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Dr. Rick Knabb is an esteemed meteorologist and the on-air hurricane expert and tropical program manager at The Weather Channel. In this role, he leads the reporting and analysis of hurricanes and tropical storms, providing in-depth forecast analyses and updates for the network’s 24-hour national storm coverage.
After serving as the Director of the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami from 2012 to 2017, Dr. Knabb returned to The Weather Channel in 2017. During his time at the NHC, he spearheaded the development of various programs aimed at improving public understanding and warnings related to hurricanes and tropical cyclones.
Notable accomplishments include implementing the storm surge watch and warning system, which identifies coastal and lowland areas at risk of flooding and storm surge, and introducing new advisories and products like the Potential Tropical Cyclone advisories and Wind Arrival Timing.
Dr. Knabb is highly respected in the field of meteorology. In his previous tenure at The Weather Channel, he played a key role in reporting significant events such as Hurricane Irene in 2011. As the Director of the NHC, he led the hurricane center team through severe weather events like Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and Hurricane Matthew in 2016.
Before joining The Weather Channel, Dr. Knabb held positions at the Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu, where he served as the Deputy Director, and the National Hurricane Center in Miami, where he worked as a Senior Hurricane Specialist and the Science and Operations Officer. During these roles, he issued official forecasts for historic weather events, including the devastating Hurricane Katrina in 2005 when it reached Category 5 intensity over the Gulf of Mexico.
Originally from Chicago, Dr. Knabb earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Atmospheric Science from Purdue University. He went on to obtain his Master’s and Doctorate in Meteorology from Florida State University, and also completed postdoctoral work at the University of Hawaii. Dr. Knabb is a member of the American Meteorological Society.
Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Dr. Knabb continues to make significant contributions to the field of meteorology and is widely recognized for his expertise and leadership in hurricane and tropical storm forecasting.