Work: Chief Science Officer @GallagherRe Alumnus: Notre Dame (MSc: Business Analytics). Florida State (BS: Meteorology). Healthy Obsessions: Weather & Climate Nerdery. Metallica. Notre Dame. Chicago Sports (Blackhawks, Cubs, Bears, Bulls). Views: Minehttps://bsky.app/profile/stevebowen.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/stevebowen.bsky.social/post/3mwtkysy7es22Quick stop to the Hoover Dam (Lake Mead + Boulder Basin) before Night 1 of Metallica at The Sphere. Breathtaking views and a true scientific marvel. Hard to mask the shock of the extremely low water levels. Major concern for the Colorado River system and the region's water / electrical supply.01 Oct 2026 19:15 +0000at://did:plc:eeicf57cwhd352bstl5gtiuo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwtkysy7es22https://bsky.app/profile/stevebowen.bsky.social/post/3mvswldmhvk2wToday marks the 100th anniversary of the Great Miami Hurricane, which brought Category 4 wind / surge damage to a city which was still in its infancy. Things have changed A LOT since. Just look at the graphic below highlighting population and housing unit totals from 1900-2025. Staggering! (1/2)18 Sep 2026 19:44 +0000at://did:plc:eeicf57cwhd352bstl5gtiuo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvswldmhvk2whttps://bsky.app/profile/stevebowen.bsky.social/post/3mvloe7zzy222Spoke at an event at Torrey Pines today in San Diego. Not being able to play a round on the south course afterward is brutal. What a gorgeous place; spectacular views of the Pacific!15 Sep 2026 22:29 +0000at://did:plc:eeicf57cwhd352bstl5gtiuo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvloe7zzy222https://bsky.app/profile/stevebowen.bsky.social/post/3mvih6opmsc2iA reprieve from hurricane activity in the Atlantic is obviously welcome. But a consequence is fewer people feeling the need to have flood insurance. Latest statistics from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) shows continued active policy declines; notably in key states such as FL, TX, LA.14 Sep 2026 15:42 +0000at://did:plc:eeicf57cwhd352bstl5gtiuo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvih6opmsc2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/stevebowen.bsky.social/post/3mvggshgdus2xWhen I walked out of Notre Dame Stadium yesterday, having watched Notre Dame put up 52 on the scoreboard, I'd never have imagined the Chicago Bears putting up 59 (!!!) 24 hours later. https://static.klipy.com/ii/4e7bea9f7a3371424e6c16ebc93252fe/68/f7/Y5jrrOmKgvSlj3.gif?hh=240&ww=320&mp4=3bu1VryTuxXuzREQyJH&webm=04D4FALR8DnUkJVP13 Sep 2026 20:30 +0000at://did:plc:eeicf57cwhd352bstl5gtiuo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvggshgdus2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/stevebowen.bsky.social/post/3mv4a2dydec25Summer 2026 (Jun-Aug) has set the new record for warmest in the Continental US dating to the late 1800s; surpassing 1936. NOAA data confirms what consensus climate change scientific literature tells us: Yes, max highs are getting hotter. But MUCH warmer min lows are driving temperature trends.09 Sep 2026 19:03 +0000at://did:plc:eeicf57cwhd352bstl5gtiuo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv4a2dydec25https://bsky.app/profile/stevebowen.bsky.social/post/3muptulqnkc2lThru Sept 4: The Atlantic hurricane season has produced the least amount of Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) to-date (4.4) since 1941 (0.0). ACE is a measure of individual storm or seasonal intensity / longevity of tropical cyclone activity. (FYI: The Pacific Ocean has produced ~360 ACE thus far.)04 Sep 2026 20:53 +0000at://did:plc:eeicf57cwhd352bstl5gtiuo/app.bsky.feed.post/3muptulqnkc2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/stevebowen.bsky.social/post/3munaijarhs2qThe Atlantic remains without a hurricane in 2026. The attached graphic shows how many seasons had a later "first" calendar day hurricane formation after September 3. With the next two weeks looking to stay quiet, 2026 will keep heading towards a record for latest "first" hurricane. (1/2)03 Sep 2026 20:01 +0000at://did:plc:eeicf57cwhd352bstl5gtiuo/app.bsky.feed.post/3munaijarhs2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/stevebowen.bsky.social/post/3mul3c5alxk23The compounding nature of extreme heat is accelerating the degradation of our aging infrastructure. This is yet another daily example of climate change impacts in real time. [contains quote post or other embedded content]02 Sep 2026 23:22 +0000at://did:plc:eeicf57cwhd352bstl5gtiuo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mul3c5alxk23https://bsky.app/profile/stevebowen.bsky.social/post/3mukwpam7ss2uSeptember 2 PM: The suburbs of Toronto just took a significant hailswath in addition to gusty winds and heavy rainfall. A lot of exposed areas were affected and this is very likely going to be quite an expensive event.02 Sep 2026 22:00 +0000at://did:plc:eeicf57cwhd352bstl5gtiuo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mukwpam7ss2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/stevebowen.bsky.social/post/3muhmorwvls2xAt the inaugural NOAA Industry Partnerships Summit and, as always, @kellyhereid.bsky.social and @mcb-wxclimaterisk.bsky.social are putting on a masterclass in describing NOAA's critical relevance to how the private sector is able to assess catastrophe risk.01 Sep 2026 14:23 +0000at://did:plc:eeicf57cwhd352bstl5gtiuo/app.bsky.feed.post/3muhmorwvls2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/stevebowen.bsky.social/post/3mu62mh4ll22lThe human toll from the horrific flood disaster in Nepal and Tibet is enormous. A devastating tragedy. The economic damage cost will run into the billions (USD). For a country with a ~$46bn GDP, that is sizeable and will require international help to rebuild. https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/nepal-flash-flood-losses-could-run-into-few-billions-says-minister-seeks-different-fundraising-campaign-101787913375174.html28 Aug 2026 19:06 +0000at://did:plc:eeicf57cwhd352bstl5gtiuo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu62mh4ll22lhttps://bsky.app/profile/stevebowen.bsky.social/post/3mu3thy37is2lFor the seismology nerds out there: Interesting to note that today's M6.0 earthquake off the coast of Somalia was the 16th tremor of M6.0+ intensity in this part of the world in the past 100+ years.27 Aug 2026 21:52 +0000at://did:plc:eeicf57cwhd352bstl5gtiuo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu3thy37is2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/stevebowen.bsky.social/post/3mtn23aqxkk2mKatrina (2005) -- Obvious. Andrew (1992) -- Changed the game entirely for building codes, insurance, and storm forecasting. Harvey (2017) -- Set the standard for what happens when a big storm drops prodigious rains in a major metro. Miami (1926) -- The ultimate "if it happened today" storm. [contains quote post or other embedded content]22 Aug 2026 00:41 +0000at://did:plc:eeicf57cwhd352bstl5gtiuo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtn23aqxkk2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/stevebowen.bsky.social/post/3mtmoascaa22rAt least 44% of the US Lower 48 is in moderate or worse drought conditions (as of August 18). With CONUS wildfire activity already running well above the decadal average for acres burned (>7.4M in 2026 vs ~4.0M avg), many parts of the US remain highly vulnerable to fire risk if an ignition occurs.21 Aug 2026 21:09 +0000at://did:plc:eeicf57cwhd352bstl5gtiuo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtmoascaa22rhttps://bsky.app/profile/stevebowen.bsky.social/post/3mtcmajkck22nDamage assessments continue in Hawaii following the passage of Hurricane Lala. Much of the damage on Hawaii (island) is flood-related. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) take-up rate on the island is less than 5%, which sadly means that a large portion of incurred damage will be uninsured.17 Aug 2026 21:06 +0000at://did:plc:eeicf57cwhd352bstl5gtiuo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtcmajkck22nhttps://bsky.app/profile/stevebowen.bsky.social/post/3mt2hl7ow3224Producer Price Index for construction materials and asphalt shingles / siding and coating materials continue reaching new heights. The cycle of why it matters: Catastrophe event → Greater replacement costs during recovery → Higher insurance claims costs → More price pressure on premium renewals14 Aug 2026 15:22 +0000at://did:plc:eeicf57cwhd352bstl5gtiuo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mt2hl7ow3224https://bsky.app/profile/stevebowen.bsky.social/post/3mst3lc5j6c2oVery intense wind gusts, power outages, and subsequent damage reported all throughout the Chicago metro region from the derecho. Peak gust of 96 mph now reported in Will County. Winds topping 70-80 mph across a very heavily populated part of Illinois.11 Aug 2026 16:58 +0000at://did:plc:eeicf57cwhd352bstl5gtiuo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mst3lc5j6c2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/stevebowen.bsky.social/post/3mssta2ishc2gReminder: The climatological peak months for US derecho occurrences are May / June / July. August is also a prime month given summer heat and "Ring of Fire" patterns that can establish. A derecho can occur in any month if the conditions are right (including December -- notably Iowa in 2021.)11 Aug 2026 14:29 +0000at://did:plc:eeicf57cwhd352bstl5gtiuo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mssta2ishc2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/stevebowen.bsky.social/post/3mssr76g5bk2vAugust 11 8:45AM CT: Heads up to the Chicago metro area. An intensifying line of thunderstorms is approaching, and already has a history of >85 mph straight-line wind gusts. This will likely meet the derecho definition. Could be a very impactful / damaging few hours ahead.11 Aug 2026 13:53 +0000at://did:plc:eeicf57cwhd352bstl5gtiuo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mssr76g5bk2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/stevebowen.bsky.social/post/3msorbdfy4s2rAugust 9: Typhoon #Dolphin continues to come ashore in China following landfall earlier today. The large system continues to bring very heavy rainfall and gusty winds across a large swath of eastern China. (1/2)09 Aug 2026 23:43 +0000at://did:plc:eeicf57cwhd352bstl5gtiuo/app.bsky.feed.post/3msorbdfy4s2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/stevebowen.bsky.social/post/3mschd2rl7223Cookie Monster coming back to sing the 7th inning stretch at Wrigley Field again tonight is what we all needed. Legend.05 Aug 2026 02:13 +0000at://did:plc:eeicf57cwhd352bstl5gtiuo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mschd2rl7223https://bsky.app/profile/stevebowen.bsky.social/post/3msbskkk7vs26While long anticipated, it is confirmed that 2025's Eaton Fire was ignited by "electrical arcing on an out-of-service transmission tower." Expect subrogation recoveries by insurance carriers from the California Wildfire Fund; which has $21 billion. FULL REPORT: https://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/lac/1214310_EatonArsonInvestigationReportFinal8.3.26redacted.pdf04 Aug 2026 20:02 +0000at://did:plc:eeicf57cwhd352bstl5gtiuo/app.bsky.feed.post/3msbskkk7vs26https://bsky.app/profile/stevebowen.bsky.social/post/3ms43wtod6k2sAugust 2 AM: Latest NFIC wildfire perimeters suggest that a sizeable number of homes and structures were likely affected in the Old Trails Fire in Spokane, Washington. Awaiting official word from state / local firefighters as assessments begin.02 Aug 2026 13:34 +0000at://did:plc:eeicf57cwhd352bstl5gtiuo/app.bsky.feed.post/3ms43wtod6k2shttps://bsky.app/profile/stevebowen.bsky.social/post/3ms2qlejris25August 1 5:30 PM PT: Active fires burning uncomfortably close to the Spokane (WA) metro area. Evacuations are underway for some city residents. Extreme / Critical fire conditions in place across much of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana today.02 Aug 2026 00:38 +0000at://did:plc:eeicf57cwhd352bstl5gtiuo/app.bsky.feed.post/3ms2qlejris25https://bsky.app/profile/stevebowen.bsky.social/post/3mrp3fup35s2dHere is initial info from the USGS from today's earthquake in southern Japan in Kumamoto Prefecture. This will likely be a damaging and expensive event. FYI: The 2016 Kumamoto EQ sequence (M7.0 & M6.8) resulted in $53 billion in economic losses; of which $8 billion were insured (2026 USD).28 Jul 2026 09:19 +0000at://did:plc:eeicf57cwhd352bstl5gtiuo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrp3fup35s2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/stevebowen.bsky.social/post/3mrlf2jl2ks26July 26: Genevieve becomes the 9th global tropical cyclone in calendar year 2026 to undergo extreme rapid intensification (>50 knots in a 24-hour period). Of the 19 TCs to reach hurricane intensity this year, 11 have reached Category 3+ intensity. Eight (8) of those have been Category 4/5. (1/2)26 Jul 2026 22:01 +0000at://did:plc:eeicf57cwhd352bstl5gtiuo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrlf2jl2ks26https://bsky.app/profile/stevebowen.bsky.social/post/3mriqm6mnwk2rSix years old. It was time for her to experience the Original NES. "Dad! Is this like Nintendo Switch? Where is Luigi? Is Jack Black in this game?" I've never felt older.25 Jul 2026 20:50 +0000at://did:plc:eeicf57cwhd352bstl5gtiuo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mriqm6mnwk2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/stevebowen.bsky.social/post/3mrgajt2mvk2pSignificant wildfire situation across parts of France and Spain amid record-setting summer heat in Europe. Yes, humans are a leading igniter of wildfires. Yes, climate change has absolutely enhanced conditions that bring such rapid fire spread / extreme fire behavior. https://apnews.com/article/spain-wildfires-emergency-54c3d375fa1cca8399ea2645a8e119b024 Jul 2026 20:57 +0000at://did:plc:eeicf57cwhd352bstl5gtiuo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrgajt2mvk2phttps://bsky.app/profile/stevebowen.bsky.social/post/3mrazsnhysk2xJuly 22: #Bertha has officially made landfall in Louisiana as a 45 mph tropical storm. I must admit, I cannot immediately recall a landfalling tropical cyclone that has such minimal rainfall associated with it. Bizarre!22 Jul 2026 19:14 +0000at://did:plc:eeicf57cwhd352bstl5gtiuo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrazsnhysk2x