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Cloud Warriors: Deadly Storms, Climate Chaos—and the Pioneers Creating a Revolution in Weather Forecasting
A deeply-reported and wide-ranging look at the people and technology providing vital weather forecasts, in a world where preparation and prevention is a life-and-death issue.
For millennia, humans have tried to understand and predict the weather. The Space Age helped usher in satellites and radar, while computers made it possible to plug all that data into complex equations that anticipated the atmosphere’s future behavior. Now a new age of advances in forecasting is unfolding, driven by artificial intelligence, drones, and satellites. The Internet of Things has turned everything from cellphones to cars into ubiquitous weather sensors. Equally significant are new efforts to understand how people respond to forecasts and warnings. Scientists and government officials are realizing that how people get their weather information, and how they use it, are crucial factors in the outcome of a catastrophic weather event.
Employing in-depth reporting on cutting edge science and technology, veteran journalist Thomas E. Weber takes us on a fascinating tour of how meteorologists, scientists, and officials track and prepare for major weather events, such as hurricanes, tornados, floods, forest fires, extreme heat, and winter storms. As climate change is altering our planet and making weather events more extreme, Weber introduces us to those on the front lines of weather preparation and prediction. We travel from coast-to-coast, to space and back, meeting TV meteorologists and storm chasers, city planners, backyard weatherman, and many others. Cloud Warriors will change the way you think about the weather—and the power of being able to see it coming.
For millennia, humans have tried to understand and predict the weather. The Space Age helped usher in satellites and radar, while computers made it possible to plug all that data into complex equations that anticipated the atmosphere’s future behavior. Now a new age of advances in forecasting is unfolding, driven by artificial intelligence, drones, and satellites. The Internet of Things has turned everything from cellphones to cars into ubiquitous weather sensors. Equally significant are new efforts to understand how people respond to forecasts and warnings. Scientists and government officials are realizing that how people get their weather information, and how they use it, are crucial factors in the outcome of a catastrophic weather event.
Employing in-depth reporting on cutting edge science and technology, veteran journalist Thomas E. Weber takes us on a fascinating tour of how meteorologists, scientists, and officials track and prepare for major weather events, such as hurricanes, tornados, floods, forest fires, extreme heat, and winter storms. As climate change is altering our planet and making weather events more extreme, Weber introduces us to those on the front lines of weather preparation and prediction. We travel from coast-to-coast, to space and back, meeting TV meteorologists and storm chasers, city planners, backyard weatherman, and many others. Cloud Warriors will change the way you think about the weather—and the power of being able to see it coming.
257 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 3, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
June 5, 2025
⭐⭐⭐.5
Pre-Read Notes:
I grabbed this because I loved the cover. I'm interested in weather and climate and I love how popular science can take on the pressing issues of our times. I expect to enjoy or at least appreciate this book.
"As we hit the afternoon hours, the storms begin to heat up. Several times we find ourselves pummeled by hail or confronted by the eerie spectacle of a wall cloud dipping down over farmland dotted by wind turbines. In one, I see a funnel shape forming and the rotating tube begins to tilt toward the ground before it peters out." p49
Final Review
CLOUD WARRIORS is an interesting read, dense with data and smart interpretations of it, and suggesting overall that it might be time for the US to upgrade its storm warning system.
A brief book at 250, this book is concise, but I thought some of the data and ideas could have been more fully unpacked.
I would still recommend this one to readers of popular science and those who are interested in weather and climate.
My 3 Favorite Things:
✔️ "In 2023, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration tallied a record twenty-eight separate weather disasters in which costs exceeded one billion dollars." p6 I like when popular scientists include information about how their field intersects with other interests. Tge weather science is interesting in itself, but it doesn't become relevant until we consider how it interacts with other sectors.
✔️ I like that the author discusses issues of accessibility with our current weather warning systems and how updates could address the needs of already vulnerable populations.
✔️ There is a lot of really good data in this book, from the expected, like familiar to alien weather technology, and the unexpected, like social factors that contribute to someone's chance of experiencing extreme weather events.
Notes:
1. Content warnings: descriptions of extreme weather, discussions of systemic injustice
Thank you to the author Thomas E. Weber, publishers St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an accessible digital arc of CLOUD WARRIORS. All views are mine.
Pre-Read Notes:
I grabbed this because I loved the cover. I'm interested in weather and climate and I love how popular science can take on the pressing issues of our times. I expect to enjoy or at least appreciate this book.
"As we hit the afternoon hours, the storms begin to heat up. Several times we find ourselves pummeled by hail or confronted by the eerie spectacle of a wall cloud dipping down over farmland dotted by wind turbines. In one, I see a funnel shape forming and the rotating tube begins to tilt toward the ground before it peters out." p49
Final Review
CLOUD WARRIORS is an interesting read, dense with data and smart interpretations of it, and suggesting overall that it might be time for the US to upgrade its storm warning system.
A brief book at 250, this book is concise, but I thought some of the data and ideas could have been more fully unpacked.
I would still recommend this one to readers of popular science and those who are interested in weather and climate.
My 3 Favorite Things:
✔️ "In 2023, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration tallied a record twenty-eight separate weather disasters in which costs exceeded one billion dollars." p6 I like when popular scientists include information about how their field intersects with other interests. Tge weather science is interesting in itself, but it doesn't become relevant until we consider how it interacts with other sectors.
✔️ I like that the author discusses issues of accessibility with our current weather warning systems and how updates could address the needs of already vulnerable populations.
✔️ There is a lot of really good data in this book, from the expected, like familiar to alien weather technology, and the unexpected, like social factors that contribute to someone's chance of experiencing extreme weather events.
Notes:
1. Content warnings: descriptions of extreme weather, discussions of systemic injustice
Thank you to the author Thomas E. Weber, publishers St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an accessible digital arc of CLOUD WARRIORS. All views are mine.
July 2, 2025
Thomas Weber is an American journalist and weather buff. His fascinating 2025 book Cloud Warriors focuses on the people, science, and emerging technologies behind weather prediction. Forecasting has indeed improved dramatically in recent decades (common statistics cited include that a 5-day forecast today is as accurate as a 1-day forecast in the 1980s), leading to the potential of saving many more lives and property through advance warning for weather emergencies. This is a particularly salient topic today in light of climate change and ongoing US federal budget cuts to government agencies like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which administers crucial services like the National Weather Service (NWS) and the National Hurricane Center (NHC).
I've experienced my fair share of extreme weather events -- extreme heat and major hurricanes during my years of the Gulf Coast, fire weather and drought in the Intermountain West, and extreme winter storms/blizzards, tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in the Midwest -- so I've developed a side interest in meteorology and gravitate toward these types of books. Weber devotes chapters of this book to hurricanes/typhoons, tornadoes, heat, fire, and more, for which he traveled and conducted extensive interviews with weather experts at various NOAA arms, academics studying and researching in meteorology, and representatives from private sector companies developing specialized products and tools for microscale weather prediction. Most of the book focuses on the United States, though he does talk about the beneficial role of microscale weather prediction for those in the agriculture business in parts of the developing world and several other global examples. The vignette about Amish farmers calling a weather hotline on their communal landline phones (since they don't use mobile phones) to learn about chances for rain was fascinating.
I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a broad overview of climate science. As always, I'm including further reading recommendations for more niche areas for those so inclined:
Fire Weather: A True Story from a Hotter World by John Vaillant
When It All Burns: Fighting Fire in a Transformed World by Jordan Thomas
Heat Wave: A Social Autopsy of Disaster in Chicago by Eric Klinenberg
The Big Ones: How Natural Disasters Have Shaped Us and What We Can Do about Them by Lucy Jones
The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes—and Why by Amanda Ripley (its chapter on why people didn't evacuate during Hurricane Katrina was very insightful)
The Death and Life of the Great Lakes by Dan Egan
My statistics:
Book 205 for 2025
Book 2131 cumulatively
I've experienced my fair share of extreme weather events -- extreme heat and major hurricanes during my years of the Gulf Coast, fire weather and drought in the Intermountain West, and extreme winter storms/blizzards, tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in the Midwest -- so I've developed a side interest in meteorology and gravitate toward these types of books. Weber devotes chapters of this book to hurricanes/typhoons, tornadoes, heat, fire, and more, for which he traveled and conducted extensive interviews with weather experts at various NOAA arms, academics studying and researching in meteorology, and representatives from private sector companies developing specialized products and tools for microscale weather prediction. Most of the book focuses on the United States, though he does talk about the beneficial role of microscale weather prediction for those in the agriculture business in parts of the developing world and several other global examples. The vignette about Amish farmers calling a weather hotline on their communal landline phones (since they don't use mobile phones) to learn about chances for rain was fascinating.
I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a broad overview of climate science. As always, I'm including further reading recommendations for more niche areas for those so inclined:
Fire Weather: A True Story from a Hotter World by John Vaillant
When It All Burns: Fighting Fire in a Transformed World by Jordan Thomas
Heat Wave: A Social Autopsy of Disaster in Chicago by Eric Klinenberg
The Big Ones: How Natural Disasters Have Shaped Us and What We Can Do about Them by Lucy Jones
The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes—and Why by Amanda Ripley (its chapter on why people didn't evacuate during Hurricane Katrina was very insightful)
The Death and Life of the Great Lakes by Dan Egan
My statistics:
Book 205 for 2025
Book 2131 cumulatively
June 11, 2025
Cloud warriors is a crash course in all things weather. From the science behind forecasts to the social reasons why people don't heed weather alerts. Some of it was interesting some of it wasn't. The way I practically force fed myself this book to get the review done on time probably didn't help. Parts felt hurried and other parts dragged on. The majority of it was very carefully not political but still accurate. I thought the chapter on extreme heat and the authors own weather collection was really interesting. I would recommend reading it slower than I did, there's some very interesting parts to it.
As always, thank you to the publisher and Netgallery for this audiobook.
As always, thank you to the publisher and Netgallery for this audiobook.
August 11, 2025
Weber's powerful new book offers a combination of science, anecdote, and history, all of it clearly explained and expounded upon in a fashion that makes for compelling reading. And despite the cover and what the title might imply, the work is far-reaching in terms of climate, exploring all types of extreme weather, from tornadoes and wildfires on to extreme heat and hurricanes as well as drought and flood events, with other sections of the word dedicated to exploring the different types of forecasting and where they most excel, as well as the people pushing them forward.
For me, the most eye-opening sections were those on wildfire, extreme heat, and forecasting, but every chapter here is worth reading and reading again. It's a rare piece of nonfiction that demands not just to be read and passed on, but to be understood and acted upon. Unfortunately, what hangs over the reading experience like a deadly pall is the awareness of how much has changed in even the last six months, with Trump's Administration making deadly budget cuts to NOAA as well as other government agencies and scientific efforts in general. Part of me wishes that Weber could be called upon to add an addendum we could read to see where every person and agency described in the book--at least those in the U.S.--are now in August of 2025 after these cuts, and how the cuts have affected them, but I suspect it would be a terrifying and heart-wrenching read.
On the other hand, there is a great deal of hope in this work, both in the form of inspiring people and scientists as well as in the progress already made and where it seems to be heading. Perhaps even more hopeful, given the state of the national government right now, are the sections dedicated to looking at what individual cities and states in America are doing to forward climate concerns and help the most at-risk populations even before extreme weather comes calling.
In short, the book is fascinating, and Weber has put forward an incredible and timely work which I truly wish I could put into every person's hands.
Absolutely recommended--the sooner the better.
For me, the most eye-opening sections were those on wildfire, extreme heat, and forecasting, but every chapter here is worth reading and reading again. It's a rare piece of nonfiction that demands not just to be read and passed on, but to be understood and acted upon. Unfortunately, what hangs over the reading experience like a deadly pall is the awareness of how much has changed in even the last six months, with Trump's Administration making deadly budget cuts to NOAA as well as other government agencies and scientific efforts in general. Part of me wishes that Weber could be called upon to add an addendum we could read to see where every person and agency described in the book--at least those in the U.S.--are now in August of 2025 after these cuts, and how the cuts have affected them, but I suspect it would be a terrifying and heart-wrenching read.
On the other hand, there is a great deal of hope in this work, both in the form of inspiring people and scientists as well as in the progress already made and where it seems to be heading. Perhaps even more hopeful, given the state of the national government right now, are the sections dedicated to looking at what individual cities and states in America are doing to forward climate concerns and help the most at-risk populations even before extreme weather comes calling.
In short, the book is fascinating, and Weber has put forward an incredible and timely work which I truly wish I could put into every person's hands.
Absolutely recommended--the sooner the better.
August 20, 2025
Interesting read, though nothing too surprising (ML and computing efficiency are driving improved forecasts while climate change makes extreme weather more prevalent). Even though disasters get the headlines/mindshare (other than heatwaves, the underestimated killer), I found the chapters around local and hyperlocal forecasting most interesting. The Northeastern in me was disappointed that snowstorms didn’t get a chapter!
October 29, 2025
I just finished reading a very interesting and informative book about how today’s weather is being affected by climate change. It takes the reader into how tornados are created and how they have become more powerful than ever because of climate change. He also explains how meteorologists are using better models and artificial intelligence to help them predict the outcome of weather events on the planet.
October 8, 2025
3.5 rounded up! A little dry at times but mostly really interesting.
October 13, 2025
I learned so much not just about climate science and forecasting but also what I can personally do to more effectively interact with and respond to the weather.
September 29, 2025
I think this book gives a strong layman’s argument with a plethora of examples as to why government funding and support of weather research is vital to our survival (which is apparently a controversial take these days)
July 30, 2025
I so wanted to like this book. While it contains some interesting information, I did not find much new here on the topic. A good editor could have made this book much more enjoyable by reducing fluff such as “After taking exit 9 off the New Jersey Turnpike and heading south on US1…” It was at this point, after 178 pages, I said “Nope. I am done.”
July 5, 2025
Sometimes some books get written as witnesses of a moment. They will bear witness in the future to what was and what might have been.
One would not expect a book on weather forecasting to be such a book. Yet, in our current political climate, that’s what Cloud Warriors: Deadly Storms, Climate Chaos — and the Pioneers Creating a Revolution in Weather Forecasting (galley received as part of early review program), by Thomas Weber, proves to be.
The work is engagingly written and very well researched; the author is quite often “in the room where it happens” when it comes to weather tracking and forecasting. The major forms of weather disturbances and forecasts and players are considered, including tornadoes, hurricanes, heat, wildfire, short-, medium-, and long-term forecasting, both here in the States and in Europe.
The author well communicates the dedication and passion all the scientists maintain, and all with a view to preserve life and property in the face of whatever weather conditions may come at us.
All the technological developments are well explained and contextualized. The author presents reasons for optimism regarding how forecasts and predictions will get better with better and more granular data.
But, of course, all of this has now been thrown into chaos and doubt. The author did well in explaining how the government, university, and corporate alliances and cooperation have worked very well to advance and develop our current technological capabilities. That’s all been torn up by the present administration, ostensibly with a view to boost the corporate side at the detriment of the government and university departments. And, ultimately, to the harm of the rest of us, as forecasts get less accurate and communication less coherent.
We can only hope, and work, to make sure the recent disruptions to NOAA, the NWS, and university research funding are made very temporary, because the weather will still be volatile, and we are all better off when we allow the people the author interviews to do their jobs and do it well.
One would not expect a book on weather forecasting to be such a book. Yet, in our current political climate, that’s what Cloud Warriors: Deadly Storms, Climate Chaos — and the Pioneers Creating a Revolution in Weather Forecasting (galley received as part of early review program), by Thomas Weber, proves to be.
The work is engagingly written and very well researched; the author is quite often “in the room where it happens” when it comes to weather tracking and forecasting. The major forms of weather disturbances and forecasts and players are considered, including tornadoes, hurricanes, heat, wildfire, short-, medium-, and long-term forecasting, both here in the States and in Europe.
The author well communicates the dedication and passion all the scientists maintain, and all with a view to preserve life and property in the face of whatever weather conditions may come at us.
All the technological developments are well explained and contextualized. The author presents reasons for optimism regarding how forecasts and predictions will get better with better and more granular data.
But, of course, all of this has now been thrown into chaos and doubt. The author did well in explaining how the government, university, and corporate alliances and cooperation have worked very well to advance and develop our current technological capabilities. That’s all been torn up by the present administration, ostensibly with a view to boost the corporate side at the detriment of the government and university departments. And, ultimately, to the harm of the rest of us, as forecasts get less accurate and communication less coherent.
We can only hope, and work, to make sure the recent disruptions to NOAA, the NWS, and university research funding are made very temporary, because the weather will still be volatile, and we are all better off when we allow the people the author interviews to do their jobs and do it well.
November 3, 2025
My only con(?) with this book is that it felt like extra studying for me. Sue me because I’m literally working towards a meteorology degree right now, but a lot of things didn’t need explained to me. I know what the GFS is. I know NOAA. I know hyperlocal forecasts and I know about surface wind speeds being taken at ten meters. I obviously don’t know EVERYTHING, and I still learned a lot, but this book would’ve been PERFECT had I just loved the weather and wasn’t pursuing a literal degree and future job in it. It’d be a fantastic read for my brother.
The section I learned the most was Fire because we aren’t touching on fire weather very often in classes at all, so this was neat. We had one guy in our classes that absolutely ate fire weather up, though.
And I absolutely loved learning that the filmmakers of Twisters called on meteorologists from the NSSL for “expertise.” Sue me for being thoroughly impressed when all of their weather talk in the movie was accurate. I love that they did more research for that movie. Glen Powell knows his jargon.
This was gifted to me by my dad and I really enjoyed it. I annotated so many things. I had three colors: light green for “AHA!” quotes (aka things I was so glad got realized / brought to light), dark green for great quotes, and yellow for anything else.
In the end, I’d very much recommend this to anyone who has weather interest. Educational/information-wise, it was good to me as someone who’s going to be a meteorologist soon, and would be great to anyone who wants to learn more about the weather.
The section I learned the most was Fire because we aren’t touching on fire weather very often in classes at all, so this was neat. We had one guy in our classes that absolutely ate fire weather up, though.
And I absolutely loved learning that the filmmakers of Twisters called on meteorologists from the NSSL for “expertise.” Sue me for being thoroughly impressed when all of their weather talk in the movie was accurate. I love that they did more research for that movie. Glen Powell knows his jargon.
This was gifted to me by my dad and I really enjoyed it. I annotated so many things. I had three colors: light green for “AHA!” quotes (aka things I was so glad got realized / brought to light), dark green for great quotes, and yellow for anything else.
In the end, I’d very much recommend this to anyone who has weather interest. Educational/information-wise, it was good to me as someone who’s going to be a meteorologist soon, and would be great to anyone who wants to learn more about the weather.
June 7, 2025
Wow. I wish I could make every American read this book-- we would all be living in a better world.
Cloud Warriors is largely a warning to the countless people in the US who fail to understand (or in many cases just willfully ignore) the catastrophic effects of defunding NOAA and putting totally unqualified people in charge of FEMA.
While this book is deadly serious, it is extremely compelling and reads like fiction, making it palatable even for readers who hesitate to pick up non-fiction. Weber's straight forward, science-based approach goes through the three main weather concerns (hurricanes, tornadoes, and extreme heat) and explains the importance of continuing the research that has been going on behind the scenes for decades. Having the most reliable, up to date information allows people to prepare themselves for coming weather threats and literally saves lives.
I also think it's important to note that while Weber often cites decisions made by various administrations and doesn't pull any punches about the resulting chaos, he never directly or aggressively goes after the current administration, keeping the entire book as professional and apolitical as possible which is no easy task in today's world. So many kudos, 10/10, 5 stars, I'm begging everyone to read this.
Cloud Warriors is largely a warning to the countless people in the US who fail to understand (or in many cases just willfully ignore) the catastrophic effects of defunding NOAA and putting totally unqualified people in charge of FEMA.
While this book is deadly serious, it is extremely compelling and reads like fiction, making it palatable even for readers who hesitate to pick up non-fiction. Weber's straight forward, science-based approach goes through the three main weather concerns (hurricanes, tornadoes, and extreme heat) and explains the importance of continuing the research that has been going on behind the scenes for decades. Having the most reliable, up to date information allows people to prepare themselves for coming weather threats and literally saves lives.
I also think it's important to note that while Weber often cites decisions made by various administrations and doesn't pull any punches about the resulting chaos, he never directly or aggressively goes after the current administration, keeping the entire book as professional and apolitical as possible which is no easy task in today's world. So many kudos, 10/10, 5 stars, I'm begging everyone to read this.
June 1, 2025
I read this book during not one but two tornado warnings and crazy Austin weather. (I know deadly heat will follow soon) I found it helped set the mood…but it is not required to do so.
Cloud Warriors focuses on the people pushing boundaries of science and technology to build better weather forecasts—providing life-saving warnings and crucial intelligence about nature’s deadliest threats. I found it fascinating that the groups studying weather are not just meteorologists but also social scientists to study how the best way to get warnings out there, and the study the inequities of weather and survival. I work on the opposite side from the people in the book. I am in disaster recovery, so I see the world every day after the storms, fires and heat have left. The Cloud warriors out there are trying to find better ways to warn peoples, while I try to help communities mitigate the disasters when they hit. It is not an if, but when.
I found this book fascinating and may have sent a lot of coworker’s teams messages telling them they had to read it. Thank you, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley! #cloudwarriors #netgalley
Cloud Warriors focuses on the people pushing boundaries of science and technology to build better weather forecasts—providing life-saving warnings and crucial intelligence about nature’s deadliest threats. I found it fascinating that the groups studying weather are not just meteorologists but also social scientists to study how the best way to get warnings out there, and the study the inequities of weather and survival. I work on the opposite side from the people in the book. I am in disaster recovery, so I see the world every day after the storms, fires and heat have left. The Cloud warriors out there are trying to find better ways to warn peoples, while I try to help communities mitigate the disasters when they hit. It is not an if, but when.
I found this book fascinating and may have sent a lot of coworker’s teams messages telling them they had to read it. Thank you, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley! #cloudwarriors #netgalley
July 16, 2025
Powell's Summer Reading Challenge: Your choice!
This strays far enough into techno-babble at times that it was a slower read for me and my four remaining braincells. But it was also delightfully reverent of its main characters, weather forecasters, the "cloud warriors". NOAA should be given the Pentagon's budget tomorrow but sadly I live in the worst country on Earth
"Weather predictions are already impressively good, so much so that their accuracy might surprise you. Consider the challenge: Anticipating the future state of Earth's atmosphere, a planet-wrapping blanket of gases that extends more than fifty miles above the surface before it begins to dissipate into space. Those gases move continuously at every moment in swirls of pressures and temperatures, constantly shaped by heat from the sun and the Earth and by moisture from the oceans. Imagine trying to predict the changing blooms of the creamer in your coffee as it mixes in."
This strays far enough into techno-babble at times that it was a slower read for me and my four remaining braincells. But it was also delightfully reverent of its main characters, weather forecasters, the "cloud warriors". NOAA should be given the Pentagon's budget tomorrow but sadly I live in the worst country on Earth
"Weather predictions are already impressively good, so much so that their accuracy might surprise you. Consider the challenge: Anticipating the future state of Earth's atmosphere, a planet-wrapping blanket of gases that extends more than fifty miles above the surface before it begins to dissipate into space. Those gases move continuously at every moment in swirls of pressures and temperatures, constantly shaped by heat from the sun and the Earth and by moisture from the oceans. Imagine trying to predict the changing blooms of the creamer in your coffee as it mixes in."
February 26, 2025
This new book is all about the weather. It is a book that affects everyone because weather events do touch us all and we really do often talk about the weather. This book is all about what the author labels “our relationship with this omnipresent force of nature.” The chapter titles also alert the reader to the book’s focus: tornados, hurricanes, fire, extreme heat, the local weather forecast, seasonal forecasting, and one called “hyperlocal weather.” Threatening weather and disastrous weather events have long been consequences of mankind living on Earth. Weber is a journalist with significant experience covering and writing about technology and how scientific and technological developments can benefit us. The author tells the reader that this book is solely about weather and how we can see it coming and how we can respond to it. This book is really a study of the people bringing those weather predictions to our attention. Each chapter highlights these occurring weather events with the first chapter opening on a visit to “tornado alley “ in Oklahoma with a serious tornado chaser. The chapter highlights the serious federal government and university research on tornados currently done at the University of Oklahoma. The author hopes that reading this book will result in real “weather literacy,” or people’s increased ability to understand weather and how the act of weather forecasting is brought to our attention.
June 8, 2025
Thank you to Tantor Audio, the author and NetGalley for an ALC in return for an honest review
If you are reading this as a layman then this audiobook will be just to your taste. To make the meteorological science more accessible to a wider audience the author has succesfully simpliflied a lot of the technical content. So for those of you who are more scientifically adept this book may lack depth for you. As I am not scientifically minded this book suited me down to the ground. Not too technical yet not dumbed down.
Cloud Warriors succeeds in both informing and inspiring. It’s a timely read that showcases the critical role forecasting will play in our climate future and also celebrates the people pushing it forward.
The narration by Keith Brown is steady and engaging, without being overly dramatic. He strikes a great balance between clarity and emotion. He brings a sense of urgency and professionalism that perfectly complements Weber’s writing.
This audiobook is not only educational, it’s downright thrilling.
#CloudWarriors #NetGalley
If you are reading this as a layman then this audiobook will be just to your taste. To make the meteorological science more accessible to a wider audience the author has succesfully simpliflied a lot of the technical content. So for those of you who are more scientifically adept this book may lack depth for you. As I am not scientifically minded this book suited me down to the ground. Not too technical yet not dumbed down.
Cloud Warriors succeeds in both informing and inspiring. It’s a timely read that showcases the critical role forecasting will play in our climate future and also celebrates the people pushing it forward.
The narration by Keith Brown is steady and engaging, without being overly dramatic. He strikes a great balance between clarity and emotion. He brings a sense of urgency and professionalism that perfectly complements Weber’s writing.
This audiobook is not only educational, it’s downright thrilling.
#CloudWarriors #NetGalley
June 30, 2025
“What matters is doing something about the weather.”
This narrative nonfiction book explores innovative ways modern science is used to predict and track the weather. Research in these areas is especially important now when extreme weather events are steadily becoming more frequent and more, well, extreme.
The chapters I found most fascinating were those about tornadoes, fire, and hurricanes. I was also intrigued by the ways weather researchers connect to special groups in ways that are more effective than traditional methods like automated call lines for the Amish, text messages to farmers in third world countries, and cooling station benches for residents of urban heat islands.
I was surprised how relevant this book felt to my own life even though I am not a meteorologist or a weather geek. Almost every chapter had some element I could connect to.
This narrative nonfiction book explores innovative ways modern science is used to predict and track the weather. Research in these areas is especially important now when extreme weather events are steadily becoming more frequent and more, well, extreme.
The chapters I found most fascinating were those about tornadoes, fire, and hurricanes. I was also intrigued by the ways weather researchers connect to special groups in ways that are more effective than traditional methods like automated call lines for the Amish, text messages to farmers in third world countries, and cooling station benches for residents of urban heat islands.
I was surprised how relevant this book felt to my own life even though I am not a meteorologist or a weather geek. Almost every chapter had some element I could connect to.
August 14, 2025
The cover of this book drew my interest right away. I must admit that I hesitated when I realized that the author was a Journalist, but he did such a great job with contacting meteorologists and getting information from them, that I didn't worry for long.
The book is not too technical and the author does a really good job of describing scientific terms connected to weather studies. He did a great description of Doppler radar and things like the Fujita scale for how much damage a tornado does. He did a great job of explaining how the water surge can be the most dangerous part of a hurricane, too.
One of the most important topics was the dangers of heat, how heat islands need more study and how cities need to take measures to change the environment.
Lastly, he emphasized how important it is for the forecasters to get their message out about dangerous weather.
A good read!
The book is not too technical and the author does a really good job of describing scientific terms connected to weather studies. He did a great description of Doppler radar and things like the Fujita scale for how much damage a tornado does. He did a great job of explaining how the water surge can be the most dangerous part of a hurricane, too.
One of the most important topics was the dangers of heat, how heat islands need more study and how cities need to take measures to change the environment.
Lastly, he emphasized how important it is for the forecasters to get their message out about dangerous weather.
A good read!
October 26, 2025
This book really goes in-depth about climate & meteorologists in ways that you don't usually read about. So glad I got to read about the semi-sciency stuff about what actually happens & how the forecasts are made by weatherpeople. Most know about the climate crisis but not realize how much worse the man-made storms are getting or how frequent they are now all over the world. I was fascinated by certain things & perplexed by others. Which I guess does make sense, as we all can't know everything. The way technology has advanced forecasts & how they are read is what keeps us safe. People may not always pay attention or heed their advice but at least there is a warning for the most extreme weather circumstances. So if you want to learn more or get the ins & outs of weather stations, this is your book.
November 13, 2025
Very interesting look at the history of weather forecasting. I learned a lot of things, and was really impressed with how many people Weber interviewed to get as clear of a picture as he could of what weather broadcasting was/is like. While it is not a climate change book per se, many of the people who he interviewed did share their thoughts and opinions on climate change and how it has affected the increase/decrease/change in their predominant weather areas. This book came out sometime between 2024 and 2025, so some of the more recent cases were impressive on how quickly it seemed he was able to talk to some important people. This book definitely has an audience, if you will. Some of the technical knowledge and acronyms, while explained well, may not hold most readers/listeners attention. Weather buffs will absolutely love it though.
September 8, 2025
This book will not age well. It goes over so many interesting things we have learned to do with forecasting and the change in accuracy to even personal plots of lands and neighborhoods. This is very interesting and makes me curious about what will happen with this is the future.
This book dives into a lot of controversy of our current administration, and this is why this book will probably not age well past a decade of existence. As many of the references to the current political climate and technology most used may not exist anymore.
For the science, building greener and cooler spaces, as well as what we is being done to make things better is very interesting. This is not a book about climate change, but climate change has effects on this book.
This book dives into a lot of controversy of our current administration, and this is why this book will probably not age well past a decade of existence. As many of the references to the current political climate and technology most used may not exist anymore.
For the science, building greener and cooler spaces, as well as what we is being done to make things better is very interesting. This is not a book about climate change, but climate change has effects on this book.
December 20, 2025
Finding this book on Libby randomly inspired me to grab this book for my brother the weather scientist in training for Christmas and I’m really glad I took it a step further and read it for myself. I think this book does a really good job at highlighting the challenges of studying weather as the various effects other elements of society have in further developing improvements to this system. It may have been a lot to digest at times, but overall this gave me a higher sense of appreciation for my brother’s job field for its complexity and wider knock-on effect in helping to improve people’s live (and to that end in a time where everything else around weather science is shifting to make the path forward all the more variable to trek).
December 24, 2025
The through line for this book, consisting of 8 distinct chapters (hurricanes to heat waves to hyperlocal forecasting) , is how to effectively communicate weather forecasts and potential dangers to the people who need to hear it. Lots of interesting nuggets on how forecasting has improved, and what goes into those forecasts (the reader gets taken inside an NWS field office, into the home of the Euro modeling apparatus, into AccuWeather offices, and more). But most important is then translating those forecasts into actionable information for the people who need it, from emergency management officers to farmers. Enjoyable read, with a good balance between technical details and the bigger picture.
May 11, 2025
In "Cloud Warriors," Thomas Weber provides a fascinating and timely discussion of the innovative ways in which weather experts study, catalogue, and - most importantly - forecast extreme weather events. Especially in our current political climate, when uncertainty about weather-related policy, including the funding and personnel levels of NOAA, USAID, and other government weather-forecasting and aid organizations is ongoing, this book is an extremely important contribution to what should be a broader societal discussion concerning why and how both government and the private sector contribute to protecting humanity from extreme weather events.
February 24, 2025
Weather has been a subject that both terrifies me and fascinates me.
I really did enjoy how this author broke the book out into different categories of weather.
The tornado section is always going to be the section that hooks me in.
I blame my parents for letting me watch Twister and a young age.
This book is very science heavy but told in a way that people who have absolutely no background in science can understand it.
The concept of "weather literacy" will save lives.
Thanks to Net Galley for this ARC!
I really did enjoy how this author broke the book out into different categories of weather.
The tornado section is always going to be the section that hooks me in.
I blame my parents for letting me watch Twister and a young age.
This book is very science heavy but told in a way that people who have absolutely no background in science can understand it.
The concept of "weather literacy" will save lives.
Thanks to Net Galley for this ARC!
October 3, 2025
Really liked this one. Gave a broad overview but was clearly well researched and the author talked to a huge variety of people in the field. Enjoyed the descriptions of the different aspects to forecasting and the constant drive to improve accuracy. Only complaints were 1) the author repeats the same facts a couple times in the same chapter which wasn’t a huge deal and 2) there were a ton of acronyms. Comes with the topic but still jarring at times. Overall very good and I learned a lot.
October 29, 2025
Not my favorite about weather. While an interesting discussion about the science of forecasting, there’s way too much emphasis on climate change (yes it’s real but man really cant change it much so the continuous pounding on it does no real good, IMHO).
I had a difficult time trying to figure out if this was an essay on the evil of man doing crazy things to the environment or if it was about what man does to help us all understand, predict and adjust to the weather.
It was aight I guess
I had a difficult time trying to figure out if this was an essay on the evil of man doing crazy things to the environment or if it was about what man does to help us all understand, predict and adjust to the weather.
It was aight I guess
November 19, 2025
I am not the recommended audience for this book but it did explained clearly enough for us non-experts to understand what the author was saying. Yes, at times it was a lot to take in and some areas felt like the author repeated himself, but he is a very good journalist and a very good story teller to keep me interested in this nonfiction book. It was well researched and stayed away from the political views.
July 17, 2025
This is an outstanding book for anyone wanting to learn more about the truly modern miracle that is weather forecasting, and what is being worked on by researchers that could help our society better handle the coming impacts of climate change. The author does an outstanding job of telling a compelling story and making the technical aspects understandable.
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