Christopher L. Castro

Director, Research Applications Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research. Opinions my own.

[Christopher L. Castro @CLCastro1974]

My first foreign trip as RAL Director, to King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia. A busy but good week teaching a short course, giving a seminar at the National Center for Meteorology, and visiting with colleagues and friends.

[Christopher L. Castro @CLCastro1974]

@united Bad travel exprience today. Delayed flight out of DEN, missed connection in EWR to DXB. I tried multiple ways to message to gate agents in EWR to hold the DXB flight, including the customer service app . Now out $300 hotel room + get to Jeddah a day late. Do better.

[Christopher L. Castro @CLCastro1974]

Our first ofrenda from our new home in Colorado.

[Christopher L. Castro @CLCastro1974]

The annual Halloween surprise by RAL's own Susan Broussard. I'm honored!

[Christopher L. Castro @CLCastro1974]

Now is an appropriate and necessary moment to acknowledge the deep pride I take in my family's Puerto Rican heritage. It is an important part of the person I am today, in what I can offer in service to society as an American citizen. From my trip to Vieques in July 2023.

[NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research @NCAR_Science]

It is with a heavy heart that we share that Warren Washington, internationally recognized leader in the atmospheric and climate sciences and trailblazer for Black and other underrepresented scientists, passed away at age 88.
🧵

[Christopher L. Castro @CLCastro1974]

My first Director's column in our October RAL Report. What a two months it has been in the lab since my onboarding.

[Christopher L. Castro @CLCastro1974]

Thanks very much to UCAR President Tony Busalacchi for his annual conversation with NCAR RAL. Lots of great Q&A on many important issues for the lab.

[Christopher L. Castro @CLCastro1974]

Never mind the academic debates about Category 6 hurricanes. The climate changed real world is making a darn good case.

[National Hurricane Center @NHC_Atlantic]

4pm CDT Oct 7th Key Messages for Category 5 #Hurricane #Milton:

Hurricane Warnings & Storm Surge Warnings in effect for parts of W coast of Florida Peninsula. This is an extremely life-threatening situation. Please follow advice by local officials & evacuate if told so.

https://t.co/v4gAigwtHH

[National Hurricane Center @NHC_Atlantic]

4pm CDT Oct 7th Key Messages for Category 5 #Hurricane #Milton:

Hurricane Warnings & Storm Surge Warnings in effect for parts of W coast of Florida Peninsula. This is an extremely life-threatening situation. Please follow advice by local officials & evacuate if told so.

https://t.co/v4gAigwtHH

[Christopher L. Castro @CLCastro1974]

As our UCAR institutions gather for our members meeting, let us not forget that trusted, actionable science is urgently needed now more than ever. We confront a world of rapidly increasing extremes with climate change. Hurricane Milton is just this week's exclamation point.

[National Hurricane Center @NHC_Atlantic]

10:55 CDT Monday Update: Milton rapidly intensifies into a category 5 hurricane. Data from a @53rdWRS hurricane hunter aircraft indicate that the maximum sustained winds have increased to 160 mph (250 km/h) with higher gusts. Follow the latest at https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ

[Christopher L. Castro @CLCastro1974]

Latest artwork my daughter from her new middle school in Colorado. Thinking today of all my friends and colleagues at the University of Arizona and the Meixner and Cotter families.

[Christopher L. Castro @CLCastro1974]

Two months into my new position as RAL Director. Though it's been a challenging time with the passing of two RAL staff, I am so proud to lead such a dedicated, resilient, and caring group of people within an organization well aligned with my values. Time to get to work now...

[Christopher L. Castro @CLCastro1974]

Congratulations to my colleague Jen McIntosh for being awarded the Tom Meixner endowed professorship. There is no one more deserving of this honor. You live like Tom, Jen, in courage and love.
https://t.co/2pDACFOZ2C

[Christopher L. Castro @CLCastro1974]

A break from my NCAR onboarding activities to participate in the CONVECT2 workshop at the Mesa Lab to strategize on a new North American monsoon field campaign. Happy RAL is able to facilitate this effort and host the workshop!

[Christopher L. Castro @CLCastro1974]

The temporary home office setup in my new dining room, till more boxes cleared out. My colleagues at University of Arizona may recognize the table and chairs transplanted from my former office in the Harshbarger building.

[Christopher L. Castro @CLCastro1974]

Day 1 on the new job as Director of the NCAR Research Applications Laboratory!

[Christopher L. Castro @CLCastro1974]

Going to be an eventful first day of work tomorrow. Wow!

[NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research @NCAR_Science]

Due to the #LakeShoreFire, the NSF NCAR Mesa Lab campus and the road to the building are CLOSED to staff and the public as of 5 p.m. today (Wed, July 31) until further notice. We are monitoring the situation and will provide updates. Follow @BoulderOEM for wildfire updates. #COwx

[Christopher L. Castro @CLCastro1974]

Now a second fire even closer to Boulder and Longmont. Smoke is over my house now.

[NWS Boulder @NWSBoulder]

There is a new fire start by Lyons. Please follow any advice from local authorities. #COwx

[Christopher L. Castro @CLCastro1974]

What an introduction to Colorado! A reminder of just how critical and urgent the work is at NCAR RAL which I will be soon leading.

[The Hotshot Wake Up @HotshotWake]

Colorado: The Alexander Mountain Fire in Colorado continues to grow, as seen in these photos from Northern Colorado
Helitak. #cofire #cowx #wildfire

Air support has arrived including 4 helicopters , 3 type1, and 1 type 3, 1 large airtanker, air attack, 1 multi mission aircraft, and 1 additional Type 1 helicopter en route from Wyoming.