Greg Nordstrom is an Instructor of Meteorology in the Department of Geosciences at Mississippi State University (MSU).  He obtained his Masters in Geosciences in 2007 and has over 15 years of experience in Forecasting and Storm Chasing at MSU.  Mr. Nordstrom was a team leader in three straight MSU Forecasting National Titles and won an individual National Title in the graduate division.  Mr. Nordstrom has also been blessed to chase some of the most powerful hurricanes of his era, numerous large and violent tornadoes all across the Great Plains and Deep South, and several historic nor’easters in the Washington D.C. Metro area.  In his spare time, Greg enjoys watching sports (Raiders, Lakers, Dodgers, Kings, UCLA, and MSU), photography/videography, studying historical weather (including interviewing survivors of historic storms), hanging out with family/friends, traveling to the South Florida (FL Keys), and of course storm chasing all types of weather.    

Education

• M.S., Mississippi State University, Department of Geosciences, 2007. Concentration:  Operational Meteorology
  • Thesis: And Investigation of Thermodynamic Characteristics Associated with California Tornadoes and United States Landfalling Tropical Cyclone Tornadoes.
• B.S., Mississippi State University, Department of Geosciences, 2003. Concentration:  Broadcast Meteorology with a Minor in Communications

Experience

Forecasting Experience (North American Collegiate Forecasting Competition:

• Achieved Team National Titles:  2008-2009, 2009-2010, 2010-2011
• Individual National Title:  2005-2006 (Graduate Division)
• Finished 5th Overall in the Country 2010/2011 (5 out of 1816 Forecasters)
• Finished 16th Overall in the Country 2009/2010 (16 out of 1843 Forecasters)
• Finished 7th Overall in the Country 2008/2009 (7 out of 1622 Forecasters)
• Finished 14th Overall in the Country 2007/2008 (14 out of 1512 Forecasters)
• Finished 9th Overall in the Country 2006/2007 (9 out of 1596 Forecasters)
• Finished 10th Overall in the Country 2005/2006 (10 out of 1066 Forecasters)
• Finished 20th Overall in the Country 2004/2005 (20 out of 1110 Forecasters)
• Mississippi State’s Highest Ranking Student Forecaster 2001/2002 - 2002/2003 (PSU Contest)

Storm Chasing Experience:

• Hurricanes:  Lili (Abbeville, LA), Isabel (Oriental, NC), Charley (Port Charlotte, FL), Frances (Port St. Lucie, FL), Ivan (Spanish Fort, AL), Cindy (Pass Christian, MS), Dennis (Pensacola, FL), Katrina (Gulfport, MS), Rita (Orange, TX), Gustav (New Iberia, LA), Ike (Galveston Island, TX), Igor (Bermuda), Irene (Kitty Hawk, NC), Isaac (Key West, FL/New Orleans, LA).
• Memorable Tornadoes:  Attica, KS (5/12/04), Albany, MO (5/22/04), Argonia, KS (5/29/04), Conway Springs, KS (4/29/04), Yazoo City, MS (4/24/10), Cromwell, OK (5/10/10), De Kalb, MS (4/15/11), Scooba, MS (4/15/11), Butler, AL (4/15/11), Macon, MS (4/27/11), Guin, AL (4/27/11), Cooperton, OK (4/13/12), Cherokee, OK (4/14/12), Louisville, MS (4/28/14).
• Nor’easters:  Lived through the 1993 Storm of the Century (Arlington, VA - 28.53” at my house), Lived through the Blizzard of 1996 (Fairfax County, VA), Chased the 2003 Presidents’ Day Storm II (Fairfax County, VA), Chased the 2010 Nor’easter/Blizzard (Fairfax County, VA – 40” + in 5 days).
• Goals:  Eye of a Category-5, Major Hurricane in the Caribbean, Typhoon in the West Pacific, Cyclone in Australia, Fly with the Hurricane Hunters, Lake Effect Snow, Northern Lights, and much more… 

Research Interests

• South Florida Hurricanes (Extensively with the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane), Washington D.C. Blizzards and Snowstorms, Dixie Alley Tornado Outbreaks

Teaching Areas

• GR 4422 Weather Forecasting I
• GR 4432 Weather Forecasting II
• GR 4443 Weather Prediction I
• GR 4453 Weather Prediction II
• GR 4473 Numerical Weather Prediction
• GR 4923 Severe Weather
• GR 1603 Intro to Meteorology
• GR 1114 Physical Geography
• GR 4613 Applied Climatology
• GR 4603 Climatology