Meteorologist Nick Stewart

Contact Information

Email: NickStewartWX@gmail.com

Nicholas Stewart is a meteorologist who graduated with a B.S in meteorology from Western Illinois University with a focus on severe weather. Stewart is primarily interested in the research and broadcast side of meteorology. His latest research is looking at a supercell thunderstorm and how it creates its own environment by influencing the near-surface conditions and impacting severe weather parameters.

Stewart has presented his research at several conferences including the 2015 American Meteorological Society annual meeting in Phoenix, Arizona and the 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2021 Severe Storms and Doppler Radar Conference in Ankeny, Iowa.

Stewart has also discussed journalism and past experience defending the First Amendment at the 2015 fall Illinois News Broadcasters Association conference and the 2013 Illinois College Press Association conference.

Aside from research, Stewart is a meteorologist at KGAN/KFXA CBS2/Fox 28 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa (formerly a meteorologist at KHQA in Quincy, Illinois). He is also the station's storm chaser, tracking severe weather in the field. Stewart is the midday weekday and evening field meteorologist. He won the 2021 best Meteorologist award at the Midwest Broadcast Journalist Association.

Stewart is also a freelance photographer. His work has appeared on many major network television channels including NBC, MSNBC, CNN, The Weather Channel, Weather Nation, Fox News and ABC, in addition to countless ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox affiliates.

Special Weather Reports

Forecasting flooding from the air! Lots of work is being done by The NOAA Hurricane Hunters/Aircraft Operations and the US National Weather Service North Cen...

The WeatherFirst team presents its newest special, "Marshalltown: In Their Own Words." Live through the July 19,2018 EF-3 tornado that tore a path of destruction right through the center of town. You'll hear from Marshalltown residents on their decisions that kept them alive as the tornado passed overhead, city officials and how they responded in the immediate aftermath and see how the town is recovering two years later.

On May 25, 2008 a killer Ef-5 tornado carved a 43-mile path of destruction in eastern Iowa. That tornado claimed the lived of nine people. On this 10 year anniversary we let survivors, residents, forecasters and storm chasers describe the tornado and aftermath in their own word.

Rocket and Space News Pieces

Rural Iowans seeing benefits from SpaceX Starlink internet

Former weather satellite selected for service by Air Force

NASA celebrates UI's accomplishments in Iowa City

‘We now have a plan to return to the moon’ - Landing planned by 2024

SpaceX, NASA launch ‘new era in spaceflight’

NASA 'touching' the Sun, probing for a way to protect Earth

New weather satellite issues persist but forecast improves

'Good science at low cost' - Benefiting from the new space race

The satellite GOES dancing - Weather satellite moves to its new home

GOES-S Day 1: We are GOES for launch

An envoy of NASA scientists, University of Iowa officials and local politicians huddled into the many labs in Van Allen Hall on the University of Iowa campus to honor and celebrate the accomplishments, past and present, the department of Physics and Astronomy has earned since the building's namesake made historic discoveries in the 1950s.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fl. - SpaceX made history Saturday by launching its Crew Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station, the first time a private company launched its own spacecraft that could be piloted by humans. Sunday it made history again by becoming the first commercial vehicle capable of ferrying astronauts to dock with the orbiting science laboratory.

A new space race is here, but instead of countries battling for superiority, private companies are fighting for contracts. This competition between companies like SpaceX and United Launch Alliance is reducing the cost to access space, allowing more trips into earth orbit, and is even prompting changes to the way we launch and now reuse rockets.

Completed University Coursework

Meteorology Requirements

Dynamic Meteorology I (3 hrs.): Examination of atmospheric thermodynamics and cloud processes, including hydrostatic equilibrium, equation of state, atmospheric moisture, adiabatic processes, the use of thermodynamic charts, precipitation development, and lightning mechanisms.

Dynamic Meteorology II (3hrs.): Examination of atmospheric fluid motion, including atmospheric kinematics, real and apparent forces, geostrophic and gradient winds, thermal winds, vorticity, quasigeostrophy, and their application to numerical weather prediction.

Synoptic Meteorology I (3 hrs.): Study of large-scale (synoptic) atmospheric circulations and the relationship between upper air circulation, vertical motion, and surface development, particularly cyclogenesis. Emphasis on weather analysis through observational data and computer models.

Synoptic Meteorology II (3 hrs.): Quantitative treatment of dynamical and thermodynamical processes involved in synoptic meteorology. Evolution of fronts and cyclones, isentropic analysis, vertical cross sections, interpretation of satellite imagery and numerical model data, all in the context of theory and case studies.

Natural Hazards (3 hrs.): Examination of the causes, development, and impact of different natural hazards around the world. Hazards range from volcanoes and earthquakes to hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and fires. Understanding community responses to particular disasters, including planning, first responses, and lessons learned.

Severe and Unusual Weather (2 hrs.): Study of severe weather causes and impacts on local communities. Apply current technologies and data sources to analyze winter weather events (blizzards, ice storms, etc.) and warm season events (thunderstorms, tornadoes, hail, lightning, floods, hurricanes).

Meteorological Data Analysis (3 hrs.): Various meteorological data analysis software packages will be used to enhance synoptic/dynamics concepts learned in concurrent courses. These tools will be used to produce and present an analysis of a meteorological case study.

Physical Meteorology (3 hrs.): Examination of atmospheric radiation and chemistry, including optical effects, acoustical phenomena, tropospheric and stratospheric chemical processes, and how these disciplines combine to determine Earth’s radiative equilibrium.

Principles of Meteorological Instruments (3 hrs.): A survey of the instruments and reporting techniques associated with standard weather observations, leading to the ability to identify meteorological phenomena and report their occurrences in an understandable format.

University Physics I (4 hrs.): Motion, Newton’s laws, forces, momentum, energy, work, rotation, and simple harmonic motion. (Laboratory session)

University Physics II (4 hrs.): Kinetic theory, thermodynamics, wave motion, sound, optics. (Laboratory session)

Ordinary Differential Equations (3 hrs.): Elementary theory and applications of ordinary differential equations including linear equations of first and second order and linear systems.

Oceanography (3 hrs.): History of ocean exploration, origin and nature of ocean basins, composition and circulation of ocean water, modern developments in oceanography, man and the oceans.

Environmental Climatology (3 hrs.): This course deals with the mechanisms of heat flow, radiation exchanges, and water vapor flux and with the effects of climate on organisms, ecosystems, and human societies as well as changes in global environment.

Cartographic Design for GIS (3 hrs.): An introduction to basic cartographic principles and design techniques necessary for Geographic Information System (GIS) map production.

Emergency Management Requirements

Hazards and Disasters in Emergency Management (3 hrs.): Overview of the dynamic relationships between natural and technological hazards and disasters and associated requirements for mitigation, preparation, response, and recovery.

Principles of Emergency Management (3 hrs.): Presents the theories, principles, and approaches to emergency management. Philosophy of comprehensive emergency management will be discussed including mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. Role, duties, and importance of the emergency manager will be discussed.

Dimensions of Disaster (3 hrs.): Overview of empirical vs. theoretical approaches to disasters; human behavior in disaster, disaster myths; group disaster behavior; community social systems and disaster; cultures, demographics and disaster behavior distinctions, and contemporary disaster research.

Business and Industry Emergency Management (3 hrs.): Provides an analysis of governmental emergency management, legal requirements, employee and business disaster awareness and preparedness, public policy considerations, and coordination of community outreach.

Introduction to Public Administration (3 hrs.): Policy development and the implementation by governmental agencies; the exercise of discretion by administrative bodies, their responsibility to elected public officials, and their responsiveness to societal demands.