Congratulations to long time resident Chip Kasper newly appointed Meteorologist-In-Charge at the NOAA/Florida Keys National Weather Service in Key West, Florida. The position was previously held by Matt Moreland who served from April 2015 to September 2017 before being promoted MIC of the NWS Office in San Diego, CA. Kasper has been on station since 1999 and spent most of his time as Senior Forecaster. He has worked during an incredible 27 tropical storms and hurricanes, including the big ones like Hurricane Wilma in 2005 and Hurricane Irma in 2017.
For the last 10 years, Kasper has served as the Marine Program Meteorologist, a role in which he frequently communicated and coordinated with the Florida Keys marine community to enhance boater safety and hazardous marine weather preparedness. In addition, he has worked with federal, state, and local agencies in the Florida Keys, in order to provide impact-based decision support services and build a “Weather-Ready Nation.”
Prior to the National Weather Service, Kasper’s experience includes tours of duty at forecast offices serving Birmingham, Alabama and the Tampa Bay, Florida area and at the Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies in Tallahassee, Florida.
Kasper became interested in weather at a young age, growing up in the Midwest, and he developed a passion for meteorology after experiencing category three Hurricane Alicia in south Texas during a family vacation. He went on to achieve a Bachelor of Science Degree in Meteorology from Florida State University.
Kasper works with his wife, Laura, who is also a meteorologist, and the Administrative Support Assistant at the National Weather Service. They are raising two sons and always enjoy living the fabulous Florida Keys.
