I have been studying weather since I was eight years old.  It is a passion.  It is in my blood.  This passion is difficult to explain.  The sound of thunder, the wind rustling the leaves in the trees, the first snowflakes of winter, the first rainbow of spring. Watching the billowing cumulus clouds on a warm summers day.  Waiting for that first clap of thunder.  The pitter patter of raindrops outside my window.
I love weather!  It fascinates me.  I am driven to try and understand what makes the atmosphere work.   

  I used to listen to NOAA Weather Radio on the school bus, at school, during recess, in my sleep.  The principal at my high school welcomed me into his office, during my lunch break, to watch The Weather Channel.  I was a geek.  One hundred percent pure weather geek.

  I can remember when the NWS had the old radar system.  You could watch the sweep line move over precipitation and light it up for a few seconds...it would then fade away.  One of the meteorologists, at our local office, gave me a lesson on how to view into storms (this was before Doppler Radar).  He showed me how to find hail spikes coming out of the top of a thunderstorm using the old radar system.  He would twirl this little knob and the radar beam would go up, higher and higher, into the storm.  I was in weather heaven!   

  I still remember the smell of facsimile paper at the local flight service station.  FRESH facsimile paper, as the machine would slowly spit out the latest day one severe weather outlook or surface map.  I would have my fingers on it before the ink would dry!  I used to pester the lady at the flight station, here in Paducah, Kentucky.  We would dial up radars, through the telephone, and watch storms in Texas or Oklahoma (that was in the days when Texas and Oklahoma actually got storms) I think she enjoyed it as much as I did. 

  Oh yeah and who can forget A.M. Weather?  I was probably the only kid in my school that woke up at 6 a.m. for the morning aviation weather briefing.  Yes, it gets no geeky than that.

I guess Meteorology runs in my family.  My Great Uncle Robert Dodson was a war hero and a meteorologist.  There is even an award named after him in the military.  The Dodson Award.  You can read even more about Robert at this site.

Needless to say I am quite proud of Robert's service to America!

 Unfortunately, I also see the destructive side of weather.  Having had friends lose loved ones because of tornadoes I know how lives can be forever changed by Mother Nature's wrath. 

  I saw the complete devastation of my own community after the May 2003 tornado outbreaks.  An event that forever changed my life and the lives of thousands of others.

  I have witnessed first hand the destructive power of F5 tornadoes in Birmingham, Alabama, Andover, Kansas, and a number of F4 events as well.  One will never forget the site of scorched earth.  Wind so strong that even the grass is gone.  The pavement from roads removed.  Trees debarked.

  I have also witnessed the power of tropical weather.  Having been through Hurricane Cindy and Dennis and then seeing the destruction from Hurricane Katrina and Rita I can say that I have no desire to live on the coastline of the Gulf Coast of America.

  Although Mother Nature can be beautiful she can also be destructive.  It is the nature of the beast.

  I have several other web-sites.  One of them is the High Risk Archive site.  I also run the Storm Reports web-site.  If you are interested in studying past Storm Prediction Center high risk events then this is the site for you.
 

  I encourage everyone in the weather and chase community to take the time to give back something to those who find themselves at the mercy of severe weather.  You won't regret it.

  At the Houston Astrodome I was able to make two special friends, Pedro and Helen (seen right).  They had only been married for a few weeks when Hurricane Katrina destroyed their home.  They were placed on a bus and driven out of New Orleans and brought to the arena in Houston.  They still managed to smile through it all.  They were an inspiration to me and left a fingerprint on my heart.  Mother Nature may be strong but the human spirit is stronger.

  Outside of other business ventures I am currently a student of Mississippi State University.  I am enrolled in the Broadcast Meteorology Program.  The program will take three years to complete - plan on graduating in the fall of 2009. 

 I serve as President of the Shadow Angel Foundation.  I am a strong believer in the philosophy of "Pay It Forward." 

  Obviously I also have a passion for photography.  I also like to scuba dive, mountain climb, parasail, snowmobile, and cross country ski.  I love to travel and I love adventure.  I will try anything once.  Life is short so treat it as such. 

 2006 award recipient of the "Caesar J. Fiamma Volunteer Service Award."  This award was presented by Sue Henry (right), Executive Director, of the American Red Cross - Paducah Area Chapter.

 2005 Service Award Certificates from the American Red Cross.  Given to volunteers who gave their time in helping others after Hurricane Katrina and Rita. 

 2006 award recipient, along with NBC-WPSD TV-6, of the Mark Trail Award.  We were honored with this National Service Award for our efforts to promote the NOAA Weather Radio Program.  WPSD TV has been responsible for more than 10.000 NOAA Weather Radios being distributed throughout the four state region.  We started this program in response to the May 6th, 2003 Tri-County Tornado.  The ripple effect of this program has even spread to other parts of the nation.
 

 2004 award recipient of the "Six Who Make A Difference."  Awarded by NBC WPSD-TV 6 to six residents of the four state area who have served their community in extraordinary ways.  The award was presented for the work the Shadow Angel Foundation did following the F4 Tri-County Tornado that struck on May 6, 2003.

  All of that is good and well but what is truly important in life is family, friendships, and LIFE itself.  Spending time with those you care for and love.  Following your dreams.  Following your passions.  Doing what you think you need to do...pursuit of happiness!

 Taking time out of your day to listen to the snowflakes falling outside your window.  Listening to the trees crackle when the temperature is 5 degrees outside.  Watching a spectacular sunset or sunrise.  Nothing beats that!  Oh and don't forget the meteor showers.

 Life is supposed to be a journey.  We never arrive but rather we continue on.  There isn't an end goal.  There are just new adventures.  There will be pain.  There will be tragedy.  There will be beautiful sadness.  In the end though have no regrets.  Live life as it was meant to be lived.  In its fullest. 

  You can read my new weather observatory web site - forecasts, my analysis, current conditions, local weather records, interactive radar, and much much more!

You may also contact me via email

All content (c) Beau Dodson Photography. Usage for Non-Profit and Educational Purposes Only.