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Severe Thunderstorms in West-Central Texas; Critical Fire Weather Threat in the Rockies and Plains

Isolated strong to severe thunderstorms capable of producing large hail and damaging wind gusts will be possible this evening across west-central Texas. Elevated to Critical fire weather conditions will persist across the southern Rockies and portions of the southern Plains through this weekend. Read More >






David R. Novak, Ph.D.
Director, Weather Prediction Center


David Novak is the Director of the Weather Prediction Center. In this capacity he is responsible for the overall provision of national forecasts of heavy rainfall, snowfall, and hazardous weather up to 7 days in advance. The Center is a catalyst for collaboration among the National Weather Service forecast offices and enables national readiness for extreme weather events.

Early in his career David worked as a Fire Weather Technician in Fairbanks, Alaska, and meteorological intern in Duluth, Minnesota. He joined the Scientific Services Division of the Eastern Region Headquarters in Bohemia, New York in 2002. In this role, he was responsible for integrating new science and technology into forecast operations, as well as facilitating training for meteorologists in the Eastern Region. David became the Science and Operations Officer for the Hydrometeorological Prediction Center (HPC) 2009.  In this role, David was responsible for assuring the scientific integrity of Center information, and for staff training and professional development. Since 2012, David served as the Chief of WPC’s Development and Training Branch. In this capacity, he was responsible for supporting the day-to-day operations of the Center, including managing complex IT systems and service improvements. Throughout his academic and professional career, David has been involved with collaborative research, bringing operational needs to the attention of the research community and integrating promising research into operations.

Dr. Novak has a Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science from SUNY Stony Brook (2009), M.S. in Atmospheric Science from SUNY Albany (2002), and B. S. in Meteorology and International Relations minor from St. Cloud State University (2000). He is lead author on 11 peer-reviewed journal publications on operational weather topics, and is Assistant Editor for Weather and Forecasting. He has served as a Combined Federal Campaign loaned executive (2007-09) and chaired the American Meteorological Society Board for Operational Government Meteorologists (2012-14). David is the recipient of the Saint Cloud State University Graduate of the Last Decade Award (2008), AMS Editor’s Award (2010), and NOAA Bronze Medal (2012), among other honors.

David is a native of Minnesota, and currently resides in Crofton, MD.

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