Department of Atmospheric Science featured on PBS NOVA around severe weather phenomenon of ‘rain bombs’

Researchers in the Colorado State University Department of Atmospheric Science will be featured in an upcoming episode of the long-running PBS science documentary series NOVA that explores the occurrence of “rain bombs” – a potentially deadly global weather phenomenon that continues to mystify scientists.

The episode is scheduled to air on April 22 on Rocky Mountain PBS at 8 p.m. and be available to stream on NOVA’s website and YouTube channel the same day. NOVA is the most-watched primetime science series on U.S. television and reaches millions of viewers each week.

Titled “Rain Bombs,” the episode will discuss the meteorological phenomena of downbursts that occur when a storm cloud collapses – sometimes quite violently. These pockets of dense, cold air form during thunderstorms and drive strong low-level pressure and wind changes known as gust fronts. Downbursts pose significant threats to planes on take-off and landing and can be strong enough to overturn boats or cause structural damage to buildings.

The NOVA team visited with University Distinguished Professor Susan van den Heever and other CSU researchers about the meteorological phenomena during a field demonstration near Fort Collins in September 2025. During that outing, the CSU team deployed a “flying curtain” of drones to intercept one of these downbursts and gather valuable data to pair with information collected from more traditional ground-based systems and weather balloons.

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Images from filming: