CFK VIP Series explores hurricane science with NOAA Meteorologist Jonathan Rizzo on March 26

Jonathan Rizzo, Warning Coordination Meteorologist at NOAA's National Weather Service Key West office, will present at the March CFK VIP Series on the Key West Campus.

KEY WEST, FL, March 11, 2026—The College of the Florida Keys (CFK) invites the community to CFK’s VIP Series March presentation Thursday, March 26 at 7 PM on the Key West Campus. Jonathan Rizzo, Warning Coordination Meteorologist at NOAA's National Weather Service Key West office, will present: “Science, Technology and Operational Advances in Meteorology Since the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane — How Would a Historic Hurricane Event in the Florida Keys be Communicated Today?”


Rizzo’s presentation takes a compelling look back at the catastrophic 1935 Labor Day Hurricane, one of the most powerful storms to strike the United States and Florida Keys. Rizzo will guide the audience through the severe limitations meteorologists of that era faced in predicting and communicating its impact. Against that backdrop, he will trace nearly a century of technological advancement in hurricane science, from the earliest computer-based weather modeling and radar systems to today’s satellite imagery, Hurricane Hunter aircraft, and artificial intelligence-driven forecasting tools.


The presentation will also examine the growing role of social science in hazardous weather messaging and how forecasters communicate risk in ways that motivate action. He will close with a forward-looking scenario: if a Category 5 hurricane mirroring the track and intensity of the 1935 storm were approaching the Florida Keys today, how would public safety officials and residents be warned?


As Warning Coordination Meteorologist, Rizzo is responsible for public outreach and preparedness coordination across Monroe County and its municipalities. He serves as a deployment-ready meteorologist during tropical cyclone emergency operations, providing direct weather support to decision-makers during activations. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Meteorology from Florida State University.
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Now in its twelfth season, the CFK VIP Series showcases the views, ideas, and perspectives (VIP) of speakers with local, regional, and national prominence. The 2026 series is sponsored by David and Annette Curry, Essential Net Solutions, and First Horizon Bank.