PBS announces “WEATHERED: EARTH’S EXTREMES,” a new six-part docu-series premiering on Wednesday, Oct. 2. You can watch it on the PBS app, YouTube, and PBS stations (check local listings). Hosted by science communicator Maiya May, each 30-minute episode explores the impacts of climate change and features interviews with people living in communities affected by extreme weather events. Throughout the series, Maiya May also introduces scientists and community leaders who are working to create a more resilient future and develop solutions to mitigate the effects of climate change.
“In 2015, when I decided to pivot away from pursuing a career as an on-air meteorologist, I made it my mission to create thought-provoking content that strengthens knowledge, appreciation, and connection to our natural world,” said Maiya May, host and science communicator. “Climate change is complex and, for some, may feel like a problem for future generations, or geographic regions other than their own. WEATHERED: EARTH’S EXTREMES breaks down these concepts and shows viewers how their lives might be affected, all while offering hope and real, tangible solutions. I’m so proud and blessed to be able to communicate the science behind this increasingly important matter, and I can’t wait for audiences to see it.”
WEATHERED: EARTH’S EXTREMES is a evolution of the acclaimed PBS Digital Studios YouTube series, which has captivated audiences with over 30 million views on PBS Terra since 2020. This long-form spinoff plunges viewers into some of the most dynamic and transformative weather events on earth. The series is designed to illuminate the significant shifts in weather patterns driven by climate change, while equipping audiences with the knowledge to strategically plan, prepare, and mitigate the impact of these events.
“The series’ central mission – using weather to draw viewers into deep conversations about climate science – has enabled us to connect with a broad audience across ideologies, ages, and backgrounds online,” said Adam Dylewski, Senior Director of Multiplatform Programming at PBS. “This is also the first time a PBS Digital Studios show on YouTube has made the leap to a long-form series. With Weathered, it’s exciting to see how a new generation of PBS talent and creators are coming from YouTube and social media and bringing innovative storytelling approaches and a fresh new sensibility with them.”
WEATHERED: EARTH’S EXTREMES episodes will cover the following topics:
Episode 1: “Are We at The Tipping Point?”
Maiya May embarks on a journey across the United States, from the sunny shores of Florida to the icy expanses of Alaska, to explore climate tipping points – thresholds that lead to rapid and irreversible change. Discover how critical our climate systems like coral reefs and permafrost are for our planet’s stability. Are these vital ecosystems already past their tipping point, or is there still hope to reverse the damage? Learn about the science behind these changes and what can be done to protect our planet’s future.
Episode 2: “Adapt or Leave?”
When is it time to leave your home? Maiya May visits Isle de Jean Charles, Louisiana, one of the first communities in the US to undergo a federally funded relocation due to climate change. She talks to resident Chris Brunet about his decision to move away from the island where his family has lived for generations. Before visiting the island, she learns about the Hurricane Hunters’ fearless research and explores climate adaptation on our changing planet.
Episode 3: “The Heat is On”
Maiya May explores the most deadly kind of weather, heat, in an unlikely place: Portland, Oregon. She revisits the 2021 heat dome, one of the most anomalous weather events ever recorded on Earth. To understand why some urban areas are hotter than others, she travels to Medellín, Colombia. Then she visits the hottest city in the US, Phoenix, Arizona, to see how we can turn the temperature down, even in the most extreme environments.
Episode 4: “Water Whiplash”
Maiya May explores the growing extremes of droughts and floods and their impact on our food and water. She visits Tulare Lake, once a critical water reserve and cultural site for the Tachi-Yokut tribe, which has re-emerged after 150 years. Maiya learns about agriculture’s challenges, the depletion of groundwater, and finds hope in innovative farming practices that reduce emissions and conserve water.
Episode 5: “Not ‘Business As Usual”
Maiya explores positive climate tipping points. She travels from Wyoming to Michigan and back to her hometown of Atlanta. In Cheyenne, she visits a supercomputer to see how climate systems are predicted and analyzed. In Michigan, she witnesses the explosive end of a coal plant, marking significant progress in the global energy transition to renewables. Back in Atlanta, Maiya and Dr. Marshall Shepard discuss climate challenges and vulnerabilities across the US.
Episode 6: “Climate Crossroads”
In our season finale, Maiya returns to Florida to explore the impacts of climate change on ocean currents, where scientist Lisa Beal has uncovered a slowing Gulf Stream, hinting at a critical tipping point. But not all tipping points are bad: she also travels to meet Stacey Abrams and learn about electrification efforts, takes her first flight lesson, and learns about nature’s role in achieving net-zero emissions.
WEATHERED: EARTH’S EXTREMES will be available to stream starting Wednesday, Oct. 2 on all station-branded PBS platforms, including PBS.org and the PBS app, available on iOS, Android, Roku streaming devices, Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung Smart TV, Chromecast and VIZIO. The series will also be available on PBS YouTube channels including PBS Terra and PBS stations (check local listings).
WEATHERED: EARTH’S EXTREMES is produced for PBS Digital Studios by Balance Media. Series producer and director is Trip Jennings. Executives in charge for PBS are Adam Dylewski, Diana El-Osta, and Maribel Lopez.
WEATHERED: EARTH’S EXTREMES is part of a multiyear, multiplatform initiative from PBS that explores every aspect of how climate change impacts communities, countries, and the entire planet. The comprehensive focus represents PBS’s biggest-ever commitment to the topic, providing a deeper understanding of the issues surrounding climate change and exploring its intersections with conservation, biodiversity, and the ecosystem. PBS will create a rich destination of storytelling that details the challenges of a changing climate while highlighting examples of hope and positive impact. Learn more about PBS’s commitment to Climate, Nature & Our Planet.
