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.
My mind went to Dobby.
October 17, 2025 at 1:26 PM
My mind went to Dobby.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
With last night's rain, 2025 rainfall for the year at my house has surpassed all of 2012. Quite a wet start to the year.
May 30, 2025 at 3:21 PM
With last night's rain, 2025 rainfall for the year at my house has surpassed all of 2012. Quite a wet start to the year.
My dog loves eating ice and is in absolute heaven with this hailstorm producing free treats all over the yard.
May 25, 2025 at 11:42 PM
My dog loves eating ice and is in absolute heaven with this hailstorm producing free treats all over the yard.
Correction: They have shifted to anti-cyclonic, but apparently they need to sleep in synch.
May 23, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Correction: They have shifted to anti-cyclonic, but apparently they need to sleep in synch.
My dogs are cyclonic sleepers.
May 23, 2025 at 3:58 PM
My dogs are cyclonic sleepers.
I just entered my 7000th CoCoRaHS record. So proud to be part of this volunteer observer community.
May 15, 2025 at 1:32 PM
I just entered my 7000th CoCoRaHS record. So proud to be part of this volunteer observer community.
I am going to stay as far inland as possible when Hurricane Karen comes barreling in.
May 5, 2025 at 6:21 PM
I am going to stay as far inland as possible when Hurricane Karen comes barreling in.
Our new (old) house on well water didn't have the best water flow. We are changing out all of the fixtures and i am glad we installed a new whole home water filtration device.
May 4, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Our new (old) house on well water didn't have the best water flow. We are changing out all of the fixtures and i am glad we installed a new whole home water filtration device.
She has brought her two assistants for the post-lunch explorations.
April 20, 2025 at 7:34 PM
She has brought her two assistants for the post-lunch explorations.
My daughter is absolutely thrilled to be exploring the more wild parts of our new property. She wants to do more exploring. How many creatures will she be bringing home this summer?
April 20, 2025 at 5:30 PM
My daughter is absolutely thrilled to be exploring the more wild parts of our new property. She wants to do more exploring. How many creatures will she be bringing home this summer?
[Norman Friends] If you are looking for a fun and good lunch that supports Regional Food Bank, come to Benvenuti's today from 11:30-1:00. It is $10 for all you can eat pasta, pizza, and salad. My 7-yo daughter will be one of the waitresses to serve you to raise money for the good cause.
March 26, 2025 at 2:20 PM
[Norman Friends] If you are looking for a fun and good lunch that supports Regional Food Bank, come to Benvenuti's today from 11:30-1:00. It is $10 for all you can eat pasta, pizza, and salad. My 7-yo daughter will be one of the waitresses to serve you to raise money for the good cause.
Happy 10th anniversary to my wonderful wife. We got married at 9:26pm on Pi day. Yup, 3-14-15 9:26. 10th anniversary gift is tin and my wife had the perfect gift made for a scientist.
March 14, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Happy 10th anniversary to my wonderful wife. We got married at 9:26pm on Pi day. Yup, 3-14-15 9:26. 10th anniversary gift is tin and my wife had the perfect gift made for a scientist.