Mike’s Weather Page takes hurricane season by storm

Mike Boylan is the man behind the popular weather site Mike’s Weather Page. MIKE BOYLAN / COURTESY PHOTO

With hurricane season here, Floridians know it’s time to stock up on supplies, make an emergency plan and tune into Mike’s Weather Page.

The man behind the storm-tracking website and social media pages is Mike Boylan. He’s gained recognition and respect for his self-taught meteorology and blog-style postings at spaghettimodels.com/

“I am a rare Florida native! I am originally from Bradenton and now live in the Tampa area with my next generation of Floridan kids. I am a graduate of the University of South Florida with a degree in marketing,” said Boylan. “I am the guy you can drink a beer with and talk to about the weather.”

Boylan said once hurricane season hits, people become addicted to the information he provides. “It is like a soap opera. Every day, you want to check it and can get so into it. It’s an emotional roller coaster, and people like following storms with me each season. It has become part of a culture.”

It was created in 2004 after four hurricanes hit Florida back-to-back within six weeks. Boylan built a webpage to find the latest tracking and different modules on one site, which could not be found prior. Boylan stated he created this to make it easier for those looking for information and test his web design skills after completing a website building program.

Boylan started Mike’s Weather Page in 2004 when four hurricanes hit Florida.

“I have been doing this for 20 years, and it is addicting! I am nothing fancy. I have two monitors and a desk as my setup. I have learned a lot over the years and the most over the past five years. Figuring out the ‘why’ to storms and not just providing the models but also showing what they mean. It is about understanding the intensity of the storm and discussing them. During some seasons, certain ones perform better than others, and helping understand which ones to believe and picking up on hurricane patterns days out,” said Boylan.

Of course, follow the official forecasts from the National Hurricane Center, which are always posted on Mike’s Weather Page.

Boylan chases hurricanes and streams live. MIKE BOYLAN / COURTESY PHOTOS

Boylan joked that everyone’s alarm is set for 9:19 daily to livestream his show called “Daily Brew.”

“I don’t tell people what to do. I just tell them what I see without all the hype. I keep it pretty monotoned, so when my intensity goes up, they know it’s important. I try relaying messages better to my followers from my own experience. I know first-hand the effects, what you will feel and see during a hurricane, and what it is like having weeks of power outages afterward. Hearing it from someone who has done it hits differently. It has taken time but with consistency comes trust and what I have done over the years allows people to turn to me.”

Mike’s Weather Page covers hurricane season details beyond the forecast modules. He covers a Floridan’s insight. That includes how to prepare for storms. His advice: keep gas tanks full, batteries stocked and radios handy. He also discusses topics like looting and electrical and generator safety.

“Nobody talks about generators. It is a top killer post-storm with carbon monoxide poisoning. Or unplugging breakers so if water gets into your house, it doesn’t electrocute residents or our first responders,” added Boylan. “I just cover what to expect from my experience without scaring people and give options on what to do. On the news, you see two minutes of coverage; I try to be the person everyone can go to for information and assistance.”

Riding his Chevrolet truck into the eye of hurricanes, Boylan has gained his followers’ trust by chasing Florida’s most dangerous storms.

“People turn to me to go live during the storms, and in the storms, it makes them feel comfortable to still see me and what is happening. I turn my truck into a mobile studio and take my broadcasting out into the storm. The first one I ever went out into, I took my daughter Sarah’s taco pillow with me. Now, when I go out, she selects what pillow and blanket to take. It’s like bringing a part of home with me,” said Boylan. have close to two million followers. They rely on his weather coverage, storm chasing and tracking modules. Tying his personal life to his daily broadcasts, he has developed a fan-base relationship with his followers. He often talks about his family connections and his love of NASCAR.

“When social media hit, I began using that for other outlets and visuals. About half my followers are strictly on my site and the other half are strictly on my social media. Using five forms of social media is challenging but so fun. You reach so many different crowds,” said Boylan. “I remember sitting at Chilis and had 4,999 followers on Facebook and asked the bartender to follow me. It is where I hit 5,000 followers. It was such a big moment for me. I never would have thought I would have so many now and be reaching and connecting with so many individuals. It is very humbling. I post a video on TikTok, and within an hour, it has so many views and hits.”

Boylan said his followers publicly recognize him and his family and refer to them as “coneheads.” Mike’s Weather Page is free to view but also has subscriptions that send out swag and Christmas cards. Boylan also hosts cruise ship getaways with his fellow weather enthusiasts.

“Social media has helped connect people. I am reporting to other families, and we all just bond. Everyone I meet is amazing and real people – with dogs, kids, and similar lifestyles,” said Boylan. “Hurricanes have a way of bringing the community together, and I love that in a weird way. It brings out the goodness in people and resilience of this area, and storms define a moment in your life. There is something good with storms, and there is always a light at the end of them.”

Mike’s Weather Page is backed by Florida Division Emergency Management and powered by FIRMAN Power Equipment Generators. Boylan has received awards for his impact on meteorology and has spoken at weather conferences. Boylan accepted the Tropical Meteorology Award in 2021, presented by Governor Ron DeSantis. He also received the Taylor County Chamber of Commerce Appreciation Award in 2023 for “unwavering commitment to storm safety and preparedness during Hurricane Idalia.”

Boylan plans on branching out from hurricanes to chase tornados and snowstorms.

“No turning back now, and I wouldn’t have it any other way! As Jimmy Buffett once said, ‘I enjoy my summer job.’ This has continued to be an amazing ride and I would have never have dreamed of this,” said Boylan. ¦

In the KNOW

Mike’s Weather Page

· Webpage: spaghettimodels.com/

· YouTube: www.youtube.com/@MikesWeatherPage

· Instagram: www.instagram.com/mikes_weather_page/

· Facebook: www.facebook.com/mikesweatherpage/

· X: twitter.com/tropicalupdate?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

The post Mike’s Weather Page takes hurricane season by storm first appeared on Fort Myers Florida Weekly .