Kenyatta Esters
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kesters2.bsky.social
Kenyatta Esters
@kesters2.bsky.social
32 followers 88 following 160 posts
Healthcare Emergency Manager Policy Analyst Health Promoter Blog Author LSU Microbiology 🧪 and Public Administration Graduate 📝 Mississippi State University Environmental Geosciences Graduate🌪️ https://weatherandwellness.blogspot.com
weatherandwellness.blogspot.com
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kesters2.bsky.social
Kenyatta Esters @kesters2.bsky.social · 15d
Due to cooler temps, less daylight, drier air, and more: fall weather can really affect your health. I discuss this in my “Weather and Wellness” blog! weatherandwellness.blogspot.com/2025/10/weat...
Weather and Wellness: Forecasting Fall’s Effect on Your Health
Break out your sweaters and grab a pumpkin spice latte (YUCK!) because it's fall, y'all! And guess what? I absolutely dread this time of yea...
weatherandwellness.blogspot.com
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kesters2.bsky.social
Kenyatta Esters @kesters2.bsky.social · 27d
Your fall forecast: cooler temps, drier air, and ….rhinitis?!

Yes, the shift in seasons can trigger changes in your health! Join me in my latest “Weather & Wellness” blog as I unpack some of the health woes that accompany autumn.

weatherandwellness.blogspot.com/2025/10/weat...
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Reposted by Kenyatta Esters
theadvocatebr.bsky.social
TheAdvocate.com @theadvocatebr.bsky.social · 27d
No, it's not just you. Summers are 21 days longer in Baton Rouge, 17 days longer in Lafayette, 11 days longer in New Orleans.
Here's how much longer Louisiana summers are lasting and why they're stretching into fall
No, it's not just you. Summers are 21 days longer in Baton Rouge, 17 days longer in Lafayette, 11 days longer in New Orleans.
bit.ly
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kesters2.bsky.social
Kenyatta Esters @kesters2.bsky.social · 28d
I have 2 fall -related “Weather & Wellness Wednesdays” blogs this evening! The first is a repost of my 2023 blog regarding cold fronts and their effect on respiratory health. Read it here and let me know if your lungs hate fall as much as mine do! weatherandwellness.blogspot.com/2025/10/fall...
Fall Cold Fronts: Friend or Foe to Those Living with Asthma?
Note:  I posted this article two years ago on another blog site.  I wanted to share this as it will be relevant to my next "Weather and We...
weatherandwellness.blogspot.com
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Reposted by Kenyatta Esters
kesters2.bsky.social
Kenyatta Esters @kesters2.bsky.social · Oct 2
Yesterday marked the end of National Preparedness Month, but for caregivers, readiness is never seasonal. I published a new piece on my Weather and Wellness blog, and this one got a bit personal.

Learn how becoming a caregiver reshaped how I think about preparedness.

tinyurl.com/4ama4x7w
Weather and Wellness: Preparedness- A Caregiver's Story
In December 2023, I participated in my commencement ceremony at Mississippi State University. I had received a Master’s degree in Environm...
tinyurl.com
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kesters2.bsky.social
Kenyatta Esters @kesters2.bsky.social · Oct 2
Yesterday marked the end of National Preparedness Month, but for caregivers, readiness is never seasonal. I published a new piece on my Weather and Wellness blog, and this one got a bit personal.

Learn how becoming a caregiver reshaped how I think about preparedness.

tinyurl.com/4ama4x7w
Weather and Wellness: Preparedness- A Caregiver's Story
In December 2023, I participated in my commencement ceremony at Mississippi State University. I had received a Master’s degree in Environm...
tinyurl.com
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Reposted by Kenyatta Esters
wxliz.bsky.social
Elizabeth Leitman @wxliz.bsky.social · Oct 1
Just a reminder that NWS is considered essential during a government shutdown. Meteorologists will still go to work, forecasts will still be made, watches and warnings will be issued, data will flow. We won’t be paid until the shutdown ends, but we’ll still protect life and property as always.
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kesters2.bsky.social
Kenyatta Esters @kesters2.bsky.social · Sep 25
First Coastal Louisiana AMS (CLAMS) meeting of the fall starting soon with Phil Grisby of NWS New Orleans speaking to the group tonight! Come join us if you are in the Baton Rouge area!
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kesters2.bsky.social
Kenyatta Esters @kesters2.bsky.social · Sep 11
This is a very insightful article covering increasing heat-related deaths in Louisiana. www.nola.com/news/environ...
In Louisiana, heat-related deaths have soared. The quiet disaster is ‘going to get worse.’
Extreme heat is a silent threat, one that experts warn could become more deadly as temperatures continue to rise.
www.nola.com
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kesters2.bsky.social
Kenyatta Esters @kesters2.bsky.social · Sep 9
My take from the discussion at tropical.colostate.edu/Forecast/202... is to not let your guard down even though hurricane season has not been very active. The note of the possibility of a strong Central American gyre concerns me as I know that the CAG can give rise to “home grown” storms in October
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kesters2.bsky.social
Kenyatta Esters @kesters2.bsky.social · Sep 9
From the Atmospheric Science Dept. at Colorado State: “The NHC currently is not expecting any TC formations in the next 7 days. If that forecast verifies, it will be only the 2nd yr since 1950 w/no Atlantic named storm activity between 8/29 and 9/16. The only other year was 1992”
kesters2.bsky.social
Kenyatta Esters @kesters2.bsky.social · Aug 28
Currently viewing a CDC Heat Preparedness webinar. I am happy to hear how health departments are using the HeatRisk took. I’ve been a fan since the tool’s experimental days with the Western Region.
kesters2.bsky.social
Kenyatta Esters @kesters2.bsky.social · Aug 23
I have a saying: “Gulf Coast emergency managers always labor on Labor Day”. I’ll gladly take a quiet end to August and start to September! But I know my fellow EM’s are concerned about the second half of the season and the “home grown threats” that can occur during that time.
theeyewallwx.bsky.social The Eyewall @theeyewallwx.bsky.social · Aug 23
Erin’s extratropical, but we may get Fernand near & east of Bermuda next. However, it does appear that the tropics are going to begin to settle down, just as we are approaching the historical peak in activity. We explain what’s happening over the next couple weeks today below or at theeyewall.com
Tropics starting to quiet down a bit just in time for the historical peak in activity
Though we are likely to get Fernand by tomorrow
open.substack.com
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kesters2.bsky.social
Kenyatta Esters @kesters2.bsky.social · Aug 19
If this is true then a lot of us in BR are…well….gone, lol
lix.weather.im IEMBot New Orleans @lix.weather.im · Aug 19
BATON ROUGE/RYAN,LA (BTR) ASOS reports gust of 373 knots (429.3 mph) from NE @ 2225Z -- KBTR 192225Z COR 05025G373KT 3/4SM +TSRA FEW013 SCT024 BKN048 25/21 A2995 RMK AO2 PK WND 05043/2224 LTG DSNT SE AND S RAB17 TSB09E10 PRESRR P0063 T02500211 RVRNO
kesters2.bsky.social
Kenyatta Esters @kesters2.bsky.social · Aug 19
I really enjoyed listening to 2 emergency management superstars on the most recent @ametsoc.org “Clear Skies Ahead” podcast! Great job Ashley Morris @missashes92.bsky.social & Melissa Sizemore! I was nodding in agreement throughout the entire discussion!
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kesters2.bsky.social
Kenyatta Esters @kesters2.bsky.social · Aug 17
I would love to know if colleges and universities are already integrating this type of heat safety messaging into their move-in guidance. Let me know if you’ve seen this!
kesters2.bsky.social
Kenyatta Esters @kesters2.bsky.social · Aug 17
I realized that university student health centers have a unique opportunity to be pro-active heat messengers by :

- Sending pre-move in mailers with heat safety tips

-Pushing alerts for extreme heat via campus apps

-Encouraging families to pace themselves
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kesters2.bsky.social
Kenyatta Esters @kesters2.bsky.social · Aug 17
I’ve seen the subtle signs from some move-in videos: excessive sweating, flushed faces, towel-dabbing, water breaks, and plenty of “it’s SO hot!” comments. Heat exhaustion can sneak up on you quickly!
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kesters2.bsky.social
Kenyatta Esters @kesters2.bsky.social · Aug 17
Between heavy lifting, long walks, and high humidity, the risk of heat-related illness is real, especially for older family members. Some students and families aren’t acclimated to the heat, especially if they are coming from cooler and drier climates.
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kesters2.bsky.social
Kenyatta Esters @kesters2.bsky.social · Aug 17
It’s move-in weekend at colleges across the U.S. Families are hauling boxes, climbing stairs, and trekking back and forth in the August heat. There’s a public health angle to move in day that I don’t think we discuss enough (especially for universities in the south)… 🧵
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kesters2.bsky.social
Kenyatta Esters @kesters2.bsky.social · Aug 16
Interesting study from researchers at Tulane University regarding the increase in heart related ED visits after exposure to the combination of extreme heat and humidity. www.linkedin.com/pulse/study-...
Study: As temperatures and humidity rise, so do emergency room visits for heart conditions
Extreme heat can be hard on your heart. As temperatures rise, the heart pumps faster to move blood toward the skin to cool the body.
www.linkedin.com
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kesters2.bsky.social
Kenyatta Esters @kesters2.bsky.social · Aug 16
I know that EM’s have been adjusting their H-hour plans to account for the possibility of RI. These plans will need to continuously be updated due to the more extreme cases of RI we’ve been seeing. How quickly can you evacuate health facilities, activate shelters, enact contraflow, etc.
drshepherd2013.bsky.social Marshall Shepherd @drshepherd2013.bsky.social · Aug 16
A point I make in the article. With recent storms, the typical 3 day threshold is outdated for planning and decisions. Rapid intensification and hyper cases like this will need a new playbook
sevier.io isaac @sevier.io · Aug 16
15 hours means a storm like this could be identified in the middle of the night and, if it was making landfall, you’d wake up needing to figure out evacuation later that day.
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Reposted by Kenyatta Esters
drkimwood.bsky.social
Kim Wood @drkimwood.bsky.social · Aug 16
We don't compute RI as a percentage of storms but as a percentage of 24-hour periods.

Also, faster thresholds are getting more common.

40+kt/24h:
- 1975-1999, 3.6%
- 2000-2024, 4.4%

50+kt/24h:
- 1975-1999, 0.9%
- 2000-2024, 1.8%
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Reposted by Kenyatta Esters
nhcbot.bsky.social
National Hurricane Center Bot @nhcbot.bsky.social · Aug 16
August 16: 11:20AM AST @53rdWRS find #Erin is now a Category 5 Hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph. Visit hurricanes.gov for the latest https://x.com/NHC_Atlantic/status/1956738174408863936
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kesters2.bsky.social
Kenyatta Esters @kesters2.bsky.social · Aug 16
917mb…..absolutely insane. But it feels like I’m saying that phrase every hurricane season now.