WeatherBrains
The world's oldest and greatest weather podcast. Join weather geeks James Spann, Bill Murray, Kim Klockow-McClain, Dr. Neil Jacobs, Rick Smith, Aubrey Urbanowicz, Jen Narramore, and Troy Kimmel along with some of the most brilliant minds in the weather enterprise every week!
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WeatherBrains 1082: Shut the Cluck Up
10/13/2026
WeatherBrains 1082: Shut the Cluck Up
This week's WeatherBrains episode is all about FOX Weather. Our Two Guest WeatherBrains tonight are members of FOX Weather. FOX Weather has recently celebrated five years on the air. Together they give us a fascinating look into how a national weather network got built, how it has evolved and where weather communication goes next. Ian Oliver and Hailey Meier, we are honored to have you on this week's episode. Welcome! Our Guest Panelist for tonight's episode is a broadcast meteorologist with over two decades of experience. He's worked in Macon, Georgia, Grand Junction, Colorado, and even NTV (Newfoundland television) in St. Johns, Newfoundland from 2013-2025. He has now recently launched Sheerr Weather. Eddie Sheerr, we are honored to have you on tonight's episode! Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected]. James Spann appears on ESPN's College GameDay! (06:30) 2026 Omaha NWA Annual Meeting roll call (14:00) FOX Weather's startup in 2021 (15:30) Hailey Meier's journey from MSU scholarship recipient to FOX Weather on-air personality (22:00) Evolving idea and definition of what is expected of a present-day weather forecast (24:00) Behind the scenes: how the sausage is made at FOX Weather (29:30) Caution in dealing with AI/fake images and video in 2026 (35:30) Eddie's early weather background (51:30) Dealing with wind forecasts in Newfoundland (01:05:00) Notable hurricanes of Newfoundland (01:07:30) Dr. Jacobs makes an appearance! (01:21:30) AI model performance with recent Gulf hurricane (01:26:00) Isaias post-cyclone feedback concerning forecast track (01:37:00) What is the definition of a sting jet? (01:49:30) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:42:30) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:44:30) E-Mail Segment (01:45:30) Sneak peak at future WeatherBrains episodes! (01:53:00) and more! Web Sites from Episode 1082: Picks of the Week: Hailey Meier - Dr. Neil Jacobs - James Aydelott - Jen Narramore - Rick Smith - Out Troy Kimmel - Fox Business adding FOX Weather Hurricane Isaias Coverage/Channel 3 Pensacola coverage Kim Klockow-McClain - Bill Murray - John Gordon - James Spann - 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.
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WeatherBrains 1081: Deep in the Weeds
10/06/2026
WeatherBrains 1081: Deep in the Weeds
This week's WeatherBrains episode is all about fire weather from both a historical and modern perspective. Our Guest WeatherBrains for tonight's episode is NWS meteorologist Tom Hultquist. Our discussion begins with the Peshtigo Fire of 1871, the deadliest wildfire in U.S. history. Dr. Stephanie Hoekstra and Robyn Heffernan also join us to explore how fire weather information is used today - from risk perception and decision support to operational forecasting, interagency coordination, and the challenges facing wildland fire professionals. Guest Panelist John Cameron is a TV meteorologist at News Channel 6 from Wichita Falls, TX who also joins us tonight. Welcome to WeatherBrains! Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected]. Invest 92L in SW Gulf (04:00) Dr. Stephanie Hoekstra's early background in weather (06:00) Robyn Heffernan's early background in weather (07:00) Tom Hultquist's early background in weather (09:00) John Cameron's journey into the field of meteorology (12:30) Analysis of Peshtigo Fire of 1871 (17:30) Meteorological/anomalous setup that set the stage for the Peshtigo Fire (19:00) Fuel management is a key player in driving wildfires (31:00) Predominate tribes that inhabited the Peshtigo area in 1871 (43:00) Peshtigo area vegetation/forestry and the role it played (46:30) National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) (48:00) History of Red Flag Warning terminology (54:30) Concerns over nefarious actors/arson in the wake of public fire forecasts (01:01:30) Financial incentives for arson: Strict guidelines needed to prevent this criminal activity (01:03:30) All about NOAA's Fire Weather Testbed (01:09:00) Clarifying Red Flag Warning vs Fire Warning (01:22:00) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:33:00) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:35:00) E-Mail Segment (01:36:30) Sneak peak at future WeatherBrains episodes! (01:40:00) and more! Web Sites from Episode 1081: Picks of the Week: John Cameron - John Cameron - Dr. Stephanie Hoekstra - Tom Hultquist - James Aydelott - James Aydelott - Jen Narramore - Rick Smith - Troy Kimmel - Foghorn Kim Klockow-McClain - Bill Murray - Out John Gordon - James Spann - 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.
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WeatherBrains 1080: Swamp Stink
09/30/2026
WeatherBrains 1080: Swamp Stink
This week's WeatherBrains episode is all about weather wisdom, forecasting in the model era, communicating uncertainty, climate change, and what meteorologists can still learn by opening the window and looking outside. Our Guest WeatherBrains for tonight's episode is Dr. Lou McNally AKA "Altitude Lou". He's spent half a century proving that good forecasting involves more than simply reading model input. He's a long time broadcast meteorologist, a professor, historical climatologist and champion of natural weather forecasting. Dr. McNally, welcome to WeatherBrains! Guest Panelist tonight is Sandy LaCorte. Sandy supports various programs at NOAA's Weather Program Office, and is here tonight to speak about the upcoming student conference portion of the NWA Annual Meeting in Omaha, Nebraska. Sandy, welcome! Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected]. Panelist thoughts on upcoming post-Polo rain event (03:30) What is driving placement uncertainty with this upcoming SW Oklahoma rain event? (05:30) Possible supercells across Oklahoma Wednesday night? (07:45) Guest Panelist Sandy LaCorte discusses upcoming 2026 NWA Annual Meeting Student Conference in Omaha, NE (14:00) Mock interviews at 2026 NWA Annual Meeting Student Conference! (17:00) Dr. Lou McNally's background and introduction! (20:30) Difference between making a forecast for colleagues in academia vs public perception (22:30) Weather Enterprise gains vs quiet losses as forecasting becomes more automated (23:30) Dr. McNally's most impactful past forecasted events (33:00) Important habits and things to look for as a new meteorologist (37:00) Weather folklore favorites - good and bad! (48:00) All about numerical model guidance and ensembles (51:00) Maine's climate, maritime influence and forecast challenges (01:05:00) "Nor'easter" vs "Northeaster" terminology (01:09:00) Maine's history with tropical cyclone landfalls (01:16:00) Dr. McNally's time at WBZ in Boston (01:27:00) State of broadcast meteorology in 2026 (01:30:00) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:32:00) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:34:00) E-Mail Segment (No segment this week) Sneak peak at future WeatherBrains episodes! (01:43:30) and more! Web Sites from Episode 1080: Picks of the Week: Sandy LaCorte - Dr. Lou McNally - James Aydelott - Jen Narramore - Foghorn Rick Smith - Troy Kimmel - Kim Klockow-McClain - Foghorn Bill Murray - John Gordon - Foghorn James Spann - 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.
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WeatherBrains 1079: My Phone Overheated
09/22/2026
WeatherBrains 1079: My Phone Overheated
This week's WeatherBrains episode is all about 2022's devastating Hurricane Ian. Our Guest WeatherBrains for tonight's episode is very special guest and author Scott Withers. He's a 4-time Emmy Award winning meteorologist and journalist with more than two decades of TV experience. On September 28th 2022, Scott was reporting live in Fort Myers when Hurricane Ian's storm surge submerged his vehicle and trapped his crew. Three strangers rescued them by boat, and all six then rode out the Category 4 hurricane together. Earlier this year, he released a book chronicling his experience, and has now recently released a children's hurricane adventure book entitled "The Halloween Hurricane". Thanks for joining us tonight to share your incredible story, Scott! Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected]. 1978's Do you remember the 21st of September? (0:30) Scott's new book "The Halloween Hurricane" released today 9/21/26! (07:30) Scott's early background in weather (09:30) Midlife crisis or brand-new beginning? (17:00) The start of 2022's Hurricane Ian coverage (21:00) Remembering 2004's Hurricane Charley during preparation for Ian landfall (25:00) Wind shift in relation to Ian's eye (39:00) Spaghetti models vs cone/trajectory of Ian (48:00) Pre-Ian efforts by NHC with improving storm surge warnings (52:00) Complexities and logistics of hurricane preparation and risk perception (01:01:30) Misinformation on social media during major weather events (01:08:00) Scott's advice for media in the field in future major hurricanes after experiences with Ian(01:17:30) Cane the Hurricane Dog! (01:24:00) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:28:30) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:30:30) E-Mail Segment (01:31:30) Sneak peak at future WeatherBrains episodes! (01:37:30) and more! Web Sites from Episode 1079: Picks of the Week: Scott Withers - James Aydelott - James Aydelott - Jen Narramore - Jen Narramore - Jen Narramore - Rick Smith - Out Troy Kimmel - Out Kim Klockow-McClain - Kim Klockow-McClain - Bill Murray - Foghorn John Gordon - James Spann - 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.
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WeatherBrains 1078: I Gotta Pee
09/15/2026
WeatherBrains 1078: I Gotta Pee
This week's WeatherBrains episode is all about Wisconsin Public Radio's "Weather Guys". Our Guest WeatherBrains for tonight's episode are some of the smartest people in the weather enterprise. Dr. Jonathan Martin joined the faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1994. He won the Edward Lawrence Teaching Award in 2016 by the AMS. He's authored 90 papers and has helped publish several books including a biography on British meteorologist Reginald Sutcliffe about inventions on modern weather systems. He was named by Princeton Review as one of the nation's top 300 professors. Dr. Martin, welcome to the show! We are honored to also have on the show Dr. Steven Ackerman. He was the Director of CIMSS (The Cooperative Institute of Meteorological Satellite Studies) for over a decade. He was Vice Chancellor of Research and Graduate Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He's won many awards as public service medals and is very involved with leadership initiatives. He's won the Exceptional Public Service medal and is very involved with the student body. Dr. Ackerman, welcome to WeatherBrains! Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected]. Tuscaloosa, AL hits record high of 101F on 09/14/26 (01:15) Ridge going nowhere anytime soon! (01:30) What is "baratropic"? (10:45) Revolution in access to data over the decades (17:30) Advice to meteorology students who are soon entering the workforce (20:00) Relationship between PBS and Wisconsin (21:30) Development of "Weather Guys" (26:00) Dr. Ackerman's and Dr. Martin's recommended weather apps (38:00) CIMSS: What it is and when it started (46:00) The Next Big Thing in weather satellites? (50:00) CubeSat constellations (01:02:00) The future of radio? (01:10:30) Correlation between specific weather and El Niño ENSO phase (01:20:00) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (No segment this week) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:26:00) E-Mail Segment (01:27:00) Sneak peak at future WeatherBrains episodes! (01:31:30) and more! Web Sites from Episode 1078: Picks of the Week: Dr. Steven Ackerman - Dr. Jonathan Martin - James Aydelott - Out Jen Narramore - Rick Smith - Out Troy Kimmel - Kim Klockow-McClain - Bill Murray - Out John Gordon - James Spann - 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.
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WeatherBrains 1077: You Got A Pulse?
09/09/2026
WeatherBrains 1077: You Got A Pulse?
This week's WeatherBrains episode is all about "The Next Big Thing" by Meteorologist Rob Marciano. Our Guest WeatherBrain for tonight's episode is an award-winning meteorologist with more than two decades of experience covering some of the nation's biggest weather stories. His career includes positions at major networks such as CNN and ABC News, and he now serves as a Senior Meteorologist at CBS News. He has recently written a book entitled "The Next Big Thing". The Panel also discusses Rob's journey from his weather-obsessed childhood to his rise to a network meteorologist. Rob Marciano, welcome to WeatherBrains! Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected]. Bill Murray is back! (08:30) Rob's childhood and early interest in weather (10:30) Cornell University's meteorology program (22:00) Rob's experience with 2005's Hurricane Katrina (39:00) Reporting on the 1999 Moore, Oklahoma F5 (50:00) Changes in broadcast meteorology and lasting present-day issues in the field from Rob's perspective (01:05:00) AI: Bringing back the art of forecasting? (01:11:30) Rob's new book "The Next Big Thing: Innovations for a Better, Smarter, Stronger Tomorrow" (01:14:00) Harnessing lightning: How does this benefit society? (01:23:30) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:32:30) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:34:00) E-Mail Segment (01:35:30) Sneak peak at future WeatherBrains episodes! (01:44:00) and more! Web Sites from Episode 1077: Picks of the Week: Rob Marciano - Rob Marciano - James Aydelott - James Aydelott - Jen Narramore - Rick Smith - Troy Kimmel - Kim Klockow-McClain - Out Bill Murray - Foghorn John Gordon - James Spann - 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.
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WeatherBrains 1076: Big Blue H
09/01/2026
WeatherBrains 1076: Big Blue H
This week's WeatherBrains episode is all about hydroplaning and why it happens. Guest WeatherBrain for tonight's episode is the Assistant Director of the Vision of Maintenance for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Discussing a national hydroplaning project with the panel in the episode, she has over two decades experience in transportation and is a friend of the field. Randi Feltner, thanks for joining us! Joining us as Second Guest WeatherBrain is very special guest Zion Powell. He's pursuing his dream to become a meteorologist with an emphasis on mesoscale weather events. He's currently a senior at Salisbury State in Maryland majoring in meteorology and geoscience. He was selected as a NOAA Lapenta Intern for 2025 in Louisville, Kentucky where he worked on a national hydroplaning campaign. Zion, welcome! We are excited to have Guest WeatherBrain and WeatherBrains veteran Alan Sealls joining us tonight. A 16-time Regional Emmy Winner, he's now the president of the American Meteorological Society and has had a legendary career in the field. He earned his degree in meteorology at Cornell and earned a Master's Degree at Florida State University. He is a professor at the University of South Alabama. Alan, welcome back! Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected]. Tropical Storm Eduard forms in the Gulf (01:00) Record heat for Alabama football's home opener? (02:30) Zion's early background in weather (09:30) All about Salisbury State's Atmospheric Science program (11:00) What is the William M. Lapenta Scholarship? (12:00) Randi's early background and path to second in command at KDOT (13:30) Experiences during 2021 Mayfield, KY tornado (19:00) "Wet Lanes, Don't Hydroplane" (24:00) Role of tire pressure and speed in hydroplaning (26:00) Complicated nature of getting national hydroplaning statistics (47:00) What is spectrum allocation? (01:02:45) AMS Annual Meeting 2027 in Denver (01:04:00) All about the AMS and its history (01:08:00) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:22:45) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:25:00) E-Mail Segment (01:27:00) Sneak peak at future WeatherBrains episodes! (01:34:00) and more! Web Sites from Episode 1076: Picks of the Week: Zion Powell - Zion Powell - Randi Feltner - Alan Sealls - James Aydelott - Jen Narramore - Out Rick Smith - Out Troy Kimmel - Kim Klockow-McClain - John Gordon - Bill Murray - Out James Spann - 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.
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WeatherBrains 1075: One Hundred and Something
08/25/2026
WeatherBrains 1075: One Hundred and Something
This week's WeatherBrains episode is all about the July 2025 flooding tragedy in Texas. Our Guest WeatherBrain for tonight's episode is Dr. JJ Gourley. An Oklahoma native, he's a senior research hydrometeorologist at NOAA's National Severe Storms Laboratory. He manages an interdisciplinary team there that is developing the FLASH product, which is a flash flood forecasting product that Dr. Garley will discuss on this week's episode. He's won the Department of Commerce's silver medal award, as well as the AMS Journal of Hydrometeorology Editor's Award. He's also authored over 160 Paraview Journal Articles. He's even written a radar hydrology textbook! Welcome to tonight's show, Dr. Gourley! Our Guest Panelist tonight is Dr. Keri K. Stephens from the University of Texas at Austin. She's the George Christian Centennial Professor. With over 25 years of interdisciplinary research experience, Dr. Stephens' expertise includes organizational communication, mobile technologies, artificial intelligence (AI), crisis and disaster communication, infrastructure communication, and health communication. In her professional service, Dr. Stephens currently serves on the National Weather Service NOAA Central Texas Integrated Warning Team and on the Executive Advisory Council of the Schreiner University Institute for Hazard Risk and Readiness. Dr. Stephens, thanks for joining us tonight! Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected]. Oklahoma heat trivia from NWS chat (04:30) Dr. Gourley's hydrometeorology background (9:00) Multi-Radar Multi-Sensor System (MRMS) (13:00) FLASH project (13:30) Meteorological setup leading up to July 2025 Texas floods (17:30) Area creeks around Camp Mystic that became major players (29:00) Process determining approximate lead time before event (34:30) Warn-on-Forecast System (WoFS): From experimental to operational? (36:30) Combining organizational communication and disaster studies (42:30) Lessons learned about public safety infrastructure in the wake of post-flood hearings (58:00) Protocol for severe/winter weather warnings at campgrounds/RV parks (01:16:30) Turn Around, Don't Drown! (01:29:00) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:38:15) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:40:30) E-Mail Segment (01:42:30) Sneak peak at future WeatherBrains episodes! (01:44:00) and more! Web Sites from Episode 1075: Picks of the Week: Dr. JJ Gourley - Dr. Keri K. Stephens - James Aydelott - James Aydelott - James Aydelott - James Aydelott - James Aydelott - Jen Narramore - Rick Smith - Troy Kimmel - Kim Klockow-McClain - Kim Klockow-McClain - Kim Klockow-McClain - John Gordon - Bill Murray - Out James Spann - 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.
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WeatherBrains 1074: EFU Clusterblank
08/18/2026
WeatherBrains 1074: EFU Clusterblank
This week's WeatherBrains episode is all about the Enhanced Fujita scale and the path toward implementation. Tonight's Guest WeatherBrain is the EF Committee Chairman. He's the master instructor at the NWS Operations Training Unit, and he's the Team Lead in NWS forecasters course development. He's also acting Director of the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program at the National Institute for Standards of Technology, and he currently chairs and cofounded the Standards Committee on estimating wind speeds of severe storms within the American Society of Civil Engineers. Jim LaDue, welcome to WeatherBrains! Tonight's Guest Panelist is the Founder and CEO of Climavision. Climavision is a weather technology company that provides critical gaps in radar coverage, and improves forecast accuracy. He brings in more than 30 years of advanced weather observation predictive modeling, work spanning dual polarization radar, mobile and satellite enable systems, and the forecasting models that turn raw observations into sharper forecasts. Chris Goode, thanks for joining us! Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected]. Jim's early background in weather (09:00) ASCE (American Society for Civil Engineers) (11:30) Who decided to update the Fujita scale in the early 2000s? (14:30) EF Scale Subcommittee (21:30) Bill under construction to improve assessment of tornadoes (33:00) Behind the scenes with other ways to rate tornadoes in new EF Scale (37:30) Re-analysis process in a civil and organized fashion (46:00) Damage exposure simulations in the future? (50:00) EEC (Enterprise Electronics Corporation) (01:00:30) X-Band vs C-Band radars (01:03:30) Benefits of Climavision high resolution radar and how it improves the warning process (01:05:30) Relationship between Climavision and NWS (01:08:00) Phased array radar - when will it happen and what about major radar gaps? (01:15:00) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:23:45) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:26:45) E-Mail Segment (01:29:00) Sneak peak at future WeatherBrains episodes! (01:32:00) and more! Web Sites from Episode 1074: Picks of the Week: James Aydelott - Jen Narramore - Rick Smith - Troy Kimmel - Foghorn Kim Klockow-McClain - John Gordon - Bill Murray - Out James Spann - Foghorn 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.
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WeatherBrains 1073: Chicken Inbreeding
08/11/2026
WeatherBrains 1073: Chicken Inbreeding
This week's WeatherBrains episode is all about Hawaii. Joining us tonight as Guest WeatherBrain is the Chief Meteorologist at Hawaii News Now. She has given over 15 years of service and has provided trusted coverage for the Hawaiian Islands including tropical cyclones, earthquakes, tsunamis, fires, and other natural disasters. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Atmospheric Ocean Science at San Fransisco State University. Jennifer Robbins, welcome to WeatherBrains! Tonight's Guest Panelist is the Warning Coordination Meteorologist (WCM) at the NWS office in Honolulu. He works Statewide with a wide variety of partners and earned his Bachelor of Science in Atmospheric Sciences from the University of Michigan in 1998. He started at NWS Marquette MI in 1999, and has worked with the NWS Honolulu since 2006, and the WCM since 2017. John Bravender, thanks for joining us tonight! Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected]. Jennifer's early weather background (10:00) John's early weather background (15:30) What exactly is it like to forecast for the State of Hawaii? (18:00) Difficulties forecasting with Hawaiian microclimates (20:00) Employee organization at NWS Honolulu (25:30) Torrential rainfall and major flooding in Hawaii caused by Kona lows (33:00) What exactly is a Kona low? (42:30) What happened to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center? (49:00) 1992's Hurricane Iniki (50:00) Introduction of chickens to Hawaii in the wake of Hurricane Iniki (53:30) Fire weather threats and how it has changed in recent years (58:30) Tsunami risks and concerns in Hawaii (01:07:45) Warning protocol in the State of Hawaii regarding tsunamis and severe weather (01:19:30) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:25:30) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:27:30) E-Mail Segment (01:29:00) Sneak peak at future WeatherBrains episodes! (01:31:30) and more! Web Sites from Episode 1073: Picks of the Week: John Bravender - James Aydelott - Jen Narramore - Rick Smith - Out Troy Kimmel - Out Kim Klockow-McClain - John Gordon - Bill Murray - Out James Spann - 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.
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WeatherBrains 1072: Georgia On My Mind
08/04/2026
WeatherBrains 1072: Georgia On My Mind
This week's WeatherBrains episode is all about the Georgia Severe Storms Research Center. Joining us tonight as Guest WeatherBrain is the Director of the Georgia Severe Storms Research Center. Growing up in Minnesota, he always had exposure to severe weather and took a keen interest early in his life. He earned his Bachelor of Science in meteorology from Iowa State University. Their research focuses on X-band radar that operates jointly between Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia. They have done extensive research, with a major focus on lightning. Michael Peterson, welcome to WeatherBrains! Tonight's Guest Panelist is a research scientist at the Georgia Severe Storms Research Center. She received a Bachelor's Degree from Penn State University, and earned her Master's Degree in meteorology from the University of Oklahoma. Jessica Losego, thanks for joining us tonight! Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected]. Jessica's early background in the field of weather (17:00) REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates) (2:00) IHOP (International H2O Project) (21:00) When was the Georgia Severe Storms Research Center founded and what do they do? (24:30) Dual Pol variables in X-Band (26:30) North Georgia Lightning Mapping Array (39:30) 2008 Downtown Atlanta, GA tornado during SEC tournament (57:30) GA Tech's research on tornadogenesis (01:01:00) What is cold air damming (CAD)? (01:03:30) New world record lightning flash discovered by SSRC (01:06:30) What is the definition of a mega flash? (01:11:45) Difficulties forecasting random airmass convection in the Deep South (01:19:30) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:25:00) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:27:30) E-Mail Segment (01:29:30) Sneak peak at future WeatherBrains episodes! (01:38:30) and more! Web Sites from Episode 1072: Picks of the Week: Jessica Losego - Jessica Losego - Michael Peterson - James Aydelott - Jen Narramore - Rick Smith - Troy Kimmel - Kim Klockow-McClain - John Gordon - Bill Murray - Out James Spann - 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.
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WeatherBrains 1071: The Great Cornholio
07/27/2026
WeatherBrains 1071: The Great Cornholio
This week's WeatherBrains episode is all about the 1976 Big Thompson Flash Flood. Joining us tonight as Guest WeatherBrain is meteorologist Matt Kelsch. He earned his Master's Degree from the University of Oklahoma and has written numerous papers on mountain meteorology and hydrology. Retiring in 2022, he's an avid outdoorsmen, biker and gardener. It's great to see you tonight, Matt! Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected]. WSR 88-D NEXRAD (10:45) World Meteorological Organization: What They Do (13:00) What tools were available for the NWS in 1976? (15:00) Significant 2013 Colorado flood (21:30) Photos of 1976 Big Thompson Flash Flood damage (27:00) July 28th, 1997 Spring Creek Flood at Fort Collins, CO (32:00) Proven success of converting creeks to floodways in 2013 (35:30) Devastating 1889 Johnstown, PA flood (37:30) Meteorological setup of Fort Collins 1997 Spring Creek flood (43:30) 2013 Colorado Flood (Great Erosional Flood) meteorological setup (48:30) Social science perspective on Call-To-Action for general public during floods (59:30) 500 Year Flood vs 1000 Year Flood (01:01:30) Profound lack of snowfall in Colorado during winter of 2025-2026 (01:10:00) Tips for meteorologists to better forecast and anticipate major flash flooding in present day (01:12:00) What is the definition of a flash flood? (01:14:00) Flash Flood Watch/Warning protocol in 1976 (01:16:00) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (No segment this week) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (No segment this week) E-Mail Segment (01:31:30) Sneak peak at future WeatherBrains episodes! (01:27:00) and more! Web Sites from Episode 1071: Picks of the Week: Matt Kelsch - James Aydelott - James Aydelott - Jen Narramore - Rick Smith - Out Troy Kimmel - Out Kim Klockow-McClain - Out John Gordon - John Gordon - Bill Murray - Out James Spann - 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.
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WeatherBrains 1070: Snert Storm
07/21/2026
WeatherBrains 1070: Snert Storm
This week's WeatherBrains episode is all about dust storms. Joining us tonight as Guest WeatherBrain is the MIC (Meteorologist in Charge) of NWS Goodland, Kansas. A Nebraska native, he's logged over a quarter century of service for the NWS, with prior stops in Omaha, Sioux Falls, and North Platte. He earned his Bachelor's degree from Nebraska-Lincoln. Jeremy Martin, welcome to the show! Guest Panelist and NWA President Kim Runk joins us tonight discussing the NWA (National Weather Association) and a preview of the upcoming NWA annual meeting in Omaha, Nebraska. Thanks for joining us, Kim! Program Chair of the 2026 NWA Annual Meeting Jessica Stumpf also joins us as Guest Panelist. She's the Public Safety Solution Engineer Meteorologist at Baron Weather, and has a decade of prior experience in Emergency Management. She has a Bachelor's from Penn State and is a former broadcast meteorologist. Jessica, welcome to WeatherBrains! Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected]. Tropical Depression 2 in the Gulf struggling with shear and dry air (02:00) What got Jeremy into meteorology? (08:00) Life/culture at the Goodland KS National Weather Service (09:30) Dust storm official definition (14:30) Unusual circumstances of forecasting haboobs (20:30) Coordination between NWS and EMA (26:30) Dust Storm Warnings - do they make a difference? (29:30) Debating the Dust Capital of America (43:30) Advocating for the field of meteorology on Capitol Hill (58:00) Why should I join the NWA as a meteorology student? (01:05:30) 2026 NWA Annual Meeting in Omaha: When and Where (01:17:30) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:20:00) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:22:45) E-Mail Segment (No segment this week) Sneak peak at future WeatherBrains episodes! (01:34:00) and more! Web Sites from Episode 1070: Picks of the Week: Jeremy Martin - Jessica Stumpf - Jessica Stumpf - Kim Runk - James Aydelott - Jen Narramore - Rick Smith - Troy Kimmel - Out Kim Klockow-McClain - Out John Gordon - Bill Murray - Out James Spann - 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.
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WeatherBrains 1069: We're In The Weird Zone
07/14/2026
WeatherBrains 1069: We're In The Weird Zone
This week's WeatherBrains episode is all about hydrology. Tonight's episode examines the devastating 1997 Red River Flood. Joining us tonight as Guest WeatherBrain is from Devils Lake, North Dakota. She is the Service Hydrologist at NWS Grand Forks, and is a twenty-year veteran in Federal service. Amanda Lee, welcome to WeatherBrains! Second Guest WeatherBrain is the Senior Hydrologist at NWS North Central RFC (River Forecast Center) in Chanhassen, Minnesota. A Syracuse native, he joined the US Air Force as a weather officer, then earned his Masters Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Utah. He's spent over 15 years at the RFC (River Forecast Center). Justin Palmer, welcome to WeatherBrains! Our Third Guest WeatherBrain tonight is a retired National Weather Service senior meteorologist technician, the former Data Acquisition Program Manager of the Grand Forks National Weather Service office. Mark attended North Dakota State University in Fargo during the late 80s into the early 90s, working with former state climatologist Dr John Enz. Mark Retired in November of 2014 after 40 1/2 years of combined federal and military service. Mark is currently 3:00 to 6:00 PM afternoon host on KNOX Radio in Grand Forks ND, and has been associated with latent broadcasting since 2016. Mark also operates Home On The Prairie Weather LLC, providing agricultural climate forecasts and other related information to agricultural and civic groups. Mark Ewens, welcome to WeatherBrains! Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected]. Amanda's background in meteorology (10:00) Working as a Service Hydrologist: What do they do? (12:00) What is a River Forecast Center (RFC)? (17:30) What is CHPS? (Community Hydrologic Prediction System) (28:00) Multi-Radar/Multi-Sensor (MRMS) Data Set Hydrology Section (31:30) Advantages of being a Service Hydrologist concerning shift work (39:30) How accurate is Hydro modeling, and what factors are involved? (42:00) Snow cores: The Basics (45:00) Snow pack in the Dakotas: How long does it last, and how thick does it get? (55:30) Meteorological background of 1997 Red River Flood event (58:30) 1997 Red River Flood's public and Emergency Management response (01:01:30) Disinformation found online regarding river flooding (01:12:00) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:19:00) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (No segment this week) E-Mail Segment (No segment this week) Sneak peak at future WeatherBrains episodes! (01:21:00) and more! Web Sites from Episode 1069: Picks of the Week: Amanda Lee - Amanda Lee - Justin Palmer - Mark Ewens - James Aydelott - Jen Narramore - Out Rick Smith - Out Troy Kimmel - Out Kim Klockow-McClain - John Gordon - Bill Murray - Out James Spann - 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.
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WeatherBrains 1068: They Kicked Booty
07/07/2026
WeatherBrains 1068: They Kicked Booty
This week's WeatherBrains episode examines the July 2025 Texas flooding disaster. Our Guest WeatherBrain tonight is the Chief Meteorologist of KABB-TV Fox News At Nine in San Antonio, Texas. He is a multi-disciplined individual with professional experience as an educator and broadcaster. He holds several degrees and certifications, including a B.S. in Education, a Master's in Education with Certification as an Educational Administrator, and of course, he's a Broadcast Meteorologist. He has received the AMS Seal of Approval and has been the recipient of six Associated Press Awards for Best Weathercast. He is a member of the American Meteorological Society, National Weather Association, and the Knights of Columbus. Alex Garcia, thanks for joining us tonight! Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected]. Recollections from KABB-TV leading up to Texas flood tragedy (11:30) Wording of originally issued Flash Flood Watch prior to event (17:30) Why doesn't the public immediately react to weather watches? (20:00) Mentality of the threat of flash flooding vs other types of severe weather (25:00) Improving the clarity of the call to action in response to inland flooding events (30:00) Flood Inundation Mapping (36:00) The half-life of awareness in the wake of tragedies like 2025 Texas Flood event (49:00) With no Independent Review, how can you improve? (52:00) Role of weather radio in modern warning process (55:00) National Weather Service app in the future? (55:30) Severe Thunderstorm Definition/Warnings that do not verify and the resulting public inaction (01:02:00) What is NWS definition of a Flash Flood? (01:02:30) Confusion from Areal Flood Advisories (01:05:30) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:14:00) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:15:30) E-Mail Segment (01:16:30) Sneak peak at future WeatherBrains episodes! (01:26:00) and more! Web Sites from Episode 1068: Picks of the Week: Alex Garcia - James Aydelott - Jen Narramore - Rick Smith - Out Troy Kimmel - Troy Kimmel - Kim Klockow-McClain - John Gordon - Bill Murray - Out James Spann - 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.
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WeatherBrains 1067: I’ll Go With Fujita For $1000
06/30/2026
WeatherBrains 1067: I’ll Go With Fujita For $1000
This week's WeatherBrains episode turns back to the clock to June 8th, 1966 and the Topeka, KS F5 tornado. Our Guest WeatherBrain on tonight's show is the Warning Coordination Meteorologist (WCM) for the NWS in Topeka KS. With over three decades of experience in the field, he's been at the NWS for over 17 years. As a Wisconsin native, he earned his degree in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences from the University of Wisconsin. He's committed to improving public awareness, preparedness, and response by integrating social science research into the NWS products and services. Chad Omitt, welcome to WeatherBrains! Our next Guest WeatherBrain is the local history librarian at the Topeka and Shawnee County public library. She holds a B.A. in forensic anthropology and history from Wichita State University. She's a speaker with the Humanities Kansas Speakers Bureau and gives educational programs about life in Kansas during the Dust Bowl. Katie Keckeisen, welcome to WeatherBrains! Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected]. June 2026 Kentucky flooding (01:00) Katie's early background in Kansas (07:00) June 8th, 1966 meteorological setup (10:45) Meteorological equipment used during during the 1960s (21:00) Visual photos of daytime Topeka tornado (26:30) Bill Kurtis and his role at WIBW-TV during the tornado (28:30) Save room on the volume knob for a "10"! (37:00) Topeka's Burnett's Mound: A historical deepdive (37:30) Kansas Governor's response after tornado (44:00) Damage photos from tornadoes and the resulting changes to Topeka (49:30) Topeka tornado was one of the first utilizations of civil defense outdoor warning system (01:00:00) 1955 Udall KS tornado (01:00:30) Tornado subculture in the 1960s (01:07:30) Lessons learned from this event from 60 years ago (01:19:30) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:26:00) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (No segment this week) E-Mail Segment (01:28:00) Sneak peak at future WeatherBrains episodes! (01:31:00) and more! Web Sites from Episode 1067: Picks of the Week: Katie Keckeisen - Chad Omitt - James Aydelott - Jen Narramore - Rick Smith - Out Troy Kimmel - Out Kim Klockow-McClain - Foghorn John Gordon - Bill Murray - Out James Spann - 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.
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WeatherBrains 1066: Bladder of Iron
06/23/2026
WeatherBrains 1066: Bladder of Iron
This week's WeatherBrains episode is a home-grown show all about storm chasing: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly. Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected]. Waning interest in storm chasing (04:00) Holding it while dealing with long-form severe weather coverage (10:00) Current state of storm chasing in 2026 (16:00) Importance of enforcing traffic laws when dealing with a saturated chaser community (27:30) Oklahoma traffic laws concerning emergency lights (31:30) Liability insurance requirements for those who continue to storm chase? (36:00) NOAA's OPG (Operations Proving Ground) (49:30) What is the purpose of a service assessment? (59:30) State of Connecticut doesn't need 3 WFOs! (01:02:00) Importance of interacting directly with the people we serve in the field of weather to mitigate loss of life (01:10:00) Discriminating between weaknesses and strengths in the warning process (01:21:30) Effectively utilizing user generated content during long-form severe weather coverage (01:23:30) Private Slack chat session with trusted weather professionals to weed out AI/fake images (01:28:00) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (No segment this week - stay tuned!) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:29:30) E-Mail Segment (01:30:30) Sneak peak at future WeatherBrains episodes! (01:41:00) and more! Web Sites from Episode 1066: Picks of the Week: James Aydelott - Jen Narramore - Rick Smith - Troy Kimmel - Kim Klockow-McClain - Foghorn John Gordon - Bill Murray - Out James Spann - 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.
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WeatherBrains 1065: Smells Like Texas In Here
06/13/2026
WeatherBrains 1065: Smells Like Texas In Here
This week's WeatherBrains episode is all about Dallas-Fort Worth TX TV Market. We are excited to have Chief Meteorologist Rick Mitchell from NBC 5 and David Finfrock, NBC 5 Senior Meteorologist, who just surpassed 50 years on TV. This is third of many upcoming WeatherBrains episodes focusing on various media weather markets around the country. On episode 1030 last October we focused on Kansas City with Bryan Busby and Joe Lauria. On episode 1055 in March, we focused on Tampa Bay with Mike Clay and Brian LaMarre. Rick and David will discuss forecasting severe storms with and without the dry line, winter weather, Blue Northers, the Dallas Fort Worth metroplex major urban heat island and much more! Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected]. David's educational background and early years (06:30) Rick's early years in meteorology and journey to Oklahoma City (08:30) Compare/contrast Oklahoma City and Dallas/Ft. Worth TV market (11:00) Dallas/Ft. Worth area notable weather events in recent years (16:00) 1980 Heat Wave (21:30) Paper map throwbacks to an earlier era in broadcast meteorology (39:00) Changes after Delta 191 and advent of installation of terminal dopplers at airports (42:30) Reflections on the May 3rd, 1999 Oklahoma tornado tragedy (47:30) Cedar Hill, Texas tornado of 1856 (50:30) Exploding population in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and increasing weather hazard risk (58:00) Rick's social media strategies now and moving forward (01:20:00) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (No segment this week - stay tuned!) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (No segment this week - stay tuned!) E-Mail Segment (No segment this week - stay tuned!) and more! Web Sites from Episode 1065: Picks of the Week: David Finfrock - Rick Mitchell - James Aydelott - Jen Narramore - Rick Smith - Out Troy Kimmel - Kim Klockow-McClain - John Gordon - Bill Murray - Out James Spann - 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.
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WeatherBrains 1064: Drank My Pets
06/09/2026
WeatherBrains 1064: Drank My Pets
This week's WeatherBrains episode is all flash flooding. Our First GuestWeatherBrain is the President of Project ENKI. This project is working to revolutionize flood intelligence and community preparedness through advanced modeling, visualization tools and education designed to help people better understand their flood risk and take proper action. Brad Newman, welcome to WeatherBrains! Second Guest WeatherBrain for tonight's episode is the technological backbone of Project ENKI. She's a key leader in the science modeling and visualization work behind the project's flood intelligence mission, helping turn complex flood data into information communities can understand and use. Dr. Tracy Fanara, welcome to WeatherBrains! Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected]. What is Project ENKI? (07:30) Dr. Fanara's background and early life (12:30) Story behind the name ENKI (Emergency Network Turning Knowledge Into Actionable Intelligence) (19:30) Influencing weather events as a precursor to starting the project (22:00) Unity Alliance Foundation's ability to communicate effectively (42:30) Issues/difficulty with real-time flash flooding analysis (49:00) National Water Model and what makes it revolutionary (55:30) Actionable information to improve flooding forecasts and warning process (01:01:30) Reflecting on July 2025 Texas flooding tragedy (01:07:00) Communication issues with complicated dual/triple hazard events (01:20:00) Reflecting on 2024's Hurricane Helene (01:23:00) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:33:00) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (No segment this week - stay tuned!) E-Mail Segment (No segment this week - stay tuned!) and more! Web Sites from Episode 1064: Picks of the Week: Dr. Tracy Fanara - James Aydelott - James Aydelott - Jen Narramore - Out Rick Smith - Out Troy Kimmel - Kim Klockow-McClain - John Gordon - Bill Murray - James Spann - 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.
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WeatherBrains 1063: Hodgepodge City
06/02/2026
WeatherBrains 1063: Hodgepodge City
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WeatherBrains 1062: It's Those Kentucky Aliens
05/27/2026
WeatherBrains 1062: It's Those Kentucky Aliens
This week's WeatherBrains episode is all about lightning. Joining us tonight will be Dr. Mary Ann Cooper, internationally recognized for her work in lightning injury prevention. She's an emergency physician, and has received awards from both the medical and the lightning communities. She has a BS in biochemistry and completed her medical internship in Cincinnati. We are also joined by John Jensenius, longtime NWS meteorologist and lightning safety specialist. He's been in the weather business for over four decades. We will discuss lightning injuries, safety, myths, and how to better protect people during thunderstorms. Thanks for joining us! Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected]. Getting the media involved in lightning safety (24:30) Annual lighting fatalities and average trends (25:30) 30/30 lightning rule (34:00) "When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors" (37:30) Lightning back to basics: Voltage, temps, thunder, ect (39:30) What is a flashover? (46:30) Lasting nervous system injuries after lightning strike (01:01:00) "The Deadly Dozen" (01:10:30) Lightning safety and cars: What is fact and fiction? (01:15:00) ACLE (African Centres for Lightning Education Network) (01:23:00) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (No segment this week) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:28:45) Sneak peak at future WeatherBrains Episodes (01:31:00) E-Mail Segment and more! Web Sites from Episode 1062: Picks of the Week: John Jensenius - James Aydelott - Jen Narramore - Rick Smith - Out Troy Kimmel - Out Kim Klockow-McClain - John Gordon - Bill Murray - Out James Spann - 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.
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WeatherBrains 1061: It Just Smacks Earth
05/19/2026
WeatherBrains 1061: It Just Smacks Earth
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WeatherBrains 1060: Bridge Bozos
05/12/2026
WeatherBrains 1060: Bridge Bozos
This week's Guest WeatherBrain and WeatherBrains veteran is one of the most recognizable and respected storm chasers in the country. As an excellent field weather reporter, he's known for documenting some of the most powerful tornadoes in the modern era. He's produced unforgettable severe weather coverage over the years, and he is known for his use of drones and live-streaming technology. Charles Peek, it's great to have you back on with us tonight! Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected]. May 9th severe weather/Luke Combs concert (2:00) Charles Peek's background and entry into the world of weather (14:00) Misreported tornado fatalities before era of social media (33:30) Rolling Fork MS tornado and the resulting discussion about building codes in low income areas (39:45) Relationship between manufactured housing and tornadoes (40:30) Social media hyperbole and unnecessary fear (42:00) Key skills required in assisting people after destructive severe weather (43:00) Persistent issues with people recklessly crowding under overpasses during severe weather (45:00) Notable instances of resilience in disaster zones (53:30) Artificial Intelligence and the future of forecasting (59:00) Handling positioning during a hurricane or tropical storm (01:06:00) Responsibilities and advice for new chasers (01:24:00) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:28:55) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:30:30) E-Mail Segment (01:32:30) and more! Web Sites from Episode 1060: Picks of the Week: James Aydelott - Jen Narramore - Rick Smith - Troy Kimmel - Foghorn Kim Klockow-McClain - John Gordon - Bill Murray - Foghorn James Spann - 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.
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WeatherBrains 1059: The Irritant Squad
05/05/2026
WeatherBrains 1059: The Irritant Squad
Guest WeatherBrain Jan Null joins us tonight on WeatherBrains. Armed with over 50 years experience as a meteorologist, he earned his Bachelor of Science from UC-Davis and his Master's Degree from San Jose State University. He's been an adjunct professor at San Francisco State University since 1987. Jan, welcome! University of South Alabama student Jackson Quinn also joins us tonight as Guest Panelist. He serves as the 2026 AMS Student Chapter President. We will be discussing heat risks for FIFA World Cup 2026 host cities, as well as other pressing topics in the world of weather. It's great to have you on tonight, Jackson! Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected]. Greensburg, KS EF5 anniversary (01:00) Jan Null's meteorology background (09:45) What is CWSU (Center Weather Service Unit Information)? (12:00) Biggest event Jan worked on the West Coast (15:30) SeCAPS South Alabama student-run symposium (22:00) 3 broad categories of heat-related deaths of children in vehicles (31:30) Heat-related data concerning people living in extended power outages (43:00) Jackson's project at SeCAPS (49:30) Compare/contract outcomes with other World Cups and similar events at locations with similar climatology (01:00:00) Development of vehicle seat sensors (01:06:00) NCAA college football games and their heat rules (01:09:00) Deeper dive into pediatric vehicular heat stroke (01:12:30) Summer of 1980 heatwave (01:14:00) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:21:30) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:23:15) E-Mail Segment (01:25:30) and more! Web Sites from Episode 1059: Picks of the Week: Jan Null - Jackson Quinn - James Aydelott - James Aydelott - Jen Narramore - Rick Smith - Troy Kimmel - Kim Klockow-McClain - John Gordon - Bill Murray - Out James Spann - 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.
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WeatherBrains 1058: People Need To Shut Up
04/28/2026
WeatherBrains 1058: People Need To Shut Up
Tonight is a homegrown show with our regular WeatherBrains panelists. Tonight we mark the somber 15th anniversary of the April 27th, 2011 super outbreak. So much has changed in the field of meteorology, in the field of technology/AI, and society in general since 2011. Where do we go from here? Also, the panel discusses the EF4 tornado that occurred in Oklahoma last week, as well as other hot topics in the field of weather. Thanks for listening! Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected]. Dangers of saying the wrong thing on social media (05:00) Processing the April 27th, 2011 anniversary (10:45) April 27th warning process: What they got right and what they got wrong (17:00) Origins of "Respect the Polygon" (22:00) Improving False Alarm Ratio (FAR) (26:00) Most stressful aspect of any significant severe weather event (31:00) Rick's perspective of recent EF4 Enid OK tornado (36:00) Weather-savvy nature of Oklahomans and people who live in tornado-prone areas (46:00) Do NWS employees take any cues from broadcasters and make decisions based on streamers? (52:30) Increasing issue of wildfire threats and call to action (55:30) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:09:00) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:11:30) E-Mail Segment (01:13:15) and more! Web Sites from Episode 1058: Picks of the Week: James Aydelott - James Aydelott - James Aydelott - Jen Narramore - Rick Smith - Troy Kimmel - Kim Klockow-McClain - Out John Gordon - Bill Murray - James Spann - 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.
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WeatherBrains 1057: Ike Dike
04/21/2026
WeatherBrains 1057: Ike Dike
We are excited to have retired National Hurricane Center (NHC) Bill Read on tonight's episode of WeatherBrains! Bill was the Director of the National Hurricane Center from 2008-2012, and focused on improving storm surge forecasting accuracy and strengthening collaborations with emergency managers to better communicate risks. He advanced the use of social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter for real-time public outreach and feedback, notably during events such as Hurricane Irene in 2011, to refine messaging on inland flooding threats. Bill was the first Meteorologist in Charge (MIC) at NWS Houston and led the office for 15 years. He was also a Navy Hurricane Hunter on the P3 aircraft. Bill, welcome to WeatherBrains! Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected]. National Tropical Weather Conference (06:00) Bill's entry in the NWS (22:45) Looking back at 1978's Tropical Storm Amelia (25:00) Who remembers teletypes? (30:15) Anniversary of 2010 Deepwater Horizon tragedy (38:30) Experiences as NHC Director working Hurricane Ike (44:30) Are there more landfalling US hurricanes at night or during the day? (53:00) 3 significant tools that have moved the meteorological industry forward (54:00) NHC Director off-season duties (58:00) Process of retiring a hurricane name (01:09:00) Dr. Robert Simpson's legacy (01:20:00) Issues with coordination between WFOs as NHC Director (01:21:00) Best and worst forecasts as NHC Director over the years (01:22:00) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (No segment this week - stay tuned!) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:28:30) E-Mail Segment (01:30:00) and more! Web Sites from Episode 1057: Picks of the Week: Bill Read - James Aydelott - Jen Narramore - Rick Smith - Troy Kimmel - Out Kim Klockow-McClain - John Gordon - Bill Murray - Out James Spann - 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.
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WeatherBrains 1056: Not A Jabroni
04/14/2026
WeatherBrains 1056: Not A Jabroni
This week's episode of WeatherBrains is all about Colorado weather! Tonight's show features Guest WeatherBrain and Colorado State Climatologist Dr. Russ Schumacher. He's also a Professor at Colorado State University and is Director of the Colorado Climate Center. He's been involved in extreme precipitation, weather prediction, and is the guru of Colorado weather. Dr. Schumaker, welcome to the show! Second Guest WeatherBrain is the project manager of CoCoRaHS (Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow Network). He is the CoCoRaHS East Central Region Illinois State Coordinator and has been an active observer in Illinois for over 19 years. He retired as the director of the MRCC and is a big fan of winter weather. Steve Hilberg, thanks for joining us tonight! Third Guest WeatherBrain Noah Newman is a Research Associate with the Colorado Climate Center at Colorado State University. He's been the Education Coordinator at CoCoRaHS since 2008, and has teaching experience from astronomy to rocketry to various Earth sciences. Noah, welcome to WeatherBrains! Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected]. Upper Midwest severe weather event (03:00) What is it like to be a State Climatologist? (07:00) 2019 Colorado hail record (14:30) How did Noah get into meteorology? (24:30) Deep dive into CoCoRaHS (Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow Network) (27:00) Snowfall vs snow depth and the confusion between them (41:00) CoCoRaHS Significant Weather Reports (48:45) Moderate risk busts vs overachieving conditional systems (57:00) Dr. Schumacher's current research in Colorado (01:05:00) Process to get involved at CoCoRaHS (01:10:00) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:15:30) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:18:15) E-Mail Segment (01:20:00) and more! Web Sites from Episode 1056: Picks of the Week: Steve Hilberg - Noah Newman - Dr. Russ Schumacher - James Aydelott - Jen Narramore - Rick Smith - Out Troy Kimmel - Out Kim Klockow-McClain - John Gordon - Bill Murray - Out James Spann - 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.
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WeatherBrains 1055: Like Bad Plumbing
04/07/2026
WeatherBrains 1055: Like Bad Plumbing
Tonight's show is all about Tampa Bay and the west central gulf coast of Florida. We are excited to have Chief Meteorologist Mike Clay from Spectrum Bay News 9 and Brian LaMarre former NWS MIC from Tampa Bay for many years! This is second of many upcoming WeatherBrains episodes focusing on various media weather markets around the country. On Episode 1030 last October we focused on Kansas City with Bryan Busby and Joe Lauria. On June 15, we will have a show dedicated to the Dallas Fort Worth metroplex weather enterprise. Mike and Brian will discuss forecasting sea breezes, marine weather, Tampa Bay tropical cyclone challenges and much more. Mike and Brian, welcome to WeatherBrains! Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected]. Origins of Inspire Weather (11:30) Prolific Florida lightning shows (20:00) Magnetrons vs Klystrons explained (22:30) Relationship between media and NWS in various TV markets (25:00) Origins of NWS chat (29:30) Tampa's hurricane close calls (32:30) 1985's Hurricane Elena bizarre track (46:00) Non-tropical Florida tornado outbreaks (53:30) What is Florida red tide? (01:07:00) 1993 Storm of the Century and its impact on the State of Florida (01:11:00) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:32:00) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:35:30) E-Mail Segment (01:37:00) and more! Web Sites from Episode 1055: Picks of the Week: Mike Clay - Brian LaMarre - James Aydelott - Jen Narramore - Rick Smith - Out Troy Kimmel - Foghorn Kim Klockow-McClain - John Gordon - Bill Murray - Out James Spann - James Spann - 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.
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WeatherBrains 1054: I Want My Own Radar; I've Earned It
03/31/2026
WeatherBrains 1054: I Want My Own Radar; I've Earned It
Tonight's Guest WeatherBrain is a legend in the Weather Enterprise and is the quintessential Tornado Master. Dr. Howard Bluestein is a Professor Emeritus and George Lynn Cross Research Professor in the School of Meteorology at the University of Oklahoma. He recently retired after spending more than 48 (WOW!) years as a meteorology professor at OU. Dr. Bluestein remains active in research and storm chasing, and for decades he pioneered the use of advance mobile doppler radar systems to study severe storms and tornadoes. He's also a renowned author and photographer, and some of his works have been placed in museums across the world. Dr. Bluestein, welcome to WeatherBrains! Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected]. How did Dr. Bluestein enter the field of meteorology? (07:00) Harold Edgerton 1957 photo of Milk Drop Coronet (18:00) Waterspout chasing in airplanes (28:00) GATE June-September 1974 (GARP Atlantic Tropical Experiment) (29:30) Conditional Instability of the Second Kind (CISK) (33:00) Using an optical theodolite to track storm soundings (50:30) W-Band radar vs KA-Band radars (55:00) Chasing 1984's Hurricane Diana (01:05:00) Dr. Bluestein's phenomenology and key scientific breakthroughs through scanning technology and storm chasing (01:06:00) Using RaxPol (Rapid X-band Polarimetric Radar) data to accurately rate tornadoes (01:14:00) Mentorship of OU graduate students and lasting impacts of the program (01:18:30) Boundary-layer physics: Is the problem of Tornadogenesis solved? (01:27:30) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (No segment this week - stay tuned!) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:38:30) E-Mail Segment (No segment this week - stay tuned!) and more! Web Sites from Episode 1054: Picks of the Week: James Aydelott - Jen Narramore - Rick Smith - Troy Kimmel - Kim Klockow-McClain - John Gordon - Bill Murray - Out James Spann - 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.
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WeatherBrains 1053: Social Media Jabronis
03/24/2026
WeatherBrains 1053: Social Media Jabronis
Tonight's Guest WeatherBrain is the Director of the National Hurricane Center in Miami. He previously led its Hurricane Specialist Unit and served as a senior hurricane specialist, producing forecasts and warnings for tropical cyclones in the Atlantic and eastern Pacific. His work focuses on improving hurricane track and intensity forecasts, integrating new data into models, and training meteorologists on forecasting and communication. Before joining NHC leadership, he was the Science and Operations Officer at the Weather Prediction Center, where he guided scientific practices and staff training. He is active in the scientific community as a presenter, journal reviewer, and associate editor. He earned his bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. in atmospheric sciences from North Carolina State University, with research focused on weather forecasting and meteorology in the eastern United States. Dr. Michael Brennan, welcome to the show! Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected]. Notable Virginia hurricanes (12:00) When can NOAA Hurricane Hunters fly into a developing tropical cyclone? (15:00) Extending tropical weather outlooks beyond a week? (18:00) Considering population density with regards to hurricane watches/warnings (25:00) Operational tempo atNHC during 2025's Hurricane Melissa (35:30) Receiving and analyzing real-time reports during landfalling tropical cyclones (46:00) Behind the scenes: a normal day at NHC vs active event protocol (49:45) Dealing with the media as NHC Director (54:30) Social media attacks and appropriate professional responses in the weather enterprise (01:13:00) NHC seasonal outlooks and call to action (01:18:00) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:27:00) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:29:20) E-Mail Segment (01:30:30) and more! Web Sites from Episode 1053: Picks of the Week: Dr. Michael Brennan - James Aydelott - Foghorn Jen Narramore - Rick Smith - Troy Kimmel - Kim Klockow-McClain - John Gordon - Bill Murray - Out James Spann - James Spann - 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.
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