When the Weather Calls a Timeout
from Weather Geeks
Guest: Adam Fouche, University of Georgia When you head to a big football game or an outdoor concert, you’re probably thinking about the music, the crowd, and the excitement in the air. But behind the scenes, there’s another team hard at work — one that’s watching the skies. From lightning delays to fast-moving thunderstorms, weather can quickly turn a packed stadium or festival into a serious safety challenge. Protecting tens of thousands of people requires careful planning, constant monitoring, and sometimes very quick decisions. Today we’re joined by Adam Fouche, Interim Associate Vice President for Environmental Safety, Risk, and Resiliency at the University of Georgia. His team works behind the scenes to help keep major events — from concerts to packed game days — safe when the weather takes a turn. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Guest Background 00:53 Adam Fouche's Weather Geek Origin Story 02:45 Adam's Role in Weather Safety at UGA 04:09 Weather Safety in Large Campus Events 07:09 Weather Risk Assessment for Events 10:22 Lightning Protocols and the 8-Mile Rule 12:57 Debate on Lightning Delay Rules 13:44 Break 1 15:15 Weather Support Models at SEC Schools 18:01 Collaboration with National Weather Service 20:04 Communication Strategies for Weather Risks 21:59 Psychology of Weather Risk Perception 25:01 Venue Design and Weather Vulnerabilities 26:07 Break 2 26:38 Understanding Severe vs. Non-Severe Weather 30:09 Technology and Weather Monitoring Tools 33:33 Public Safety Advice for Weather Preparedness
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What this episode covers
In this episode, Dr. Marshall Shepherd explores weather safety at large events with Adam Fouche, Interim Associate Vice President at UGA. Topics include weather risk management, lightning protocols, storm chasing, and the role of technology in weather safety.
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