Bill Gargan

SLT Co-founder and fastest manual analyst in the West

Hi! I have a M.S. in Meteorology from the University of Oklahoma and a B.S. in Atmospheric Science from the University of Michigan.  I a founding father of Silver Lining Tours and a part-time tour guide. I was the driver of Probe 1, the vehicle responsible for sampling the near-tornado environment, during the recent Verification of the ORigin of Tornadoes EXperiment (VORTEX). I also participated in Silver Lining Tours on Tour 4 in 1999 and helped us to see a spectacular tornado in Montana. I've always wanted to see a tornado in Montana! I had a lot fun being a tour guide during the '2000, '2001 and '2002 tours. I have been storm chasing in the plains since 1991, and in the Midwest since 1985.  Currently, I am a lead forecaster at the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Topeka, Kansas, in the heart of "Tornado Alley". My hobbies include weightlifting, running, biking, hiking and cross country skiing.

Bill will help out with the forecasting and nowcasting during every tour.  While a tour guide on the Master Class Tour, he will be working with David on the forecasting, driving the tour van, and will help to answer your questions.  Bill has been driving tour vans and teaching our participants about severe weather since 1999.

Bill and David are best friends that each year have the opportunity to co-operate the special education tour (MC tour) designed to give participants a more educational and participatory storm chasing experience. We eagerly look forward to doing this very fulfilling tour yet again!

Status: Co-leader of the Master Class Tour each year. Bill will be supporting all the other tours with forecasts and nowcasts.