosonde attached to each balloon.

    A radiosonde is an instrument that measures atmospheric data, including temperature, dew point, relative humidity, barometric pressure and wind speed and direction. The weather data that a radiosonde collects is just one piece of the puzzle that goes into weather models to help improve forecasts.

    A press release from the NWS confirmed that it is temporarily suspending all weather balloon launches in Omaha, Neb., and Rapid City, S.D. due to a lack of Weather Forecast Office (WFO) staffing, effective immediately.

    Along with eliminating launches from those two locations, the NWS is reducing its weather balloon launches down to one flight per day from multiple other sites, including Aberdeen, S.D., Grand Junction, Colo., Green Bay, Wis., Gaylord, Mich., North Platte, Neb. and Riverton, Wyo.

    These cuts come in addition to NWS announcements earlier this year that it was reducing weather balloon launches in Albany, N.Y. and Gray, Maine because of staff shortages.

    The NWS offices in Boulder, Colo. and Tallahassee, Fla. aren’t launching balloons because of a nationwide helium shortage, and the weather balloon facility on Morris Island in Chatham, Mass. has suspended launches because the facility has been closed due to coastal erosion.

    Bay News 9 Chief Meteorologist Mike Clay says, “these weather balloons may not seem important, but they are the basis for all the forecasts seen on apps, TV, everything from all weather sources. The more the better, we don’t need less data.”

    “It might be hard to understand, but a weather balloon launched in Montana can help us forecast where a hurricane in the Caribbean might go,” Mike Clay adds.

    It’s too soon to determine the impacts, but the reduction in launches across the Midwest and Great Plains is particularly concerning this time of year, as spring severe weather season ramps up in the coming months.

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

    Meteorologist Reid Lybarger

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  • The weather’s impact during baseball season

    The 2025 Major League Baseball season is underway, and just like any outdoor sport, the weather can have an impact.

    What You Need To Know

    • Temperatures play a key role in the movement of a baseball

    • Baseballs don’t travel as far during the colder months of the season

    • Warmer temperatures can add more distance to the flight of a baseball



    Most notably, rain and sometimes snow can lead to weather delays. But the temperature can affect the sport more than you would think.

    The air temperature has an impact on the movement of a baseball over the course of the season.

    At the start of the MLB season in late March and early April, temperatures can be in the 30s and 40s at the time of the first pitch, especially for the teams playing in the northern U.S.

    Baseballs hit during this time of the year don’t travel as far because of the cooler temperatures.

    A ball struck in early April may be a pop fly, but in May or June, the same ball could be a home run and it’s all because of colder air being denser than warm air.

    So when a batter hits a ball during colder temperatures, the baseball has to push through more air molecules which act as resistance, causing the ball to travel shorter distances compared to the warmer months.

    This is great for pitchers, but can also prevent some batters from getting into a good rhythm at the beginning of a long season.

    Heading into the middle of the season, temperatures get warmer. That typically favors the batters more compared to the colder months.

    The warmer air is less dense, so there is less resistance, allowing for baseballs to travel further, leading to more base hits and home runs.

    Whether you’re watching a game at home or attending one in person, keep in mind how the air temperature can influence the trajectory of the baseball, especially early in the season.

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

    Meteorologist Ramel Carpenter

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  • Eggs, shadows and daylight: Equinox fact and fiction

    Everybody knows you can balance an egg on the equinox, the day with 12 hours of light across the planet… right?

    What You Need To Know

    • You can balance eggs and brooms any day

    • Daylight is close to 12 hours, but not exactly

    • As fall begins in one hemisphere, spring begins in the other


    There are various theories surrounding the equinox, which happen every year in March and September. Let’s separate fact from fiction. 

    Balancing eggs and brooms: Fiction

    Have heard that you can balance an egg only on the equinox? 

    Try it on a day other than the equinox. You’ll find that you can do it then, too! It just takes the right egg and a bit of patience.

    The egg-balancing myth swept over to brooms, which spread wildly thanks to social media. Like eggs, you can balance a broom with stiff, straight bristles any day of the year. There’s no exceptional, mysterious gravitational pull during the equinox that will balance your egg and/or broom.

    A moment, not a day: Fact

    The equinox happens when the sun passes the “celestial equator,” the imaginary line in the sky above the Earth’s equator. It’s just a moment in time. For example, the spring equinox for 2025 is at 5:01 a.m. While we observe the equinox as the first day of spring or fall, it’s just an instant.

    12 hours of daylight worldwide: Fiction

    No, there’s not exactly 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of night around the globe on the equinox. We have more than 12 hours of daylight on the equinox. The date when daylight and nighttime are both closest to exactly 12 hours falls a few days before the spring equinox and a few days after the fall equinox.

    So, why isn’t it exactly 12 hours? There are a handful of reasons, but two stand out. First, sunrise and sunset are when the very top-most tip of the sun–not the middle–crosses the horizon. Second, our atmosphere bends sunlight, so we see the sun a little longer than we “should,” so to speak.

    “Equal night”: Fact

    It’s understandable why some think the equinox means 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of night. The word “equinox” translates to “equal night”. It comes from the Latin word aequinoctium–“aequi” meaning equal, and “nox” meaning night–according to Mirriam-Webster.

    If you want to impress your friends (or maybe just make them roll their eyes), you can mention the equilux (“lux” coming from Latin for “light”). That’s the date when day and night are equal lengths, although a true equilux is pretty rare.

    No shadow at noon: Fiction

    For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, our shadow will be shortest on the summer solstice when direct sunlight reaches the northernmost point of its annual journey. A person’s shadow disappears only where the sun is directly overhead, which isn’t anywhere close to home on the equinox.

    Opposite seasons: Fact

    What we call the fall equinox in the Northern Hemisphere is the spring equinox in the Southern Hemisphere. It might be hard to imagine, but our friends on the other side of the planet enjoy spring from late September through late December as the Earth’s tilt gives them increasingly direct sunlight.

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

    Meteorologist Britney Hamilton, Meteorologist Justin Gehrts

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  • Spring begins at a different time every year, and this is why

    Cue the warmer temperatures, rain showers and blooming flowers–spring is almost here!

    What You Need To Know

    • Meteorological spring and astronomical spring have different meanings

    • Astronomical spring usually begins on March 20 in the United States

    • The calendar date and time for March’s equinox fluctuates

    • The amount of time Earth takes to revolve around the sun plays a role in when a season begins


    Meteorological spring always begins on March 1 and runs through May 30. It’s a three-month season which makes it helpful for analyzing data and seasonal trends.

    You’re probably more familiar with the “first day of spring” that shows up on the calendar. It’s also known as astronomical spring, March equinox, spring equinox or the vernal equinox. So, does spring always begin on the same calendar date and at the same time?

    The beginning of spring varies year to year. Spring begins on March 19, 20 or 21. Why the variation in dates? Believe it or not, it has to do with the Earth’s revolution around the sun.

    The Earth takes about 365.25 days to complete a revolution around the sun. A normal year has 365 days. That extra quarter of a day (about six hours) is part of the reason the vernal equinox fluctuates by about six hours every year.

    Fun fact: The extra quarter of a day is also why we have a leap year every four years.

    Until 2048, the March equinox will happen on March 19 every leap year. In between the leap years, the March equinox will occur on March 20.

    What about March 21? Time zones outside of the United States have had a March 21 equinox this century. However, the U.S. mainland won’t have a vernal equinox on March 21 at all in the 21st century!

    Spring 2025 runs from March 20 until June 20. Summer begins on June 20, 2025. Enjoy this transitional season before the heat and humidity move in for an extended stay!

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

    Meteorologist Britney Hamilton

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  • Total lunar eclipse will occur Thursday night for the U.S.

    A total lunar eclipse will occur for all of North America Thursday night.

    What You Need To Know

    • A total lunar eclipse will take place Thursday night into Friday morning

    • All of North America will have the chance to see it

    • The last total lunar eclipse on Earth was in 2022


    A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth orbits between the sun and the moon. As a result, the Earth casts its shadow onto the full moon. Unlike a solar eclipse, you do not need any equipment or special glasses to view the total lunar eclipse.

    Often called the Blood Moon

    During the eclipse, the Earth casts its dark shadow onto the moon. This is known as the umbra. As a result, it creates a reddish hue. That is why the total lunar eclipse is often referred to as the blood moon.

    Areas that will see the lunar eclipse

    Leah Tiscione/Sky & Telescope

    Here is a look at the timeline of the total lunar eclipse in EDT. The greatest portion of the eclipse will occur around 3 a.m.

    The question is, will the sky be clear enough to see it where you live? It looks cloudy for much of the west coast and Rockies. However, the sky will be clear for most of the Midwest with the exception for the Upper Midwest.

    Some clouds will be possible in the south and also along the northeast coast from Washington, D.C. to Boston.

    Be sure to check it out, because the next total lunar eclipse won’t occur in the United States until March 3, 2026. The best areas to view that will be in the west.

    Will skies stay clear for the total lunar eclips? Check your forecast here.

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

    Meteorologist Alan Auglis

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  • POLL: Cancel daylight saving time or stay on it permanently?

    It’s that time of the year when we set the clocks forward one hour, changing to daylight saving time and taking away an hour of our sleep this weekend. 

    This brings up the conversation of why not just stay on daylight saving time year round? 

    Vote in Live Poll: Cancel daylight saving time or stay on it permanently?

     

    Why we change the clocks twice a year

    The United States began the concept of daylight saving time in 1918, during World War I, to save fuel. By advancing one hour ahead, coal-fired energy would assist the war effort rather than that hour at home.

    Standard time returned following the war and continued until World War II. After World War II, some states and cities kept daylight saving time, creating various time zones within regions. Frustrated with no uniform time, the public pushed Congress to pass the Uniform Time Act in 1966.

    This established that daylight saving time would begin the last Sunday in April and end the last Sunday in October.

    In 1987, it extended to include the first Sunday in April and end on the last Sunday in October.

    Part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the modern daylight saving time begins on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November.

    This current time shift began in 2007.

    Not everyone participates

    Hawaii doesn’t take part because of its location. With not much variation throughout the year between sunrise and sunset, it made little sense to switch the clocks. 

    Only the Navajo Nation in Arizona observes daylight saving time. The rest of the state exempted itself in 1968. 

    They cited the heat as their reason for opting out, adding that if they switched the clocks ahead one hour, the sun would not set until 9 p.m. in the summer, limiting nighttime activities.

    Current legislation

    The Department of Transportation oversees daylight saving time and all the country’s time zones. 

    According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), “Federal law allows a state to exempt itself from observing daylight saving time, upon action by the state legislature, but does not allow the permanent observance of DST.”

    Twenty states have enacted legislation or passed resolutions to provide for year-round daylight saving time, but await federal approval.

    Fifteen states actively have legislation as of Feb. 2025 that would end daylight saving time and stay on standard time year-round. Those states are:

    • Arkansas
    • California
    • Idaho
    • Indiana
    • Kansas
    • Kentucky
    • Nevada
    • New Jersey
    • North Dakota
    • Oregon
    • Pennsylvania
    • South Dakota
    • Utah
    • Washington
    • West Virginia

    However, none of these pieces of legislation have passed and are all marked ‘pending,’ so the switch back to daylight saving time this weekend is inevitable.

    Sunshine Protection Act

    On March 15, 2022, the U.S. Senate voted unanimously in favor of the Sunshine Protection Act, which would make daylight saving time permanent, meaning Americans would no longer have to change their clocks twice a year to account for the time change. 

    While the Senate passed the bill, nearly three years later it remains stalled in the House and has not been signed into law by President Trump.

    In fact, Trump is quoted as saying the opposite. In a post he wrote on his social media in Dec. 2024, “The Republican Party will use its best efforts to eliminate Daylight Saving Time, which has a small but strong constituency, but shouldn’t! Daylight Saving Time is inconvenient, and very costly to our Nation,” he wrote.

    The future

    For now, legislation to observe daylight saving time year-round remains pending.

    Other states will continue to perform case studies and collect data to see if this shift is beneficial in saving energy, helping improve health and reducing crime.

    And so we will advance our clocks forward one hour this Sunday and then on Nov. 2, 2025, we will change the clocks back one hour, returning to standard time.

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

     

    Meteorologist Stacy Lynn

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  • The origin of the saying ‘in like a lion, out like a lamb’

    The saying “March in like a lion, out like a lamb” is popular folklore, but is there any truth to this? And where did this saying come from?

    What You Need To Know

    • The first known reference to the saying is in 1732

    • There are possible links to astronomy

    • March is typically more active at the beginning of the month


    While the origins of this proverb aren’t quite clear, there is a reference to it in a 1732 volume of proverbs by English author Thomas Fuller. After that, it was in farmer’s almanacs.

    Some think it has links to astronomy with the locations of the constellations Leo (lion) and Aries (ram or lamb). At the start of the month, Leo is on the eastern horizon at sunset and at the end of the month, Aries is on the western horizon at sunset.

    Month of March meteorologically

    March itself is a transitional month, going from winter to spring. 

    It’s not uncommon for the beginning of the month to feature big storm systems, including snow and even severe weather. By the end of the month, milder weather spreads over much of the country.

    However, this is not always the case and can vary.

    The saying talks about balance. If the month comes in active, like a lion, it should go out docile, like a lamb. Or, if it comes in docile, it should go out active. Yet, meteorologically speaking, that doesn’t always happen.

    Other popular folklore masquerading as long-range weather forecasting includes the woolly bear caterpillars and their prediction of winter. 

    While most folklore is just that–lore–some hold water for short-term forecasting. 

    For example, “Red sky at night, sailor’s delight. Red sky in morning, sailors take warning,” is a useful rule of thumb. 

    Other March folklore

    According to the Farmer’s Almanac, here are some other March-related sayings:

    • “A dry March and a wet May; fill barns and bays with corn and hay.”
    • “As it rains in March, so it rains in June.”
    • “March winds and April showers, bring forth May flowers.”
    • “So many mists in March you see, so many frosts in May will be.”

    Will your early March forecast be lion or lamb like? Click here for your local weather.

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

    Meteorologist Stacy Lynn

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  • Meteorological spring vs astronomical spring: What is the difference?

    As March rolls around every year, so does meteorological spring. Jump ahead a few weeks and suddenly astronomical spring begins.  

    What You Need To Know

    • Meteorological seasons are different from astronomical seasons

    • This is done for more consistency and record-keeping

    • Meteorological seasons are counted by full months


    So, what is the difference? Simply put, astronomical spring relates to the position of the earth in relation to the sun, while meteorological spring relates to the warming temperatures from March through May. For meteorologists and climatologists, spring begins March 1. Below, we will define why that is and how it may be more accurate to represent the seasons.  

    Astronomical spring

    People have observed seasonal changes around them (temperatures, color of leaves, animal migrations, etc.) for thousands of years. The natural rotation of the earth around the sun each year forms the basis of the astronomical calendar.  

    Seasons are defined by Earth’s tilt and the sun’s alignment over the equator. During the vernal equinox, the Earth passes directly over the equator. After the equinox, the northern hemisphere will see more daylight than darkness until the summer solstice.  

    Because earth’s travel around the sun takes 365.24 days, an extra day is needed every fourth year, called a Leap Year. This extra day causes the exact day of the equinoxes and solstices to vary. In addition, the elliptical orbit of the earth results in different lengths of astronomical seasons.  

    These changes make it difficult to achieve consistent data collection and compare seasons from one year to the next. Because of this, meteorological seasons came to be.

    Meteorological spring

    Meteorological seasons are split into three-month groups based on the annual temperature cycle and the calendar. Winter includes the coldest months of the year and summer has the warmest months.  

    Both spring and fall are transitional, where temperatures are rising (spring) or falling (fall). Meteorological observing and forecasting led to the creation of these seasons, and they are more tied to the monthly calendar we all use today than the astronomical seasons.  

    The consistency of the three-month seasons allows meteorologists and climatologists to more easily calculate seasonal statistics. This, along with monthly statistics, is very helpful for agriculture and commerce throughout the year.  

    Overall, meteorological seasons provide a simple, more common-sense way to describe temperature changes over the course of the year.

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

    Meteorologist Ian Cassette

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  • History-making meteorologist: The story of Charles E. Anderson

    Charles E. Anderson paved the way for diversity in atmospheric sciences, starting with being a weather officer for the Tuskegee Airmen. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Charles E. Anderson was the first African American to earn a PhD in meteorology

    • Anderson served as the weather officer at several Army Air Force bases

    • He worked at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and North Carolina State University for decades

    One of Anderson’s most notable and recognized accomplishments in his lifetime was being the first African American to earn a PhD in meteorology. 

    This was no easy feat, and in doing so, opened a door for a more inclusive and diverse world of meteorology.

    Anderson’s background

    His background to getting his PhD in meteorology is quite interesting. 

    In 1941, Anderson earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Lincoln University.

    Shortly after, he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps where he was sent to study meteorology at the University of Chicago. It was there where he earned his master’s degree in meteorology in 1943.

    While serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps, Anderson was stationed as a weather officer in Tuskegee, Ala. Some of you may know of the Tuskegee Airmen that Anderson was a part of.

    He spent some time after as a squadron weather officer, training other fighter pilots.

    Listen to him share his experiences in the Air Corps:

    In 1960, Anderson received his PhD in meteorology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

    After receiving his PhD, Anderson served as the Director of the Office of Federal Coordination in Meteorology in Environmental Science Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

    Finally in 1966, Anderson was hired as a Professor of Meteorology at the University of Wisconsin. Although he started in this position, Anderson wore many hats during his time in Madison.

    From becoming the Professor of Afro-American Studies and Chairman of the Meteorology Department to being promoted to Associative Dean in 1978, he spent over two decades teaching young Wisconsinites the importance, science, and mechanics of meteorology. 

    Anderson finished his career at North Carolina State University as a professor in the Department of Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, retiring in 1990.

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

    Meteorologist Brooke Brighton

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