Dr. Brad Illston
@bradillston.bsky.social
Senior Research Scientist for the Oklahoma Mesonet and Adjunct Assistant Prof for the School of Meteorology at the University of Oklahoma. PhD in Meteorology.
Had a great time being pied in the face for helping raise money for weather disaster relief in Jamacia and Alaska. What a great cause and excited to see students, faculty, staff, and others contribute to the efforts.
November 13, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Had a great time being pied in the face for helping raise money for weather disaster relief in Jamacia and Alaska. What a great cause and excited to see students, faculty, staff, and others contribute to the efforts.
Had a great time video chatting with kindergarteners about hurricanes and the weather. They had some great questions and Hurricane Melissa is giving them a real-time demonstration of the power of a hurricane.
October 28, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Had a great time video chatting with kindergarteners about hurricanes and the weather. They had some great questions and Hurricane Melissa is giving them a real-time demonstration of the power of a hurricane.
Breaking edge technologies in their respective eras almost 100 years apart.
October 17, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Breaking edge technologies in their respective eras almost 100 years apart.
So a relative of mine is making headlines on all of the news networks right now. I guess I should turn off notifications on social media for a bit.
October 15, 2025 at 8:14 PM
So a relative of mine is making headlines on all of the news networks right now. I guess I should turn off notifications on social media for a bit.
The School of Meteorology and College of Atmos. & Geog. Sci. at the Univ. of Oklahoma is looking for a Researcher with experience in field work and instrumentation. Message me if you need more information. Apply at the link below.
Researcher
Click the link provided to see the complete job description.
ou.taleo.net
October 8, 2025 at 9:35 PM
The School of Meteorology and College of Atmos. & Geog. Sci. at the Univ. of Oklahoma is looking for a Researcher with experience in field work and instrumentation. Message me if you need more information. Apply at the link below.
I had a great time this week talking with kids from three classes (Kinder, 2nd, and 5th grade) out in Oconee County, Georgia about being a meteorologist, fun weather information, and interesting places I have traveled doing my job. It gives me so much joy seeing the curiosity of our next generation.
October 2, 2025 at 9:48 PM
I had a great time this week talking with kids from three classes (Kinder, 2nd, and 5th grade) out in Oconee County, Georgia about being a meteorologist, fun weather information, and interesting places I have traveled doing my job. It gives me so much joy seeing the curiosity of our next generation.
Had a wonderful time talking to the amazing people associated with the Oklahoma Homeless Alliance on how they can use weather data to assist our unhoused population. They were quite interested in Wet Bulb Globe Temperature and its utility.
September 18, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Had a wonderful time talking to the amazing people associated with the Oklahoma Homeless Alliance on how they can use weather data to assist our unhoused population. They were quite interested in Wet Bulb Globe Temperature and its utility.
Giant wolf spider last night and a corn snake tonight found in the bedroom. What critter will join us tomorrow night? #CountryLiving
September 17, 2025 at 1:46 AM
Giant wolf spider last night and a corn snake tonight found in the bedroom. What critter will join us tomorrow night? #CountryLiving
Swing and a miss on AI response to a weather history question on lowest mean sea level pressure in Oklahoma for March 2019. Another example for me to share with my students on using AI. It didn't even double check itself on units or reasonableness of the response.
September 12, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Swing and a miss on AI response to a weather history question on lowest mean sea level pressure in Oklahoma for March 2019. Another example for me to share with my students on using AI. It didn't even double check itself on units or reasonableness of the response.
I got a spam text on Saturday with which I decided to have fun. I think I am blocked now. They are no fun to play with anymore.
September 8, 2025 at 6:38 PM
I got a spam text on Saturday with which I decided to have fun. I think I am blocked now. They are no fun to play with anymore.
Michigan fans in shorts is an impressive level of pasty white.
September 6, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Michigan fans in shorts is an impressive level of pasty white.
It's that time of year again. I brought the nice weather. The Sooners can bring the wins. #BoomerSooner
August 30, 2025 at 10:14 PM
It's that time of year again. I brought the nice weather. The Sooners can bring the wins. #BoomerSooner
Conversation with 8yo kiddo...
Me: "I'll always have your back and be there for you."
Kiddo: "So, if I am at a conference that doesn't allow kids, you would watch my kids while I am gone?"
Me: "Well,.....yes."
Now I am pondering what she thinks about when I leave for scientific conferences.
Me: "I'll always have your back and be there for you."
Kiddo: "So, if I am at a conference that doesn't allow kids, you would watch my kids while I am gone?"
Me: "Well,.....yes."
Now I am pondering what she thinks about when I leave for scientific conferences.
August 28, 2025 at 2:17 AM
Conversation with 8yo kiddo...
Me: "I'll always have your back and be there for you."
Kiddo: "So, if I am at a conference that doesn't allow kids, you would watch my kids while I am gone?"
Me: "Well,.....yes."
Now I am pondering what she thinks about when I leave for scientific conferences.
Me: "I'll always have your back and be there for you."
Kiddo: "So, if I am at a conference that doesn't allow kids, you would watch my kids while I am gone?"
Me: "Well,.....yes."
Now I am pondering what she thinks about when I leave for scientific conferences.
My kiddo wanted to learn how to play Dungeons and Dragons. She never heard a quicker yes from her father. She had a blast. As an animal lover, she wanted to be a druid and even "dressed like one" in green flower pants for playing.
August 24, 2025 at 1:39 AM
My kiddo wanted to learn how to play Dungeons and Dragons. She never heard a quicker yes from her father. She had a blast. As an animal lover, she wanted to be a druid and even "dressed like one" in green flower pants for playing.
Congratulations on a successful launch of NISAR.
July 30, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Congratulations on a successful launch of NISAR.
Excited for tomorrow's launch of the NISAR satellite which will provide global information about water in its various forms. I have been working with NASA/JPL scientists on the ground verification instrumentation in Oklahoma for the past few years. The launch will take place in India at 6:00am CST.
NISAR Launch
YouTube video by NASA
www.youtube.com
July 29, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Excited for tomorrow's launch of the NISAR satellite which will provide global information about water in its various forms. I have been working with NASA/JPL scientists on the ground verification instrumentation in Oklahoma for the past few years. The launch will take place in India at 6:00am CST.
Introduced our 9 month old lab to dock diving. She did amazing and is a natural. Not surprised since dock diving is in her blood from her parents who competed. We may have to keep at this and maybe enter a competition for fun.
July 26, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Introduced our 9 month old lab to dock diving. She did amazing and is a natural. Not surprised since dock diving is in her blood from her parents who competed. We may have to keep at this and maybe enter a competition for fun.
Happy to have available another paper in which I was a part of being published. Great to work with other scientists across the globe to get this research accomplished and out to our community. doi.org/10.1002/qj.5...
July 24, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Happy to have available another paper in which I was a part of being published. Great to work with other scientists across the globe to get this research accomplished and out to our community. doi.org/10.1002/qj.5...
I spy with my little eye....a new Mesonet station!!! Happy Birthday Smithville!!!
July 17, 2025 at 2:53 PM
I spy with my little eye....a new Mesonet station!!! Happy Birthday Smithville!!!
In the process of collecting photos of every step in the installation procedures of the weather station used in my class. This will be for a major update to the lab manual in preparation for publication for other schools to use.
July 11, 2025 at 4:10 PM
In the process of collecting photos of every step in the installation procedures of the weather station used in my class. This will be for a major update to the lab manual in preparation for publication for other schools to use.
Surprised our daughter for her birthday with a short trip to see her favorite animal, the capybara.
July 5, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Surprised our daughter for her birthday with a short trip to see her favorite animal, the capybara.
It only took a few days of horse camp...."Daddy, can we get a horse at the farm?"
June 26, 2025 at 8:27 PM
It only took a few days of horse camp...."Daddy, can we get a horse at the farm?"
Having a great time teaching kids about weather instruments at the OETA and PBS Kids launch event for the new upcoming show Weather Hunters. Show premiers on September 8th.
June 25, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Having a great time teaching kids about weather instruments at the OETA and PBS Kids launch event for the new upcoming show Weather Hunters. Show premiers on September 8th.
Kiddo struggling to get up this morning after staying up to watch the Stanley Cup. She has been further hockey baptized.
June 18, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Kiddo struggling to get up this morning after staying up to watch the Stanley Cup. She has been further hockey baptized.
32 years and counting, Canada.
June 18, 2025 at 2:50 AM
32 years and counting, Canada.