From Web Developer to Social Media Influencer: The Rise of Mike’s Weather Page

WKGC Studio – Have you ever seen or heard the term “spaghetti models” in Hurricane season? If you live in the WKGC listening area, chances are you have heard of the term. The simple term, eventually turned into passion and creation of Mike’s Weather Page, created by a Floridian named Mike Boylan in the early 2000’s. Mike Boylan begin his online adventure at the University of South Florida while in a program learning about marketing and web site creation. Little did he know it would turn his passion for weather, especially tropical weather, into a one of the biggest social media influencers to date.

Mike stopped by the WKGC studios this week and we were able to talk with him about how this passion turned into one of the largest social media followers in the State of Florida. Mike has had different government officials, such as the Florida of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie join his social channels to talk about preparations before, during and after a tropical system takes aim on the State of Florida. Mike says his goal is to help inform and prepare people, with the ultimate goal of saving lives.

While Mike does not have a meteorology degree, he says he always lets the audience know that, and to trust the local, state emergency planners when it comes to tropical weather threats. He says he has seen the National Hurricane Center expand its messaging in recent years to not just telling people along the coast of the threat, but those who live miles, even hundreds of miles inland, that could face possible life threating situations from fresh water flooding.

Mike’s interview with WKGC spans several topics of tropical weather. He also shares some stories of things he has encountered along the way as his social media presences continues to grow.

Mike says his goal is not to sell tropical forecasts or hype a system to scare residents or visitors, but to inform the public about information from officials with data that is made publicly available on the internet. Having followed that principle, Mike has received recognitions from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Weather Service (NWS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Mike also became the first civilian to be the recipient of the Tropical Meteorology Award from an organization called Governor’s Hurricane Conference that is based in Florida. Mike says he was shocked to learn about this, as he says the award was voted on by industry peers in the tropical weather field, including such individuals as government emergency management officials.

In recent years with advancement in technology, Mike has begun chasing tropical systems across the region. He documents them live, permitting the availability of internet, by using what he calls his “Storm Chaser” vehicle, a modified lifted pick-up truck with cameras and weather station. Mike doesn’t only chase tropical weather though, he has occasionally chased storms when severe weather is expected, with the end goal of getting information out. While visiting WKGC, Mike was able to view the WKGC MVP-Titan truck and was impressed with the technology used in the mobile video/audio communication platform.

Mike was also able to tour the Gulf Coast State College TEMPEST Program and see the State’s only program at a State College that is geared toward training and teaching officials interested in air, land, and sea unmanned vehicle systems. They have been tasked with projects like post-storm Hurricane Ian. They worked and trained State Emergency Management and local officials in surveying the water ways after the landfall of the hurricane.

More information about Mike’s Weather Page can be found at: www.spaghettimodels.com