Nicholas Metz

Nicholas Metz is Professor of Geoscience and Associate Provost at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, where he also chairs the Bidisciplinary Courses program. He joined the faculty in 2011 after earning his Ph.D. from the University at Albany. His academic home is in the Department of Geoscience within the School of Arts and Sciences, and he is based in Lansing Hall.

• B.S., Valparaiso University (2004)
• M.S., University at Albany (2008)
• Ph.D., University at Albany (2011)

Dr. Metz specializes in synoptic and mesoscale meteorology, with research interests including lake-effect snow, mesoscale convective systems, atmospheric rivers, cold surges, and the impacts of tropical cyclones on downstream weather. His work bridges observational climatology and dynamic meteorology, often focusing on the Great Lakes region and northeastern United States. He teaches core meteorology courses such as Introduction to Meteorology, Weather Analysis, and Synoptic-Dynamic Meteorology.

His recent publications reveal a strong focus on the climatology and dynamics of high-impact weather systems, particularly those involving moisture transport, frontal interactions, and lake-atmosphere coupling. A recurring theme is the use of long-term observational data to understand the frequency, structure, and environmental conditions of extreme weather events.

• American Meteorological Society
• National Weather Association
• National Geophysical Union
• New York State Academy of Sciences

Dr. Metz actively mentors undergraduate researchers, as evidenced by the numerous student co-authors on his publications. His work has been supported by institutional and likely external research funding, though specific grants are not listed in the provided text. He contributes to academic leadership as Associate Provost and Chair of Bidisciplinary Courses.

He is involved in collaborative research projects, including field campaigns such as the Ontario Winter Lake-effect Systems (OWLeS), which demonstrates engagement with broader scientific communities and educational initiatives in atmospheric science.