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Weather & Climate
Atmospheric Scientist
With a formal education in Atmospheric Science and a professional background in communications, Matt blends the two to provide expert analysis and forecasts and communicate the data in a format tailored to his clients. His work is global, with clients located from the United States and Canada to Australia.
Weather impacts a wide spectrum of industries, and it is crucial to understand when and how the impact will be felt. Matt has experience advising clients in agriculture, commodities, electric generation, insurance, litigation, oil and gas, and risk management sectors.
He worked in various broadcast news markets across the country for more than 20 years while also consulting with renewable energy and insurance companies, litigating attorneys, public policymakers, public works departments, and supply chain leaders. Throughout those two decades, he was awarded five Emmy Awards for excellence in weather broadcasting and multiple local-level awards. He was the 12th worldwide to earn the Certified Broadcast Meteorologist designation from the American Meteorological Association (AMS) and is a member of the AMS, National Weather Association, and American Geophysical Union. He retired from television in 2021 to focus on his growing clientele’s needs.
Weather5280 launched in 2012, followed by Makens Weather, LLC, which formed in 2016. Both companies grew quickly with a reputation for providing actionable weather and climate information specific to the clients’ needs. Weather5280 is a Colorado and Denver-focused product serving the area's public and private clients. Makens Weather is global with a primary focus on creating and communicating long-term climate forecasts for industries relying on seasonal forecasts and alerting stakeholders to short-term weather hazards.
He and his wife, an executive in the beef industry, live in Colorado, raising their two children.
In the news
The Food Institute Possible ‘Super El Niño’ Could Further Threaten Food Supply
Oklahoma Farm Report El Niño Transition Brings Hope for Rain but Near-Term Drought Concerns Persist
Brownfield Ag News Midwest drought relief day depend on arrival of El Niño pattern
Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association 2026 Cattle Raisers Convention & Expo kicks off
Hay and Forage Grower Magazine Rumor has it El Niño is back
Western Livestock Journal: CattleFax Outlook signals cattle cycle turning
AgWired: CattleFax Outlook from CattleCon
Brownfield Ag News: A rapid transition to El Niño could worsen drought conditions for key Corn Belt states
RealAgriculture: Volatile winter, delayed spring: What the El Niño transition could mean for Prairie moisture
National Cattlemen's Beef Association: CattleFax Outlook Signals Cattle Cycle Turning as Strong Demand Meets Tight Supplies in 2026
RealAg Radio: How loud is too loud, spring predictions, and CCA's new CEO at CattleCon, Feb 4, 2026
Brownfield Ag News: Ag meteorologist warns winter storm could cause widespread crop and supply chain damage
Drovers: Winter: The Secret to Slowing the Spread of Screwworm
King Ranch Institute Key weather forecast sources for cattlemen
Cattle Producers on Alert: Oklahoma’s Weather Outlook Shifts to Drier Conditions Amidst Screw Worm Concerns
Oklahoma Farm Report Annual Forage Sign Up Deadline is July 15th- Clay Burtrum Calls It Valuable Coverage for Cattlemen
Hay & Forage Grower What do the oceans tell us about drought?
650 CKOM The Evan Bray Show – Tuesday, June 24 | 650 CKOM
RealAgriculture Wildfire smoke shapes weather patterns, and not for the better
Red Deer Advocate Feeder Associations of Alberta to meet in Red Deer
Hay & Forage Grower What do the oceans tell us about drought?
High Plains Journal Hemphill beef cattle conference celebrates 10 years of excellence
Farms.com Moisture, Temperature, and Extreme Weather – What 2025 Has in Store
Ag Proud Dry conditions expected again in 2025
The Western Producer Transition to drought expected to be swifter this year
High Plains Journal CattleFax forecasts continued strong demand, high price outlook for cattle producers
Hay & Forage Grower Here's what La Niña could bring
RealAgriculture RealAg Radio: A weather outlook, micronutrient impacts, and wheat production, Feb 10, 2025
MEAT+POULTRY Seminar forecasts 2025 cattle industry outlook
AgWired CattleFax Forecast is Continued Strong Demand & High Price Outlook
DRGNews Strong Demand and High Prices Ahead for Cattle Producers
HIGH PLAINS JOURNAL CattleCon 2025 set for San Antonio
Red Deer Advocate: Feeder Associations of Alberta to meet in Red Deer
RealAgricultrue: Drier conditions expected through summer after ample spring moisture in many areas
BROWNFIELD AG LA NINA TRANSITION COULD BRING MOISTURE TO CORN BELT
BEEF MAGAZINE CattleFax forecasts continued producer profitability
Hay&Forage La Niña will make a comeback
Brownfield Ag A short-lived El Niño
Oklahoma Farm Report Short-Lived El Niño on the Way Out the Door as La Niña is Forecasted to Make Another Long-Term Appearance
RealAgriculture RealAg on the Weekend: Beef and trade, the grasshopper forecast, and moisture for the west, Feb 3, 2024
NCBA CattleCon24 Kicks Off in Sunshine State
U.S. News The Best Home Weather Stations of 2023
Powder Magazine Intense El Niño Could Lead To Snowier, Colder Winter For Colorado Ski Resorts
The Spruce The 11 Best Home Weather Stations of 2023
Southern Farm Network: The La Niña-to-El Niño Transition: When, Where, How Much?
Brownfield Ag News: METEOROLOGIST SAYS DROUGHT RELIEF STILL WEEKS AWAY
Oklahoma Farm Report: Matt Makens Projects Short-Lived El Niño to Bring Colder Than Average Temps Toward End of Winter
Real Agriculture: A summer forecast moving from the west, to the east, and then south
EL NINO EXPECTED TO STRENGTHEN HEADING INTO WINTER
Brownfield Ag News THE TRANSITION FROM LA NIÑA TO EL NIÑO
WINTER WEATHER SLAMS CATTLE COUNTRY WITH SNOW, WIND AND BITTER TEMPERATURES
Hay & Forage Grower: La Niña departing but with a slow transition
Wisconsin State Farmer: Ag Briefs: Milk prices slide
Tough Spring Ahead for Farmers and Ranchers as Drought Impacts are Forecasted to Linger
EXTREME COLD COULD WIPE OUT PORTIONS OF U.S. WINTER WHEAT CROP
COUNTRIES ACROSS THE WORLD FEELING THE HEAT AS BALANCE SHEET COULD SEE NEGATIVE EFFECTS
Stunning Saturday - Summer Warmth and Humidity Arrives Next Week
CattleFax Forecasts Positive Profitability Trends in ’22
CattleFax forecasts positive profitability trends in 2022
CattleFax forecast: Fingers crossed for a neutral year to follow La Nina
Cattle Prices Pointing in the Right Direction
Expectations for a more neutral weather patterns
Expectations for a more neutral weather patterns
Expectations for a more neutral weather patterns
Cattle inventory expected to get tighter
CattleFax Forecasts Positive Profitability Trends in 2022
CattleFax forecasts price, labor, packaging trends
CattleFax shares 2022 projections
2022 agricultural weather outlook with Makens Weather LLC
CattleFax forecasts positive profitability trends in 2022
CattleFax forecasts positive profitability trends in 2022
CattleFax forecasts positive profitability trends in 2022
CattleFax forecasts positive profitability trends in 2022
CATTLEFAX FORECASTS POSITIVE PROFITABILITY TRENDS IN 2022
CattleFax forecasts positive profitability trends in 2022
CattleFax forecasts positive profitability trends in 2022
CattleFax forecasts positive profitability trends in 2022
Houston, We Have an Action Packed General Session Lineup!
Denver finally sees its first snow of the season
Monday Update: The Front Range Forecast: Bitter cold and some snow
Tuesday Update: Winter Storm Watch/Snowfall Roundup
MARSHALL FIRE: What Factors Contributed To Colorado's Deadly Fire?
Any DUers near the Boulder fires?
Denver finally sees its first snow of the season
Brian Shields
Meteorologist
Meteorologist Brian Shields graduated from Villanova University with a degree in Geography, where he contributed to two published studies on hurricanes and their impact on increased precipitation in the Eastern United States. He later went on to obtain a degree in Broadcast Meteorology from Mississippi State University, and holds Emergency Management certification from Florida State University. Forecasting for longer than 20 years, he expertly communicates weather risks domestically and internationally. He has become a leading communicator of weather and natural disaster risks for those across the tropics.
For more, visit his work on YouTube: @MrWeatherman
Cropping & Grazing
Management for Climate Resilience
Agricultural Data Scientist
A.J. Brown is the Data Specialist & Agronomist for the Colorado State University (CSU) Agriculture Water Quality Program.
He grew up on a small alfalfa farm and worked at a local CSU research farm in Rocky Ford, Colorado, where he learned the importance of agricultural research and outreach.
A.J. uses his experience with statistics, low-cost sensor development, modeling, and agronomy to monitor and protect the agricultural waters of Colorado. He received his M.Sc. degree in soil and crop science at CSU in 2021, with a project focusing on irrigation and soil salinity management in the CO Arkansas valley and the Indus River Valley in Sindh, Pakistan. He has extensive experience with using environmental data collected from commercial, or self-developed sensors to answer larger questions about a given environment. He also has expertise in using coding languages like python or R to apply advanced statistical methods to gain the most insight per data point.
Outside of his research, A.J. enjoys gardening, playing piano, and spending time with his wife at local breweries.