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WeatherBrains 1005: Barking Up The Wrong Tree

WeatherBrains

Release Date: 04/22/2025

WeatherBrains 1015:  Not Clear and Concise show art WeatherBrains 1015: Not Clear and Concise

WeatherBrains

Tonight's guest joins us from Bonn, Germany — and from the far side of the clock, where it's 2 a.m. local time! Lars Lowinski is a seasoned meteorologist with international experience spanning Europe and New Zealand. He now works with WetterOnline, one of Europe's largest weather platforms, where he connects their U.S. business operations with German-based product development and training. He's also an avid storm chaser who's pursued Great Plains supercells and participated in the Hazardous Weather Testbed in Norman, Oklahoma. Lars has been a loyal WeatherBrains listener since 2008 — and...

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WeatherBrains 1014:  Among the Daywalkers show art WeatherBrains 1014: Among the Daywalkers

WeatherBrains

Tonight's show features an assortment of guests as we take a deep-dive into the National Weather Association - what it is, and why it matters.  In addition, we examine how the NWA is evolving in its 50th year.  We will talk about the NWA Road Map, the critical role of the NWA seals (both broadcast and digital), the power of professional service and volunteering, and the future of trusted weather communication in a changing media environment. James Jessel is a friend of the podcast and works with Guest Booking Officer Bill Murray.  He works for Pinnacle Communications Corporation...

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WeatherBrains 1013:  Underwear Older Than You show art WeatherBrains 1013: Underwear Older Than You

WeatherBrains

Tonight's Guest WeatherBrain is the creator of Durango Weather Guy Hyper Local Weather Blog that is an essential forecasting source for the residents of the San Juan Mountains in southwest Colorado.  He's a former investment banker turned real estate agent and he taught himself meteorology.  He now delivers deeply personalized forecasts to nearly the entire population of Durango, Colorado.  Jeff Givens, welcome to WeatherBrains! Difficulties of predicting microclimates (14:15) Notable Iowa tornadoes (19:30) Creation of Durango Snow Lovers page (22:00) Forecast challenges in the...

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WeatherBrains 1012:   Regional Hair Club Convention show art WeatherBrains 1012: Regional Hair Club Convention

WeatherBrains

Tonight's Guest WeatherBrain is one of the rising stars in the new wave of digital storm coverage.  His livestreams have gained national attention for their accuracy, clarity, and his calm demeanor under pressure.  He's part of a growing cadre of content creators that are changing how people experience severe weather in real time.  He also recently graduated with a degree in Meteorology.  Max Velocity, welcome to WeatherBrains! Also joining us is show regular and Birmingham NWS Science and Operations Officer Kevin Laws.  He brings extensive experience in the field and...

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WeatherBrains 1011:  Wine Science show art WeatherBrains 1011: Wine Science

WeatherBrains

Tonight's Guest WeatherBrain is a show veteran and seasoned meteorologist known for cutting through the noise to clearly communicate impacts in a high-stakes environment.  He has experience in digital media and corporate forecasting.  His insights have earned praise from CEOs, traders and major media outlets like The New York Times and BBC.  Matt Lanza, welcome to WeatherBrains! Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: . Diving into Space City Weather (15:15)  Takeaways from 2024's Hurricane Beryl (21:20)...

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WeatherBrains 1010:  Chief Smoothing Officer show art WeatherBrains 1010: Chief Smoothing Officer

WeatherBrains

Tonight's Guest WeatherBrain is an award winning journalist and author who runs the New England Historical Society.  She's been sharing of New England's past since 2013.  With a background in reporting, she brings history to life through the lenses of food, travel, scandal, immigration, and weather.  She joins us to discuss their new book, “New England Weather: Historic Storms, Twisters, Floods, Droughts, Nor’easters, Hurricanes and Heat Waves.” The Landrigans explore how New England’s wild weather has influenced history and shaped communities—from killer hurricanes to...

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WeatherBrains 1009:  People Are Complicated show art WeatherBrains 1009: People Are Complicated

WeatherBrains

Tonight's Guest WeatherBrain is a Professor of Geology from the University of Alabama, where he specializes in synoptic climatology, which focuses on the intersection of weather, risk, perception and public response.  His research focuses on how people interpret severe weather messaging; especially tornadoes and hurricanes.  He's also a key contributor to projects on warning communication.    Dr. Jason Senkbeil, welcome to WeatherBrains! Tonight's First Guest Panelist is a WeatherBrains regular and is the Science and Operations Officer at the NWS office in Birmingham....

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WeatherBrains 1008:  No Cookies In Cookietown show art WeatherBrains 1008: No Cookies In Cookietown

WeatherBrains

Tonight's episode is a homegrown show discussing a wide range of topics.  Notably, the panel discusses resume-building and interview skills in a changing world, the controversial topic of non-NWS issued watches and warnings, and so much more.  As always, our show is all about YOU.  Thanks for listening! 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]. ...

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WeatherBrains 1007:  I Am Unsettled show art 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...

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WeatherBrains 1006:  Farmer McNasty Pants show art 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....

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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 he stumbled upon the Discovery Channel's Storm Chasers in second grade. Brandon loves weather history, and cataloging the country's significant weather events on radar is his main hobby.  Welcome to the show as tonight's Guest Panelist, Brandon!

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].

  • Manufactured housing safety rules situation (17:00)
  • National Manufactured Housing Database under construction (28:20)
  • Secondary confirmation when warned with impending severe weather (45:00)
  • Generalities on gender reaction to severe weather threats (48:30)
  • Stopping flash flooding deaths and mitigating risk (53:40)
  • Risk ranking metric developed by Dr. Strader (59:40)
  • NASCAR lightning strike protocol (01:06:00)
  • Tradeoffs when considering weather safety and proper procedure when in a warning (01:18:30)
  • Further observations on tornado-related fatalities in mobile homes (01:23:00)
  • Continued FAR in the industry and the fallout of these problems (01:25:00)
  • Average lead-time of severe weather warnings (0 1:25:30)
  • Bruce Jones/Midland Weather Radio  (01:45:00)
  • The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:29:14)
  • This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:30:40)
  • E-Mail Segment (01:31:55)
  • and more!

Web Sites from Episode 1005:

Midland Weather Radio

Brandon Skalniak on X

Picks of the Week:

Brandon Skalniak - Millersville AMS on X

Brandon Skalniak - Millersville AMS on Instagram

Bruce Jones - William Abner Eddy background

James Aydelott - Doppler radar view of Madill Oklahoma tornado

Jen Narramore - Deep Dive into Florida's Largest Tornado Outbreak - Hurricane Milton

Rick Smith - Pat Hyland, CCM: Durant radar view of Madill Oklahoma tornado

Troy Kimmel - US Weather Analysis Sites Restored After Funding Lapse

Kim Klockow-McClain - Trump Administration Restores Funding for Critical Weather Data Centers

John Gordon - A methodology for forecasting, heavy convection precipitation and flash flooding

John Gordon - Comparison of the meteorological aspects of the Big Thompson and the Rapid City Flash Floods

Bill Murray - Foghorn

James Spann - Storm Chase Archive

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.