St. Cloud State Students Get Opportunity of Lifetime in Studying Weather

(KNSI) – Eight St. Cloud State University meteorology students are getting a hands-on opportunity to study the weather at a major sporting event.

The students will provide weather analyses and reports for the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games in the Twin Cities and Blaine. Three of these students, Naomi Dykeman, Elijah Arellano, and Matthew Clough, recently spoke with KNSI News about what drew them to studying meteorology and what a typical on-site shift looks like.

Clough said that while he initially intended to graduate with a business degree in Kentucky, he later moved back to Minnesota to pursue meteorology. Similarly, Arellano initially looked at becoming a pharmacist after graduation before switching to meteorology. Dykeman, who has had a lifelong fascination with weather, initially pursued a different degree before switching to meteorology and transferring to St. Cloud State.

All three students will be working 12-hour shifts, usually beginning at 6:00 a.m. and running until 6:00 p.m. These shifts will be split between working at the University of Minnesota and the National Sports Center in Blaine.

Clough said that while shifts officially begin at 6:00 a.m., the team often arrives even earlier when heading to the main operations center. “If we’re going to the main operational center, we want to get there about an hour early. That way, we have time to write up our weather reports for the morning. Usually, we’re going around taking weather measurements every 30 minutes and monitoring them.”

“We watch the radar live and give weather briefings to all the different leaders at all the different stations,” said Dykeman. “We’re keeping an eye out for any inclement weather that could come in.” The students will also launch weather balloons during their shifts and take temperature, air quality and wet-bulb temperature readings for their reports.

“I think it’s going to be fun to have that hands-on experience with people counting on me to do a good job,” said Arellano. “I have the chance to keep people safe if severe weather does come, and I also enjoy having a role where I get to learn on the job.”

Clough added that the biggest takeaway he hopes to get from working during the Special Olympics is not only to improve his forecasting skills, but also to learn how to make critical decisions when lives are at stake.

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