Tempestology (HURRICANES) with Matt Lanza & Dr. Kim Wood

Part 1: Hurricanes. Typhoons. Cyclones. Tropical storms. Tropical depressions. What does it all MEAAAN? Let’s dive in. Career meteorologists Dr. Kim Wood of the University of Arizona and Space City Weather’s Matt Lanza join for a two-guest two-parter to address the “deadlier” female-named hurricanes, why hurricane season happens, the category system, where hurricanes come from, why they have eyes, and how we track cyclones’ paths so we can stay out of them. 

Next week we’ll be back with Kim and Matt to chat about climate change, emergency preparation – for any disaster occasion –, the latest on the government funding drama, if you should trust a waffle house more than a weather person, and literally what is on the horizon in the future. Also: cows.

Listen via Apple, Spotify, iHeart, Podbay, Podcast Addict, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Ad-free episodes available by subscribing to SiriusXM Podcasts+. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.

Part 2: The info storm continues! Part 1 covered the anatomy of a cyclonic storm, the bizarre histories behind the category system, and where hurricanes come from, but this week’s conclusion with Matt Lanza and Dr. Kim Wood gets you covered on emergency preparation for any disaster occasion, climate change trends and despair, the latest on the government funding drama, if you should trust a waffle house more than a weather person, and literally what is on the horizon in the future. Also: Sharpiegate.

Listen via Apple, Spotify, iHeart, Podbay, Podcast Addict, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Ad-free episodes available by subscribing to SiriusXM Podcasts+. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.

Read Matt Lanza’s tropical weather forecasts at The Eyewall and Houston-based forecasts at Space City Weather

Follow Matt Lanza on Instagram and Bluesky

Visit Dr. Wood’s website and follow them on Google Scholar and Bluesky

Donations went to the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country's Kerr County Flood Relief Fund and The Trevor Project


Links to things we discussed:

How Eric Berger and Matt Lanza Became Houston's Most Trusted Meteorologists

Hurricane Science Was Great While It Lasted - The Atlantic 

FEMA: Mitigation Saves: Federal Mitigation Grants Save $6 per $1 Spent

What is the difference between a hurricane and a typhoon?

Websites hosting major US climate reports taken down

The Hurricane Hunters That Never Returned

Full video of Hurricane Hunters flying through tough weather

High vs. Low-Pressure Systems Explained

What is the difference between a hurricane and a typhoon?

King Ranch: Secret History 

Who was Jacob Tier Yarrington?

Tropical Cyclone Naming History and Retired Names

TWISTER Clip - "Cows" (1996) Bill Paxton + Helen Hunt

June 2025: Fired, rehired and fired again, some NOAA employees get letters demanding money

July 2025: Cuts to NOAA increase the risk of deadly weather tragedies

July 2025: Congressional committees push back on Trump administration's proposed NOAA budget cuts

Herbert Seymour Saffir’s Morro Castle Survival

Severe Weather Topics - Wind Shear 

NOAA's National Weather Service - Glossary - shear 

25th Anniversary of a 'hairy hop' into Hurricane Hugo - NOAA's Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory 

The Wildest Ride on a Hurricane Hunter Aircraft - Eos 

​​Structure of the Eye and Eyewall of Hurricane Hugo (1989)

Clement Lindley Wragge: The Life of a Pioneer Meteorologist

'Inclement' Wragge : pioneer weather forecaster

Deaths Related To Hurricane Rita And Mass Evacuation”

Encyclopedia of Hurricanes, Typhoons, and Cyclones, New Edition

A review of ocean-atmosphere interactions during tropical cyclones in the north Indian Ocean

Natural Hazard Mitigation Saves Interim Report

Man Behind FEMA’s Makeover Built Philosophy on Preparation


Per Dr. Sam Montano:

'Setting us up for catastrophe': alarm at Trump attack on federal disaster agency: 1/23/25

Trump cuts will lead to more deaths in disasters, expert warns: 'It is really scary': 5/5/25

Deadly floods could be new normal as Trump guts federal agencies, experts warn: 7/8/25

David Richardson’s “terrible fashion sense


How can people prepare for disasters? 

1) Call your reps and tell them to demand that the administration nominate a qualified FEMA administrator, require FEMA to spend its funding as Congress has instructed, and pass legislation to make FEMA independent from DHS

2) Take as many individual actions to prepare yourself for disaster as possible with the resources you have. The usual things like stockpiling extra food, water, medications, having a family communication and evacuation plan, and money in savings for an emergency. Buy flood insurance. Please, please, please buy flood insurance. 

3) Be proactive about getting disaster alerts & warnings. Make sure your phone settings allow for receipt of government emergency alerts (this is that screeching sound your phone makes when there's a tornado, etc.). Some states send out more messages on this (like Amber alerts), which can get a bit annoying, but you really need to keep it turned on. You should also Google your city/town/county + emergency management and see what other emergency alerts you can opt in to. Every community has a different approach but you should be able to find it on their website. You might also want to follow your local emergency management agency on social media. Having redundancy in alerts and warnings saves lives! 

4) Check in with your friends, family, and neighbors and make sure they've all done these things too. Especially consider grandparents, elderly neighbors, or other people in your life who might need some extra help during a disaster. 

5) Prepare for federal assistance to be delayed or much less than in the past. This means advocating for community-wide preparedness where you live. Look into your local emergency management agency's budget. I bet they do not have enough money. Go to a town council meeting and advocate for increasing their budget or taking on more local mitigation projects. Ask your local climate groups to include disaster advocacy in their work. 


Other episodes you may enjoy:

Meteorology (WEATHER & CLIMATE)

Oceanology (OCEANS)

Nephology (CLOUDS)

Disasterology (DISASTERS)

Fulminology (LIGHTNING)


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Editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions and Jake Chaffee

Managing Director: Susan Hale

Scheduling Producer: Noel Dilworth 

Transcripts by Aveline Malek

Website by Kelly R. Dwyer

Theme song by Nick Thorburn

EarthAlie Ward