Kevin Martin

An Interview With...

Kevin Martin

Meteorological Researcher and Forecaster
California, USA

Where did you grow up and what were your favorite activities as a child?

I was born in Corona, California. I grew up in Norco, California over my youngest years to High School. I am now back in Corona, California.

Did you have any teachers who made a memorable impact on your education?

I wasn't the talkative type back then. I would have to say one teacher's aid... my mother Carolyn Martin. She was a teacher's aid at Norco High. Now she works at Corona High School doing the same thing. My mother has been there for me for my entire life. She never put me down when I wanted to strive forward with my weather passion. She is a main key to driving me forward.

What were your favorite subjects in school?

My favorite subjects were Science and Math. I didn't quite get much of the Math part, and this is needed in meteorology, however I decided to merge the two together. What I thought was easy to do became the novelty of my work. I was able to forecast the weather using basic math formulas I wrote for certain weather forecast events. There is no trigonometry or calculus involved. It's simple basic math.

What were your least favorite or most difficult subjects in school?

My least favorite subjects were History and English. They just didn't interest me at all. I was more of the science geek in High School. It was very hard for me to have focused on subjects I didn't like. It all came back to science.

Did you live in any other countries or experience other cultures or languages as a child?

I have visited Mexico, but didn't learn any of the languages. Currently, my girlfriend, Dominica Niala, is trying to get me to say words in her language. She is from the Philippines, and the language is Tagalog. I am not fluent in it at all right now.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

When I was a child I wanted to seriously be an astronaut! I loved astronomy. It was just like weather is today for me. The spark of wanting astronomy as a career left me 7 years ago at age 15.

I was a couple years into storm chasing, with my mother, when I finally knew I wanted to go further in the weather field. I wasn't sure how I was going to do it. My cousin Jeff Miller tried to do it when he was younger only to be told by my aunts that it was a tough business. I was told the exact same thing but never listened. I haven't to this day.

My drive for the weather came more after being hit by lightning. Now, I am not saying anyone should just go get hit by lightning to be able to instantly forecast the weather because that's dangerous. However, that is exactly what happened to me. I was hit by lighting... and survived. After that night, I knew it was the call to study and advance further into meteorology, and I do it still today.

When did you decide what you wanted a career related to meteorology?

After seeing the responses to my website from people that didn't even know me! They checked the Ontario Weather Service web site and even came to rely 100% on it. I had a few emails saying I saved their life because they were going to go sailing one day. The National Weather Service had no marine warning. They checked my site, and I had the Santa Ana Winds coming out of the Ventura area blowing nearly 50-60 mph gusts, actually making it into the ocean! They saw that, and decided not to go sailing. Later they found out a friend of their's wasn't so lucky. He went overboard from the strong winds. He survived. They told me it happens all the time out there, but a service such as the OWS Sailor's Report is a life saver.

That puts a smile on my face, and drives me to continue. My site was mentioned on the news a few times during the weather segments as well. I just can't stop. I have to advance further into the study of weather and better what we have today. That is my goal.

Are you planning to continue your education and get a degree?

Yes I am... Fall at Mississippi State University Distance Learning Broadcast Meteorology Program. I hope to get the degree, and get on the Los Angeles news to forecast the weather live.

How is math used in weather forecasting?

When asked about the formulas in development, or the ones already ready, I answer one thing. That thing is:

"Weather is like a cookbook and you need all the ingredients to make the perfect meal!"
~Kevin Martin

You need all the ingredients to make the perfect meal! The perfect meal is what you are forecasting. Are you forecasting winds? What are the ingredients? Pressure difference, wind speed in the jet stream, and mountain pass orientations. It all needs to come together perfectly to make the forecast good.

If I forecast Santa Ana Winds and there is no temperature difference from the Great Basin to California, when it is needed, the formula is altered to a low point, and the forecast would be for weaker winds. I do have charts on the formula outcome for wind gust predictions.

Basic math is used along with soundings, weather models, radar, and satellite data to gain a good perspective what forecast would be the best one to use. It's a group of data, just like the cookbook ingredients.

The formula that has a near 95% accuracy rate per season is the Santa Ana Wind Formula. The Thunderstorm Chance one has that same percent accuracy during the day, but the night will need to be worked on as a new formula outcome for night may be needed. Another ingredient missing, which would be daytime heating?

Do you have a weather station?

The weather station on the roof that displays real-time data is at my mother's in Mira Loma. I may pick it up soon though. The station up here right now has two computers which I do the OWS (Ontario Weather Service) forecasting on, however when an event happens, the OWS area up here has four computers. It costs Internet connection, and web site space to run OWS.

It has not paid for itself yet. OWS weather forecasting has been provided free of charge to the public for seven years. The only way I want to get some funds for it is through the government, or do it myself if I get a good enough job. I would never charge the people for a forecast.

What fascinates you the most about weather?

Ever changing is what drives me about the weather... the unknown. The fact that weather can change in an instant, and the quest to figure out how to better predict those changes.

What are the chances of getting hit by lightning (or becoming a victim of the weather when you are doing things like chasing storms?

I chase storms for the research, not the thrills. I need the data and shots for my research to better the formulas and get a perspective of what formula does what.

Getting hit by lightning is like winning the lottery (it doesn't happen very often). I should have bought a ticket then! To be hit by lightning was not what one would expect. It was a direct hit. It felt like a hammer hit me, then I was out. I woke up 10 hours later in the hospital with the doctor saying I had been struck by lightning. Diagnosis? Stay away from electrical storms. I don't listen to it. I must keep on going until there is no more to do.

Where do you see your career going over the next 5-10 years? What do you expect to have accomplished by the time you reach the age of 30?

I hope to become a weatherman at a local news station and give the people the forecast. I also hope to fund the OWS, and continue the research. Even If I make it on the news doing the weather, the people will ALWAYS have someone to email or a site to go to for the forecast. Even if they want one for their trip. I am always open. I answer the emails quick as you have seen already. [Editor note: I read an article about Kevin and OWS in the local paper this morning. I emailed him and asked if I could interview him for Imagiverse. Not only did he reply quickly to my emails, he answered all these questions before I finished my lunch!]

What do you like most about your current job? Do you get paid for your work?

I love doing forecasting on my weather service site. It's a dream come true to have people tell me they love the forecasting, and that it is a friendly service to them. They tell me it is easy and explains everything. They can learn as well as get their forecast. It also gives younger kids a site where they can learn as well.

I do not get paid. It's just there, everyday, for free. Maybe one day, I will get paid for my work, but it won't be costing the people directly. I am not in it for the money. I am in it for the science and advancement.

If I am given a job with a great salary, you better believe a lot of it will come back to this research. I believe that. Even if I won the lottery today, OWS would still be around. More advanced, but it would still be around. Then I'd form different areas where I can HIRE PEOPLE to storm chase and do some of the research for OWS. Oh, what I would do to help Meteorology advance?!?! I have so many ideas!

Do you have any advice for the students reading this interview?

Don't let your dreams shatter when you got a good thing going. Passion is key. Don't just give up and work a job you don't want. Work a job you can both have a life on, and love. What I do is FUN. It's not a job. It's playtime for me. This is what will make your life easier. Whatever you want to be you can be! Just put your mind to it, and allow the positive comments in, and the negative comments out.

I was pushed around in school and called a nerd. Trust me, it wasn't easy. I wasn't into football or anything. It was all science... what I loved! The bullies, who bullied me around, tried to get me away from what I love. What do you think they are doing now? Probably working a job they aren't passionate for.

I am making it. I am going to go further than anyone ever has in the field of meteorology. Why? Because I ignored the people that told me I couldn't do it... because I sacrificed so much. I kept pushing myself further and will continue to do so. One day, the formulas I create will be used by all weather services, and taught in all schools. This is the confidence level I have put myself in. I hope you go on with that message and remember. ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!

Is their a particular person from the past who inspires you?

Albert Einstein! Einstein was nutty, but smart. So am I. I have been compared to Einstein by many people that have come to know me. He was the best in his time. He made history. 100 years from now, maybe people will read the history of the future of weather forecasting. That would be an honor.

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- 17 July 2007

Last Updated:
17 July 2007