When insurance claims, disputes, or lawsuits involve the weather, it’s important to know what the weather and/or ground conditions were at a specific address for the date of the incident or a historical time period. You deserve accurate and reliable weather information from experienced Forensic Meteorologists you can trust.
Our team of Certified Consulting Meteorologists and Forensic Meteorologists have helped resolve more than 10,000 claims and lawsuits across the United States. Many of these claims and lawsuits involve hail, wind, tornadoes, slip and falls on snow/ice, Hurricanes, MVA’s, and other personal injury and property damage related incidents. Our team of experts are among the most experienced and credible in the industry.
Howard Altschule is the CEO of Forensic Weather Consultants, one of the largest and most relied upon weather expert firms in the country. A Forensic Meteorologist with more than three decades of experience, he is the recipient of the coveted “Certified Consulting Meteorologist” (C.C.M.) designation from the American Meteorological Society (AMS), the highest certification a consulting meteorologist can receive. Howard and his team have been retained on more than 10,000 claims and lawsuits around the country. As one of the most experienced Forensic Meteorologists in the country, Howard has testified at least 113 times in various courts and has been deposed at least 125 times. Howard is a current member and former Board of Director/Secretary of the Association of Certified Meteorologists and has been a member of the AMS for decades. He was previously appointed to the New York State Governor’s Panel on Homeowner Insurance Coverage. He’s frequently an invited continuing education instructor and speaks about Forensic Meteorology at conferences and seminars demonstrating the value it brings to the insurance, legal and engineering industry from the claims stage through litigation.
Howard has a 30+ year background as a member of the volunteer fire service reaching the ranks of Lieutenant, Captain, and President and worked as a part-time deputy emergency manager with the Sheriff’s Office. He founded and is Chairman of the non-profit “Harky’s Heroes for Kids, Inc.” and created a scholarship at the State University of New York at Albany.
Howard and his team give their clients valuable information about what the past weather and ground conditions were at specific incident locations and provide expert reports, affidavits, depositions, and trial testimony.
Renée McKenna is the Director of Operations and a Consulting Meteorologist at Forensic Weather Consultants (FWC) where she oversees all daily operations, manages client intake, and handles all new case inquiries. Renée graduated Summa Cum Laude from the State University of New York at Albany in December 2016 and joined the FWC team full-time immediately thereafter. Renée has a Bachelor of Science degree in both Atmospheric Science and Environmental Science (Concentration in Climate). She was a member of the Presidential Honor Society at the University at Albany and was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Society, considered to be the nation’s most prestigious honor society.
Renée has prior experience as a student intern at the National Weather Service in Albany, New York and with the New York State Mesonet where her responsibilities included analyzing weather data, monitoring the functionality of the instruments at each operational station, and coordinating with field technicians.
Renée has obtained weather data for thousands of cases from across the country and internationally including but not limited to slip and fall accidents, homicide cases, long term studies, hail, wind, tornado, hurricane, and motor vehicle accident claims.
Dillon Turner is a Forensic Meteorologist at Forensic Weather Consultants. Dillon earned his Master of Science degree in Atmospheric Science at the University of Kansas and his Bachelor of Science degree in Geography with a concentration in Meteorology and Climatology at Arizona State University. His past university research includes studying the marine layer to help mitigate the effects it has on the shipping and airline industries. Dillon has been an active member in the American Meteorological Society for many years and has presented his research at past national conferences. Dillon worked as an Operational Meteorologist for Department of Homeland Security operations throughout the United States and Caribbean. This provided him extensive experience forecasting and analyzing many different types of microscale, mesoscale and synoptic weather events.
Dillon has worked on close to 1,000 cases across the country with a focus on hail, wind, tornado, precipitation and winter weather. He also helps lead Forensic Weather Consultants “technology first” initiative by helping develop products that serve our customers interests.
Kyle Gravlin joined Forensic Weather Consultants as a Forensic Meteorologist in June 2020. He holds a B.S. in Atmospheric Science from the University at Albany and brings nearly two decades of combined atmospheric science expertise to the team.
Prior to specializing in forensic meteorology, Kyle spent 12 years as a broadcast meteorologist across Wyoming, Idaho, Nebraska, and Florida. He is an active member of the American Meteorological Society and earned their prestigious Television Seal of Approval.
At FWC, Kyle has worked on more than 1,000 cases involving various weather events, including winter storms, hurricanes, high winds, hail, and tornadoes. He specializes in delivering detailed weather reconstructions, expert site-specific analysis, and reliable deposition and trial testimony.
John Lombardo has been a Forensic Meteorologist with Forensic Weather Consultants since June of 2014. He graduated from the State University of New York at Albany in May 2008 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Atmospheric Science and has worked on over 3,000 cases including slip and fall accidents, long term weather studies, rainfall cases, and severe weather claims. John has also provided live trial testimony as an expert witness in various courts of law numerous times and has always been admitted as an expert.
John has also done work with the National Weather Service and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation where his tasks included obtaining and organizing daily air quality data, recording air quality hotline messages, and quality controlling and organizing past air quality verification data.
Gary Graeff has been a dedicated member of Forensic Weather Consultants since March 2024, leveraging over a decade of meteorological expertise. He began his career in 2009 with the U.S. Air Force as a Weather Forecaster, serving 10 years of active duty. During this time, he honed his skills by predicting diverse weather conditions across the globe. In 2019, Gary transitioned to the Air National Guard and entered the private weather industry.
As Director of Operations for a company focused on weather support for the emerging commercial drone sector, Gary spearheaded the development of a virtual operations center that provided critical meteorological guidance to industries such as energy and aviation. He also led multiple meteorological studies and projects, establishing himself as a subject matter expert in the field.
Gary holds a Bachelor of Science in Geoscience with a concentration in Operational Meteorology from Mississippi State University (2018) and a Master of Science in Emergency Management from Millersville University (2022). An active member of the American Meteorological Society (AMS), Gary earned his prestigious CCM designation in 2022 (#776), joining the Association of Certified Meteorologists in the same year.
Specializing in forensic meteorology, Gary has worked extensively on severe weather cases, including those involving hail, wind, tornadoes, and winter storms, providing expert insights and analysis.
Ethan Weisberger has been a Forensic Meteorologist with Forensic Weather Consultants since 2024. He earned his Master of Science degree in Atmospheric Sciences from the University of North Dakota in 2024 and his Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology from the State University of New York at Oswego in 2022, graduating summa cum laude and with Meteorology Honors.
Ethan’s graduate research focused on understanding supercell thunderstorms and other high-impact weather events. He has presented his research at multiple professional conferences and gained recognition for his teaching and presentation expertise while at the University of North Dakota.
Ethan is an active member of the American Meteorological Society and continues to maintain professional connections with the National Weather Service. He participates in trainings and workshops hosted by premier forecasting and research institutions such as the Storm Prediction Center and the National Severe Storms Laboratory regarding severe storm development and radar analysis.
Ethan has worked on hundreds of cases across the country with a focus on hail, wind, tornado, flooding, and winter weather events.
Alex Bielfeld is a Forensic Meteorologist for Forensic Weather Consultants and has been since 2024. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Atmospheric Sciences, and a Minor in Mathematics, from the State University of New York at Oswego in May of 2019.
Alex began his meteorological career in Broadcast Meteorology where he worked for television stations in Elmira, New York (WENY-TV) and Rochester, New York (WHEC-TV). Throughout his television career Alex has forecasted for some of the more difficult weather phenomena including lake effect snow, lake breezes, and valley fog. Alex has been a part of many significant weather events across Upstate New York including blizzards, flash flooding, and even live coverage of two tornadoes that touched down in western New York.
Alex is an active member of the American Meteorological Society, continues to keep his connections with the National Weather Service, and participates in trainings and seminars to further his knowledge of the atmosphere.
Meteorologist, Computer Modeler
Michael Walters is a research meteorologist and atmospheric data scientist with a background spanning numerical weather prediction, atmospheric modeling, and operational forecasting. He holds a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering from the University of Connecticut and a Bachelor of Science in Atmospheric Science from Lyndon State College. His professional and research experience has included storm surge prediction, air-quality modeling, winter-weather forecasting, freezing-rain and snowfall accumulation, and the development of real-time data-analysis and visualization tools. His graduate research focused in part on evaluating snowfall and wind-gust prediction during significant winter weather events, reflecting a long-standing interest in winter storms and their prediction.
Beyond meteorology, Michael has a broad interest in the Earth sciences and enjoys exploring the connections between weather, geology, minerals, and the history of life on Earth. He is an active club member of multiple mineral and paleontology organizations, where he can further pursue his interests in mineralogy, fossils, and geologic history. Together, these interests complement his scientific career by reflecting a wider curiosity about the physical processes that shape the Earth, from short-lived atmospheric events such as major winter storms to the geologic processes recorded in rocks, minerals, and fossils.
Executive Assistant
Kelli joined Forensic Weather Consultants in January 2024. Serving as Executive Assistant, she is deeply involved in all facets of office coordination, including case management preparation, supporting the CEO and consulting meteorologists with updates to assignments, managing schedules, processing data requests and transfers, and assisting in the preparation of files for depositions and trials. When she’s not working, Kelli enjoys baking and cooking and taking part in baking competitions. She was featured in the Beekman 1802 Almanac magazine and won first place in the Irish Heritage Museum’s Irish Soda bread contest. Deeply committed to community engagement, Kelli also worked previously as an Administrative Coordinator for the Community Hospice in Albany, NY.
The best experts are the ones who you can always count on to be honest with the facts and truthful with their opinions. The outcome of their work is the same regardless of who (or which “side”) retains them. That is the type of expert I always looking to hire. I can always count on Howard and his team at FWC to give me the honest facts and truthful opinions.
Zelle LLP
This case involved plaintiff slipping and falling on ice/snow on a sidewalk abutting defendants building. Defendants were arguing that they are not liable, due to a storm in progress doctrine. At trial in Supreme Court, Kings County, Mr. John Lombardo testified as an expert meteorologist for plaintiff. His testimony was crucial in establishing liability in this matter. At issue was the time that snow ceased prior to plaintiff's accident. Defendant's meteorologist expert, George Wright, testified in opposition to Mr. Lombardo at trial. Mr. Lombardo was professional, composed and tough on the stand. Mr. Lombardo's in court testimony, his data and his analysis was crucial in obtaining a full liability verdict against defendants. The jury unanimously believed every aspect of Mr. Lombardo's testimony and completely disregarded testimony of defendants' expert George Wright – Michael Roitman, Esq., plaintiff's trial attorney.
Frekhtman & Associates
As a trial attorney, knowing an expert is experienced and easy to work with reduces the stress of trial. Forensic Weather Consultants is very qualified, experienced and very easy to work with. I highly recommend them.
Finkelstein & Partners
The wonderful staff of experts at Forensic Weather Consultants have been providing me and my company with professional, pin-point accurate Certified Weather Reports, as well as court testimony, over the last several decades; they are, and will continue to be, my first choice as Weather Expert.
Senior Claims Examiner, NYC
I have worked with the folks at Forensic Weather Consultants on several matters and will continue to engage them based on their professionalism, diligence, responsiveness, and, of course, expertise. They know weather and understand their role in assisting me with my case. Always a pleasure to work with FWC.
Bressler, Amery & Ross
I have worked with Forensic Weather Consultants (FWC) for many years, and have consistently found them to be responsive, accurate, reliable, and exceptionally professional. FWC answers phone calls and emails promptly, treats assignments with urgency, and delivers their work on time. When circumstances require an expedited response, their rush services also have proven extremely valuable.
FWC does not simply produce a cookie-cutter report. Their team takes the time to understand the specific issues involved in each assignment and provides clear, direct answers to the questions that matter. Their site-specific meteorological analyses can address wind speeds and directions, hail, flooding, temperature, timing, and other weather conditions relevant to a particular date of loss. They are also highly capable of evaluating reports prepared by others and producing thorough, well-supported rebuttal analyses.
Their service does not end when the report is delivered. FWC makes themselves available to discuss their findings, answer questions, and ensure that the conclusions are fully understood. I recall one file we had where the assignment, the timing of peak wind speeds by others did not appear to make sense. Kyle reviewed the data and immediately recognized that the time zone shown in the source information did not correspond with the location of the site. Within seconds, he identified and resolved the discrepancy, allowing the file to move forward toward completion.
When the accuracy of weather information is important, I want a consultant whose work I know I can trust. Forensic Weather Consultants has repeatedly demonstrated that level of accuracy, responsiveness, and dependability. I highly recommend FWC to anyone who needs reliable, site-specific meteorological analysis and a team that will stand behind its work.
Principal Engineer/Owner/Revision Engineering, Inc.
My client’s beachfront home was damaged by winds and flood waters resulting from a hurricane. My client’s homeowners’ insurance company paid a pittance for the wind damage while claiming that all the remaining damage was from the flood waters home. I hired Howard as an expert witness to help me explain to the jury the wind speeds that impacted the home, when the wind damaged the home, how long the wind was battering the home, and also explain how the flood waters didn’t arrive until after the home was already damaged by the wind. Howard was one of the best witnesses I’ve put on the stand in my 33 years of practice. He explained everything to the jury in simple and understandable terms, helping me prove the home was total loss from wind damage. His demeanor, cadence, intonation and professorial approach with the jury was simply superb. I would hire him again in a heartbeat.
Trial Attorney
As the challenge of getting insurance claims properly paid becomes increasingly difficult, it is really great to have in our tool kit, a meteorologist that understands what kinds of information and details we need. We have utilized Forensic Weather Consultants meteorological services on several cases that require site specific weather data and find that our claims are treated more seriously not only by the adjusters but also the experts that insurance companies increasingly rely upon.
E.V.P.
In conducting a meteorology review as part of a matter in litigation, the key criteria is to have an experienced and balanced expert – one who relies on sound, verifiable scientific data, and has extensive experience working both with policyholders and the insurance industry. Howard Altschule and Forensic Weather Consultants have consistently taken a data-driven approach, with accurate and testable opinions, sound methodology and comprehensive reports that are professionally prepared, well written and scientifically verifiable. I highly recommend them to either side of a complex insurance litigation matter.
Partner, Attorney
Juries want scientific proof. Good science and meaningful and understandable presentation are essential to presenting any forensic evidence. Howard Altschule and Forensic Weather Consultants provide that service with exceptional diligence and professionalism. In a recent nine year old double homicide case they gave us the proof and showed the jury exactly what it needed to debunk a fantastic story by the now convicted killer. You can’t argue with the weather. In the criminal justice system I believe we will see this proof being presented routinely.
Rensselaer County District Attorney
Good Morning Howard. I am happy to report that the case was able to settle late yesterday evening and, as you know, you played an integral role in the happening of it all. We are indebted to you. Thank you again.
Attorney
Dear Howard, This motion was just recently decided and it was denied in its entirety. Your report and affidavit played a big role in that decision.
Attorney
Under a very tight time frame, Howard Altschule was able to collect and analyze literally dozens of NWS reports and warnings and offered a qualitative opinion of the storm event, setting it in its proper historical context. I would recomend his services to anyone involved in litigation where weather conditions may have been a factor.
Defense Attorney
Thanks so much Howard. I will recommend you from now on all weather related cases.
Trial Attorney
Howard Altschule made a great expert witness in a complex motor vehicle vs. tractor trailer case where the weather played a critical role in understanding the liability aspect of the case. Howard was easy to work with and quite knowledgeable in the area of forensic meteorology. He also adapted well to some unpredictable rulings received from the Court and developed a good rapport with the jury. I would not hesitate to use Howard again in any future trials!
Defense Trial Attorney
Howard, Your work on this case was indeed instrumental in obtaining a favorable settlement for my clients after our long seven year legal battle that took us up to the Court of Appeals. Your excellent research, analysis and comprehensive report were most helpful in the formation of my legal theories of liability. Having you present in the courthouse today, prepared and ready to take the witness stand, was certainly a factor in reaching a settlement. I will recommend you highly to fellow trial lawyers , both my bretheran plaintiff's attorneys and my friends in the defense bar, without hesitation.
Trial Attorney
Thanks to the report you prepared in relation to the accumulation of ice and snow in a parking lot in Queens over the course of nine hours, I was able to negotiate a settlement that surprised the hell out of me. I knew the issue of constructive notice would be a problem and feared a defendant's verdict. After jury selection and before opening remarks, I took out your report and highlighted that the controlling data came from you and the weather service and constituted unassailable evidence as to the temperature. Counsel for the commercial tenant insisted that reports from JFK controlled the issue of temperature and not your report. While arguing the point, counsel for the landlord remarked when the court inquired about you "that Howard knows his stuff and is the real deal." I pushed to have you testify and over the course of six long hours both defendants decided to sweeten the pot to induce a settlement. I can't thank you enough for your professionalism and solid reputation. You saved the day from potential disaster.
Trial Attorney
I have found the services of Mr. Altschule and Forensic Weather Consultants to be prompt and thorough. His use of computerized weather data is particularly effective in conveying the disparity of weather conditions frequently encountered in the varied terrain of western Pennsylvania. I would not hesitate to recommend his services, and plan to do so as the need arises in the future.
Defense Attorney
Contact us to learn how Forensic Weather Consultants can provide you with accurate and reliable weather information to help you make informed claims coverage or case decisions.