Chris Geelhart
@wxgeelhart.bsky.social
Lead meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Lincoln, IL. Brewers and Packers fan. Long time amateur genealogist. Opinions (not that I usually post any) are my own.
How it started / how it’s going. First photo at 11 pm, the other at 4:20 am. One of the few benefits of the midnight shift.
November 12, 2025 at 10:42 AM
How it started / how it’s going. First photo at 11 pm, the other at 4:20 am. One of the few benefits of the midnight shift.
Reposted by Chris Geelhart
The Copernicus Sentinel-2 polar-orbiting satellite made an extremely fortuitous pass over Hurricane Melissa right before it made landfall in Jamaica to provide these stunning images of one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes in history
October 28, 2025 at 10:04 PM
The Copernicus Sentinel-2 polar-orbiting satellite made an extremely fortuitous pass over Hurricane Melissa right before it made landfall in Jamaica to provide these stunning images of one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes in history
Reposted by Chris Geelhart
1-minute #GOES19/#GOESEast Visible and Infrared images with plots of GLM Flash Points showed prolific lightning activity within the inner eyewall of Category 5 Hurricane #Melissa as it approaches the SW coast of Jamaica. Low-altitude mesovortices persist within the eye.
October 28, 2025 at 2:32 PM
1-minute #GOES19/#GOESEast Visible and Infrared images with plots of GLM Flash Points showed prolific lightning activity within the inner eyewall of Category 5 Hurricane #Melissa as it approaches the SW coast of Jamaica. Low-altitude mesovortices persist within the eye.
Reposted by Chris Geelhart
With a central pressure down to 896mb as of 9am EDT, #Melissa has joined the elite sub-900mb group of Atlantic hurricanes... it is now one of just seven:
Wilma 2005: 882mb
Gilbert 1988: 888mb
Labor Day 1935: 892mb
Rita 2005: 895mb
Milton 2024: 895mb
Melissa 2025: 896mb
Allen 1980: 899mb
Wilma 2005: 882mb
Gilbert 1988: 888mb
Labor Day 1935: 892mb
Rita 2005: 895mb
Milton 2024: 895mb
Melissa 2025: 896mb
Allen 1980: 899mb
October 28, 2025 at 1:20 PM
With a central pressure down to 896mb as of 9am EDT, #Melissa has joined the elite sub-900mb group of Atlantic hurricanes... it is now one of just seven:
Wilma 2005: 882mb
Gilbert 1988: 888mb
Labor Day 1935: 892mb
Rita 2005: 895mb
Milton 2024: 895mb
Melissa 2025: 896mb
Allen 1980: 899mb
Wilma 2005: 882mb
Gilbert 1988: 888mb
Labor Day 1935: 892mb
Rita 2005: 895mb
Milton 2024: 895mb
Melissa 2025: 896mb
Allen 1980: 899mb
My children have not seen me watch a lot of baseball, so 4 days in a row of games is making them nervous. At least they’re not fighting for the TV. 🙂 Go Brewers!
October 14, 2025 at 12:01 AM
My children have not seen me watch a lot of baseball, so 4 days in a row of games is making them nervous. At least they’re not fighting for the TV. 🙂 Go Brewers!
Today’s harvest from the garden. Lots of fresh sauces in the future, and blackberry cobbler is currently in the oven.
August 20, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Today’s harvest from the garden. Lots of fresh sauces in the future, and blackberry cobbler is currently in the oven.
Lincoln IL weather balloon was still visible at an altitude of 24,000 feet this evening. Low sun angle and light winds aloft helping out.
August 14, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Lincoln IL weather balloon was still visible at an altitude of 24,000 feet this evening. Low sun angle and light winds aloft helping out.
I lived in Milwaukee when they opened the 1987 season with a 13 game winning streak, which is the franchise record. Hope to see them break that record soon!
August 13, 2025 at 10:16 PM
I lived in Milwaukee when they opened the 1987 season with a 13 game winning streak, which is the franchise record. Hope to see them break that record soon!
Reposted by Chris Geelhart
I have spent the last 24 hours looking at media reports and social media posts about the Texas Hill County tragedy and being appalled by the level of misinformation I am seeing. I have tried to put together an updated, more reasoned summary I hope you'll read.
open.substack.com/pub/balanced...
open.substack.com/pub/balanced...
Latest on Texas Hill Country flood tragedy
Chantal makes landfall in South Carolina
open.substack.com
July 6, 2025 at 6:08 PM
I have spent the last 24 hours looking at media reports and social media posts about the Texas Hill County tragedy and being appalled by the level of misinformation I am seeing. I have tried to put together an updated, more reasoned summary I hope you'll read.
open.substack.com/pub/balanced...
open.substack.com/pub/balanced...
Reposted by Chris Geelhart
Flood Watch issued yesterday at 1:18 pm.
WPC had mesoscale discussions throughout the event.
NWS issues Flash Flood Warning at 1:14 am.
NWS issues Flash Flood Emergency at 4:03 am.
NWS was on the ball.
The challenge is always getting the warning the last mile and getting people to respond.
WPC had mesoscale discussions throughout the event.
NWS issues Flash Flood Warning at 1:14 am.
NWS issues Flash Flood Emergency at 4:03 am.
NWS was on the ball.
The challenge is always getting the warning the last mile and getting people to respond.
Everyone making comments about DOGE and FEMA as it relates to the Texas flooding is insulting to the NWS employees working this event that were well aware of how bad this was becoming. Plenty of opportunities to use those arguments elsewhere.
July 5, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Flood Watch issued yesterday at 1:18 pm.
WPC had mesoscale discussions throughout the event.
NWS issues Flash Flood Warning at 1:14 am.
NWS issues Flash Flood Emergency at 4:03 am.
NWS was on the ball.
The challenge is always getting the warning the last mile and getting people to respond.
WPC had mesoscale discussions throughout the event.
NWS issues Flash Flood Warning at 1:14 am.
NWS issues Flash Flood Emergency at 4:03 am.
NWS was on the ball.
The challenge is always getting the warning the last mile and getting people to respond.
Reposted by Chris Geelhart
Had some fun with my weekend writing. Anyone guilty of any of the 5? :)
www.forbes.com/sites/marsha...
www.forbes.com/sites/marsha...
5 Questions You Shouldn’t Ask Meteorologists And The Reasons Why
Don't ask meteorologists these 5 questions (and the reasons why).
www.forbes.com
June 28, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Had some fun with my weekend writing. Anyone guilty of any of the 5? :)
www.forbes.com/sites/marsha...
www.forbes.com/sites/marsha...
Snagged a few crepuscular rays at work this evening, from storms in eastern Iowa 150 miles away.
June 27, 2025 at 1:54 AM
Snagged a few crepuscular rays at work this evening, from storms in eastern Iowa 150 miles away.
I’ve been noticing the Rivian EV plant in Normal, Illinois has been showing up on GOES-19 satellite data recently. 1st image from this morning (through the smoke layer), second from Sentinel-2 this past Sunday.
June 11, 2025 at 12:39 PM
I’ve been noticing the Rivian EV plant in Normal, Illinois has been showing up on GOES-19 satellite data recently. 1st image from this morning (through the smoke layer), second from Sentinel-2 this past Sunday.
A couple people from my office have spent 2-week stints at this office to help fill gaps. Another is currently in KS helping out, with another going there next month. We also one helping out in CO in August. We’re down 5 positions, but only one vacancy is a meteorologist.
This is one the most authentic, frustrating, and alarming inside looks at what pressure, cuts and "forced" retirement have done to a critical National Weather Service forecast office. Worth a read to illustrate what many of us have been saying
www.nbcnews.com/science/scie...
www.nbcnews.com/science/scie...
Tired in Tornado Alley
A crucial National Weather Service office, battered by cuts, is trying to put on a brave face as tornado season peaks.
www.nbcnews.com
June 7, 2025 at 3:12 PM
A couple people from my office have spent 2-week stints at this office to help fill gaps. Another is currently in KS helping out, with another going there next month. We also one helping out in CO in August. We’re down 5 positions, but only one vacancy is a meteorologist.
30+ years in the NWS and I’ve never used a “green screen.” Is he thinking of TV meteorologists?
PETERS: Will you commit to me that the forecasting office in Marquette will not cease its round the clock operation?
LUTNICK: You don't understand it yet because nobody has explained it to you. These are hard drive computers literally that nobody has seen in 25 years
PETERS: So the answer is no
LUTNICK: You don't understand it yet because nobody has explained it to you. These are hard drive computers literally that nobody has seen in 25 years
PETERS: So the answer is no
June 4, 2025 at 9:54 PM
30+ years in the NWS and I’ve never used a “green screen.” Is he thinking of TV meteorologists?
Nice sunrise at the ol’ Weather Bureau on a cool Memorial Day early morning
May 26, 2025 at 10:11 AM
Nice sunrise at the ol’ Weather Bureau on a cool Memorial Day early morning
Reposted by Chris Geelhart
Sped up the Indianapolis Wienie 500 to make it look like an actual car race with the photo finish and the key commentary at normal speed
May 23, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Sped up the Indianapolis Wienie 500 to make it look like an actual car race with the photo finish and the key commentary at normal speed
Reposted by Chris Geelhart
Whether you get your forecast from an app on your phone, a website or a meteorologist on TV, most of the underlying information comes from the federal government.
By @rhersher.bsky.social
By @rhersher.bsky.social
Where does your weather forecast come from?
Whether you get your forecast from an app on your phone, a website or a meteorologist on TV, most of the underlying information comes from the federal government.
www.npr.org
May 19, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Whether you get your forecast from an app on your phone, a website or a meteorologist on TV, most of the underlying information comes from the federal government.
By @rhersher.bsky.social
By @rhersher.bsky.social
Reposted by Chris Geelhart
Simply incredible satellite imagery of a dust storm hitting Chicago this evening.
May 17, 2025 at 1:31 AM
Simply incredible satellite imagery of a dust storm hitting Chicago this evening.
First time on the warning desk since July. I think I ended up putting out 13-14 warnings on Thursday. Friday looks like another active day.
May 16, 2025 at 5:10 AM
First time on the warning desk since July. I think I ended up putting out 13-14 warnings on Thursday. Friday looks like another active day.
I was visiting the Lincoln NWS office that day (stationed at the old Springfield office). The radar had finished construction a couple weeks prior and was still undergoing testing. There was some fear it would be destroyed before it could even be used.
May 9th, 1995:
An outbreak of 40 tornadoes impacted the Midwest and Southeast. Four tornadoes were significant (F2+). A long-track F3 damaged or destroyed two dozen homes in Cantrall, Illinois, and narrowly missed the new NWS Office in Lincoln. 9 people were injured.
An outbreak of 40 tornadoes impacted the Midwest and Southeast. Four tornadoes were significant (F2+). A long-track F3 damaged or destroyed two dozen homes in Cantrall, Illinois, and narrowly missed the new NWS Office in Lincoln. 9 people were injured.
May 9, 2025 at 4:22 PM
I was visiting the Lincoln NWS office that day (stationed at the old Springfield office). The radar had finished construction a couple weeks prior and was still undergoing testing. There was some fear it would be destroyed before it could even be used.