About

I'm an NWP scientist working on weather model development at Spire (spire.com). In January 2021, I received my Ph.D. in Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Utah. My experience and skill set include numerical weather prediction, machine learning, large-eddy simulations, distributed computing, ensembles, uncertainty quantification, probabilistic validation, precipitation processes, boundary layer and mountain meteorology.

Languages and Tools

  • Python
  • Fortran
  • WRF
  • CM1

Current Activities

ML-Enhanced Lake-Effect Forecasts

I've developed a 5-year dataset of hourly lake-effect periods in HRRR forecasts and MRMS precipitation analyses over Lake Ontario. I'm currently training, testing, and evaluating the ability of image-to-image translation deep learning models to enhance spatial lake-effect forecasts from the HRRR. The example shown here includes (a) a raw 12-h HRRR forecast, (b) an ML-enhanced 12-h HRRR forecast trained using the pix2pix image-to-image translation deep learning model, and (c) the MRMS precipitation analysis for the valid forecast time.

Idealized Lake-Effect Modeling

The first half of my Ph.D. research involves designing, conducting, and analyzing idealized large-eddy simulations of banded and cellular lake-effect precipitation interacting with downstream terrain. We seek to understand how the precipitation distributions of these two modes are affected by varied orography and coastlines.

[Click on gif to view my presentation which won 1st place the 18th AMS Conference on Mesoscale Processes]

M.S. Research Published

Our paper, which evalutes the performance of precipitation forecasts from the experimental, convection-permitting NCAR Ensemble and other operational NCEP models (HRRR, NAM-3km, GFS, and SREF) over the mountains of the western U.S. has been accepted by AMS Weather and Forecasting.

[Click on the image to be directed to the article.]

Utah Ski Weather

Forecaster (former president) for Utah Ski Weather. We forecast the greatest snow on earth. Daily forecasts during the ski season for the mountains of Utah.

Contact

Email: tom.gowan@gmail.com