WeatherBrains 1040: I Will Hunt You Down
WeatherBrains
On WeatherBrains this week are two special guests. Friend of the show and WeatherBrains veteran Mark Sudduth is the owner of HurricaneTrack.com and has over three decades of experience documenting landfalling hurricanes and other high impact weather events. He founded the Hurricane Intercept Research Team, which pioneers the use of unmanned camera systems to safely capture severe weather. Welcome to the show! Last but certainly not least is our second Guest WeatherBrain Bruce Thomas. He's the President of WeatherCall and is the former spokesman of Midland Weather Radio...
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WeatherBrains 1039: Moose Pasture
WeatherBrains
On WeatherBrains this week are meteorologist Jim Abraham with Environment Canada and meteorologist Ken MacDonald. Jim actually started the Canadian Hurricane Center in Halifax, and has been working in meteorology for over four decades. Ken MacDonald has been in the weather field for over 48 years. He launched his career in 1975, and has been an instructor, a forecaster, and a researcher in areas all over Canada. It's great to see you both and thank you for joining us tonight! Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners....
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WeatherBrains 1038: We're Losing Minutes
WeatherBrains
On WeatherBrains this week, we're diving deep into the Weather Prediction Center's Winter Program - how they forecast snow and ice, the challenges of nailing accumulation totals, the coordination calls with NWS field offices, and what the future may hold for winter weather headlines. Joining us are two of WC's best: Peter Mullinax, a lead winter forecaster who produces national snow and ice guidance, Key Messages, and a wide range of surface, short-range, rainfall, and tropical products; and Dr. Owen Shieh, WPC's Warning Coordination Meteorologist, providing national-level decision support for...
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WeatherBrains 1037: Fizz Dizz
WeatherBrains
Tonight’s Guest WeatherBrain is WPC's WCM Warning Coordination Meteorologist Dr. Owen Shieh. He holds a B.S. in Atmospheric Science from Cornell University, an M.S. in Meteorology from the University of Oklahoma, and a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Hawaii. We talk tonight about how Owen landed this position and all of the aspects of his role. He's also a talented gardener and an accomplished musician. Welcome to the show and thanks for joining us, Owen! Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach...
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WeatherBrains 1036: Vomiting and Vertigo
WeatherBrains
Tonight, the Panel takes a deep dive into Hurricane Melissa and the devastation it brought to Jamaica and the Caribbean. The Panel analyzes the complexities of this natural disaster and the historical precedent of the landfall strength of Melissa. Thanks for tuning in to this week's episode! Tonight’s Guest WeatherBrain is a FOX Weather Correspondent based in Atlanta, Georgia who has covered major events including Hurricane Ian and Hurricane Idalia. Recently, he covered historic Hurricane Melissa as it made landfall. He's a veteran reporter and previously helped...
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WeatherBrains 1035: Sass Not Class
WeatherBrains
Tonight’s Guest WeatherBrain is Corey Bunn. He's a full time Operational Meteorologist with Coastal Weather Research Center. He prepares daily forecasts and also has a responsibility of issuing severe weather warnings and he also maintains the company website and assists in hurricane forecasting operations. He joined the CWRC in 2012 after completing his Bachelor's Degree in Meteorology at the University of South Alabama. Corey, welcome to WeatherBrains! Our next Guest WeatherBrain (in order of appearance) is Jeff Medlin, the founder and CEO of Medlin Meterological...
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WeatherBrains 1034: A Little Fitz'd Out
WeatherBrains
We discuss on this week's episode the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald and the loss of her 29-member crew during a violent fall storm on November 10th, 1975. Tonight’s Guest WeatherBrain is an author of over thirty books on maritime history. He's been a consultant to the US Park Service and an on-air expert for National Geographic and Fox and Friends among over ventures. Dr. Frederick Stonehouse, welcome to WeatherBrains! Tonight's Guest Panelist is Tom Hultquist. He is the technical program lead for the Analysis and Forecast Branch of the National Weather Service, working...
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WeatherBrains 1033: Maximum Hemorrhoid Outage
WeatherBrains
Tonight’s Guest WeatherBrain is a meteorologist and trader focused on weather risk management, currently with Munich Re Trading LLC. His career includes experience with the National Weather Service, energy trading, and weather derivatives—blending forecasting expertise with financial market knowledge. Welcome, Tom Paylor! Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: email@weatherbrains.com. Correct weather ballon launch procedures (25:00) What are weather derivatives? (35:30) What is a weather derivative sales group?...
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WeatherBrains 1032: Wasteland of Nothing
WeatherBrains
Tonight’s guest is Dr. Jerry Brotzge, Kentucky State Climatologist and Director of the Kentucky Climate Center and Mesonet. The discussion focuses on climatology, observational data, and building a mesonet network. Dr. Brotzge earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of St. Louis and his Master’s and Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma. Dr. Brotzge, welcome to WeatherBrains! Our second Guest WeatherBrain is Dr. Stu Foster. He is the former head of the Kentucky Climate Center. He built the mesonet in the state of Kentucky and earned his PhD from Ohio State...
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WeatherBrains 1031: Date With A Razor
WeatherBrains
Tonight's Guest WeatherBrain is Jen Carfagno, co-host of America’s Morning Headquarters and the Weather Geeks podcast on The Weather Channel. A Penn State meteorology graduate with over 25 years of experience, she has covered major weather events like hurricanes, tornadoes, and blizzards, helping audiences understand storm science. Starting behind the scenes before becoming an on-air meteorologist, she earned an Emmy Award for her coverage of Hurricane Helene in 2024. Known as the “Dewpoint Diva,” Jen is recognized for her expertise and enthusiasm in meteorology. Jen, thanks for...
info_outlineTonight’s Guest WeatherBrains are two Kansas City meteorologists who both went to St. Louis for meteorology and both have had incredibly long and storied careers. They are also unlikely close friends behind camera. Bryan and Joe, it's great to have you both on the show tonight!
Bryan Busby, Chief Meteorologist at KMBC 9 News since 1985, is one of Kansas City’s most respected and recognized meteorologists. Known for his innovative weather programs such as “Guaranteed Weather” and “Instant Weather Network” (for which he holds a U.S. patent), Busby has also served as Chief Meteorologist for the Chiefs Fox Football Radio Network and appears on KMBZ Radio. Nationally acclaimed, he chaired the American Meteorological Society’s Board of Broadcast Meteorologists, was featured by The Weather Channel, and was elected to the National Weather Association’s Board of Directors in 2021. His honors include the AMS Award for Broadcast Meteorology (2010) and lifetime AMS Fellowship (2023).
Joe Lauria is an award-winning meteorologist who has delivered nightly forecasts on FOX 4 since 1995. A New York native fascinated by weather since childhood, he previously served as Chief Meteorologist in Texas, Florida, and Illinois, earning honors such as Texas AP Weathercaster of the Year and multiple Best Weathercast awards in Missouri and Kansas. A Certified Broadcast Meteorologist and longtime leader in the American Meteorological Society’s Kansas City chapter, Lauria is known for educating viewers beyond what apps provide and giving weather talks to the community. A St. Louis University graduate, he lives in Olathe, Kansas, with his wife and two cats and enjoys golf, travel, and Kansas City’s Italian restaurants.
Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: email@weatherbrains.com.
- What is a Billiken? (15:30)
- Today's expectations in TV meteorology vs workload of earlier decades (23:00)
- Streaming is the new frontier (26:30)
- Model data and graphics technological improvements over the last few decades (30:00)
- May 4th, 2003 Kansas City High risk (44:00)
- Relationship issues among TV meteorologists (51:00)
- IWT/NWS relationships (54:30)
- Confusion over Areal Flood Advisories (01:01:00)
- Broadcast meteorologists vs Social Media-0logists (01:09:00)
- Mentoring young people in the weather enterprise and its impacts (01:23:00)
- SLU dropping its meteorology program in 2029 (01:25:30)
- Georgie Global cartoon (01:29:30)
- Dr. Neil Jacobs confirmed by Senate as NOAA Administrator (01:30:00)
- The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:32:00)
- This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:34:20)
- E-Mail Segment (01:35:35)
- and more!
Web Sites from Episode 1030:
Picks of the Week:
Joe Lauria - Winter Storm Warning as 3 feet of snow to hit central California
Bryan Busby - SPC Day 4-8 U.S. Convective Outlook
James Aydelott - James Aydelot on Facebook: Arizona Dryline Photo
Jen Narramore - PSU Electronic Map Wall
Rick Smith - Durham's Neil Jacobs confirmed by Senate as NOAA chief
Troy Kimmel - Weather Wednesday: Building a better Guam, one can at a time
Kim Klockow-McClain - Center for Sportfishing Policy on X: Congratulations to Dr. Neil Jacobs as NOAA Administrator
John Gordon - "Dragon's Tail" powerful tidal bore in China's Qiantang River
Bill Murray - Foghorn
James Spann - Powerful microburst devastates Tempe as Monday storms pushed through
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.