Q&A: Alex Donato, NOAA Meteorologist

By Alex Donato

How old were you when you thought about becoming a meteorologist or took notice of the weather?

I was giving my parents weather forecast presentations when I was seven years old. Although I do not remember the exact moment that I became interested in weather, I had strong interests in it from a very early age.

Where did you grow up and with what weather conditions?

I spent a significant part of my childhood in Virginia. I experienced several significant weather events as I was growing up in Virginia that influenced my interest in weather. I experienced a heavy snowfall event that caused several feet of snow, a tornado passed near my house which caused damage to a neighbor’s roof and a tree to fall in my driveway, and I also remember Hurricane Isabel (2003) which impacted my area as a tropical storm.

Point out major hurdles that you faced pursuing your education, career goals, accomplishments and how did you overcome them?

The coursework during my undergraduate studies at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University was a major hurdle to overcome. Some of the material was challenging and grades are very important. The support from my professors and colleagues was a huge part of my success.

Having a positive learning environment was crucial, and Embry-Riddle absolutely provided that. I was often sitting next to pilots and engineers in my classes and I was able to share in their passion for flight and aerospace while I pursued my passion for meteorology. It was an incredible feeling to walk around campus and see Cessna airplanes flying nearby (which were piloted by some of my colleagues).

They were learning about aspects of flight while I was learning how the weather could impact their flight. After graduating with my B.S. in Meteorology in 2018, it was the experience that I had at Embry-Riddle that gave me the motivation to continue my education and obtain an M.S. in Meteorology from Florida State University in 2020. I have already used a significant amount of what I learned over the years while working at NOAA’s National Weather Service office in Lake Charles, Louisiana. This was especially so during the 2021 hurricane season dealing with several tropical systems, including Hurricane Ida.

Who were your inspirational or helpful people/professors? Why?

Dr. Thomas Guinn and Dr. Randell Barry were among the most helpful and inspirational people for me. They were my academic and research advisors respectively at Embry-Riddle. I always considered their work ethic and professionalism as a gold standard that I try to adhere to.

What technology do you find most helpful in your day-to-day job?

I would have to say the radar is the most helpful technology in my day-to-day job. It is our best indication of what is happening in our area. We get new scans of the atmosphere every five to six minutes which allows us to make decisions based on data that is nearly real-time.

How often do you use weather balloons?

I launch weather balloons very often, typically every week. Sometimes I launch weather balloons several times a week.

Tell us about your experience with the weather in Lake Charles, in Louisiana, and specifically the Hurricanes?

The years 2020 and 2021 were very challenging for the people of Louisiana. They have been through a lot. I first arrived in Lake Charles in November 2020, not long after Hurricane Laura. There was still a lot of visible damage as well as ongoing cleanup. However, I thought it was remarkable that the city was functioning again. I think that is a testament to how resilient the people in the area are and their ability to recover.

The year 2021 ended up being a year of extremes in our area. In February we saw a cold air outbreak with 16 degrees Fahrenheit experienced in Lake Charles as well as ice and sleet. During the spring there were a number of tornadoes in Southern and Central Louisiana, one of them being an EF3. In May there was a flooding event that brought 12.49 inches of rain to Lake Charles in a day. Over the summer, our office was affected by three tropical cyclones, one of which was Hurricane Ida. Our neighboring office to the east saw the vast majority of the impacts from Hurricane Ida. Going through these events can be very stressful and it was important to have good teamwork and coordination with colleagues.

What advice do you have on things that worked for you and on things that you did not understand until later? If any...

I have made plenty of mistakes over the years. But the important point is that I recognized those mistakes and tried to improve and become a better person. I feel that always trying to improve myself is a large part of how I achieved what I wanted to achieve.

What is the driving force of your perseverance?

Trying to help society has always been a huge driving force for me. We have so many incredible inventions in society today, such as airplanes. To have the opportunity to contribute to the advancement of technology or help in communication of information, even if it were only a small contribution, it would be incredibly gratifying to me. I absolutely feel that I am helping society to be part of NOAA.

What is your Geaux (go) to favorite Louisiana food in winter and summer seasons?

I would say Gumbo. It is great especially for the cooler seasons, but I think it is nice to have any time of year.

What do you like most about living in Louisiana?

The food is what I like the most. I love spicy food, and there is plenty of spicy food in Louisiana.