Qualifications & Education

I’m Matthew J. Bunkers, Ph.D.

As a Certified Consulting Meteorologist (CCM) and award-winning expert, I am committed to delivering objective, science-backed assessments to help you understand how weather impacts your case.

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This is a picture of Dr. Matthew Bunkers, Certified Consulting Meteorologist (CCM) #731 of Northern Plains Weather Services, LLC.

Qualifications & Education

Education

South Dakota School of Mines & Technology (SDSMT) – Rapid City, SD


— Ph.D. in Atmospheric, Environmental, & Water Resources (2005) Dissertation: Supercell Motion and Longevity

— M.S. in Meteorology (1993) Thesis: A Climatological Evaluation of the Northern Plains from the Late 19th Century to 1990: Definition of Climate Regions, Comparisons of Drought, and El Niño/La Niña Teleconnections

— B.S. in Interdisciplinary Sciences (1992) Minors: Mathematics, Meteorology, and Physics

Awards & Recognition

Honoring Excellence in Meteorology

NOAA Administrator’s Award (2021)
AMS Gold Star Editor for Weather and Forecasting (2018)
NOAA Distinguished Career Award for Scientific Achievement (2014)
NWA T. Theodore Fujita Research Achievement Award (2014)
AMS Editor’s Award for Weather and Forecasting (2004)
Certifications & Professional Memberships

Recognized Expertise & Affiliations

Certified Consulting Meteorologist (CCM) #731 (since 2017)
American Meteorological Society (AMS) Member (since 1991)
National Weather Association (NWA) Member (since 1994)
Association of Certified Meteorologists Member (since 2018)
Severe Local Storms Committee, AMS (2018–2020)
Publications & Research

— Contributing to Meteorological Science

Dr. Bunkers has authored or co-authored nearly 50 peer-reviewed professional journal papers. Check out the complete list of peer-reviewed and other publications by clicking the button below.

Complete List of Papers
Quantifying and Visualizing Severe Thunderstorm Motion Uncertainty for Improved Decision Support
An Update for Predicting Left-Moving Supercell Motion
Cell Mergers, Boundary Interactions, and Convective Systems in Cases of Significant Tornadoes and Hail
The Importance of Validating Data
Radar-Based Comparison of Thunderstorm Outflow Boundary Speeds versus Peak Wind Gusts from Automated Stations
Thunderstorm Downbursts: Windstorms and Blowdowns

Contact Dr. Bunkers for Expert Weather Analysis

With over 33 years of meteorology experience, including 8 as a Certified Consulting Meteorologist and 32+ with NOAA/NWS, I provide data-driven analysis and expert testimony you can trust.

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