Rocky Mountain Weather Can Be Unforgiving
50 mph wind gusts in rugged Rocky Mountain weather aren’t easy, but I love challenges. In Golden, Colorado, 50-mile cold, gusty winds made for a struggle to complete the final measurements for my EPA recertification test. It certainly adds an extra layer of credibility in meteorology.
When courts need certainty about the weather’s role in accidents, theory isn’t enough. You need someone who has stood in nature’s laboratory where unpredictable patterns challenge even the smartest meteorologists.
The Rockies create weather systems unlike anywhere else. Winds funnel through passes, temperatures drop suddenly, and precipitation forms unpredictably. Mountain meteorology demands more than equations—it requires judgment earned through experience.
My EPA recertification wasn’t just about renewing credentials. It tested whether I could accurately analyze conditions while those conditions tried to knock me off my feet. While collecting data, my instruments registered wind speeds that shifted by 30 mph within minutes. These are precisely the microclimatic variations that affect accident scenes.
The EPA certification matters for three reasons:
First, it verifies field competence under extreme conditions. When determining whether weather contributed to a slip-and-fall case in Virginia or a multi-vehicle accident in Ohio, you need an expert who understands how wind behaves around structures and terrain in microclimates.
Second, it confirms the ability to gather accurate data when conditions fight against you. In the courtroom, precision matters. Each measurement I took in the howling Rocky Mountain winds had to meet specific standards, just like the evidence I present for weather-related cases in litigation.
Third, it demonstrates a commitment to maintaining current expertise. Weather science evolves, and your expert should evolve with it.
I don’t share this achievement to boast. I share it because when weather factors into your legal case, winning and losing often come down to having an expert who truly understands how weather works in the real world.
The Rockies always teach me humility. No matter the credentials, weather demands respect and continuous learning.
That’s what I bring to your case—not just analysis but understanding earned where weather shows no mercy.
Feel free to reach out anytime for weather-related, courtroom-ready expert witness reports.
John Bryant, AMS, NWA, EPA Certified Expert Witness – SEAK, Inc.