Mike and four others founded WDT in 2000 in Norman, Oklahoma. The founders of WDT all came from meteorological research organizations in Norman and WDT continues to maintain relationships with these research organizations to extract new technologies from them. Before founding WDT in April 2000, Mike was employed with the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) for 18 years, the last seven as Assistant Director. While at NSSL, Mike built and led a Division that grew from 8 to 100 people which was funded by the NWS, DOD, and FAA to develop the core automated weather detection and prediction capabilities for the NEXRAD and Terminal Doppler Weather Radar programs resulting in the successful deployment of both of those networks. Mike has written over 75 papers and is internationally recognized for his knowledge of Doppler radar and its application to severe weather warning, aviation hazard detection and prediction and precipitation estimation.
Recent Posts by Mike Eilts:
by Mike Eilts, on Mar 20, 2019 10:09:13 AM
Most people think that once you get a meteorology degree, you’re destined to embark on a career as a forecaster. While that’s often true, it’s sometimes the case that a …
Read Storyby Mike Eilts, on Feb 13, 2019 1:05:54 PM
It’s no secret that snow, slush, sleet and ice can wreak havoc on roads, often creating nightmare traffic conditions. But more than a mere nuisance, adverse weather can be tied …
Read Storyby Mike Eilts, on Jan 9, 2019 1:35:54 PM
It’s no secret that bad weather can play havoc on the aviation industry. According to a 2016 study in Physical Geography, the weather was a cause or contributing factor in …
Read Storyby Mike Eilts, on Nov 27, 2018 2:22:32 PM
Most people know that the weather has a significant impact on the agriculture industry. Indeed, crops need the basics of moisture, warmth, and sun to thrive. But what’s less obvious …
Read Storyby Mike Eilts, on Oct 23, 2018 11:20:39 AM
In my last blog, I explained how important it is for offshore oil and gas companies to have access to specific weather information to help them make important decisions about …
Read Storyby Mike Eilts, on Oct 17, 2018 2:56:04 PM
Most people understand the value that weather forecasts bring to the general public. They tell us whether it will be a good beach day, how much to bundle up at …
Read Storyby Mike Eilts, on Oct 4, 2018 1:22:16 PM
In my previous blog, I wrote about the vital partnership between the National Weather Service and private weather companies and how each brings an essential function to the weather enterprise …
Read Storyby Mike Eilts, on Sep 18, 2018 2:05:30 PM
There are two questions I'm often asked by friends, acquaintances, and even colleagues in the weather industry: “Is the U.S. National Weather Service a competitor of WDT?” and “What does …
Read Storyby Mike Eilts, on Jul 9, 2018 3:27:11 PM
Today’s marriage of advanced weather information and analytics, along with ever-evolving mapping abilities, produces capabilities once unimaginable. It’s now possible—from the comfort and convenience of any computer or smart device—to …
Read Storyby Mike Eilts, on Apr 4, 2018 1:59:06 PM
Every year, stadiums, concerts, speedways, and amusement parks are frequently threatened by cloud-to-ground lightning. These types of venues are incredibly vulnerable to lightning due to the large number of people …
Read Storyby Mike Eilts, on Sep 8, 2017 8:34:51 PM
When I first meet people from outside the weather world and tell them I work for WDT, a private weather company, I often get the question, what does a weather …
Read Storyby Mike Eilts, on Jan 20, 2017 10:23:52 AM
I am writing this article on Wednesday from 36,000ft above the Rockies on my way to the American Meteorological Society (AMS) Annual Meeting in Seattle. With several meetings lined up …
Read Storyby Mike Eilts, on Jan 10, 2017 10:03:48 AM
One role of a President/CEO is to be a visionary and to create and continue to refine strategy for the business. It can be hard to do that if you …
Read Storyby Mike Eilts, on Sep 6, 2016 1:54:40 PM
On September 3, 2016, a 5.8 magnitude earthquake occurred near Pawnee, Oklahoma at about 7:02 a.m. That morning, I was viewing Doppler weather radar data in my RadarScope® app and …
Read Storyby Mike Eilts, on Dec 16, 2015 3:16:54 PM
Are you dreaming of a white Christmas? If you live east of the Rockies, then keep dreaming. You may have noticed, if you watch football, that many locations in the …
Read Storyby Mike Eilts, on Nov 13, 2015 11:43:20 AM
Anomalously cold weather is likely to arrive in the West and Central Plains in the next few weeks. Most of us are not ready for it because it has been …
Read Storyby Mike Eilts, on May 11, 2015 10:23:16 AM
I have spent quite a bit of time watching the local television meteorologists the last few days (as have most of you!) during the severe weather events we have had …
Read Storyby Mike Eilts, on May 11, 2015 10:23:16 AM
I have spent quite a bit of time watching the local television meteorologists the last few days (as have most of you!) during the severe weather events we have had …
Read Storyby Mike Eilts, on Nov 18, 2013 10:34:04 AM
You've browsed far enough into the all new WDT website to find my blog! I hope you're happy with what you've seen thus far. We're continually building to ensure the …
Read Storyby Mike Eilts, on Nov 18, 2013 10:34:04 AM
You've browsed far enough into the all new WDT website to find my blog! I hope you're happy with what you've seen thus far. We're continually building to ensure the …
Read Storyby Mike Eilts, on May 21, 2013 12:32:35 PM
To all my friends and family that have been asking, our family and house are all fine. No one in the WDT family was hurt, but many people had damage …
Read Storyby Mike Eilts, on May 21, 2013 12:32:35 PM
To all my friends and family that have been asking, our family and house are all fine. No one in the WDT family was hurt, but many people had damage …
Read Storyby Mike Eilts, on Nov 1, 2012 12:34:42 PM
As you might imagine, the past 7 days here at WDT® have been very demanding! We knew Sandy had characteristics that would brand her a “historic” storm; but just how …
Read Storyby Mike Eilts, on Nov 1, 2012 12:34:42 PM
As you might imagine, the past 7 days here at WDT® have been very demanding! We knew Sandy had characteristics that would brand her a “historic” storm; but just how …
Read Storyby Mike Eilts, on Sep 12, 2012 12:37:45 PM
WDT and NWS partner to make Linkin Park “Storm Ready” Linkin Park’s touring manager, Jim Digby, is passionate about the safety of outdoor concerts and weather is one of the …
Read Storyby Mike Eilts, on Sep 12, 2012 12:37:45 PM
WDT and NWS partner to make Linkin Park “Storm Ready” Linkin Park’s touring manager, Jim Digby, is passionate about the safety of outdoor concerts and weather is one of the …
Read Storyby Mike Eilts, on Apr 17, 2012 12:53:34 PM
After experiencing a tornado in my hometown of Norman, Oklahoma, and hearing all of the stories of many people’s experiences during the event, I am very worried about the public’s …
Read Storyby Mike Eilts, on Apr 17, 2012 12:53:34 PM
After experiencing a tornado in my hometown of Norman, Oklahoma, and hearing all of the stories of many people’s experiences during the event, I am very worried about the public’s …
Read Storyby Mike Eilts, on Mar 7, 2012 11:57:19 AM
After 2011’s tragic number of tornado-related deaths, and the large number of destructive tornadoes that hit densely populated areas, many people ask me if 2012 is going to be as …
Read Storyby Mike Eilts, on Mar 7, 2012 11:57:19 AM
After 2011’s tragic number of tornado-related deaths, and the large number of destructive tornadoes that hit densely populated areas, many people ask me if 2012 is going to be as …
Read Storyby Mike Eilts, on Aug 27, 2011 1:02:38 PM
As I write this on Friday afternoon, Hurricane Irene is a Category 2 Hurricane aimed directly at Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. After Irene pummels North Carolina, she will move up …
Read Storyby Mike Eilts, on Aug 27, 2011 1:02:38 PM
As I write this on Friday afternoon, Hurricane Irene is a Category 2 Hurricane aimed directly at Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. After Irene pummels North Carolina, she will move up …
Read Storyby Mike Eilts, on Aug 8, 2011 1:06:43 PM
Driving in a car in a place that you are not familiar with can be a harrowing experience at times, especially if there is severe weather in the area. If …
Read Storyby Mike Eilts, on Aug 8, 2011 1:06:43 PM
Driving in a car in a place that you are not familiar with can be a harrowing experience at times, especially if there is severe weather in the area. If …
Read Storyby Mike Eilts, on Jul 28, 2011 1:17:02 PM
Most of Texas and the western half of Oklahoma our under an “Exceptional Drought” as determined by NOAA. See (Pic 1). If normal rainfall occurred over the state of Texas …
Read Storyby Mike Eilts, on Jul 28, 2011 1:17:02 PM
Most of Texas and the western half of Oklahoma our under an “Exceptional Drought” as determined by NOAA. See (Pic 1). If normal rainfall occurred over the state of Texas …
Read Storyby Mike Eilts, on Jul 26, 2011 1:19:56 PM
Although I spent most of my career focusing on severe weather and its detection and nowcasting, I regularly observe how the National Hurricane Center (NHC) communicates threats from hurricanes, drawing …
Read Storyby Mike Eilts, on Jul 26, 2011 1:19:56 PM
Although I spent most of my career focusing on severe weather and its detection and nowcasting, I regularly observe how the National Hurricane Center (NHC) communicates threats from hurricanes, drawing …
Read Storyby Mike Eilts, on Jul 5, 2011 1:22:44 PM
There has been a lot of discussion in the Norman Meteorological Community in the past few weeks over the number of deaths in the devastating tornado season we have had …
Read Storyby Mike Eilts, on Jul 5, 2011 1:22:44 PM
There has been a lot of discussion in the Norman Meteorological Community in the past few weeks over the number of deaths in the devastating tornado season we have had …
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