Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Mayra Oyola-Merced grew up tracking hurricanes and tropical storms, and that early curiosity turned into a lifelong passion for understanding the weather shaping her island. Now an Assistant Professor of Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences at UW-Madison, she takes us behind the scenes of how satellites help scientists “see” severe storms and aviation hazards like turbulence, connecting weather research to real-world safety and smarter forecasting.