David is a WeatherOps forecaster at WDT. He began working at WDT after receiving Bachelor’s Degrees in Meteorology and Mathematics from the University of Oklahoma. He prepares extended forecasts on potential weather hazards, as well as forecasts for utility clients. David also prepares and maintains the daily forecast blog. He became an AMS Certified Consulting Meteorologist in January 2017.
Recent Posts by David Moran:
by David Moran, on Feb 26, 2019 3:57:42 PM
The Pineapple Express may sound like a fast train in the tropics, but did you know it's an actual term to describe at atmospheric feature? Another long-lasting, wet & snowy …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Feb 19, 2019 2:02:03 PM
As temperatures warm and the snow slowly starts to disappear, you might start thinking about getting outside more. However, one potential hazard that you may not have considered is flooding …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Feb 11, 2019 3:31:35 PM
You may enjoy the freshly fallen snow for a while, but eventually, you'll be ready for it to go away. After all, even your snowman has to disappear one day …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Feb 7, 2019 2:14:45 PM
If you live in the Central US or have spoken to anyone from the area, you likely know that the weather can change on a dime. That was indeed the …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Feb 5, 2019 1:28:59 PM
You're observing the freshly fallen snow at your location. While the scene can be breathtaking, how does that blanket of snow affect temperatures afterward? In most cases, sunlight reaching the …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Feb 1, 2019 11:29:22 AM
The polar plunge is continuing across portions of the country, producing dangerously low wind chills. The cold temperatures are also causing a phenomenon known as frost quakes. People in portions …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Jan 21, 2019 1:54:11 PM
My grandparents live in a small town in Kansas close to a railroad. When I visit them during the winter, I can hear approaching trains more clearly than when I'm …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Jan 3, 2019 2:42:24 PM
All precipitation develops in the same way, but in winter there can be quite a variety of types. Freezing rain, sleet, snow, are all possible when it gets cold outside …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Dec 31, 2018 11:41:11 AM
It's New Year's Eve, and that means many are making plans to ring in 2019. Let's look back at some of the coldest New Year's Eves in the past before …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Dec 27, 2018 2:00:00 PM
Many of us look forward to seeing snow, but if you're caught in it unprepared, it can pose numerous hazards. Here are a few aspects that need to be considered …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Dec 26, 2018 2:00:00 PM
Several processes can influence the development and behavior of winter storms. Locations near the windward side of a mountain can sometimes experience an effect known as cold air damming which …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Dec 24, 2018 10:32:59 AM
When the trees and ground are covered with a nice layer of snow, and big flakes are falling, it always seems a bit more like late December. Are you dreaming …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Dec 21, 2018 2:31:30 PM
By now, those who celebrate Christmas have a decorated tree in your house. Have you ever wondered where real Christmas trees come from and how their growth is affected by …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Dec 20, 2018 2:00:00 PM
Terrain can play an essential role in various weather conditions. Winds that blow down the leeward side of a mountain can affect temperature and snow cover, as well as health …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Dec 6, 2018 3:05:14 PM
Many blizzards are associated with rapidly intensifying cyclones known as bombs which produce strong winds. If snow is present in the area where the strongest winds are occurring, blizzard conditions …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Dec 5, 2018 3:10:56 PM
When you hear the word "squall," you might think of a squall line. Though generally associated with thunderstorms, similar phenomena can occur during the fall and winter. A snow squall …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Nov 28, 2018 1:42:41 PM
The storm systems that produce snow across the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest can originate in a few different regions. Occasionally, they develop in Canada before moving southward. Those that …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Nov 21, 2018 11:00:00 AM
If you're like me, you look forward to seeing fresh snowfall on a Winter morning. But have you ever wondered what causes snow to appear white, or perhaps if it …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Nov 14, 2018 2:10:08 PM
Freezing rain occurs when precipitation falls through a warm layer, completely melts, and lands on a surface with temperatures below freezing. All forms of transportation are affected, trees are damaged, …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Nov 13, 2018 1:43:55 PM
As the snow season wears on, avalanches can pose hazards in mountainous areas. They can prove deadly to skiers and cause extreme damage to trees, roads, and buildings in their …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Oct 31, 2018 2:22:41 PM
Will your Halloween weather be a trick or a treat? Check out our Trick-or-Treat forecast for the details! Northwest An area of low pressure will move into the Pacific Northwest …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Oct 15, 2018 1:53:02 PM
Hurricane Michael made landfall in the Florida Panhandle on Wednesday and continued to move across the Southeast through early Friday, bringing a path of destruction in its wake. Just after …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Oct 9, 2018 3:09:55 PM
Michael became a hurricane late Monday morning and is expected to intensify rapidly before making landfall on Wednesday. It took 400 miles and fewer than 70 hours to evolve from …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Oct 5, 2018 2:02:39 PM
Many factors determine whether a tropical system intensifies or weakens. One of the primary factors is sea surface temperatures. While water temperature alone does not govern whether a storm will …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Oct 3, 2018 2:31:11 PM
When we think of tropical storms or hurricanes, we primarily think of the effects near the coast. After weakening, the remnants of a tropical system can affect areas further inland …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Sep 27, 2018 2:05:39 PM
Troughs can develop in many ways, but in one particular case, sloping terrain plays a role. A lee trough's development begins as the air flows down the lee side of …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Aug 28, 2018 2:52:26 PM
For a thunderstorm to develop, three essential ingredients are necessary: moisture, instability, and lift. While a front or a trough often provides this lift, it can also come from sloping …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Jul 26, 2018 2:18:40 PM
Temperature can have various effects on many aspects of our lives. To help quantify these effects, Heating and Cooling Degree Days can be used. While Degree Days are commonly used …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Jul 18, 2018 3:31:39 PM
The Ferguson Fire on the western edge of Yosemite National Park started on Friday night. It is currently unknown how the fire started, but the hot and dry weather in …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Jul 10, 2018 2:35:06 PM
Typhoon Maria has intensified quickly, developing from a tropical storm to a category 5 storm within 24 hours. It is expected to make landfall on the southeastern coast of China …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Jul 4, 2018 10:45:00 AM
Tornadoes can be classified in many different ways. Some of the methods include whether or not they develop from a supercell and whether they develop over land or water. For …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Jul 3, 2018 1:59:50 PM
Independence Day is tomorrow which means many will be at the beach, on the boat, cooking out, or at the pool. How will the weather affect your Fourth of July …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Jun 22, 2018 1:40:00 PM
Heavy rain fell over portions of southern and southeastern Texas earlier this week as tropical moisture streamed northward from the Gulf of Mexico, causing flooding across much of the region …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Jun 20, 2018 2:36:48 PM
Firefighters continue to battle a wildfire near Durango, Colorado that started burning on June 1. Will they get some help in the form of some rain? Low relative humidity, in …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Jun 15, 2018 1:55:00 PM
You may hear about the jet stream on your nightly weathercast, but do you know what it is? According to the Glossary of Meteorology, a jet stream is defined as …
Read Storyby David Moran, on May 24, 2018 5:05:09 PM
Memorial Day Weekend is just around the corner. If you're heading to the central Gulf Coast or Florida for the long holiday weekend, expect heavy rainfall and gusty winds due …
Read Storyby David Moran, on May 9, 2018 2:39:51 PM
Air is in motion all around us, moving both vertically and horizontally. Whether clouds or precipitation form partially depends on whether air rises or sinks. When air descends, this is …
Read Storyby David Moran, on May 8, 2018 1:01:31 PM
The location of troughs and ridges can play an essential role in a region's weather. Weather observations above the ground are collected by weather balloons. Data from one a single …
Read Storyby David Moran, on May 3, 2018 2:59:07 PM
One of the jobs of a forecaster is to anticipate how the profile plotted on a Skew-T diagram may change with time and what implications that may have on a …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Apr 24, 2018 3:06:21 PM
Meteorologists look at a lot of data each day to prepare a forecast. These data usually consist of various weather maps, radar and satellite imagery, and upper air maps. Other …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Apr 18, 2018 1:49:32 PM
Radar can provide valuable information about precipitation approaching or currently impacting a region. In WeatherOps Commander, you have access to both mosaic radar and RadarScope's local radar sites. If you're …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Apr 11, 2018 1:58:01 PM
In basic terms, the two things needed for precipitation are moisture and lift. Temperature profiles and landmasses can also affect how much rain a region gets. Mountains can have a …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Apr 9, 2018 2:01:02 PM
If you've watched a thunderstorm during the late afternoon or early evening, you may notice that the sky turns green before it begins to hail. What causes this change in …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Mar 29, 2018 2:50:22 PM
Are you getting anxious to plant flowers and vegetables in your garden? If you haven't passed the last freeze of the season, you may run into issues. Find out more …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Mar 19, 2018 2:42:54 PM
Have you ever seen a weather map and wondered what the symbols on it meant? Surface maps are great tools for getting a quick look at weather conditions. They allow …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Mar 9, 2018 1:08:25 PM
Heavy snow events can often develop along the eastern shores of large lakes. Known as lake effect snow, it forms as colder air moves across a warmer lake. The bigger …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Feb 26, 2018 11:40:41 AM
Freezing rain impacted much of the Central and Southern Plains beginning Tuesday and continuing into Thursday of last week. Aspects of this storm ranging from warnings to various radar perspectives …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Feb 21, 2018 12:59:19 PM
Winter can bring a wide variety of weather conditions, including various types of precipitation. Freezing rain, for instance, can be especially hazardous and forms in very specific conditions. Different types …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Feb 7, 2018 1:06:27 PM
Air masses are always in motion, bringing with them, different types of weather conditions. The transition between two different types of air masses is called a front. There are four …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Jan 30, 2018 12:52:06 PM
Freezing temperatures and Florida isn't a connection many of us immediately make. However, temperatures below 32°F can have a significant impact on the this state's orange crop. Lows this winter …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Jan 4, 2018 2:12:03 PM
Some storm systems can develop rapidly, sometimes over the span of hours or a day. When this happens, the system can be very intense and cause a wide variety of …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Dec 20, 2017 1:33:59 PM
As a meteorologist, I've seen my share of forecast models depicting extreme scenarios. These models can go from forecasting heavy snow to forecasting nothing in as little as 12 hours …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Nov 21, 2017 3:38:39 PM
13 states are forecast to have disruptive weather during the upcoming holiday weekend. It's not all bad news though. Snow is in the forecast and so is beneficial rainfall. Here's …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Nov 1, 2017 1:57:06 PM
Perhaps one of the most noticeable aspects of the weather is the wind. It can be a welcome breeze or a hazardous gale, and changes can occur rapidly. So, what …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Aug 25, 2017 2:05:11 PM
Hurricane Harvey is currently 80 miles southeast of Corpus Christi and continues to move to the northwest at 10 mph. Harvey is expected to make landfall near Corpus Christi late …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Aug 24, 2017 12:19:03 PM
Harvey has rapidly intensified into a hurricane with sustained winds of 85 mph and is expected to impact the Texas coast at a Category 3 or higher. Tropical Storm Watches …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Jul 18, 2017 1:12:44 PM
One of the most common terms we hear during the summer when discussing the weather is Heat Index. While the Heat Index can give you an idea of how dangerous …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Mar 23, 2017 2:22:06 PM
The end of the week could be stormy for portions of tornado alley beginning Thursday and continuing into Friday. Here's what you need to know to be prepared for the …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Jan 5, 2017 2:02:08 PM
A winter storm is expected in the Southeast on Saturday. There will be the potential for wintry precipitation for portions of the area as a low pressure develops off the …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Jun 14, 2016 1:39:53 PM
As urbanization increases, several impacts can arise from the increase in paved surfaces. Known as the Urban Heat Island Effect, paved surfaces can be between 50-90°F hotter than the air …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Jun 6, 2016 2:19:48 PM
While June 1 marked the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season, we have already seen three named storms this year. Tropical Storm Alex developed in January, Tropical Storm Bonnie …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Jun 1, 2016 3:12:56 PM
Today is June 1, which marks the beginning of the Atlantic hurricane season. Forecasters are predicting a near average season this year. According to NOAA, 10-16 named storms are predicted …
Read Storyby David Moran, on May 26, 2016 2:28:47 PM
Memorial Day Weekend is in sight and that means many will be heading to the beach to kick off the unofficial start of summer. However, those plans may be rained …
Read Storyby David Moran, on May 12, 2016 1:15:24 PM
Damage is one of the unfortunate outcomes of storms. In some cases, it is not always obvious whether or not a downburst or a tornado occured. In other cases, damage …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Apr 21, 2016 12:50:34 PM
If you watch the weather on the nightly news, you may hear about troughs and ridges. Have you ever wondered what they are and why they are important? Troughs and …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Apr 14, 2016 12:52:11 PM
During World War II, radar systems were utilized to help guide various missions and track aircraft. However, at times, radar operators noticed some extraneous echoes showing up on their display …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Feb 22, 2016 10:38:50 AM
An area of low pressure moving through the Southern Plains and Ohio River Valley will bring snow from the Southern Plains and northeastward through the Great Lakes. Gale force winds …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Feb 10, 2016 12:26:20 PM
Light to moderate snow showers will continue across portions of the Northeast to the Ohio Valley ahead of a large upper level trough. US Hazards REGION 1 Snow showers will …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Feb 9, 2016 1:41:20 PM
Light to moderate snowfall will be possible on Tuesday from the Northeastern US into the Ohio River Valley as a surface low deepens off the coast of Virginia. Elevated winds …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Feb 8, 2016 4:29:35 PM
WDT Hazards Moderate to heavy snow will be possible on Monday across portions of New England. Rain will transition from rain to snow Monday and into Tuesday across the Appalachians …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Jan 21, 2016 2:09:14 PM
When we think of hazards associated with snow, we usually think about issues such as travel issues or power outages. One serious problem often overlooked is with roofs on homes …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Jan 18, 2016 4:46:25 PM
There are many challenges presented to meteorologists in forecasting snow. Some of these challenges are a result of the tools and data that we have at our disposal. Let's look …
Read Storyby David Moran, on Jan 11, 2016 4:03:10 PM
Lake Effect Snow is currently affecting eastern portions of the Great Lakes. There are many mechanisms that contribute to the development of Lake Effect Snow, some of which will be …
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