Tempestology (HURRICANES) Part 1 with Matt Lanza & Dr. Kim Wood

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.

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


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