In The News / Blog

While in town for Climate Week, I had the opportunity to experience “Four Futures,” an immersive installation by EY. It walks you through four different versions of the future, all shaped by how governments, businesses, and communities respond—or don’t respond—to climate change. Some scenarios feel optimistic. Others are more unsettling.

I just got back from the 2026 National Tropical Weather Conference in South Padre Island, and as always, it was one of those experiences that’s rewarding both professionally and personally. One of my favorite parts was having the opportunity to interview Dr. Phil Klotzbach for WVEC-TV 13News Now. We talked about his 2026 Atlantic hurricane season forecast and what it could mean in the months ahead. You might be surprised.

There are moments in history that stop you in your tracks – moments that remind you just how far we’ve come, and how much further we’re capable of going. This is one of them. And at its core, this moment is about something we don’t talk about enough – fear. Not the kind that stops us, but the kind we have to move through if we want to grow, explore, and truly live.

Parts of Virginia and North Carolina — including portions of Hampton Roads — are under a Level 4 out of 5 “Moderate Risk” for severe weather from the NOAA Storm Prediction Center for Monday, March 16. When this level of risk is issued, it typically signals that the atmosphere is unusually supportive of organized severe thunderstorms capable of producing widespread damaging winds and tornadoes. Read more to learn what you should do now to prepare.

Hope you were buckled up. If the weather in Hampton Roads felt like a roller coaster this week, you weren’t imagining it. Between Wednesday, March 11 and Thursday, March 12, temperatures at Norfolk International Airport swung dramatically from record warmth to winterlike chill in less than 24 hours. Between 3 PM Wednesday and 3 PM Thursday, temperatures plunged from 87°F to 36°F...an incredible 51-degree difference.

Some stories take years to recognize. Others you can trace back to a place that shaped you long before you understood how deeply it would matter. For me, so many chapters of my life — personally, professionally, and unexpectedly — keep leading back to Penn State.

As a powerful nor’easter continues its charge up the East Coast Sunday night into Monday, millions are preparing for what is shaping up to be one of the most disruptive winter storms in recent memory. From heavy snowfall and blizzard conditions to coastal flooding and damaging winds, this system is poised to leave a mark, with many locations measuring snow in feet!

As the nation continues to face severe winter storms, flood-producing atmospheric rivers, tornado outbreaks, and ongoing wildfire risks, it’s clear that emergencies can happen anytime. While you can’t control the weather, you can control your mindset and your level of preparedness. A calm, informed, and proactive mindset helps you protect your loved ones, reduce fear, and respond wisely when conditions change fast.

Here in Hampton Roads, the chill was so persistent that waterways I’ve lived near since 2007 actually started to freeze over — rivers, creeks, and little side channels that, in a typical winter, might get a skim of ice once in a blue moon ended up solid enough to stop onlookers in their tracks.

When winter storms bring snow, ice, and freezing rain, the impacts often last well beyond the forecast window. Preparation isn’t about panic — it’s about reducing risk, protecting your home and loved ones, and being ready to safely ride out extended power outages. Here is a practical, real-world checklist you can use before, during, and after a major winter storm.

If there’s one universal truth about travel and weather, it’s this: things don’t always move on our timeline. Flights get delayed. Storm systems stall. Roads close. Plans shift without warning. And yet, the world around us keeps moving — often in ways we can’t control.

The Thanksgiving holiday is one of the busiest travel periods of the year—with millions of people hitting the roads and crowding the airports. As a meteorologist and travel preparedness expert, I’m always reminding travelers that Mother Nature doesn’t take holidays. Whether you’re driving across town or flying across the country, having a plan—and a backup plan—can make all the difference. Here’s how to stay safe, comfortable, and weather-ready wherever Thanksgiving takes

If you’re in a low-lying or coastal area, get to higher ground immediately or move to a sturdy interior shelter on an upper floor. Once conditions deteriorate, it will be too dangerous to move. Power and communications are expected to fail in many areas — so now is the time to take life-saving precautions.

Visibility is also key after sunset. Carry flashlights or glow sticks to help trick-or-treaters stand out. Add reflective tape to costumes, treat bags, or even pumpkins.

Last weekend, coastal Virginia was reminded of the power of timing and atmospheric forces. On Sunday, the ingredients aligned for significant impact: A nor’easter moving up the East Coast combined with autumn king tides to produce major tidal flooding across Hampton Roads, Virginia, during Sunday afternoon’s high tide cycle. The strong winds from the nor'easter pushed extra water from the ocean into the bay, and then into local rivers, creeks and streams.

As someone who teaches preparedness, I often remind people that storms — whether literal or emotional — are part of life. It’s not about avoiding them; it’s about how we weather them. Emotional preparedness means managing disappointment, supporting others through setbacks, and responding with empathy instead of anger. This is one of those moments where we, as the Penn State family, can practice that kind of preparedness.

Rain is coming down, tides are running higher than normal, and gusty winds are rattling the coast of Virginia. With conditions like this, it’s easy to wonder if we’re dealing with a tropical storm. But here’s the key: this is not a tropical cyclone. Instead, it’s a regular mid-latitude storm system -- a coastal low with very different characteristics. While it may not carry the name “tropical storm” or “hurricane,” it can still bring serious impacts like flooding, erosion, an

If your eyes are itchy, your nose is running, and you’re sneezing like crazy this week—you’re not alone. Fall allergies (especially hay fever) are ramping up fast across the U.S. this September, and this year might be especially tough.

This September, in honor of National Preparedness Month, I had the privilege of joining nearly 30 TV stations across the country from the studios of A-1 Broadcast in Atlanta.   Through this Satellite Media Tour (SMT), I shared essential preparedness tips to help families, first responders, and communities stay safe before, during, and after disasters.

So, what exactly is the Spitting Cave? This natural phenomenon happens when powerful Pacific Ocean waves crash against Oahu’s rugged south shore cliffs and funnel into underwater lava tubes. The energy builds pressure inside these hollowed-out rock formations until—WHOOSH!—the water forcefully spits back out through the cave’s opening.