Weather Wise
243 episodes - English - Latest episode: 5 days ago -Do you love weather? Join Meteorologists and special guests from 47 ABC to talk all things weather. Fresh episodes drop every Wednesday!
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Episodes
E31: Tornado Warnings and a Flash Flood Emergency
August 09, 2023 09:00 - 15 minutes - 11 MBMonday brought a significant outbreak of severe weather to the mid-Atlantic region, resulting in numerous severe thunderstorms that moved across Delmarva late in the evening. Rotating supercells triggered tornado warnings across the lower shore of Maryland, while torrential rains triggered a rare Flash Flood Emergency to be issued by the National Weather Service for the city of Cambridge. Chief Meteorologist Rich Wirdzek and Meteorologist Jake Grant break down the specifics of the setup that...
E30: Relief from the heat, Delaware State Fair recap, and checking in on the Tropics
August 02, 2023 09:00 - 12 minutes - 8.9 MBWeather Wise returns after a week break for the Delaware State Fair! Chief Meteorologist Rich Wirdzek and Meteorologist Jake Grant recap their time broadcasting at the fair and the long awaited break from the excessive heat. Severe thunderstorms ushered in the change in weather pattern on Sunday with wildfire smoke returning with the cooler northwesterly winds. They also check in the tropics as the month of August begins.
E29: Flash Flooding, Wildfire Smoke, and Record Heat in the Southwest
July 19, 2023 09:00 - 16 minutes - 11.2 MBFresh off of a deluge on Sunday where parts of Delaware received 5-7 inches of rain, smoke has again drifted into the region as Canadian wildfires continue to burn. The heat and humidity has been on par for July standards across Delmarva, but on the other side of the country record heat continues to sear many locations in the desert southwest.
E28: First Heat Wave of the Season
July 12, 2023 09:00 - 17 minutes - 11.9 MBSummer temperatures and high humidity have quickly become the norm across Delmarva since the start of July. Chief Meteorologist Rich Wirdzek and Meteorologist Jake Grant talk about the issue of acclimation and how a cooler June has made typical July heat a bit more difficult to handle.
E27: Severe Weather and Summer Heat on Delmarva
July 05, 2023 09:00 - 23 minutes - 16.4 MBThe lead up to the 4th of July was increasingly hot and humid, which set the stage for severe weather on the evening of the 3rd. A large supercell thunderstorm cut across Talbot, Caroline, and Sussex counties, bringing wind damage and flooding to some areas and even prompting a brief tornado warning. Meteorologist Jake Grant joins Chief Meteorologist Rich Wirdzek to recap the event while taking a look at the current heat pattern that's settled into the region for the first week of July.
E26: Getting to know Meteorologist Jake Grant
June 28, 2023 09:00 - 17 minutes - 11.8 MBIn this week's episode we welcome our newest Meteorologist, Jake Grant, to the WMDT weather team! Jake chats with Chief Meteorologist Rich Wirdzek about his local ties to the region and what fueled his passion for all things weather. Jake joined us at the beginning of June and will be serving as our morning and noon meteorologist, Monday-Friday on 47abc.
E25: The End of an Era: Meteorologist Ulises Garcia Says Farewell
June 21, 2023 09:00 - 23 minutes - 16.5 MBAfter more than 5 years of service forecasting for the Delmarva Peninsula, Meteorologist Ulises Garcia signs off for the final time on the Weather Wise Podcast. As he prepares to embark on the next step of his career, Ulises reminisces with Chief Meteorologist Rich Wirdzek about his time at WMDT and reveals the details of his new endeavors in the Midwest!
E24: Wildfire Smoke and Sticky Air
June 14, 2023 09:00 - 11 minutes - 7.68 MBDelmarva had an array of air quality in the past week, spanning thick wildfire smoke from fires in eastern Canada, abnormally dry air for this time off the year, and a surge of summer-like humidity. Meteorologist Ulises Garcia and Chief Meteorologist Rich Wirdzek talk about what caused the wildfire smoke to move south along the east coast and how the weather pattern is shifting into a more typical late spring setup.
E23: Early Action in the Tropics, Wildfire Smoke across Delmarva
June 07, 2023 09:00 - 13 minutes - 9.34 MBKicking off the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season, the first named storm - Arlene - is already in the books! In eastern Canada, the lack of rain and warm temperatures have created long-lived wildfires with thick smoke inundating areas along the east coast. Chief Meteorologist Rich Wirdzek and Meteorologist Ulises Garcia discuss the impact of the smoke and air quality concerns for Delmarva.
E22: NOAA Hurricane Outlook & Memorial Day Coastal Low
May 31, 2023 09:00 - 10 minutes - 7.17 MBChief Meteorologist Rich Wirdzek & Meteorologist Ulises Garcia discuss how the coastal low that impacted the Carolinas; played a role to the weather on Delmarva too for Memorial Day. Rich & Ulises mention what NOAA is forecasting this season in their Atlantic hurricane outlook.
E21: Cool Temperatures, Smoky Sunsets, and a Typhoon
May 24, 2023 09:00 - 11 minutes - 7.87 MBMay has been a much cooler (and wetter) month compared to April across the Mid-Atlantic. Chief Meteorologist Rich Wirdzek and Meteorologist Ulises Garcia look at the current patterns as we close in on the Holiday Weekend. Wildfire smoke from western Canada has been making for some nice sunrises and sunsets along the east coast, plus a dangerous Typhoon closes in on Guam.
E20: January Subtropical Storm, Eastern Snowfall Recap & Pneumonia Front
May 17, 2023 09:00 - 15 minutes - 10.9 MBMeteorologists Rich Wirdzek and Ulises Garcia recap the rain from this past Saturday; along with talking about the tropics, snowfall & a special weather event that occurs in the Great Lakes.
E19: Cool and Wet May Pattern; Midwest Dust Storms
May 10, 2023 09:00 - 12 minutes - 8.6 MBAfter a very warm and drought stricken April, May has thus far been a much more typical weather setup with a back and forth between cool, wet days and nice, sunny days. Meteorologist Ulises Garcia and Chief Meteorologist Rich Wirdzek discuss the current pattern and how recent rains have allowed much of Delmarva to recover from drought conditions while other parts of the Mid-Atlantic remain abnormally dry or in moderate drought. Dry conditions have also plagued areas in the Midwest leading to...
E18: Drought reversing rains; strong tornado strikes Virginia Beach
May 03, 2023 09:00 - 13 minutes - 9.63 MBThis past weekend brought several inches of much needed rain to Delmarva, reversing the course of moderate drought that had taken over much of the Peninsula. Chief Meteorologist Rich Wirdzek and Meteorologist Ulises Garcia discuss rain totals and explore how a snowfall deficit in the winter months enhanced drought conditions into early Spring. Plus, with the weekend rains came severe weather in the region, as a strong tornado ripped through the city of Virginia Beach early Sunday evening.
E17: Major Pattern Shift & the Northern Lights
April 26, 2023 09:00 - 12 minutes - 8.76 MBA major shift in the overall temperature and precipitation pattern is occurring across the Mid-Atlantic after several weeks of above normal temperatures and dry conditions. Cool and wet days lie ahead as we round out the final days of the month as Meteorologist Ulises Garcia and Chief Meteorologist Rich Wirdzek discuss what to expect heading into May. They also talk about a rare glimpse of the Northern Lights in Delmarva!
E16: Drought and Fire Danger on Delmarva
April 19, 2023 09:00 - 11 minutes - 7.68 MBApril is typically known for its increasing occurrences of thunderstorms. And although the month started with a severe weather outbreak that spawned the Sussex county tornado, much of the month has featured stretches of sunny days and abnormally warm temperatures. Chief Meteorologist Rich Wirdzek and Meteorologist Ulises Garcia discuss the worsening drought conditions across Delmarva and how other variables are coming together to increase the fire risk on the peninsula.
E15: Frosty Nights and Deceiving Days along the Coast
April 12, 2023 09:00 - 13 minutes - 9.33 MBThe recent weather pattern has brought sunny days and late Spring and Summer-like temperatures to much of Delmarva, with the exception of the coast - where cold waters have dramatically cooled the air a few miles inland. Meteorologist Ulises Garcia and Chief Meteorologist Rich Wirdzek recap the big temperature differences on Delmarva that are common this time of the year, including nights that can still generate frost and freeze conditions. They also discuss the latest drought monitor for De...
E14: Bridgeville-Ellendale Tornado
April 05, 2023 09:00 - 16 minutes - 11.5 MBOn Saturday (4/1/23), a supercell thunderstorm produced a violent EF-3 tornado carving a 14.3 mile path across parts of northern Sussex county in Delaware. The tornado became the 2nd strongest and 2nd fatal tornado on record in the state of Delaware, claiming one life and leaving behind a trail of destruction. Chief Meteorologist Rich Wirdzek and Meteorologist Ulises Garcia discuss the unique atmospheric setup that supplied the ingredients for a severe weather event more typical for the Midw...
E13: Early Spring Rainfall Deficit and Deep South Tornado Outbreak
March 29, 2023 09:00 - 12 minutes - 8.77 MBMeteorologist Ulises Garcia and Chief Meteorologist Rich Wirdzek discuss an increasing rainfall deficit that is prompting early stages of drought conditions across parts of Delmarva. While the Mid-Atlantic weather pattern has been fairly quiet, areas in the deep south are coming off of a deadly tornado outbreak.
E12: Spring is Here! Severe Weather Preparedness in Delaware
March 22, 2023 09:00 - 16 minutes - 11.1 MBSpring started at 5:24pm EDT on Monday and for Delmarva the upward temperature trend has been right on cue with the new season. Chief Meteorologist Rich Wirdzek and Meteorologist Ulises Garcia are in for this week's episode to talk about the changing weather pattern for the late part of March. With severe weather season just around the corner, Delaware is gearing up its preparedness efforts with a week long look at severe weather safety and preparation.
E11: Later Sunsets, Winter's Last Stand, and Saying Goodbye
March 15, 2023 09:00 - 18 minutes - 12.7 MBWith the start of Daylight Saving Time this past weekend, Chief Meteorologist Rich Wirdzek and Meteorologist Sloane Haines talk the pros and cons of the newly adjusted time. And with the start of Spring just a few days away, Sloane and Rich discuss how the weather pattern has finally shifted to a more normalized stretch for late winter, with little signs of change in the immediate future. And on a bittersweet note, Meteorologist Sloane Haines signs off in her final Weather Wise Podcast as sh...
E10: Recapping a Record February and First Thunderstorms of the Year
March 08, 2023 10:00 - 15 minutes - 10.7 MBChief Meteorologist Rich Wirdzek is joined this week by Ulises Garcia to recap another month for the record books. Following one of the warmest Februarys on record for the Salisbury area, the start of March has followed suit with the first thunderstorms of the season across some parts of Delmarva.
E9: Snow and Severe Weather
March 01, 2023 10:00 - 13 minutes - 9.07 MBMeteorologist Sloane Haines joins Chief Meteorologist Rich Wirdzek this week as they recap a weekend that teased snow lovers with a brief period of wet snow across parts of Delmarva that had yet to see any flakes this season. Severe weather was the story in parts of the Midwest and Ohio Valley, where damage was reported due to numerous instances of straight line winds and tornadoes. Sloane and Rich discuss why this late February severe weather event was unique both for the time of the year a...
E8: Record Temps, Typhoons, and Signs of Snow?
February 22, 2023 10:00 - 17 minutes - 11.9 MBChief Meteorologist Rich Wirdzek and Meteorologist Ulises Garcia discuss a late week warm-up that could break some records. With the talk of warm air, they also look at a powerful Typhoon on the other side of the world. And in the continued search for signs of snow, Rich and Ulises discuss how some climate signals may be shifting towards a more winter-friendly setup in the weeks to come.
E7: The mild winter rolls on!
February 15, 2023 10:00 - 14 minutes - 9.76 MBMeteorologist Sloane Haines is back this week with Chief Meteorologist Rich Wirdzek as an exceptionally mild February continues into the mid-month time frame. With recent record high temperatures they take a look at long range patterns to see if there's any hope for cold and snow lovers for later stages of winter.
E6: Checking in with Punxsutawney Phil
February 09, 2023 10:00 - 15 minutes - 11 MBPunxsutawney Phil says that we're not done with winter. This week, Meteorologist Ulises Garcia and Chief Meteorologist Rich Wirdzek offer their thoughts on the matter!
E5: Is winter finally arriving?
February 01, 2023 10:00 - 15 minutes - 10.4 MBChief Meteorologist Rich Wirdzek and Meteorologist Sloane Haines talk about the possibility of the first measurable snow event across Delmarva so far this season - and although a small amount at most, is this a sign of more winter-like conditions in the coming days?
E4: Wet pattern on Delmarva continues
January 25, 2023 10:00 - 14 minutes - 9.92 MBChief Meteorologist Rich Wirdzek and Meteorologist Ulises Garcia recap the recent string of storm systems across the region as a mild and snow-free winter continues. They also examine the he atmospheric river events in the western US and how unprecedented snowpack in the mountains may help drought stricken areas in the Spring.
E3: Mild temps, tornadoes in the south, atmospheric river out west...and no snow in Italy!
January 18, 2023 10:00 - 20 minutes - 14.1 MBJanuary continues to be unusual for wintertime standards, not just in Delmarva, but across the country and other parts of the world. Chief Meteorologist Rich Wirdzek and Meteorologist Sloane Haines talk about the recent tornadoes in the south and the atmospheric river out west. Plus, fresh off of her honeymoon, Sloane describes the unusually warm winter weather she experienced while overseas in Italy and the impact its having on local tourism and the ski season in the Alps.
E2: Mild January in Delmarva, active weather out west
January 11, 2023 10:00 - 15 minutes - 10.4 MBAs January continues to be milder than average, Chief Meteorologist Rich Wirdzek and Meteorologist Ulises Garcia look at the warmer than usual start to the new year. With mild weather here along the east coast, the western United States has been taking the brunt of the active weather with catastrophic conditions as a result.
E1: Ringing in 2023 on a mild note!
January 04, 2023 10:00 - 13 minutes - 9.64 MBChief Meteorologist Rich Wirdzek is with Meteorologist Sloane Haines this week to kick off the new year and season 4 of the WeatherWise Podcast! A mild start to the new year, Delmarva has had quieter weather since the artic blast of Christmas Weekend. They discuss some of the big weather events happening in other parts of the country to start off 2023 and how temperatures will soon settle into a more seasonable spread in the coming days across Delmarva.
E49: Frigid Christmas Recap & New Year's Preview
December 28, 2022 10:00 - 13 minutes - 9.54 MBMeteorologists Sloane Haines & Ulises Garcia discuss the record setting cold from this past Christmas weekend while looking ahead to the milder temperatures for the New Year's weekend.
E48: Arctic blast expected late week, snow chances before Christmas
December 21, 2022 10:00 - 15 minutes - 10.7 MBMeteorologist Ulises Garcia joins Chief Meteorologist Rich Wirdzek to discuss the upcoming arctic blast that's expected to arrive later this week. The timing will be just before Christmas, giving those hopeful for a White Christmas something to watch. Rich and Ulises discuss the opportunity for any snowfall for Delmarva.
E47: Looking ahead to the start of winter
December 14, 2022 10:00 - 16 minutes - 11.2 MBChief Meteorologist Rich Wirdzek and Meteorologist Sloane Haines explore the upcoming temperature trends for late December, holiday weather expectations, and more in this week's podcast!
E46: Preparing for the Upcoming Winter Season
December 07, 2022 10:00 - 12 minutes - 8.32 MBNow that December is in full swing, Chief Meteorologist Rich Wirdzek and Meteorologist Sloane Haines are back this week to talk about gearing up for the coming cold season. They give a preview of this week's Winter Weather Special, sponsored in part by National HVAC, which will air through the end of the week on 47 ABC WMDT and can be found at WMDT.com.
E45: Historic lake effect snow and looking ahead to December
November 30, 2022 10:00 - 19 minutes - 13.5 MBChief Meteorologist Rich Wirdzek and Meteorologist Ulises Garcia recap a historic lake effect snow event that occurred in western New York and the conditions that made it possible for close to 6.5 feet of snow to fall in a single storm. After a cold second half of November, they look into the long range trends that give clues on what to expect for temperatures heading into the first half of December.
E44: Cold Blast & Thanksgiving Weather
November 23, 2022 09:00 - 17 minutes - 12 MBChief Meteorologist Rich Wirdzek and Meteorologist Sloane Haines chat about the blast of cold air Delmarva saw over the weekend into early this week. Plus, they have your Thanksgiving forecast. And if you're looking to get into the holiday spirit, they let you know which holiday parades they'll be at next week!
E43: Fall temperatures and wedding weather
November 16, 2022 10:00 - 22 minutes - 15.4 MBA big congrats to Meteorologist Sloane Haines who just got married last weekend! And she's back this week with Chief Meteorologist Rich Wirdzek to talk about the fantastic, but very unusual weather she enjoyed for her special weekend, plus other wedding weather lore. With the return of fall temperatures, Sloane and Rich also discuss the rapid change in temperatures across Delmarva.
E42: Time changes, summer-like temps, and late season tropical activity
November 09, 2022 10:00 - 17 minutes - 12.4 MBChief Meteorologist Rich Wirdzek is joined by Meteorologist Ulises Garcia for this week's episode. They focus on the stretch of record breaking warm weather across Delmarva and how this trend is reversing course. With the recent time change, November weather is back...along with a late season tropical storm!
E41: November Outlook
November 02, 2022 09:00 - 16 minutes - 11.4 MBNovember arrived in Delmarva with above average temperatures, a trend that appears set to continue well into the month. Chief Meteorologist Rich Wirdzek and Meteorologist Sloane Haines dive into the average numbers for a typical November, plus they take a look at a very active late season in the tropics.
E40: Late October in Delmarva
October 26, 2022 09:00 - 14 minutes - 9.8 MBAs the leaves begin to show more color across the area, the weather pattern is shifting into more of an unsettled pattern, as the streak of recent sunny days has been replaced by stubborn cloudiness, passing showers and foggy conditions. Meteorologist Ulises Garcia and Chief Meteorologist Rich Wirdzek recap the transition from frosty mornings to wet and milder conditions across Delmarva.
E39: Frosty Mornings and Fall Foliage
October 19, 2022 09:00 - 18 minutes - 12.8 MBMeteorologist Ulises Garcia joins Chief Meteorologist Rich Wirdzek this week to talk about the dip in temperatures across Delmarva. Frosty mornings and leaves starting to show some color, Fall is in full swing across the Mid-Atlantic!
E38: High Winds and Coastal Flooding from the Remnants of Ian
October 12, 2022 09:00 - 17 minutes - 12.2 MBExpanding on last week's podcast, Meteorologist Sloane Haines and Chief Meteorologist Rich Wirdzek review the overall impact the remnants of Ian had on Delmarva. The rain was much needed, but it came at a cost as the remnants of Ian integrated with a coastal storm to bring high winds and coastal flooding to the eastern shore of Delmarva.
E37: Remnants of Hurricane Ian
October 05, 2022 19:00 - 15 minutes - 10.7 MBMeteorologist Sloane Haines joins Chief Meteorologist Rich Wirdzek this week to talk about the ongoing impact on Delmarva from the remnants of Hurricane Ian. They talk about how Ian's upper level energy integrated with a new coastal storm to bring a prolonged period of rain, wind and coastal flooding to much of Delmarva's shoreline.
E36: Fall Begins and Tracking Ian
September 28, 2022 09:00 - 16 minutes - 11.7 MBSome of the coolest air since Spring arrived across Delmarva in a timely fashion to begin the Fall season. Just as cooler weather settles into the region, the tropics have picked up some steam with potential impact to the Mid-Atlantic. Chief Meteorologist Rich Wirdzek and Meteorologist Ulises Garcia are back to discuss the possibility of Ian bringing much needed rain, but also other issues to the area.
E35: Hurricane Fiona
September 21, 2022 09:00 - 17 minutes - 11.9 MBChief Meteorologist Rich Wirdzek and Meteorologist Sloane Haines are back this week talking about Hurricane Fiona and the devastation brought to the island of Puerto Rico almost 5 years after recovering from Hurricane Maria. Much of Fiona's impact to Puerto Rico was from catastrophic flash flooding, and they compare this scenario to other tropical systems that were notable for extreme rainfall rather than wind damage.
E34: Much Needed Rain and Football
September 14, 2022 09:00 - 16 minutes - 11.4 MBChief Meteorologist Rich Wirdzek and Meteorologist Ulises Garcia talk about the latest rainfall to occur across Delmarva and how this is helping to curtail the expanding drought across the peninsula. Also, with the start of the pro football season, they discuss a few of the games that were most impacted by the weather.
E33: Drought Busting Rains
September 07, 2022 09:00 - 17 minutes - 12.3 MBChief Meteorologist Rich Wirdzek and Meteorologist Ulises Garcia talk about the latest drought status across Delmarva and how rainfall this week will potentially bring some reprieve to parched areas. They also take a look at a continued active scenario in the tropics as the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season approaches.
E32: Activity Brewing in the Tropics
August 31, 2022 09:00 - 16 minutes - 11.3 MBAs we head into the peak of the Atlantic Hurricane season, activity has quickly increased after an unprecedented lull of action for most of the season. Meteorologist Sloane Haines and Chief Meteorologist Rich Wirdzek explain the expectations of peak season in the tropics and what this may mean for the east coast heading into Labor Day Weekend. They also discuss the latest drought monitor for Delmarva.
E31: Remembering Hurricane Andrew
August 24, 2022 09:00 - 18 minutes - 12.5 MB30 years ago, Hurricane Andrew made landfall near Miami in South Florida as a powerful Category 5 storm. Similar to the current trend in 2022, Andrew was the first named storm of an extremely quiet 1992 Atlantic hurricane season, and to this day serves as a reminder that the tropics can produce devastating storms regardless of how inactive a season has trended. Chief Meteorologist Rich Wirdzek and Meteorologist Sloane Haines talk about how the destruction of Andrew brought about important in...