Dr. Rick Knabb

Dr. Rick Knabb is The Weather Channel’s on-air hurricane expert and tropical program manager. He leads hurricane and tropical storm reporting and provides expert in-depth forecast analyses and updates for the nation’s only 24-hour source of national storm coverage.

Dr. Knabb returned to The Weather Channel in 2017 after serving as Director of the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami from 2012-2017. While at the NHC, he supervised the development of various programs implemented to change the way the public understands and is warned about hurricanes, tropical cyclones, and their impacts. Dr. Knabb led the implementation of the storm surge watch and warning system, which highlights coastal and lowland areas at risk of flooding and storm surge -- often the greatest threat to life and property from cyclones and hurricanes.  He also directed the development of NHC’s new Potential Tropical Cyclone advisories and Wind Arrival Timing products.

Dr. Knabb is a trusted voice in weather. During his first tenure at The Weather Channel, he led the reporting of significant events including Hurricane Irene in 2011. As NHC Director, he oversaw the hurricane center team during severe weather events including Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and Hurricane Matthew in 2016.

Prior to his first tenure at The Weather Channel, Dr. Knabb served as Deputy Director of the Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu. Before that, Dr. Knabb served as a Senior Hurricane Specialist and the Science and Operations Officer at the National Hurricane Center in Miami. He prepared and issued official forecasts during several historic weather events, including Hurricane Katrina reaching category 5 over the Gulf of Mexico in 2005.

A Chicago native, Dr. Knabb received his Bachelor’s Degree in Atmospheric Science from Purdue University. Dr. Knabb received his Masters of Science and Doctorate in Meteorologist from Florida State University and completed postdoctoral work at the University of Hawaii. He is a member of the American Meteorological Society.

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