April 23, 1989: Marilee Thomas of Beaver City, Nebraska, took this picture of her daughter in front of a weak tornado in Furnas County. The dusty twister produced minor damage to farms, and the "tornado girl" photo went on to win second place in a national contest.

I always leave NWA Board Meetings energized. We sharpened our strategic focus, engaged in thoughtful discussion and healthy debate, and explored new opportunities to better serve members in a rapidly evolving weather enterprise. We’re moving forward with clarity and conviction.

Back in Oklahoma for a @nwas Board Meeting. Excited to spend time with an amazing group and explore how we might better serve our members. Side note: it was fun to be greeted by a field of Great Plains cumulus.

You can’t un-post racism. ~Bernice A. King

European nations have a deeply rooted historical appreciation for the arts that we just don’t have in America.

From George Washington’s Rules of Civility - Rule #50: “Speak not injurious words, either in jest or in earnest.” Still good counsel.

What separates strong cultures from fragile ones is how they handle dissent. Are people free to challenge authority, ask hard questions, and disagree openly? And just as importantly, can they walk away without being criticized, ostracized, or punished for doing so? #leadership

When people resist change, it helps to slow down and get curious about why. In those circumstances, listening is often more persuasive than talking. Sometimes a simple question like, “What would you need to see to change your mind?” can open the door to meaningful dialogue.

2025 tested us in ways we didn’t expect, but it also reminded us of our resilience and the people who make life meaningful. Here’s to closing a challenging chapter and looking ahead to 2026 with hope, courage, and curiosity.

Ah, my ride’s here. Gotta go!

The best sportscasters understand that sometimes it’s best to simply let the game unfold; that constant commentary is neither necessary nor particularly helpful. The TNF crew doesn’t seem to appreciate that.

I’m excited to serve with, and learn from, these amazing leaders! And thanks to all the fantastic candidates who agreed to run but were not elected. Please know that your leadership matters and your continued support for the NWA is appreciated.

Great leadership, like great teaching, includes guiding people to self-discovery.

Aurora color guide! What creates the different shades? Different atoms getting "excited" at different altitudes The bright reds are a sign of a particularly intense event

Wheels up; leaving Las Vegas…

Willingness to learn and improve for tomorrow is often more important and valuable than the ability to perform and impress today.

The legacy of a leader is measured in lives uplifted, not titles held.

No matter how singular a talent you are, there are people who are vital to what you do, and without whom you would not have achieved success. Acknowledge them. Thank them. Give them the recognition they deserve. Let others know how important and valuable they are.

The @nwas.org and @iaem-org.bsky.social are united in safeguarding communities from weather-driven disasters. Today, we are making a joint statement to reaffirm our commitment—to our mission and to those who depend on us. The full statement is available here: nwas.org/nwa-iaem-joi...

We are delighted to announce the winners of our 2025 National Weather Association Awards! #NWAS25 Congratulations to all of our award recipients, and thank you for your significant contributions to the National Weather Association and the weather enterprise!

What an amazing week at #nwas25! We missed our @NWS colleagues dearly, but those who were there enjoyed a wonderful time of connecting, sharing, learning and celebrating 50 years of science and service.

Setbacks don’t define you, they teach you. Mistakes are part of the game and every mistake is a chance to grow. What matters most is what we do next.

A first-of-its-kind Integrated Warning Team forum in collaboration with digital meteorologists will take place the Sunday of #NWAS25 at 3 PM Central! Watch a livestream of the forum on our YouTube channel: youtube.com/live/UNbXlL6... Looking forward to this important discussion!

Leading up to #NWAS25, we want to highlight the Committee and Member Groups that are vital to the mission of @nwas.org! The Membership & Marketing Committee help those in the weather enterprise/allied fields understand how to get involved and stay engaged!

One of the videos from our NWA whiteboard series experienced a glitch, so I had to re-render it. The revised version of the Professional Development Committee promo can now be found here: m.youtube.com/watch?v=lpQd...

Leading up to #NWAS25, we want to highlight the Committee and Member Groups that are vital to the mission of @nwas.org! The NWA Broadcast Committee actively recruits new members and encourages colleagues to obtain and maintain their NWA Seal!

The PDC is an amazing group of dedicated individuals who create and facilitate many opportunities for professional development free to members - one of the many benefits of joining the NWA.

Leading up to #NWAS25, we want to highlight the Committee and Member Groups that are vital to the mission of @nwas.org! Our next Committee is the NWA Awards Committee - who highlights individuals, teams, and organizations that merit special recognition!

Leading up to #NWAS25, we want to highlight the Committee and Member Groups that are vital to the mission of @nwas.org! First up is the Social Media Committee - the voice of the NWA to the world! Follow us to stay informed and connected! (Special thanks to Kim Runk for the artwork and narration)

Registration is now OPEN for #NWAS25 in Huntsville, Alabama for our 50th Anniversary Celebration! In-person and virtual attendance options (single-day and all sessions) are available! The Early Bird Rate ends on August 5! Register today: nwas.org/registration...

Our next stop on the @nwas.org Membership Roadmap: Volunteer! Take your @nwas.org membership to the next level by getting involved and joining a committee! View all of the destinations along our Roadmap here: nwas.memberclicks.net/join-now-page

Spending an hour on the trail with my daughter is the simplest, best way to ease into the day.

Last night I learned that a dear friend and colleague was killed in a car accident. Julie Adolphson and I were both SOOs, then MICs, in the NWS Western Region. Later we co-led the SOO Dev Course together. She was as energetic and caring as anyone I’ve known. The world has lost a wonderful soul.

Mini Cb with a downshear anvil on the eastern horizon as I prepare to take off this morning.

About this time every year, I think about joining a fantasy baseball league. As much as I love baseball, it just feels like it might be a burden to commit to monitoring lineups for such a long season. So here I am again, thinking about it but certain I’ll decline to follow through once more.

Great leaders can sometimes be demanding but they are never demeaning. They are always mindful of treating people with respect and dignity.

We should have a government agency that could predict such things, like a national weather service of some sort.

Stories are stickier than data. Those of us who are science-oriented often find it hard to embrace that idea. But it’s true. Find ways to weave the data into a compelling story, and you will multiply your ability to persuade.

Grandpa asked me what day it is today. I replied, “March first.” He let out a big sigh, stomped around the room, came back and asked again.

We’re thrilled to welcome the past, present, and future leadership of @nwas.org on Friday, February 28 at 1 PM Eastern to chat about recent successes, goals, opportunities, and ways for members to be involved! Members: Check your emails and the Member Portal to register! nwas.org

Serving the people you are privileged to lead earns you respect, appreciation, and trust. Without those foundations, you can’t really lead effectively - at least not for long.

Want to know a nearly foolproof technique for gauging someone’s true character? Watch how they treat people who have no status or power. #leadership #character #respect #kindness

I love Feynman’s Technique for learning. Test your understanding by teaching others. Break down complex concepts into simple explanations and analogies, as if describing chemical reactions to a child. If you can’t do this successfully, there are likely significant gaps in your knowledge.

Self deception is costly. Accepting and embracing the raw, unvarnished truth about your strengths and weaknesses is the key to personal growth.

“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” ~Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King

One of the most valuable lessons I learned in a long career was this: the kind of success that is most rewarding is the successful lifting up of other people. It took me far too long to learn that. If you’re at an early stage in your professional journey, do yourself a favor and internalize it now.

In any organization, the values you hold dear determine the value you add here. #leadership #integrity #character

Heroic efforts to battle a tragic and frightening situation.

Join me in welcoming the National Weather Association to Blue Sky! @nwas.org

We’ll see temps in the mid-50s tomorrow in Las Vegas. Meanwhile, the forecast for Kansas City is a high of ~30 with about a foot of wet, heavy snow. There are times when I miss KC, but this isn’t one of them.