Andy Johnson, My Story
I am a 5th generation Tampa native that has a passion for meteorology. My life was affected by several hurricanes as I was growing up near sea level. Starting at a young age, I kept daily weather records. I knew by the time I was 7 years old, where I would work and where I would attend college. I graduated with honors from Florida State University after being inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. After visiting the WTVT studios annually growing up, I ended up working there as an on-air meteorologist from 1979 to 2013. I wore at least two hats, since I also performed consulting work for WTVT's wholly owned subsidiary, Gulf Coast Weather Service. In 1989, Gulf Coast Weather Service became Weather Vision and I continued to conduct consulting work for that entity. .
My Farewell retirement video from FOX 13
Professional Experience
After 34 years of on-air weather forecasting with WTVT, I took early retirement from the television industry but continued the consulting work that I had started at WTVT. I formed my own consulting company and focused on the forensic aspects of meteorology. I am dually certified by the American Meteorological Society as a Consulting Meteorologist and a Broadcast Meteorologist.
Legal side of the weather
I am a testifying expert for both plaintiffs and defendants in jury trials and depositions. I provide extensive pre-trial preparation and site specific reports prior to litigation, as well. Currently, I conduct research and analysis for plaintiffs and defendants in weather cases involving hail, personal injury, flooding, tornadoes, hurricanes, storm surge, train accidents, automobile accidents, lightning damage, heat waves and winter storms.
Focus and Detail
My particular focus is on tropical meteorology including water vs. wind issues, timing, storm side, wave effects and rainfall.
I've written hundreds of site specific reports on numerous tropical cyclones including Charley, Frances, Jeanne, Wilma, Ivan, Katrina, Joaquin, Sandy, Matthew, Harvey, Irma & Maria just to name a few.
Licenses & Certifications
Certfied Broadcast Meteorologist
American Meteorological Society
Issued Jan 2002
Credential ID #8
Certfied Consulting Meteorologist
American Meteorological Society
Issued Jan 1985
Credential ID #433
Education
Florida State University
B.S. with honors Major in Meteorology with minor in Mathematics & Physics
1975 - 1979
Activities and Societies: Graduated cum laude Member of Phi Beta Kappa, Arts & Sciences Honor fraternity Inducted into Chi Epsilon Pi, Meteorological Honor fraternity Inducted into Pi Mu Epsilon, Mathematics Honor fraternity
Course of study included physical, dynamic and synoptic meteorology sequences
Bearden H.S.
1974 - 1975
Activities and Societies: National Honor Society
Knoxville, TN
Courses and Conferences
Courses Taught & Conference Presentations
· International Academy of Design, Tampa, FL 1997
· Taught a college level Meteorology Survey Course for one semester
· Super Storm Sandy Mediation Training Workshop, New York, NY 2015
· PowerPoint presentation to the United States District Court, Eastern Division of New York
· Fifth Annual Summit on Hurricanes and Climate Change, Chania, Crete, Greece, 2015
· PowerPoint presentation to an international audience of meteorologist entitled “Case studies of site specific storm tide and wave induced damage to coastal structures and dunes during Super Storm Sandy”.
- Courses and Seminars Attended
- Harris Corporation, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
- DMS Operating System – 1981
- Assembly Language – 1981
- Systems Analysis – 1983
- VOS Operating System – 1983
- National Severe Storms Forecast Center, Kansas City, MO
- Tornado and Severe Thunderstorms Forecasting Course – 1983
- National Hurricane Center, Miami, FL
- Hurricane Analysis & Forecasting Course – 1984
- Kavouras, Minneapolis, MN
- Triton Weather Systems Course -1985
- Florida Governor’s Hurricane Conference, Tampa, FL 1994-1997
- Weather Central, Madison, WI
- Genesis Weather Systems Course - 1997
- National Hurricane Conference, Washington, D.C. -1999
- National Hurricane Conference, New Orleans, LA - 2000
- American Meteorological Society’s Weathercasters Conference 1982, 1999-2002, & 2010
- Windstorm Insurance Conference 2007, 2014, 2015, 2016
- Fifth International Summit on Hurricanes and Climate Change, Crete, Greece, 2015
- Professional Affiliations and Offices Held
- American Meteorological Society, National Chapter, Boston, MA
- Full professional member 1979-present
- West Central Florida Chapter of the American Meteorological Society
- Member 1979-present
- Secretary 1983-1984
- Vice-President 1984-1985
- President 1989-1991 & 1994-2010 (elected annually)
- Professional Affiliations and Offices Held
- American Meteorological Society, National Chapter, Boston, MA
- Full professional member 1979-present
- West Central Florida Chapter of the American Meteorological Society
- Member 1979-present
- Secretary 1983-1984
- Vice-President 1984-1985
- President 1989-1991 & 1994-2010 (elected annually)