The History of the Central Plains Severe Weather Symposium (CPSWS) and Weatherfest
This time-line summary includes, the Dates and Themes of the past events, names of invited speakers,
locations of the event,
as well as links to the event posters and photo galleries.
This archive is not yet complete and is being updated.
March 31, 2012: CPSWS #12
Theme: “The Extreme Weather of 2011, Are We Prepared for 2012?”
CPSWS 2012 Poster
Weatherfest Poster
Photo Gallery (coming soon):
April 9, 2011: CPSWS #11
Theme: “Professional Storm Chasing for Research and Photography”
CPSWS 2011 Poster
Weatherfest 2011 Poster
Photo Gallery
March 27, 2010: CPSWS#10
Theme: “Celebrating Ten Years of Storm Preparedness”
CPSWS 2010 Poster
Weatherfest 2010 Poster
Photo Gallery: currently being re-built
April 4, 2009: CPSWS #9
Theme: “Weatherscapes on the Plains”
CPSWS 2009 Poster
Weatherfest 2009 Poster
Photo Gallery
March 28, 2008: CPSWS #8
Theme: “Perspectives on Severe Weather in the Plains”
CPSWS 2008 Poster
Weatherfest 2008 Poster
Photo Gallery
March 24, 2007: CPSWS #7
Theme: “Severe Weather on the Plains, Past, Present and Future“
CPSWS 2007 Poster
Photo Gallery
April 1, 2006: CPSWS #6
Theme: “Surviving The Storms: We Can’t Prevent Severe Weather, But We Can Be Better Prepared”
CPSWS 2006 Poster
Photo Gallery
March 19, 2005: CPSWS #5
Theme: “Surviving The Storms - The May 22, 2004 Nebraska Tornadoes”
CPSWS 2005 Poster
Photo Gallery,
March 20, 2004: CPSWS #4
"Surviving The Storms -The Four Seasons of Severe Weather"
CPSWS 2004 Poster
Photo Gallery
March 30, 2002: CPSWS#3
Theme: "Observing Severe Weather on the Plains"
CPSWS 2002 Poster
Photo Gallery
October 7, 2000: CPSWS #2
Theme: "The Four Seasons of Severe Weather on the Plains"
CPSWS 2000 Poster
Photo Gallery
August 28, 1999: CPSWS #1
Theme: “Severe Weather Research”
Photo Gallery
CPSWS AND Weatherfest Locations:
2012: Hardin Hall, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
2011: Hardin Hall, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
2010: Hardin Hall, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
2009: Hardin Hall, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
2008: Hardin Hall, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
2007: Hardin Hall, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
2006: Southwest High School, Lincoln, NE
2005: East High School, Lincoln, NE
2004: North Star High School, Lincoln, NE
2002: Hardin Hall, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
2000: Hardin Hall, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
1999 Peter Kiewit Conference Center, Omaha, NE
Inivted Speakers at the CPSWS:
CPSWS 2012:
Jenna Blum, "The Accidental Chaser: How a Writer and Weather Weenie Became A Stormchaser, Almost By Accident"
Kenneth Harding, National Weather Service, "Tuscaloosa to Joplin: Lessons Learned and the Path Forward"
Chris Novy, "Hear Me Now, Believe Me Later: Severe Weather Safety"
Barb Mayes Boustead, "A Look Back at The Severe Weather of 2011, and, Looking ahead to 2012"
Brian Smith, "Situational Awareness Will Save Your Life During Severe Weather"
Reynolds Davis, “What You Need to Know to Be a Storm Spotter in Lancaster County”
CPSWS 2011:
Ryan
McGinnis, "VORTEX 2 Severe Weather Photos"
Jim Reed,
"The Future of Weather Photography"
Tim
Marshall, "Inside VORTEX2"
Adam
Houston, "The Use of An Unmanned Aircraft System in VORTEX2"
Barb Mayes, "Nebraska Severe Weather 2010, and Looking Ahead to 2011"
Brian Smith,
"What Not to Do During Severe Weather"
Reynolds
Davis, "How to Become an Official Storm Spotter"
CPSWS 2010:
Scott Blair, “Tornadoes Impacting Interstates: Service and Societal Considerations... stay in your car or head to the ditch?"
Greg Carbin, "Top Ten Weather Events of the Past Ten Years"
Jack Williams "The Ultimate Guide to America's Weather"
Vince Miller, "Photographing the Weather and Scenery of the Great Plains"
Barb Mayes, "Nebraska Severe Weather, 2009 and Looking Ahead to 2010"
Brian Smith:“2010: The Year Spotters Make Contact"
CPSWS 2009:
Joe Schaefer, Director Storm Prediction Center, Norman, OK.
Mike Umscheid, "Under the Meso", Dodge City, KS.
Adam Houston, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Department of Geosciences.
Randy Cerveny, Arizona State University, author, "Freaks of the Weather, The Strangest True Weather Stories".
Barb Mayes, National Weather Service, Omaha/ Valley, Nebraska
Brian Smith, National Weather Service Warning Coordination Meteorologist, Omaha/Valley, Nebraska.
CPSWS 2008:
Jon Davies, storm chaser and author of "Storm Chasers, On the Trail of Twisters".
Mike Mogil of "How the Weatherworks" & author of "Extreme Weather".
Mike Umscheid, NWS, Dodge City, KS.
Joe Schaefer, Director Storm Prediction Center, Norman, OK.
Chris Novy WX CHASE, Oklahoma City, OK.
Brian Smith, National Weather Service Warning Coordination Meteorologist, Omaha/ Valley, Nebraska
CPSWS 2007
Bob Henson, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO, author "Rough Guide to Climate Change".
Paul Kocin, The Weather Channel, author "Northeastern Snowstorms".
Roger Edwards, Storm Prediction Center, Norman, OK.
Brian Smith, National Weather Service Warning Coordination Meteorologist, Omaha/ Valley, Nebraska.
CPSWS 2006:
Ron Holle, Meteorologist, consultant to Vaisala Inc.
Mike Utley, "struckbylightning.org.
Carl Parker, on-air meteorologist at the Weather Channel, Atlanta, GA.
Nolan Doesken, Colorado Climate Office.
Mike Peregrine, Stormseason.com.
Denise Bulling, UNL Public Policy Center.
Kevin Coskren, KLKN Channel 8, Lincoln.
Chris Novy WX CHASE, , Oklahoma City, OK.
Brian Smith, National Weather Service Warning Coordination Meteorologist, Omaha/ Valley, Nebraska.
CPSWS 2006:
"Keeping You Safe" , Kevin Coskren and Liz Dorland, weathercasters, KLKN TV, Lincoln, NE
"Helping you Weather the Storms", Carl Parker, on-air meteorologist at the Weather Channel.
"Lightning Kills, Play it Safe", Ron Holle, Meteorologist, consultant to Vaisala Inc., Tucson, Arizona.
"Lightning Myths and Lightning Facts", Mike Utley, "struckbylightning.org".
"What do Flash Floods, Drought, Snow and Hail Storms have in common?? -- YOU", Nolan Doesken, CO Climate Office.
"Storms of 2005", Mike Peregrine, Stormseason.com
"The Enhanced Fujita Scale", Brian Smith Warning Coordination Meteorologist, NWS, Valley, Omaha.
Spotter Training, Disaster Worker Stress Issues Denise Bulling, UNL Public Policy Center
"Storm Spotter Training Part I ". Brian Smith, National Weather Service Warning Coordination Meteorologist, Omaha/ Valley, Nebraska.
"Storm Spotter Training Part II - Multimedia Presentations". Chris Novy
"Lancaster County Storm Spotter Procedures", Reynolds Davis, Lincoln Amateur Radio Club
CPSWS 2005:
Mark Lee, Weather Bug, Washington, D.C.
Bill Randby, KETV, Channel 7, Omaha .
CT Thongklin, KMTV Channel 3, Omaha.
Sarah Walters, KMTV, Channel 3, Omaha.
Phil Browder, KLKN Channel 8, Lincoln.
Kevin Coskren, KLKN Channel 8, Lincoln.
Denise Bulling, UNL Public Policy Center.
Tim Samaras, Applied Research Associates, Denver, Colorado.
"The Twister Sisters", Peggy Willenberg and Melanie Metz, St. Cloud University.
Mark Svenvold, author of the book "Big Weather", Fordham University.
Christy Carlson of "evorticity.com"
Brian Smith, National Weather Service, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, Omaha/ Valley, Nebraska.
CPSWS 2004:
Rick McCoy, Emergency Manager, Van Wert, Ohio.
Jeff Piotrowski, Twisterchasers.com.
Mark Conner, Nebraska Stratospheric Amateur Radio.
Kevin Coskren, KLKN, ABC TV.
Brian Smith, National Weather Service Warning Coordination Meteorologist, Omaha/ Valley, Nebraska.
CPSWS 2002:
Jim Reed Photography, www.jimreedphoto.com .
Jeff Piotrowski, Twisterchasers.com.
David Stillings, "The Lightning Stalker".
Kevin Coskren, KLKN, ABC TV.
Mark Conner, Nebraska Stratospheric Amateur Radio
CPSWS 2000:
Dr. Mary Ann Cooper, University of Illinois-Chicago.
Dr. Chuck Doswell, National Severe Storms Laboratory, Norman, OK.
Tim Marshall, Storm Track Magazine and Haag Engineering, Dallas, TX.
Jeff Morrow, The Weather Channel, Atlanta, GA.
Cathy Zapotocny, Omaha/Valley National Weather Service.
Brian Smith, National Weather Service Warning Coordination Meteorologist, Omaha/ Valley, Nebraska.
CPSWS 1999:
Alan Moller, National Weather Service, Ft. Worth, TX.
Steve Byrd, National Weather Service, Omaha/ Valley, Nebraska.
Ken Dewey, Department of Geosciences, UNL.
KMTV Channel 3 Meteorologists Craig Koplien and Mark Lee
Paul Mc Crone, Air Force Weather Agency, Offutt AFB
Herb Stein, Doppler on Wheels.
Brian Smith, National Weather Service, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, Omaha/ Valley, Nebraska.
