After 33 years at WBTV I retired in 2021 to continue my love of weather, science and filmmaking.
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I drove out to the Crown Point Plaza Monday night to catch these storms rolling through Mecklenburg County. The lightning captures are ok, but I think my favorite is just that cloud shot as the storms were approaching!
Be on the lookout for more storms later today/evening as well as Thursday and Friday too!
In the words of General George S. Patton, "All Glory Is Fleeting"!
Watch my 2-year-old grandson reach the top of the mountain only to have a very hard fall!
By the way he literally hit that foam golf ball over the fence!
Does he have a future?
Heading to the fireworks this evening with my daughter Emily, my son-in-law Daniel, and my daughter Victoria! I thought I would try one of those scooters, I think I created an awkward moment! I'll try to do better as the evening goes, don't want to embarrass the kids any more than necessary! Happy 4th my friends!!
I caught two pretty cool pictures recently, thought I would share!
The sunset was taken on Emerald Isle looking over the Bogue Sound. We were there last week, I have never been to Emerald Isle before.
The Milky Way was shot two nights ago when we had super clear skies and I drove about an hour south just beyond Waxhaw to get a clear shot of the Southern sky with as little light pollution as possible. Of course you can still see plenty whenever you take a long exposure like this but it was definitely worth the trip!
I hope you enjoy! Meantime I hope you have a fabulous Fourth of July with family and friends! Please be safe especially if you are setting off fireworks!
It sneaks up on me every year, and 2024 is no different. As of 4:50pm today, the days are now getting shorter. Happy Summer Solstice, I hope you enjoyed the longest day of the year!!
I finally got around to seeing how temperatures were trending so far this summer and just noticed we hit 90 for the first time this year yesterday on Thursday the 13th. The average first date is May 27th. Had we held it off another 10 days, we would have entered the top five dates of the latest onset of 90 degree weather.
I guess the gates are open now though! Here's the latest map from this afternoon showing that we've already hit 93. I suppose it is game on now!! Stay cool!
Just a few lightning strikes I caught with my drone from the last storm that came through... less than 30 seconds here. Please forgive the corny ending, I was in a momentary trance!
When people ask me what the most satisfying part of my job and career was, I tell them it would have to be hearing from people who stated our tornado warnings saved their lives. I had a man pay for a $200 tab I rang up once at PF Changs for my family's night out because he said I saved his mom's life. Talk about humbling?!!!
But even though I'm out of television now, I am still occasionally hired as a meteorologist. And that was the case recently as I was hired as a forensic expert by the law firms representing the citizens of northern York county and southern Mecklenburg county in a class action lawsuit against the New-Indy Containerboard plant alleging that the hydrogen sulfide effluents from their factory were polluting their air with noxious fumes.
I conducted my own substantial research and filed a 50 page report. I included a couple micro samples below. I was then subjected to a rigorous deposition and cross-examination by the defense attorneys attempting to pick apart every aspect of my report. I am aware of some other meteorologists who turned down this role in order to avoid sticking their neck out and risk having it chopped off.
So after all that, imagine my joy when I learned that this lawsuit was settled and the 6,000 victims in this case will each receive around a $3,000 payment for their pain and suffering. In addition to that 18 million dollar payout, the total settlement amounted to 103 million dollars as the plant will allocate funds to clean up and improve their technology.
Assuming they post in the same order, here are the pictures:
1. Photo of the plant
2. Map of community odor complaints
3. Wind Rose plot showing the prevailing wind in that area
4. Implementing a Back Trajectory model
5. A snippet of my final opinion
Again, congratulations to everyone who prevailed in this difficult matter.
It was my honor and privilege to be a part of this legal team fighting for your well-being!!!
HA !!!!!!
Our Memorial Day Weekend is starting off with a bang... on my drum set!!
My two-year-old grandson, Flynn, and I decided to form a band, whaddya all think? He's great, he doesn't even point out my mistakes, I LOVE this kid!!!
Have a Blessed Memorial Day Holiday!
Good Thursday to you, I hope you are staying cool - the summer heat is definitely approaching,
This is interesting: Since 2000, the average first date we have hit 90 each year has been May 26th. So if we hit 90 this Sunday, which is in the forecast, we'll be dead on the average this year!
Ok, is there any chance we can meet each other? I am on the Board of the Home Again Foundation, and we are celebrating our 6th birthday June 1st. I WOULD LOVE to get a chance to meet my FB friends. If you live anywhere close by, please come. Tickle Me Rib is providing dinner, and we have some really big, exciting news to share as we continue to find ways to assist families and veterans at risk in our community. It's a sit-down meal and there will be a cash bar (beer and wine).
If you want to come, but feel like you can't afford the ticket, go ahead and buy it online at our website, and when I see you at the party, let me know you are a FB follower of mine, and I will personally reimburse you for your ticket. It's all for a great cause, I'm happy to do it !!!
Hey, look who's back?! I hope y'all are doing well, I was out of my normal mix for two weeks babysitting my grandson with Vickie in Raleigh while my son and daughter-in-law vacationed in Italy. Wait a second... I thought I was the retired guy, aren't we supposed to be the ones traveling??? That's for another day.
Meantime, I got the word late just after returning that evening two weekends ago and saw pictures flying around from Charlotte of the wild Aurora. So I grabbed my camera, set it up in the upstairs bedroom, but by that time is was winding down.
I'm posting it now for a different reason, but if I'm being honest, I was too embarrassed to post it two weeks ago, because all the other pictures were so much better! So why am I posting it now?
Well, I guess why not (?), but I'm using it to accompany this story I read on Space.com suggesting this Aurora may have been the strongest in human recorded history! They are still analyzing more data before 100% declaring it, but either way, this truly was a nearly unprecedented event. I hope you had a chance to see it.
For my part, it was hard to see with the naked eye. This time lapse loops four times and the high sensitivity of the camera's long exposure brought out the dwindling aurora. Enjoy!
So I've heard that people on Facebook don't like watching long videos. Seems reasonable I suppose. So how about a 60 second video of our daytrip to Charleston, SC last weekend.
If you haven't been there lately, here's a refresher, and yes... you should go. Everything on this video was contained within a three mile loop on foot. We parked in a garage between Middle and North Atlantic Wharf streets. Then we walked up to the market on (you guessed it) Market Street, then down through Rainbow Row and onward to the tip at the Battery. Then we looped back.
If interested make sure you see the last part of the video and the window displays I shot on Rainbow Row, pretty neat!
Hi Friends, and Happy Friday! I had a visitor drop into my front yard the other day and amazingly he/she tolerated me as I took my best Sony camera out and took pictures. And by the way, I watched it swoop down and sn**ch a small snake out of my front yard, wow!
I don't know my birds... Red Tailed Hawk???
Also, I just received my SD cards back from my eclipse disaster, and I'm hoping to poke around with them over the weekend to see if there's any chance I can recover them... I'm not holding my breath.
I have other things I want to post soon!
Wow! I had a wonderful time on the Brock Zevan podcast earlier this morning talking about the ups and downs of life and how my early challenges in life shaped who I am today. I hope you get a chance to watch the whole show, but if you're limited on time, I get into my life story at about the 8 minute mark.
You're only allowed to watch though if you don't make fun of me for crying... oh go ahead, my family does, so it's all good, ha!!!!!
Hi friends, really excited about joining Brock tomorrow on his show, if you get a chance, check it out!!
Also, I know I've been quiet here lately. Sadly, I had a disaster and lost all my eclipse pictures!!! I'm still holding out slim hope I might be able to recover them, and when I know for sure I will follow up here!
Happy Thursday, everyone. We will have Mr. Eric Thomas tomorrow! So excited to have him on the show!!
Eric was raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He worked as an Operational Meteorologist for 38 years. He's now retired and working fulltime on his other passion of photography, filmmaking and story-telling. He has received multiple awards such as Deidra T. Lackey Legacy Award, Multiple Emmy Awards for Best Weathercast, Multiple Best Of Charlotte Awards from local publications and American Meteorological Society Seal of Approval.
Know more about him. Join us tomorrow at 8:15AM EST.
This is Figure it Out Friday, you will not want to miss!
Register on the Zoom link below
www.brockzevanmindsetmotivationalcall.com
Good Tuesday friends. Still travelling and I have limited access to my best editing gear, only my laptop. But given enough time, I can still put some stuff together.
With that said, I finally got around to stitching together a Milky Way time lapse over Table Rock Lake near us in Branson, MO. As fate would have it, those pesky high clouds we worried about for the eclipse were rolling across the sky during my outing late Sunday night.
So it's a challenge seeing the Milky Way through the Cirrus clouds, but then again, the clouds do add a little interest to the overall sequence. See what you think, it plays through three times.
I wish people would speed up, do they not know there's an eclipse I'm trying to get to???
As you can see there is the expected high veil of thin Cirrus but plenty of Sun to go around so we remain encouraged!
We are already in the path of totality and we have crossed the 2-minute threshold. Ideally we would make it to Clinton for a 4-minute eclipse but that's not going to happen at this point. So we will trudge along maybe we will make it to a 3-minute eclipse but overall no complaints the skies are cooperating right now.
Hi Friends,
My family arrived today in Branson, MO and we will do the 90 minute drive to Clinton, AR (assuming plans don't change) on Monday afternoon for the total solar eclipse. The short range models are now weighing in on the forecast, and wow! They are in stark disagreement with the long range models.
See attached, and note the names of the maps in the upper left corner.. The ECMWF (long range) is telling us to pack our bags and go home. Stunningly, the Canadian RGEM and the US NAM see things differently and are basically announcing the ALL-CLEAR. Wow! See the RGEM I included.
I also included a picture of the sun I captured!
Welcome to the world of forecasting. So the NBM (the National Blend of Models) not surprisingly is splitting the difference.
And you ask, what's my take? I believe we will see high/thin cirrus clouds in our skies, but thin enough to see the eclipse. Although it won't take much to mask the corona. I think the short range models are not resolving that high/thin layer of moisture and producing the cloudless skies.
On the other hand, I believe the long-range models are overstating things and producing maps that look like a thick overcast. In the end, I think the NBM may have nailed it. Even looking at the map (not the numbers) may well describe the thin nature of the sky as you peer down at the blue land. Just pretend that is blue sky and that may well be what we're peering through on Monday afternoon.
If anyone is looking for something to do this Easter Weekend or beyond through April 14th, this looks like fun! The weather couldn't be any better with sunshine and highs around 80 both days this weekend!
Have a Blessed Easter Holiday! ☦️
Uptown just got a lot more colorful with public art installations, dance parties. live music and more.
Here is Part 2 of my Total Solar Eclipse series talking about the camera equipment I will be taking with me to Arkansas to hopefully capture some great shots of the total solar eclipse on April 8th. If I get lucky, I will certainly post and share my results when I get back here.
Wednesday Sign Of Peace
So as March comes to a close soon, that pretty much puts the final nail in the coffin for any chance of snow around Charlotte... for the second straight winter!!! The latest snowfall in Charlotte was April 28th, 1928, but it didn't stick to the ground. We have never recorded measurable snowfall near Charlotte in the month of April.
Because of this snow drought, for those of you who forgot what snow looks like, here is my video from the last time snow was spotted around Charlotte January 21st, 2022.
Sorry for the herky jerky movements of the drone, this is not my best work and not exactly going to win any awards for cinematic video! But I couldn't pass up using it in order to share the fun of that last snowfall!
Friday Sign Of Peace
Good morning, this could be what the day looks like at some point or maybe not until after dark, but hey, rainy days aren't all that bad if seen through the right lens, eh?
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!
Eric
Here we go again! Seems like 2017 (the last US total solar eclipse) was just a year ago. Along those lines, the next total solar eclipse to hit the lower 48 states won't be until August 12th, 2045, YIKES!!! So try to take advantage of this one!!
This video outlines when and where you need to be to enjoy this spectacular event. Just as importantly, I showcase NASA's website on this event which is both tremendously fun to use and highly educational for anyone of any age wanting to learn more about this and how eclipses actually happen!
Enjoy!
Spring is arriving and the area baseball/softball teams are warming up! Of course as with any summertime outdoor activity, there's a little something else that needs to be accounted for... take a look, you'll see what I mean!
Happy Thursday!
WEDNESDAY MOMENT OF PEACE
Alright, no sunsets today or bunny rabbits! Who remembers Tonka Toys growing up? Well I certainly have my fond memories which probably explains why I couldn't pass up shooting some of this video.
I realize this one is a little off the beaten path, I will know soon enough if y'all thought this was worth posting!
Enjoy your Wednesday!
Wow it looks like the Easter lilies could be buried in one or two feet of snow by the time Palm Sunday rolls around this weekend in the northern plains. Looks like winter isn't over for everybody just yet!
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In the words of General George S. Patton, "All Glory Is Fleeting"! Watch my 2-year-old grandson reach the top of the mountain only to have a very hard fall! By the way he literally hit that foam golf ball over the fence! Does he have a future?
Heading to the fireworks this evening with my daughter Emily, my son-in-law Daniel, and my daughter Victoria! I thought I would try one of those scooters, I think I created an awkward moment! I'll try to do better as the evening goes, don't want to embarrass the kids any more than necessary! Happy 4th my friends!!
Just a few lightning strikes I caught with my drone from the last storm that came through... less than 30 seconds here. Please forgive the corny ending, I was in a momentary trance!
HA !!!!!! Our Memorial Day Weekend is starting off with a bang... on my drum set!! My two-year-old grandson, Flynn, and I decided to form a band, whaddya all think? He's great, he doesn't even point out my mistakes, I LOVE this kid!!! Have a Blessed Memorial Day Holiday!
Hey, look who's back?! I hope y'all are doing well, I was out of my normal mix for two weeks babysitting my grandson with Vickie in Raleigh while my son and daughter-in-law vacationed in Italy. Wait a second... I thought I was the retired guy, aren't we supposed to be the ones traveling??? That's for another day. Meantime, I got the word late just after returning that evening two weekends ago and saw pictures flying around from Charlotte of the wild Aurora. So I grabbed my camera, set it up in the upstairs bedroom, but by that time is was winding down. I'm posting it now for a different reason, but if I'm being honest, I was too embarrassed to post it two weeks ago, because all the other pictures were so much better! So why am I posting it now? Well, I guess why not (?), but I'm using it to accompany this story I read on Space.com suggesting this Aurora may have been the strongest in human recorded history! They are still analyzing more data before 100% declaring it, but either way, this truly was a nearly unprecedented event. I hope you had a chance to see it. For my part, it was hard to see with the naked eye. This time lapse loops four times and the high sensitivity of the camera's long exposure brought out the dwindling aurora. Enjoy!
So I've heard that people on Facebook don't like watching long videos. Seems reasonable I suppose. So how about a 60 second video of our daytrip to Charleston, SC last weekend. If you haven't been there lately, here's a refresher, and yes... you should go. Everything on this video was contained within a three mile loop on foot. We parked in a garage between Middle and North Atlantic Wharf streets. Then we walked up to the market on (you guessed it) Market Street, then down through Rainbow Row and onward to the tip at the Battery. Then we looped back. If interested make sure you see the last part of the video and the window displays I shot on Rainbow Row, pretty neat!
Wow! I had a wonderful time on the Brock Zevan podcast earlier this morning talking about the ups and downs of life and how my early challenges in life shaped who I am today. I hope you get a chance to watch the whole show, but if you're limited on time, I get into my life story at about the 8 minute mark. You're only allowed to watch though if you don't make fun of me for crying... oh go ahead, my family does, so it's all good, ha!!!!!
Good Tuesday friends. Still travelling and I have limited access to my best editing gear, only my laptop. But given enough time, I can still put some stuff together. With that said, I finally got around to stitching together a Milky Way time lapse over Table Rock Lake near us in Branson, MO. As fate would have it, those pesky high clouds we worried about for the eclipse were rolling across the sky during my outing late Sunday night. So it's a challenge seeing the Milky Way through the Cirrus clouds, but then again, the clouds do add a little interest to the overall sequence. See what you think, it plays through three times.
Wednesday Sign Of Peace So as March comes to a close soon, that pretty much puts the final nail in the coffin for any chance of snow around Charlotte... for the second straight winter!!! The latest snowfall in Charlotte was April 28th, 1928, but it didn't stick to the ground. We have never recorded measurable snowfall near Charlotte in the month of April. Because of this snow drought, for those of you who forgot what snow looks like, here is my video from the last time snow was spotted around Charlotte January 21st, 2022. Sorry for the herky jerky movements of the drone, this is not my best work and not exactly going to win any awards for cinematic video! But I couldn't pass up using it in order to share the fun of that last snowfall!
Here is Part 2 of my Total Solar Eclipse series talking about the camera equipment I will be taking with me to Arkansas to hopefully capture some great shots of the total solar eclipse on April 8th. If I get lucky, I will certainly post and share my results when I get back here.
Friday Sign Of Peace Good morning, this could be what the day looks like at some point or maybe not until after dark, but hey, rainy days aren't all that bad if seen through the right lens, eh? HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!! Eric
Here we go again! Seems like 2017 (the last US total solar eclipse) was just a year ago. Along those lines, the next total solar eclipse to hit the lower 48 states won't be until August 12th, 2045, YIKES!!! So try to take advantage of this one!! This video outlines when and where you need to be to enjoy this spectacular event. Just as importantly, I showcase NASA's website on this event which is both tremendously fun to use and highly educational for anyone of any age wanting to learn more about this and how eclipses actually happen! Enjoy!
Spring is arriving and the area baseball/softball teams are warming up! Of course as with any summertime outdoor activity, there's a little something else that needs to be accounted for... take a look, you'll see what I mean! Happy Thursday!
WEDNESDAY MOMENT OF PEACE Alright, no sunsets today or bunny rabbits! Who remembers Tonka Toys growing up? Well I certainly have my fond memories which probably explains why I couldn't pass up shooting some of this video. I realize this one is a little off the beaten path, I will know soon enough if y'all thought this was worth posting! Enjoy your Wednesday!
Wow it looks like the Easter lilies could be buried in one or two feet of snow by the time Palm Sunday rolls around this weekend in the northern plains. Looks like winter isn't over for everybody just yet!
Tuesday Moment Of Peace Good morning, sorry for missing Monday, we were late getting back from Raleigh babysitting my grandson! Today is my animal collection from some recent moments. Please forgive, there are a few repeats in here, but I just wanted to bundle them in with the others! Please enjoy and have a great Tuesday!!
Friday Sign Of Peace Hooray for Friday, maybe some of you are heading to the mountains or the beach this weekend. How lucky we are to be sandwiched right inbetween them. So why not, here's a back to back video clip celebrating both of our North and South Carolina jewels. Make it a fabulous weekend! Eric
Thursday Sign Of Peace Looking at Charlotte is peaceful? Give it a shot! It's not the same 'ol view from your car on the John Belk, or riding in on 4th Street or walking across Trade and Tryon. Make it a GREAT Thursday!
Tuesday Sign Of Peace This deserves the best quality (4K) monitor or TV you own. I could not believe how this turned out! Here you see Beech Mountain Ski resort under twilight; it took my breath away. As a bonus, enjoy the evening "star", the planet Venus in the sky. Also, look carefully, you can really see the skiers. If you watch a second time, look closely at the beginning at the high-flying jet passing right by Venus! Yes, lot's of eye candy here! Have a Great Day!! Eric T...
Monday Daily Sign Of Peace So when I first thought about doing this, today's clip is the first one that came to mind which is to say it's easily one of my favorites. So before we get completely away from winter, behold today's feature. This is from Beech Mountain with what I'm pretty sure is Rime Ice (as opposed to Hoar Frost). Much like a fresh snowfall, I found such serenity in this moment. I hope you do to. Tomorrow, we'll stick with Beech mountain and I'll show you the ski slopes like you've never seen them before. Have a great Monday, go in peace!
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