WeatherBrains 1007: I Am Unsettled
WeatherBrains
Tonight's Guest WeatherBrain is author and researcher Kati Wylie Ray. Tonight we learn about and discuss the devastating F4 tornado that struck Poplar Bluff, Missouri on May 9th, 1927. She's been on the Board of the Poplar Bluff Museum since 2001, and has been involved with the Butler County Historical Society since 1999. She started researching the people who died in this tornado in 2017 and has written a book about the event. Kati, welcome to the show! Also, Bruce Jones joins us to discuss the importance of NOAA Weather Radio and its integration in order to save...
info_outline
WeatherBrains 1006: Farmer McNasty Pants
WeatherBrains
Tonight's Guest WeatherBrain has a 25-year history in aviation. He is an experienced skydiver with over 700 jumps, a fixed-wing pilot with a seaplane rating, and a commercial hot air balloon pilot. His company, Champagne Sunrise, operates out of Meridian, Mississippi, and has safely taken hundreds of passengers on unforgettable balloon rides over the years. Beyond commercial operations, he uses Champagne Sunrise for community outreach, including delivering letters to the North Pole for Santa with local schools and donating tethered balloon rides to the local children’s museum....
info_outline
WeatherBrains 1005: Barking Up The Wrong Tree
WeatherBrains
Tonight's Guest WeatherBrain is an Associate Professor at Villanova University, specializing in severe weather risks, societal impacts and hazard mitigation. His research focuses on tornado and lightning exposure at large outdoor gatherings. In addition, it focuses on urbanization effects on disasters and improving public safety strategies. Dr. Stephen Strader, welcome back to WeatherBrains. Brandon Skalniak is a senior emergency management major at Millersville University of Pennsylvania. He is passionate about all things weather, having gained an interest in the field when...
info_outline
WeatherBrains 1004: You’ll Never Be As Good As That Guy In The 80s
WeatherBrains
Tonight's Guest WeatherBrain is an AMS Certified Broadcast Meteorologist and Weather Communications Coach whose mission is to keep communities safe and help people live better lives through effective, viewer-focused weather communication. A four-time Emmy winner, Tim brings decades of major-market experience and was among the first in the nation to incorporate augmented reality into daily forecasts. Tim Heller, welcome back to WeatherBrains! Also, Bruce Jones joins us to discuss the importance of NOAA Weather Radio and its integration in order to save lives. Welcome back, Bruce! Our...
info_outline
WeatherBrains 1003: I’ve Eaten 20 Year Old SPAM
WeatherBrains
Tonight's Guest WeatherBrain is a prolific author and Southern preparedness expert who has written over 75 novels that blend gripping survival scenarios with real world lessons drawn from his professional training in emergency management. His work spans everything from tornadoes and hurricanes to grid-down solar flare events. His storytelling offers a uniquely grounded, Southern approach to self-reliance and resilience. Ron Foster, welcome! Tonight's Guest Panelist is Jared Rennie, research meteorologist at NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information in North...
info_outline
WeatherBrains 1002: I Am Sending You A Hair Clip
WeatherBrains
Tonight's Guest WeatherBrain is a fast-rising YouTube creator known for her deeply researched and emotionally resonant documentaries on high-end tornadoes. Her channel goes beyond the radar and statistics in order to tell the human stories behind these devastating events. Born and raised in East Tennessee, she combines strong narrative skills with a unique interest in global severe weather, particularly in undeserved regions like India and China. Her work bridges science communication and empathy in a way that resonates with a new generation of weather enthusiasts....
info_outline
WeatherBrains 1001: You And Your Jet Cores
WeatherBrains
Tonight's Guest WeatherBrain is one of the most respected voices in the field of broadcast meteorology. He celebrated his 45th anniversary with WGN-TV in August 2023, and officially retired from WGN-TV at the end of February 2024. Tom Skilling, it's great to see you tonight! Meteorologist and Former Director of NWS (2013-2022) Louis Uccellini also joins us tonight as a Guest Panelist. He was also director of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction and served as the Permanent Representative of the United States for the World Meteorological Organization. Thanks for...
info_outline
WeatherBrains 1000: We're Just Getting Started
WeatherBrains
Tonight's WeatherBrains is a celebration. Nineteen years and 1000 shows! We are looking back on our journey and celebrating all of these years together, and we wouldn't be a podcast without our most important asset - our listeners! Tune in for this is a one-of-a-kind episode. We are also excited to announce our new permanent Panelist, meteorologist John Gordon! Also, Bruce Jones joins us to discuss the importance of NOAA Weather Radio and its integration in order to save lives. Welcome back, Bruce! Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming...
info_outline
WeatherBrains 999: I'm Muting As Fast As I Can
WeatherBrains
Tonight's Guest WeatherBrain is a veteran meteorologist at Bluewater Forecasting in Montgomery, Alabama. He's got almost five decades of experience in the field, and formerly served as the Chief Meteorologist at WSFA-TV in Montgomery for 34 years, before transitioning to radio. Rich Thomas, welcome to WeatherBrains! Brooks Garner of FOX 35 TV in Orlando also stops by to discuss the tornado that made a direct hit on their studios on March 10th, where he covered the tornado live on air and warned his viewers, and in this case, his co-workers! Brooks, thanks for hanging...
info_outline
WeatherBrains 998: Bangers and Mash
WeatherBrains
Tonight's Guest WeatherBrain is a retired meteorologist with thirty-five years of experience at the NWS. That includes twenty-six years as a SOO, and he's been a leader with forecaster training, mesoscale analysis and radar interpretation, which helps NWS offices improve proving warning decision-making and lead times for severe weather hazards. Pete Wolf, welcome to WeatherBrains! Also, Bruce Jones joins us to discuss the importance of NOAA Weather Radio and its integration in order to save lives. Welcome back, Bruce! Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the...
info_outlineTonight's Guest WeatherBrain is author and researcher Kati Wylie Ray. Tonight we learn about and discuss the devastating F4 tornado that struck Poplar Bluff, Missouri on May 9th, 1927. She's been on the Board of the Poplar Bluff Museum since 2001, and has been involved with the Butler County Historical Society since 1999. She started researching the people who died in this tornado in 2017 and has written a book about the event. Kati, welcome to the show!
Also, Bruce Jones joins us to discuss the importance of NOAA Weather Radio and its integration in order to save lives. Welcome back, Bruce!
Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected].
- Memorial for Poplar Bluff MO 1927 tornado (08:30)
- 98th anniversary of 1927 Poplar Bluff MO tornado (12:45)
- Tornado distance and path it took through Poplar Bluff (31:00)
- Opening windows and pressure equalization fallacy when preparing for an imminent tornado (36:50)
- Artifact collection from the tornado (50:45)
- Origins of funding to rebuild Poplar Bluff after the tornado (57:00)
- Differences in how fast news was spread and the mechanisms in the 1920s compared to today (59:20)
- Origins of the National Weather Service (01:03:00)
- May 5, 1933 Helena Alabama tornado (01:09:00)
- Emergency medicine in the 1920s (01:10:00)
- Mass exodus at the NWS (01:30:30)
- Bruce Jones/Midland Weather Radio (01:42:25)
- The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:17:40)
- This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:19:35)
- E-Mail Segment (01:21:35)
- and more!
Web Sites from Episode 1007:
Picks of the Week:
Kati Wylie Ray - "Poplar Bluff Tornado: May 9, 1927" by Kati Wylie Ray
Kati Wylie Ray - Poplar Bluff History Museum
Bruce Jones - Flightradar24 App for iOS and Android
James Aydelott - West Texas Mesonet on X: Seymour 3NW gusted to 106 mph
James Aydelott - Dual Pol Images of the 5/3/99 Moore F5 Tornado
Jen Narramore - May 31st, 1985 Great Lakes Tornado Outbreak - Tornado Talk
Rick Smith - National Weather Service forecasting is more crippled than previously thought as hurricane season nears
Troy Kimmel - Amid Oklahoma tornado season, scientists warn NOAA cuts could impact forecasting, public safety
Kim Klockow-McClain - Out
John Gordon - National Weather Service Space Prediction Center: Coronagraph
Bill Murray - Foghorn
James Spann - National Weather Service on guard after threats to weather radars from militarized conspiracy theorist group
The WeatherBrains crew includes your host, James Spann, plus other notable geeks like Troy Kimmel, Bill Murray, Rick Smith, James Aydelott, Jen Narramore, John Gordon, and Dr. Kim Klockow-McClain. They bring together a wealth of weather knowledge and experience for another fascinating podcast about weather.