A Letter from David Drobny, Founder of NashSevereWx

Hi, David here.

I am leaving Nashville Severe Weather.

No scandal, no internal discord, no problems, we all good fam. 

I’m emotionally and mentally exhausted from 15 years of running NSWX from the margins of my free time. 

You care that NSWX cooks during storms, and let me tell you, my leaving won’t change that at all.  

I’d like for those of you who care to know I’m well and I’ll be fine. NSWX was 15 years making a personal hobby an accidental public service. We have walked alone together through some bad storms. My part in all this came from the margins of my free time and at the expense of sleep, family, vacations, my beer league hockey teams, friends, families: pretty much any margin in my day went to weather, work always came first (I’m a practicing attorney, btw). I have tweeted from hockey rinks (playing and watching), my bed, the bonus room, the kids room, my office, my home office, from y’all’s kitchen tables or gym, from (my) shower (many times), a tarmac, my uncle’s Green Bay basement, etc etc etc, the radar and data was always (ALWAYS) by my side whether awake or asleep, watching me run myself ragged to be sure the weather lighthouse is turned on and the beam is pointing in the right direction. 

It’s quite a thing for the storms to control your life. 

I’m blessed with the luxury to admit I’ve run out of emotional fuel and mental energy to keep this pace going, especially since the 2020 tornado that killed Mike and Albree, then the derecho, then Waverly. It all worked in me a trauma, which caused hypervigilance, which caused burnout. 

For years, I’ve tried to find ways to stay—boundaries, time off, therapy—but nothing has been enough. I admit I lack limitless energy. My race has been run. 

If you know me personally, please don’t ask me about the weather. The only thing I’m hanging onto is my (alert! Immabout to big time you) board position with the National Weather Association Foundation which helps meteorology students and weather education in general. 

Thank you for tolerating the GIFs, jokes, art unappreciated in its own time (Louvre the Dry Air Monster), invented words and phrases, Dense Dog Advisories, Crazy Ivans, NED, all that stuff. We suffered rare, raw moments of shock and sadness together. 

NSWX is in good hands. I’ll be reading and watching along with you. Maybe occasionally trolling them for amusement or expressing my unpopular Larry Jones, wet popcorn, anti-beaches (the sandy thing near waves, not the movie) opinions.

You were, you are, and you will remain: well loved by these NSWX strangers. Please be nice to them. They work hard. Their families sacrifice a piece of themselves to run this. You are worth it. 

—David

“My energy level was endless but now it’s not. I can’t do it on three wheels, I don’t want to be a passenger. My manager skills are based on energy and relationships. I am who I am and where I am because of how I am. I cannot be that anymore.” Jurgen Klopp, legendary manager of Liverpool Football Club, explaining why he left. 

Arne Slot replaced Klopp. Liverpool won the league the following year.