Synopsis:

Operational and recreational wisdom is that thunderstorms that occur at night or on the cool side of frontal boundaries cannot produce damaging winds. Observations, however, show they can and often do! During the presentation, Brett will provide an overview of "surface-based" and "elevated" thunderstorms, introduce atmospheric waves and their relationship to thunderstorms, show radar and observational signatures of damaging-wind producing elevated thunderstorms, and provide early insights into supportive environments. Brett will also discuss a "surprise" severe weather event that took place in western Lower Michigan that inspired the work that investigated such damaging windstorms.  

Speaker Bio:

Brett Borchardt is a Senior Meteorologist with the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Romeoville, Illinois (known as NWS Chicago) with forecast and warning responsibilities for parts of northern Illinois, northwestern Indiana, and Lake Michigan. Having lived in the Great Lakes for the majority of his professional and personal lives, Brett is intimately familiar with the many hazards that weather can bring ranging from severe weather, winter weather, flooding, high winds, and marine hazards. Brett’s research interests include mesoscale convective systems and damaging wind-producing elevated convection. In his freetime, Brett enjoys cycling, hiking, cooking, and playing hockey. Brett graduated summa cum laude from the University of Oklahoma in 2016 with a B.S. in meteorology and previously served as a meteorologist with the National Weather Service Forecast Offices in Marquette and Grand Rapids, Michigan.