AMB Weather’s Kent McMullen joins MTB Atlanta’s staff to forecast trail conditions for the MTB Atlanta Trail Network.
Growing up in St. Louis, Missouri, Kent’s interest in weather grew with each thunderstorm until he decided to major in Meteorology at the University of Missouri. Graduating in 1985 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Atmospheric Science, Kent got his first job with the National Weather Service in Youngstown, Ohio as a Meteorologist Intern. In just 2 1/2 years he was promoted to Journeyman Forecaster and transferred to the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Bismarck, North Dakota. After spending 6 years in Bismarck, he received another promotion to Forecaster-In-Charge and transferred to the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Atlanta (Peachtree City), GA where he spent the next 25 years. After 33 1/2 years of service in the National Weather Service, Kent retired on May 22, 2019. He and his wife started AMB Weather where he has provided weather support for the Georgia League, NICA (National Interscholastic Cycling Association), Ordinary Epics, Chain Buster Racing and Go Nuts Bike Racing.
Kent got connected with the Georgia League (Georgia Interscholastic Cycling League) when he became a coach for the Coweta Composite Team in 2017. Georgia League Director, Kenny Griffin, contacted Kent when Hurricane Nate threatened one of the races back in 2017. This eventually led to the formation of the Weather Committee, and the formation of the Weather Policy for the Georgia League in 2018. Because of his work with the Georgia League, the parent organization NICA asked him to write the NICA Weather Policy which was completed in the fall of 2020.
Kent loves to mountain bike and loves to race. He has been mountain biking for over 20 years but has only been racing since 2016. Kent has competed in the Chain Buster Racing Southeast Endurance Series, and the Go Nuts Spring Series. He is currently the Team Director for the Chattahoochee Grippers, the local NICA team covering the southwest side of Atlanta from Carrolton to Newnan and Peachtree City.
Career Highlights with the National Weather Service
- Planned and conducted a Hazardous Weather Course for the Georgia Public Safety Training Center for 9 years where he taught Emergency Managers, Police, First Responders, Military and other law enforcement officials the hazards of weather and how to respond.
- Presented the Hurricane Outlook at the beginning of the Hurricane Season for the CDC in Atlanta for 5 years.
- Headed the Student Volunteer Program at the NWS Atlanta office for 9 years.
- In April 2017, he conducted a tornado survey on a storm that went through Cochran Mill Park. This was the first time a National Weather Service meteorologist conducted a survey on a mountain bike!
MTB Atlanta’s Board is excited about working with Kent to ensure we educate and inform the ridership of Metro Atlanta about when trails are open and closed due to weather conditions to reduce the volunteer maintenance work load and keep our trails in top shape.
Look for the Kent’s Trail Forecast on all our social media channels and follow our trail status on Twitter @mtbatltrails and here on our home page.
