Upcoming Meetings

September 16 

Bruce Smith

Meteorologist - in - Charge,

NWS Grand Rapids

Probabalistic Forecasting and the social science behind public response

With nearly 36 years in the National Weather Service, Bruce Smith — Meteorologist-In-Charge (MIC) at WFO Grand Rapids — has had a front-row seat to the transformation of modern forecasting. His NWS journey began as a student volunteer in Houghton Lake (1988) and Ann Arbor (1990) before officially launching his career at WSO Lansing in December 1990. Over the decades, Bruce served as Journey and Lead Meteorologist in Detroit, Science and Operations Officer and MIC in Gaylord, Science and Technology Integration Division Chief at Central Region Headquarters in Kansas City, and ultimately MIC at Grand Rapids beginning in 2022.  In his presentation, Bruce will lead a group discussion on how advancing deterministic and ensemble numerical modeling has revolutionized weather forecasting, the communication of uncertainty, and overall weather services. He will dive into the weather enterprise's recent shift toward probabilistic forecasting, examining how people interpret probabilities and exploring the social science behind public response.

October 21

Mark Torregrossa

MLive Chief

Meteorologist

Media Meteorology

Mark Torregrossa is Chief Meteorologist for MLive and owner of Michigan Meteorological Services. A meteorologist for more than 37 years, Mark specializes in forecasting and communicating weather impacts across the Great Lakes region, with particular expertise in severe weather, winter storms, agricultural weather, and climate trends. Mark holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology from Northern Illinois University. Throughout his career, he has developed innovative weather products and services that have helped businesses, agricultural producers, media organizations, and the public make informed decisions. Through his work at MLive, Mark reaches millions of readers with weather analysis, forecasts, and explanations that translate complex meteorological science into practical, actionable information. As a speaker, Mark combines scientific expertise with real-world forecasting experience, offering audiences valuable insights into weather risks, climate patterns, and the challenges of communicating weather information in an increasingly connected world.

January 20

Chandler Bos

Michigan Storm Chasers

Northern Michigan 2025 Ice Storm

Hello! My name is Chandler Bos and I am one of the founders of Michigan's largest digital source for weather, Michigan Storm Chasers. I am 28 years old and have been passionate about the weather since I was a kid. I have seen over 50 tornados all across the country, always pushed the barriers on what MSC can and cannot do, and have inherent curiosity on how we can improve models, tornadic data, and help advance warnings to keep people safe. 

February 17

Ernie Ostuno

Retired NWS

Meteorologist

Hudsonville, MI F5 Tornado and Palm Sunday

This presentation looks back more than 70 years to the most destructive day in West Michigan weather history. Four tornadoes devastated areas from Bangor in Van Buren County, all the way to Suttons Bay in Leelanau County. The worst of it was from Hudsonville to Rockford, where F5 damage occurred and 17 people were killed. The event is remarkable for several reasons. This was one of the first instances of tornado forecasting coming of age, with an accurate outlook and timely warnings. Media broadcasts alerted the public and saved numerous lives. The image of the F5 tornado was recorded in photographs and movie film, and even the sound of the roaring wind was captured on tape. We will look at the destruction, the recovery and the scars left behind, and ask what would happen if a similar event occurred today.

March 17

Grand Rapids Climate Coalition

The Grand Rapids Climate Action and Adaption Plan

The Grand Rapids Climate Coalition was a big player in facilitating the meetings between community members and organizations and the city government throughout the 3+ year journey of the CAAP.

April 14

United States Coast Guard

Tour the Coast Guard Station in Grand Haven, MI

Coast Guard Station Grand Haven is manned by active duty and reserve members. It is the home of two 45' Response Boat - Mediums, two 29' Response Boat - Smalls, and two 15' ice rescue skiffs. The station's primary missions are search and rescue and maritime law enforcement on over 3,500 square nautical miles and four counties on the eastern half of Lake Michigan. The main station is located on the Grand River in Grand Haven, MI, which has been given the honorable distinction of "Coast Guard City, USA". Unit personnel and resources are highly involved in the planning and execution of operations during the annual Coast Guard Festival, a week-long celebration that brings hundreds of thousands of visitors to Grand Haven.

May 19

Scott Thomas

NWS Meteorologist

Weather Analysis Basics such as Skew-T, Hodographs, and Surface and Upper Air Maps

Scott Thomas is a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Grand Rapids, a role he's held since 2023. He graduated from Central Michigan University in 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Meteorology. Forecasting for West Michigan, Scott's expertise includes severe weather forecasting, radar meteorology, and mesoanalysis. Additionally, Scott is a part of the National Weather Service's Remote Mesoanalyst program, lending his expertise to forecast offices across the country during severe weather and flash flooding events. Outside of forecasting, Scott is an avid photographer as well as programmer. He was born and raised Michigander, growing up in the Lansing area before relocating in 2025 to Grand Rapids.