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Meteorology Expert Witnesses

Commercial disputes involving meteorology commonly arise in property insurance, supply chain, and construction delay matters, where the central question is whether a specific weather condition occurred at a specific time and place, and whether it caused or contributed to the loss at issue. These disputes are contested because weather data from public sources is often incomplete, imprecise, or drawn from a location too distant from the site in question to be reliable, leaving room for genuine disagreement between the parties. Insurers, logistics companies, and contractors frequently need an authoritative reconstruction of historical weather conditions to resolve claims over hail damage, wind events, or storm-related delays. The central issue is typically causation: establishing whether a specific weather event, rather than another factor, is responsible for the loss or delay in dispute.

A forensic meteorology expert helps attorneys evaluate the evidentiary record by reconstructing weather conditions at a specific location and time using recognized meteorological data sources and modeling techniques, rather than relying on unverified public weather data. This analysis frequently supports causation arguments in property insurance claims, helping establish whether hail, wind, or precipitation actually occurred with sufficient intensity to cause the reported loss. In supply chain and construction delay disputes, the same analysis can establish whether a weather event meets the contractual threshold for an excusable delay. The expert's reconstruction often also anchors rebuttal strategy, since opposing analyses relying on distant weather stations or unverified online data can be shown to be unreliable.

Because forensic meteorology depends on rigorous data reconstruction rather than general weather knowledge, matching an expert's specific methodology and data sources to the facts of the case is essential, and general meteorological credentials alone are not sufficient. Our meteorology network includes certified forensic meteorologists with decades of experience reconstructing weather conditions for insurance, supply chain, and construction disputes, along with published work on hurricanes, severe storms, and hail and wind events. Round Table Group has completed more than 75,000 expert searches for litigators, helping attorneys quickly identify the specific expert whose forensic methodology matches the dispute at hand. When you're ready to discuss your meteorology-related case, reach out by calling us at (202) 908-4500.

Kinds of Cases We Work On

Round Table Group helps our clients find a wide variety of Meteorology expert witnesses for cases like:

01

Wind Damage or Storm Surge Water.

A commercial property owner's wind insurer and flood insurer disputed how much of a coastal building's storm damage was caused by wind versus storm surge flooding, since each policy covered only its respective peril, and the two insurers ended up litigating the allocation between themselves after paying the policyholder. We identified experts with experience in forensic meteorology, storm damage causation analysis, and wind versus flood damage differentiation. The expert's reconstruction of the storm's wind speed and surge timeline at the property established a defensible allocation between the two perils, and the insurers settled their contribution dispute using that allocation.
02

Lightning Strike or a Defect.

An equipment manufacturer disputed a customer's claim that a lightning strike had caused a costly failure of an industrial control system, arguing the failure resulted from a manufacturing defect that the customer was attempting to blame on the weather. We identified experts with experience in lightning strike investigation, electrical surge damage analysis, and forensic meteorological reconstruction. The expert's review of local lightning detection network data found no strikes within a radius capable of causing the reported damage at the relevant time, undermining the customer's causation theory and supporting the manufacturer's defense on summary judgment.
03

How Big Was the Hail.

A roofing contractor sued an insurer after the insurer denied a large commercial claim, arguing the hailstones from the storm in question were too small to have caused the reported roof damage, which the insurer attributed to pre-existing wear. We identified experts with experience in hail size reconstruction, radar-derived hail swath analysis, and roofing material damage causation assessment. The expert's radar-based reconstruction confirmed hail of a size consistent with the reported damage had passed directly over the property, and the insurer paid the claim following the review.
04

Was It a Red Flag Day.

A utility disputed its liability insurer's denial of coverage for a wildfire ignited by its equipment, with the insurer arguing the utility should have de-energized lines under a policy exclusion tied to "red flag" fire weather conditions that the utility disputed were actually in effect at the time and location of ignition. We identified experts with experience in fire weather index methodology, red flag warning criteria, and localized meteorological condition reconstruction. The expert's reconstruction of wind speed, humidity, and fuel moisture at the ignition site and time found conditions fell short of the policy's defined red flag threshold, and the exclusion was found inapplicable in arbitration.
05

The Seeding Went Too Far.

An agricultural cooperative operating a regional cloud seeding program was sued by a neighboring commercial farming operation after unusually heavy rainfall attributed to a seeding flight caused significant flooding and crop damage on the plaintiff's land. We identified experts with experience in weather modification science, cloud seeding effect attribution, and precipitation enhancement meteorology. The expert's analysis found the storm's rainfall totals fell within the natural variability expected without seeding, undermining the causation theory, and the claim was dismissed on summary judgment.
06

The Climate Data Was Out of Date.

A developer sued the engineering firm that had designed a large facility's drainage and wind-loading systems after the facility experienced damage during a storm that fell within the range of conditions reflected in updated regional climate normals the firm had not incorporated into its design assumptions. We identified experts with experience in climate normals and design standard methodology, regional precipitation and wind trend analysis, and engineering design climate data application. The expert's review found the firm had relied on an outdated climate dataset that materially understated the region's evolving storm risk, supporting the developer's claim in a substantial settlement.
07

The Briefing Missed the Turbulence.

An airline sued the third-party weather briefing service it had contracted with after a flight encountered severe unforecast turbulence that caused significant aircraft damage and a costly diversion, alleging the briefing had failed to flag conditions the available data should have shown. We identified experts with experience in aviation turbulence forecasting, weather briefing standard-of-care evaluation, and meteorological data availability reconstruction. The expert's review found the relevant turbulence-indicating data was available at briefing time and should have been flagged under the vendor's own protocols, supporting the airline's claim in a substantial settlement.
08

Shut Down the Platform Too Soon.

An offshore oil company sued the meteorological consulting firm it had retained for hurricane forecasting after a costly platform evacuation and production shutdown proved unnecessary when the storm's track shifted well away from the platform, and the company argued the consultant's track forecast had been unreasonably conservative given the data available at the time. We identified experts with experience in hurricane track forecasting methodology, offshore evacuation decision-support meteorology, and forecast uncertainty communication standards. The expert's review found the consultant's forecast had reasonably reflected the track uncertainty cone available at the decision point, and the claim was resolved in the consultant's favor on summary judgment.
09

Whose Emissions Drifted Where Exactly.

A specialty manufacturer sued a neighboring industrial facility after odor and emissions complaints from a sensitive production process were traced to the neighboring facility's operations, and the neighbor disputed that its emissions could have reached the manufacturer's site given prevailing wind patterns. We identified experts with experience in air dispersion modeling, meteorological wind pattern reconstruction, and industrial emissions source attribution. The expert's dispersion modeling using site-specific meteorological data confirmed the neighboring facility's emissions plume regularly reached the manufacturer's site under the prevailing conditions, supporting the claim in a substantial settlement.
10

Was It Really a Drought.

A reinsurer disputed a primary crop insurer's claim for a treaty payout tied to a regional drought, arguing the meteorological drought index used to trigger the treaty had been miscalculated using an inappropriate reference period for that agricultural region. We identified experts with experience in meteorological drought index methodology, precipitation deficit calculation, and agricultural reinsurance treaty trigger interpretation. The expert's recalculation using the treaty's specified reference period confirmed the drought index had in fact crossed the payout threshold, and the reinsurer's payment obligation was upheld in arbitration.

Here are a few of our favorite Meteorology Expert Witnesses:

Colorado Meteorology, Forecasts, Lighting Expert #8767

I have 19 years of experience, and specialize in the field of meteorology with specific knowledge in the areas of forensic meteorology, weather reconstruction and expert report preparation. I have published on such topics as meteorology and hydro-meteorology. I have testified 20 times on topics such as rainfall depth, duration, return frequency, snow depth and duration, the formation of ice and wind velocity estimates.

 

Tennessee Meteorology Expert #14766

I have 30 years of experience and specialize in the field of meteorology, with specific knowledge of weather, severe storms and weather forecasting. I have published on such topics as Hurricane Katrina and the Nashville tornado of April 16, 1998.

 

Virginia Weather, Meteorology, Satellite Expert #19350

I have 26 years of experience, and specialize in the field of meteorology with specific knowledge in the areas of satellites, air quality and customer and stakeholder support. I have published on such topics as air quality, satellite requirements and mesoscale meteorology.

 

Oregon Oceanography, Meteorology Expert #19850

I have 30 years of experience, and specialize in the field of ocean science and policy with specific knowledge in the areas of research, technology and policy. I have published on such topics as ocean policy, climate and marine technology. I have testified 10 times on topics such as ocean observing systems, ballast water treatment and public outreach.

 

Utah Space Physics, Meteorology Expert #20518

I have 40 years of experience, and specialize in the field of space physics and solar energy with specific knowledge in the areas of radiation belt physics, atmospheric science and physics model building. I have published on such topics as ionospheric physics, space physics with earth satellites and radiation physics. Senior level US Government administration experience at NASA Headquarters, including science envoy to Russia, France, Germany, Denmark and Argentina. Present business activity includes university education, solar energy generation and utilization. Nuclear instrumentation work for NASA and USAF spacecraft. Theory and modeling in space physics.

 

Your Case Deserves The Best Meteorology Expert Witnesses

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The right expert witnesses and consulting experts can make your case. That’s why we have spent so many hours over the past quarter century making sure our clients have just the right expert team — whether one expert or many, early-stage advice or expert reports and testimony. Across over 50,000 expert search assignments, we have honed a unique, customized approach to identifying, analyzing and connecting with expert talent so you can focus on winning your case.

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Iowa Meteorology Expert #28129

I have 37 years of experience and specialize in the field of meteorology, with specific knowledge of roadway weather, climate change and agricultural meteorology. I have published on such topics as climate change, wind energy, roadway weather, agricultural shelterbelts, streamflow and carbon dioxide. I have testified 20 times on topics such as climate change and natural gas sendout, frost on roadways, slip and fall, fog on roadways and failure of agricultural fungicide on seed corn.

 

Missouri Meteorology, Severe Storms Expert #30035

I have 12 years of experience, and specialize in the field of meteorology with specific knowledge in the areas of winter storm structure, weather analysis and weather forecasting. I have published on such topics as thunder snow, occluded cyclones and heavy rain and snow events.

 

California Meteorology, Broadcaster Expert #31094

I have 37 years of experience, and specialize in the field of meteorology with specific knowledge in the areas of broadcasting, forensic testimony and climatology. I have published on such topics as climate change, atmospheric tides and UV intensity. I have testified on wind damage, astronomical events and various other weather reconstructions.

 

Colorado Meteorology, Atmospheric Science Expert #32690

I have 45 years of experience, and specialize in the field of meteorology with specific knowledge in the areas of hurricanes, weather modification and severe storms. I have published on such topics as hurricanes, waterspouts and tornadoes. I have testified on weather modification and severe storms.

 

Louisiana Meteorology Expert #34351

I have 30 years of experience in the field of meteorology with specific knowledge of the Gulf of Mexico, the continental United States and Central America. I have published on such topics as hurricane impact along the Gulf Coast, climatology, wind forecasting and wave forecasting. I have testified 20 times on topics such as sea states in the Gulf of Mexico, aviation weather and deep South winter storms.

 

Colorado Meteorology, Weather Expert #36113

I have 15 years of experience and specialize in the field of meteorology with specific knowledge in the areas of precipitation, lightning and weather radar. I have published on such topics as precipitation, lightning and weather radar. I have testified on aviation accidents, lightning and weather radar analysis.

 

Tennessee Meteorology Expert #39942

I have 25 years of experience and specialize in the field of meteorology with specific knowledge of meteorological monitoring and weather data analysis. I have published on such topics as meteorological studies at nuclear power plants, real-time transport and dispersion, and Doppler solar applications for emergency management. I have testified on weather conditions at accident scenes, and civil and nautical twilight.

 

California Meteorology, Physics, Pollution Expert #40504

I have 20 years of experience, and specialize in the field of climate, with specific knowledge in the areas of climate prediction, pollution and arctic change. I have published on such topics as effects of pollution on snowpack, sources of airborne dust and health effects of airborne dust. I have testified on climate effects of black carbon pollution. I spent one year in the French Alps collecting and analyzing snow to determine the effects of pollution on climate change and freshwater resources.

 

Put Our Meteorology Expert Network to Work for You

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Our huge network of experts – eminent university professors and practitioners who have achieved renown as thought leaders in their fields – combined with unparalleled research capabilities puts the experts you need at your disposal when and where you need them.

If you’re a litigator or general counsel, we want to put this network to work for you and your clients. Let us know how we can help by calling us at (202) 908-4500 or filling out the form on this page. We’re so confident you’ll love what we do that unless you retain an expert we present there’s no charge!

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Questions Attorneys Ask About Meteorology Expert Witnesses:

A meteorology expert becomes relevant in property insurance disputes over hail, wind, or storm damage, in supply chain matters where a shipment was delayed by weather, and in construction disputes where a weather event is claimed as an excusable delay. These experts are especially useful when the parties disagree about whether a specific weather condition actually occurred at the location and time in question. Attorneys should consider a forensic meteorology expert whenever public weather data appears incomplete or unreliable for the site at issue.
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