PHOENIX (3TV/CBS5) — Almost from the beginning, Good Morning, Arizona has been a staple on morning television across Arizona. And right from the start, it featured its two main characters, Jodi Applegate and Dan Davis. Royal Norman, who also helped create the show, had the chance to reunite with Jodi and Dan, and that conversation is the subject of this week’s Beyond The Green Screen.
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Mike Watkiss against the rest of the world: Mike Watkiss is a legendary reporter for Channel 3 who has done everything from tracking down OJ Simpson to exposing Warren Jeffs and the FLDS Church. He was at Ground Zero in New York in the days after 9/11 and covered the trial of Oklahoma bomber Timothy McVeigh. Mike even liked to chase thunderstorms! In this edition of Beyond the Green Screen, Royal Norman catches up with Mike to share memories and updates from his life.
Can saguaros predict the weather?: Saguaros are the guardians of the desert. They live for over 150 years and can grow to over 15 meters in height. But little is known about how the saguaro will survive and adapt to the increasingly hot and dry climate. Meteorologist Royal Norman spoke with a saguaro expert, Don Swann, a biologist at Saguaro National Park in Tucson.
How flood protection saves lives in Maricopa County: Maricopa County Flood Control wants to save your property and your life. Founded in the late 1950s, Flood Control’s sole mission was to limit the damage caused by desert floods. In more than 60 years, the organization has grown into one of the nation’s leading flood control districts, serving a county with a land area larger than seven individual states, including Massachusetts and New Jersey. County Flood Control’s Dan Henz shares how he was born to be a meteorologist.
Gardening tips for summer: Master Gardener Angela Judd is back on the show to review the spring season and share tips on what to grow during the hot Arizona summer. Learn more from Angela at growinginthegarden.com
Arizona bucket list for April: Just in time for the summer travel season, First Alert Meteorologist April Warnecke shares exploration ideas from her Good Morning Arizona series, “April’s Arizona Bucket List.” She shares her favorite road trips, hikes, hotels and small towns. April also interviews Chief Meteorologist and Arizona legend Royal Norman about his best stories of exploring Arizona during his decades at AZFamily.
Impact of climate change on baseball: Climate change on Earth is affecting nearly everything…including baseball. Royal Norman talks with Stanford University’s Christopher Callahan about his research on the impact of a warmer Earth on American sports.
What is involved in a mountain rescue with Phoenix Fire?: The Phoenix Fire Department conducted 199 mountain rescues last year. So far in 2024, the number has been 14 in January, 20 in February and over 20 in March. In 2021, the City of Phoenix implemented a pilot program that closed popular trails like Camelback Mountain and Piestewa from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on days of extreme heat. That program was fully implemented in 2022, and just last year, closure times were extended to 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. year-round. Phoenix Fire Chief Bobby Dubnow talked about the training for these types of rescues and takes a look at the differences in mountain rescue operations at different times of the year.
A guide to the easiest, hardest, most beautiful and unique hiking trails in Arizona: Arizona offers fantastic hiking trails from southern Arizona, across the valley, and up to Flagstaff. This time of year, many people want to try new hikes while the weather is still nice. Holly Bock talked to a few avid hikers who have done it all. They have suggestions for those who are just starting out and don’t want anything too challenging, or for those who want to challenge themselves and try something new.
How to make your car allergy-proof: It seems like allergy season is upon us again, and our wetter and warmer-than-usual weather this year has brought everything into full bloom. But did you know that with a few simple tricks, you can create a mostly “allergy-free zone” in your car? Sean Mclaughlin, meteorologist with First Alert, talks with Glen Hayward, auto repair expert at Good Works Auto Repair in Tempe, about how to find and change your cabin air filter, what temperature you should set your air conditioning to, and why the free hand wiper at your local car wash will become your new best friend.
Why we have dates for the Arizona monsoon: In 2008, the National Weather Service decided to start the Arizona monsoon on June 15 and end it on September 30 each summer. Previously, meteorologists tracked dew points and waited for three consecutive days of dew points of 55 degrees or higher to decide if the “monsoon was here for the year.” Tony Haffer, who spearheaded the change, was chief of the National Weather Service’s Phoenix office at the time and spoke with Royal Norman on the latest episode of the First Alert Beyond the Green Screen podcast.
The importance of climate information: Climate Central is a nonprofit organization that bridges the gap between climate science and communicators. In this episode, meteorologist Royal Norman talks with Kaitlyn Trudeau, Senior Research Associate at Climate Central, about the importance of accessibility of climate information.
Why snow in the mountains is important for the valley: SRP meteorologists conduct snowpack surveys to determine how much water will be in reservoirs. In a recent survey, they found that snowpack appears to be heavy across the state. They conduct these surveys to prepare for flooding and droughts. Holly Bock spoke with SRP meteorologist Bo Svoma about the findings from their recent snowpack survey and what it means for our reservoirs in the years to come.
Spring Planting Season in Arizona: The First Alert Weather team talks about growing vegetables in the desert, from beginner to expert. Royal Norman spoke with Mesa-based master gardener Angela Judd about what to plant now before the heat sets in. Learn more about Angela’s amazing work at Growinginthegarden.com
Where do these weather warnings come from?: Royal Norman welcomes Tom Frieders to the studio. He is the National Weather Service’s warning coordination meteorologist and they discuss the process of issuing severe weather warnings across the state.
Why there are extreme heat warnings in Phoenix: Phoenix has always had hot summers. In 1990, we recorded a high of 122 degrees. But there were no heat warnings until 2008. Learn why there weren’t and why there are now with veteran meteorologist Paul Iñiguez.
Could worms help save the planet?: We speak with Zach Brooks, owner of the Arizona Worm Farm in south Phoenix. Like everyone else, he was surprised at how valuable his worms have become.
The growing heat problem in Phoenix: Phoenix is getting hotter. Can we better protect our citizens as heat deaths rise? David Hondula, director of the City of Phoenix’s Office of Heat Response and Mitigation, discusses with Royal Norman.
Christmas angel lasts all year: Lt. Col. Ivan Wild and Marlene Klotz-Collins, the mother of the Arizona Christmas Angels program, are guests. The program began in 1987 and has now been running for 37 years. Thanks to the generosity of Arizonans, 50,000 children who would otherwise not receive gifts for the holidays will now receive gifts.
Was this really the worst storm ever?: How many times have we heard that a storm was the worst ever, or the worst of the century, or that temperatures were the highest ever? ASU meteorologist Randy Cerveny, who wrote a book about weather record myths, tells us that reports of the worst weather on record shouldn’t always be believed.
Growing vegetables in the desert: Angela Judd, a Mesa-based master gardener, says yes, you can start a garden in your backyard in Arizona, even if you want to start small. Get her tips on how to start your garden, what’s easiest to plant in November and December, and how to best care for your soil.
So you want to chase thunderstorms: Arizona storm chaser Mike Olbinski shares how he got started in storm chasing and how he became one of the best storm chasers in the country. His work has been licensed worldwide and he is the man who turned an Arizona dust storm into an international sensation.
What’s in a name?: The First Alert weather team discusses the pros and cons of a name for our podcast. Join April Warnecke, Paul Horton, Sean McLaughlin, Holly Bock, Ian Schwartz and Royal Norman as they present the first podcast, Beyond the Green Screen.
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