Bad Microwave Passes

When you absolutely need to know the storm structure.

[Bad Microwave Passes @BadPasses]

@AndyHazelton God forbid they try to understand microwave imagery.

[Bad Microwave Passes @BadPasses]

@Grok440 @cjfieldswx I’d worry more about the chemtrails coming out of your ass if I were you.

[Ryan Allen @1900hurricane]

I am a private meteorologist not affiliated with NOAA and the NWS. As such, I am not directly affected by the recent and ongoing slashing of personnel and funding from these agencies. Even so, the impacts will be felt by me, and by people affected by disasters as a consequence.

[Matt Lanza @mattlanza]

Hi all. Breaking my Twitter silence to make a statement on behalf of myself here. NOAA, the parent agency of the @NWS indiscriminately fired a number of employees yesterday. A thread of comments & advice for those fired. 1/18

[Dr. Levi Cowan @TropicalTidbits]

I never publicly comment on political matters because they are usually irrelevant to my work of providing hurricane data and forecasts to people in my personal capacity. Today though, it is highly relevant, and as a member of the meteorological community, I am angry.

Planned or ongoing bulk workforce cuts would irreparably harm the National Weather Service, NOAA, and their scientists who save innumerable lives by warning people in advance of tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires, tsunamis, blizzards, and other life-threatening hazards. Many of you reading this may knowingly or unknowingly be alive today because of their work, or know someone who is. As a direct consequence of wounding the NWS and NOAA, the public would be less safe.

My personal mission to bring hurricane science, data, and forecasts to the public would not be possible without the weather observations, doppler radar stations, computer models, hurricane hunter aircraft, and weather satellites provided by NOAA and the NWS. Your favorite weather apps, TV meteorologists, and private weather companies would also be unable to function without this data or the civil servants who live and breathe it to synthesize it into public safety information.

All of these benefits cost each taxpayer the equivalent of a few cups of coffee per year, and surveys show most would be willing to pay much more. The American weather enterprise saves many, many times more money than it costs to run, making it one of the biggest bangs for your buck in the government. The impact of quality weather forecasts and infrastructure on society is multiplied many-fold by preventing economic disruptions, keeping public transportation efficient, and providing lead time to prepare for and mitigate disasters. Most importantly, it saves priceless lives.

Careful, long-term plans to streamline or reorient the weather enterprise in an evolving world are not bad, but *this plan* is insane. A feverish rush to take a cleaver to this workforce is self-destructive and dangerous to Americans who rely on the services they provide. It also cuts off the legs of young, passionate scientists who represent the future of meteorology in the new age of AI and other emerging technologies -- the very people we need in the field right now.

As a part of this community since the age of 8 when I began analyzing hurricanes with dial-up internet, I am heartbroken and concerned by what appears to be planned or already in motion. It also directly impacts my friends and family. I cannot be silent, despite knowing I do myself no favors by speaking out. I ask you to join me in advocating for @NWS and @NOAA if you value their work or the work that I am able to do because of them. There are many ways to make your voice heard.

That's all for now, thanks for reading.

[Bad Microwave Passes @BadPasses]

Hurricane #Beryl does a barrel roll right around today’s AMSR2 swath.

[Bad Microwave Passes @BadPasses]

Credit to @ATXHarrisonTran for the original image.

[Emmanuel Enriquez @WXappraiser]

What an exquisite pass over Typhoon Haikui
@BadPasses

[Bad Microwave Passes @BadPasses]

While we wait for recon, the latest microwave pass can give us a hint of what to expect with Hurricane #Franklin.

[NWS Boulder @NWSBoulder]

@WxHunain Ratio.

Respectfully,

Everyone at NWS ;)

[Bad Microwave Passes @BadPasses]

You have to love this look at the unique double eyewall structure of typhoon #Khanun!

[Emmanuel Enriquez @WXappraiser]

excellent! @BadPasses

#Khanun

[Veer @Veeringwindswx]

.@BadPasses lol

[Phil @squirtleinhk]

Really like how all microwave passes today have missed #Mawar. Fortunately we have radar to access the storm's structural evolutions.

[Bad Microwave Passes @BadPasses]

Poor #Darian is camera shy…

[No clue @TheHappyWxGuy]

@BadPasses got a fresh one for you

[Bad Microwave Passes @BadPasses]

Did you miss me? #Darian

[Bad Microwave Passes @BadPasses]

Random non #BadPasses request, but for my mysterious offline livelihood, I need to contact some companies or firms in Florida for assistance in claims following Hurricane #Ian. Any Florida peeps think you can point me in the right direction with some suggestions?

[Bad Microwave Passes @BadPasses]

And yes, I am alive (and have recovered my account 😅)!

[Bad Microwave Passes @BadPasses]

I have the best ideas. 😤

[Philippe Papin @pppapin]

@AndyHazelton Touché! But please don't give @BadPasses any 'good' ideas...

[Andy Hazelton @AndyHazelton]

@cyclonicwx Maybe microwave will show us what's going on undern...nevermind. Chalk another one up for @BadPasses