Forensic meteorology is the practice of reconstructing past weather conditions for legal, insurance, and research purposes. As a Certified Consulting Meteorologist, I use verified data sources to determine exactly what the weather was doing at a specific place and time, then explain those findings in a way that holds up under scrutiny.
What Does a Forensic Meteorologist Do?
I review weather records, radar data, and station observations relevant to a case, then produce a written report and, when needed, expert testimony explaining the conditions and their relevance to the claim.
How Forensic Weather Analysis Works
The process starts with identifying the exact time and location in question, then pulling from archived radar, satellite, and surface station data to reconstruct conditions such as wind speed, rainfall, or hail presence.
When You Might Need a Forensic Meteorologist
Attorneys and researchers typically reach out for hurricane damage, storm and wind damage, hail damage, flood, and other weather-driven disputes where the actual conditions at the time are central to the case.
Data Sources I Use
Reports draw on sources such as NOAA weather station records, National Weather Service radar archives, and other verified meteorological data, so findings are defensible and repeatable.
FAQ
Forensic meteorology is the reconstruction and analysis of past weather conditions for use in legal cases, insurance claims, and research.
A forensic weather analysis is a detailed reconstruction of conditions at a specific time and place, based on verified data such as radar and station records.
Reports typically draw on NOAA station records, National Weather Service radar archives, and satellite data.
Cases involving hurricane, storm, wind, hail, or flood damage often need a forensic meteorologist to establish the actual weather conditions.