Noah Brauer
@noaabrauer.bsky.social
Research Meteorologist/Developer. OU alum (PhD/MS). I study precipitation, microphysics, polarimetric radar, and tropical cyclones. Opinions = my own.
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Noah Brauer
@noaabrauer.bsky.social
· Oct 18
Introduction:
I’m a research scientist at CIRES/NOAA Weather Prediction Center focusing on transitioning precipitation research into operational forecasting tools.
PhD in meteorology from OU focused on precipitation and polarimetric radar observations in tropical cyclones.
I really love cats.
I’m a research scientist at CIRES/NOAA Weather Prediction Center focusing on transitioning precipitation research into operational forecasting tools.
PhD in meteorology from OU focused on precipitation and polarimetric radar observations in tropical cyclones.
I really love cats.
Can we just admit that all of us storm chase as a hobby and not to “save lives”? Idk why that is so hard…Nothing wrong with having a hobby and safely and responsibly observing nature.
November 25, 2025 at 5:34 AM
Can we just admit that all of us storm chase as a hobby and not to “save lives”? Idk why that is so hard…Nothing wrong with having a hobby and safely and responsibly observing nature.
A pretty awesome mountain wave cloud at sunset:
November 25, 2025 at 12:21 AM
A pretty awesome mountain wave cloud at sunset:
A pretty gloomy (no pun intended) ensemble mean of 0.03" for DEN through tonight...Some hope in the medium range but I'd like for models to not back off again within 24-48 hours of the actual event.
November 23, 2025 at 9:12 PM
A pretty gloomy (no pun intended) ensemble mean of 0.03" for DEN through tonight...Some hope in the medium range but I'd like for models to not back off again within 24-48 hours of the actual event.
How Friday afternoon is going… H/T @burgwx.bsky.social for the meme 😂
November 21, 2025 at 11:17 PM
How Friday afternoon is going… H/T @burgwx.bsky.social for the meme 😂
This has got to be one of my favorite moments of seeing cumulus mediocris and cumulus congestus from the air. Taken from somewhere over Central Texas on my way to Colombia back in 2016.
November 20, 2025 at 7:26 AM
This has got to be one of my favorite moments of seeing cumulus mediocris and cumulus congestus from the air. Taken from somewhere over Central Texas on my way to Colombia back in 2016.
Wishing it was the warm season because this Denver Convergence Vorticity Zone would probably make things a bit more interesting if we had the moisture…⛈️🌪️
November 18, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Wishing it was the warm season because this Denver Convergence Vorticity Zone would probably make things a bit more interesting if we had the moisture…⛈️🌪️
Why does Denton, TX have the same congressional representative as Texline, TX...
Breaking: A Trump-appointed judge just ruled that Texas Republicans CANNOT use their new gerrymandered map in the 2026 midterm elections.
November 18, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Why does Denton, TX have the same congressional representative as Texline, TX...
Praying for rain and trying to be optimistic but also not entirely optimistic that we will see much more than a sprinkle 🙃🙃
November 17, 2025 at 3:57 AM
Praying for rain and trying to be optimistic but also not entirely optimistic that we will see much more than a sprinkle 🙃🙃
Reposted by Noah Brauer
The meteorology program at Jackson State University was the first (and for many years only) undergrad meteorology program at a HBCU. They are celebrating 50 years as a program this week, and I talk about the program and being lucky enough to play a role in it. tinyurl.com/fhudehzt
Increasing flash flood concerns for southern California, while central US basks in record warmth
Also: Celebrating 50 years of meteorology at Jackson State University
tinyurl.com
November 14, 2025 at 5:43 PM
The meteorology program at Jackson State University was the first (and for many years only) undergrad meteorology program at a HBCU. They are celebrating 50 years as a program this week, and I talk about the program and being lucky enough to play a role in it. tinyurl.com/fhudehzt
Frustrating evening, so here is a picture of my cat Julio in the middle of head-bunting my wife yesterday
November 10, 2025 at 6:56 AM
Frustrating evening, so here is a picture of my cat Julio in the middle of head-bunting my wife yesterday
Just a bird getting a free ride across the Canadian border….
November 8, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Just a bird getting a free ride across the Canadian border….
Reposted by Noah Brauer
8 months ago I had a vision: what if we had a unified, track-based dataset of all severe events?
Still a lot of improvements I can make to the algorithm itself, but otherwise, looks like we have one now. I can't wait to see what we can do with this 👀
Still a lot of improvements I can make to the algorithm itself, but otherwise, looks like we have one now. I can't wait to see what we can do with this 👀
November 7, 2025 at 7:42 PM
8 months ago I had a vision: what if we had a unified, track-based dataset of all severe events?
Still a lot of improvements I can make to the algorithm itself, but otherwise, looks like we have one now. I can't wait to see what we can do with this 👀
Still a lot of improvements I can make to the algorithm itself, but otherwise, looks like we have one now. I can't wait to see what we can do with this 👀
When you’re stepping down the walkway, make sure to “Mind the Cat”
November 6, 2025 at 5:36 PM
When you’re stepping down the walkway, make sure to “Mind the Cat”
What if locals promote our beer as a “downslope-warmed Coors Light” ?
November 2, 2025 at 8:42 PM
What if locals promote our beer as a “downslope-warmed Coors Light” ?
Awesome display of the release of KH instability (vertical shear instability) within an altostratus and altocumulus deck! I ❤️ clouds
November 2, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Awesome display of the release of KH instability (vertical shear instability) within an altostratus and altocumulus deck! I ❤️ clouds
Baseball = underrated sport. Coming from a lifelong baseball player and enthusiast.
November 2, 2025 at 4:51 AM
Baseball = underrated sport. Coming from a lifelong baseball player and enthusiast.
Reposted by Noah Brauer
A nearly one-week animation for Hurricane Melissa with infrared (IR) imagery on the left and its maximum wind speed (intensity) evolution on the right. The animation briefly pauses at landfall in Jamaica.
IR images extend about 600 km from the center of the storm to illustrate its shape evolution.
IR images extend about 600 km from the center of the storm to illustrate its shape evolution.
October 30, 2025 at 3:03 PM
A nearly one-week animation for Hurricane Melissa with infrared (IR) imagery on the left and its maximum wind speed (intensity) evolution on the right. The animation briefly pauses at landfall in Jamaica.
IR images extend about 600 km from the center of the storm to illustrate its shape evolution.
IR images extend about 600 km from the center of the storm to illustrate its shape evolution.
Reposted by Noah Brauer
Alrighty, ready to see something really cool? (and maybe a little nauseating)
The evolution of Hurricane Melissa's mesovortices at peak strength.
The evolution of Hurricane Melissa's mesovortices at peak strength.
October 29, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Alrighty, ready to see something really cool? (and maybe a little nauseating)
The evolution of Hurricane Melissa's mesovortices at peak strength.
The evolution of Hurricane Melissa's mesovortices at peak strength.
(1/2) Classic cold air damming setup in the Carolinas today. Weak low-level upslope flow that is unable to surpass the higher terrain beneath isentropic ascent/warm advection resulting in a cold and soupy mess (aka drizzle, fog, and stratus).
October 29, 2025 at 8:10 PM
(1/2) Classic cold air damming setup in the Carolinas today. Weak low-level upslope flow that is unable to surpass the higher terrain beneath isentropic ascent/warm advection resulting in a cold and soupy mess (aka drizzle, fog, and stratus).
Reposted by Noah Brauer
Melissa at 892 mb. Since 1966, only 4 other North Atlantic hurricanes reached surface pressures below 900 mb (unit equal to hPa). Maximum winds at those pressures also listed below:
Wilma (2005): 160 kt, 882 mb
Gilbert (1988): 160 kt, 888 mb
Rita (2005): 155 kt, 897 mb
Allen (1980): 165 kt, 899 mb
Wilma (2005): 160 kt, 882 mb
Gilbert (1988): 160 kt, 888 mb
Rita (2005): 155 kt, 897 mb
Allen (1980): 165 kt, 899 mb
Finally a dropsonde message got out. 892mb.
Lightning continues across much of the western semicircle.
Lightning continues across much of the western semicircle.
October 28, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Melissa at 892 mb. Since 1966, only 4 other North Atlantic hurricanes reached surface pressures below 900 mb (unit equal to hPa). Maximum winds at those pressures also listed below:
Wilma (2005): 160 kt, 882 mb
Gilbert (1988): 160 kt, 888 mb
Rita (2005): 155 kt, 897 mb
Allen (1980): 165 kt, 899 mb
Wilma (2005): 160 kt, 882 mb
Gilbert (1988): 160 kt, 888 mb
Rita (2005): 155 kt, 897 mb
Allen (1980): 165 kt, 899 mb
The eye of Melissa is quickly becoming cloud-filled as it interacts with the higher terrain of Jamaica, resulting in some weakening of the storm. Still, the impacts have been and are going to be catastrophic.
October 28, 2025 at 7:06 PM
The eye of Melissa is quickly becoming cloud-filled as it interacts with the higher terrain of Jamaica, resulting in some weakening of the storm. Still, the impacts have been and are going to be catastrophic.
Reposted by Noah Brauer
That’s…not at all how this works. As the NHC’s wind field image shows, Jamaica is only experiencing tropical storm-force winds right now, with weaker winds elsewhere. The most widespread and longest-lasting impact has and will be extreme rain - for which the prep is rather different than wind.
October 27, 2025 at 7:43 PM
That’s…not at all how this works. As the NHC’s wind field image shows, Jamaica is only experiencing tropical storm-force winds right now, with weaker winds elsewhere. The most widespread and longest-lasting impact has and will be extreme rain - for which the prep is rather different than wind.
One of those moments as a meteorologist where you can't help but admire the beauty of such a storm, but dreading and terrified of seeing the impacts to Jamaica and Cuba. A pretty awful situation about to unfold and thinking of Jamaica residents and I hope everyone is safe and okay.
October 27, 2025 at 4:13 AM
One of those moments as a meteorologist where you can't help but admire the beauty of such a storm, but dreading and terrified of seeing the impacts to Jamaica and Cuba. A pretty awful situation about to unfold and thinking of Jamaica residents and I hope everyone is safe and okay.
Reposted by Noah Brauer
It appears the earlier secondary eyewall merged with the primary eyewall quickly, similar what happened in Hurricane Milton. That merger may have paused intensification, but Melissa appears to be making its move to Cat. 5 tonight. Certainly has that look. Next set of recon. missions will be telling.
October 27, 2025 at 3:28 AM
It appears the earlier secondary eyewall merged with the primary eyewall quickly, similar what happened in Hurricane Milton. That merger may have paused intensification, but Melissa appears to be making its move to Cat. 5 tonight. Certainly has that look. Next set of recon. missions will be telling.