News + Media
Interviews, Podcasts, Discussions, and Mentions
Clear Skies Ahead: Conversations About Careers in Meteorology and Beyond
AMS | February 11, 2025
Sean talks about the tornado that set him on a path toward meteorology, transitioning from broadcasting to working at NWS and NASA, and his book, Too Near for Dreams: The Story of Cleveland Abbe, America’s First Weather Forecaster.
Sharing Scientists’ Stories: A Conversation with Meteorologist Biographers
AMS Weather Band | October 17, 2024
Sean joins fellow authors James Rodger Fleming and Jonathan Martin for an engaging panel discussion hosted by Mona Behl. Together, they discuss the fascinating lives of three pivotal figures in meteorology—Joanne Simpson, Cleveland Abbe, and Reginald Sutcliffe. Learn about Joanne Simpson’s trailblazing work in tropical clouds and her groundbreaking role at NASA, Cleveland Abbe’s early forecasting efforts in the 19th century, and Reginald Sutcliffe’s revolutionary contributions to modern weather systems science. Discover how these scientists shaped the field and the stories behind their extraordinary careers.
WeatherBrains
Episode 978 | October 14, 2024
Sean joins the WeatherBrains crew to discuss his latest feature article for Weatherwise magazine, “Cracking the Weather Code.” He also talks about how he got started in meteorology and reflects on the emotional on-air updates by his friend and colleague, John Morales, during Hurricane Milton, among other topics.
Sleuths Unravel Mystery Of Coded Weather Notes Found In An 1880s Dress Pocket
The Weather Channel | February 4, 2024
Sean adds historical context to a story about mysterious messages found scribbled onto scraps of papers in an 1880s silk dress, which turned out to be coded weather observations from 1888. At the time, the telegraph served as the primary means of transmitting weather data between distant locations and Sean describes how the history of the telegraph and the history of weather forecasting were “intricately linked.”
Morning Brief
The Weather Channel | April 13, 2023
The Weather Channel’s Morning Brief, a daily email newsletter with 185,000 subscribers, talks to Sean about Too Near for Dreams, including how he came to write the book, the importance of Cleveland Abbe’s work with the Weather Bureau, and what might surprise him about the modern-day National Weather Service.
American Metamorphosis | Atlantic Re:think
Season 4, Episode 5 | November 12, 2022
Can lessons from weather preparedness be applied to the coming storm that is the caregiving crisis facing America? Find out as Sean joins veteran journalist and NYT columnist Paula Span and Boston Consulting Group Managing Director and Partner Suchi Sastri in exploring the impact our support systems for caregivers has on the health of our nation in this episode of American Metamorphosis from The Atlantic.
WeatherBrains
Episode 852 | May 16, 2022
Sean joins coauthor David M. Schultz to talk about their Historic Review of Monthly Weather Review, among other topics.
AMS Abbe Report
April 2022
In early 2021, the American Meteorological Society (AMS) convened an ad hoc committee whose charge was to present a report to the AMS Council on the most probable historical account of Cleveland Abbe. As part of its investigation, the committee interviewed several experts, including Sean, in an effort to better understand Abbe’s contributions to the atmospheric science community as well as to examine parts of his biography that had come into question by several members of the community. In August 2021, the committee presented its report to the AMS Council, which formally accepted the committee’s report and recommendations at its September 2021 meeting. The committee’s report, which was published in the April 2022 issue of the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, is available online at: ametsoc.org/abbereport.
Upon the committee’s recommendation, AMS has updated the online description of the Cleveland Abbe Award for Distinguished Service to the Atmospheric and Related Sciences with a biography that presents Abbe’s life story and achievements in an appropriate context based on the historical record.
Monthly Weather Review at 150 Years: Its History, Impact, and Legacy
NOAA Library Seminar | Oct. 7, 2021
Sean joins David M. Schultz, chief editor of Monthly Weather Review, to talk about the history of the journal as it embarks on its 150th anniversary. At the end, they engage the audience in an interactive quiz to test their knowledge of some of the more interesting and noteworthy items published in the pages of Monthly Weather Review.
Weather Geeks Podcast
March 10, 2021
Host Marshall Shepherd asks Sean about how he became interested in weather, his multifaceted career in meteorology and writing, and his book, Too Near for Dreams, chronicling the life and career of Cleveland Abbe, America's first weather forecaster.
WeatherBrains
Episode 777 | December 7, 2020
Sean discusses his book, Too Near for Dreams, Cleveland Abbe and his contributions to meteorology, and shares some tips for conducing historical weather research.
Too Near for Dreams Named Academic Best Seller
Library Journal | October 7, 2020
Library Journal included Too Near for Dreams on its list of Academic Best Sellers in the category of Physics from October 2019 to date as identified by GOBI Library Solutions from EBSCO.
The Arts Club at Home: Author Lecture and Discussion
Arts Club of Washington | July 30, 2020
Sean delivered a lecture and and led discussion with the Arts Club of Washington about Cleveland Abbe, America's first weather forecaster, and his historic residence at 2017 I Street NW in Washington that has been home to the Arts Club for more than a century.
Eclipse 2017: Through the Eyes of NASA
NASA | August 21, 2017
Sean was one of the on-air talent for this record-setting, four-hour live television broadcast on NASA TV, co-hosting the one-hour preview show and providing weather updates and other commentary for the three-hour-long main show. Overall, this was the most-watched event in NASA’s history, with an estimated audience of 600 million.
NOAA Administrator’s Award
November 15, 2016
Sean was part of a team honored with a NOAA Administrator’s Award for coordinating research and logistics in an effort to honor four Weather Bureau weathermen killed while serving aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Muskeget during World War II. The award was presented by NOAA Administrator Dr. Kathryn Sullivan at a ceremony in Silver Spring, Maryland. Read more about the posthumous Purple Heart award here and here. Watch a University of Maryland Capital News Service (CNS) segment about the Purple Heart Award ceremony, in which Sean is interviewed, here.
National Weather Service makes Twitter accounts operational
The Washington Post | September 25, 2014
Sean is quoted, as the social media lead at the National Weather Service, in an article about the challenges the agency faced after making its first official Twitter account operational.
First tornado photos taken 130 years ago
USA TODAY | August 28, 2014
Sean’s Retrospect column from the March/April 2010 issue of Weatherwise—about the earliest known tornado photograph, from 1884—is featured in a brief article in USA TODAY.
USA has the world’s most extreme weather
USA TODAY | May 16, 2013
Sean is quoted about the frequency of severe weather events in the U.S.—and the reasons behind it—in an article about extreme weather in USA TODAY.
Hurricane Sandy May Unleash Historic Floods in NYC
Live Science | October 28, 2012
Sean is quoted in an article about Hurricane Sandy as the historic storm approached New York City and the record storm surge forecast to impact part of the city, comparing it to that of Hurricane Donna in 1960.
9/11 weather: 2012 conditions closely resemble 2001
The Washington Post | September 11, 2012
Sean’s Retrospect column from the September/October 2011 issue of Weatherwise—about the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks—is excerpted in a Capital Weather Gang blog post.
WeatherBrains
Episode 331 | May 29, 2012
Sean joins his former ABC colleague Gerard McNiff to discuss their work as weather producers for Good Morning America. (Sean and Gerard are introduced at 6:57 in the program.)
WeatherBrains
Episode 292 | August 29, 2011
Sean talks about Hurricane Irene, sharing his own experience as the storm made landfall over New York City and discussing his role in communicating about the storm as part of the National Weather Service’s social media team. He also discusses some of the historical tropical storms and hurricanes that have threatened New York City. (Sean is introduced at 8:00 in the program.)
WeatherBrains
Episode 254 | December 6, 2010
Sean talks about his work as a communications specialist for the National Weather Service and reminisces with panelist Bill Murray about how they met several years earlier, when Bill offered to purchase Sean’s recently acquired collection of Weatherwise magazines. (Sean is introduced at 14:56 in the program.)
Possible Tornado Rocks NYC
The Wall Street Journal | September 16, 2010
Sean is quoted in an article about a severe weather event that spawned a rare tornado in Brooklyn.
BBC Interview on Summer 2006 Heat Wave
BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast | August 5, 2006
Sean is interviewed live on the BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast show about the 2006 North American heat wave gripping the U.S. at that time and relates it to the 2006 European heat wave. At the end of the interview, Sean trades stats with BBC weather forecaster Tori Good as the two are described as “weather boffins.”