16 February 2023
The Secret Behind Severe Thunderstorm Watch #33
Posted by Dan Satterfield
NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch Wednesday afternoon, but this one was special. Severe Thunderstorm Watch #33 for parts of Oklahoma and North Texas was issued by NOAA’s Elizabeth Leitman. It was the FIRST NOAA watch issued by a woman at the SPC.
Elizabeth Leitman has wanted to have this job since she was in middle school. Atmospheric physics is hard, but she did it and I think it deserves some notice!
All I can say is you go girl!
Here is her post on Twitter about it:
When I was an undergraduate almost all of my fellow meteorology students were guys. There were a few women, and over the years I have seen the numbers steadily rise, both in NOAA and among those of us who do broadcast meteorology. It should have happened LONG before now, but it has happened.
Dan Satterfield has worked as an on air meteorologist for 32 years in Oklahoma, Florida and Alabama. Forecasting weather is Dan's job, but all of Earth Science is his passion. This journal is where Dan writes about things he has too little time for on air. Dan blogs about peer-reviewed Earth science for Junior High level audiences and up.
It occurs to me that my NWS weather radio speaks with a male voice. Perhaps they can alternate with a female voice now and then? Just a thought.
I believe they have the option, I’ll see what I can find out.