Episodes

  • WeatherBrains 982: Go Smoke Somewhere Else
    Nov 12 2024

    Tonight's Guest WeatherBrain is a long-time industry veteran and is currently the MIC at the NWS in Houston, TX where he's worked at that office for the last 10 years. Jeff Evans, it's great having you with us tonight.

    Tonight's Guest Panelist has been an operational meteorologist for over 30 years and currently is the MIC at the NWS Louisville. He received a BS in Meteorology from St. Louis University in 1986 and a Masters in Teaching in Geoscience from Mississippi State in 2002. John Gordon, thanks for joining us!

    Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: email@weatherbrains.com.

    • Difficulty of messaging heat in Houston (10:45)
    • Wet bulb globe temperature (16:00)
    • Do Emergency Managers understand the extreme heat/cold threat? (32:30)
    • Wellness checks for the elderly in a major heat event (37:00)
    • Methods for counting heat-related fatalities (43:00)
    • Important recent tech advancements in the field (01:10:45)
    • November 3rd Oklahoma pre-dawn tornadoes (01:44:15)
    • The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:21:15)
    • This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:24:09)
    • E-Mail Segment (01:26:00)
    • National Weather Round-Up
    • and more!

    Web Sites from Episode 982:

    Jeff Evans on X

    Picks of the Week:

    Jeff Evans - Aviation Weather Center

    John Gordon - "Significant Tornadoes: 1880-1989" by Thomas Grazulis

    James Aydelott - The Great Blue Norther of November 11th, 1911

    Jen Narramore - Sarah King on X: Halloween photo

    Jen Narramore - Symposium on tornadoes: Assessment of knowledge and implications for man

    Rick Smith - Automated Data Plotter

    Neil Jacobs - Out

    Troy Kimmel - Houston scientist who played pivotal role in leading team during extreme weather retiring

    Kim Klockow-McClain - Influences of Space Weather Forecasting Uncertainty on Satellite Conjunction Assessment

    Bill Murray - Out

    James Spann - Remembering the 1989 Huntsville "Airport Road" Tornado

    The WeatherBrains crew includes your host, James Spann, plus other notable geeks like Troy Kimmel, Bill Murray, Rick Smith, James Aydelott, Jen Narramore, Dr. Neil Jacobs, 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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    1 hr and 57 mins
  • WeatherBrains 981: Charge Your Doodads
    Nov 5 2024

    Tonight's Guest WeatherBrain is the News Director at WBMA-TV (ABC 33/40) in Birmingham, AL. He's a Macon, GA native and a meteorologist-turned-journalist. He has a Degree in Atmospheric Science from UNC-Asheville. After being an on-air broadcast meteorologist for 17 years, he spent two years working in radio at The Weather Channel. Jeff Cox, welcome to WeatherBrains!

    Our Second Guest WeatherBrain tonight is the News Director at KCBD-TV in Lubbock, Texas. He studied Broadcast Journalism at Texas Tech with a Minor in Atmospheric Science. He then earned a Certificate of Broadcast Meteorology from Mississippi State University. Matt Earnst, welcome to the show!

    Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: email@weatherbrains.com.

    • Revisiting the Blizzard of March 1993 (07:15)
    • Making the transition from broadcast meteorology to journalism (21:15)
    • Importance of content: The changing business model in broadcast television (33:00)
    • YouTube weather streamers (47:00)
    • Cultivating value in a difficult media environment (01:09:30)
    • Oklahoma Severe Weather Event/QLCS Tornadoes 11/3/24 (01:19:10)
    • The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (No segment this week)
    • This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:29:51)
    • E-Mail Segment (No segment this week)
    • National Weather Round-Up (01:31:35)
    • and more!

    Web Sites from Episode 981:

    Jeff Cox on X

    Matt Earnst on X

    Picks of the Week:

    Matt Earnst - November 2nd, 2004 West Texas Snowfall Event

    James Aydelott - Tornado Warning Event Count By State since 11/01/24

    Jen Narramore - Out

    Rick Smith - Out

    Neil Jacobs - Out

    Troy Kimmel - Out

    Kim Klockow-McClain - Pre/Post-Conference Training

    Bill Murray - Foghorn

    James Spann - Tornado Damage in Oklahoma City - Photo of wooden pole through car windshield

    The WeatherBrains crew includes your host, James Spann, plus other notable geeks like Troy Kimmel, Bill Murray, Rick Smith, James Aydelott, Jen Narramore, Dr. Neil Jacobs, 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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    1 hr and 37 mins
  • WeatherBrains 980: Flip The Camera Off
    Oct 29 2024

    Tonight's Guest WeatherBrain is a veteran meteorologist recognized for his years at AccuWeather. He became well-known for his expertise in winter storms and severe weather forecasting as well as his engaging approach to delivering weather insights. His career has spanned over thirty years and has contributed to significant advancements in meteorological technology. He's built a loyal following among weather enthusiasts. Henry Margusity, welcome to WeatherBrains!

    Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: email@weatherbrains.com.

    • Birmingham's (AL) October rainfall is still zero as of the 28th (09:00)
    • Staffing changes at The Capital Weather Gang/Washington Post (27:30)
    • FAA/NWS Memo controversy (28:30)
    • Funny stories look back at time at AccuWeather (43:45)
    • Change of pace in the weather business over the last few decades (48:30)
    • Maintaining situational awareness in the age of advancement of automation (50:30)
    • Age demographic and it's challenges (01:10:30)
    • The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:19:55)
    • This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:21:31)
    • E-Mail Segment (01:23:18)
    • National Weather Round-Up (01:
    • and more!

    Web Sites from Episode 980:

    Henry Margusity - Weather Madness on X

    Picks of the Week:

    Henry Margusity - Winter 2024/25: October Update

    James Aydelott - Gesman Tamang on X: Top of Mount Everest Photo

    Jen Narramore - First barrel ride down Niagara Falls - October 24th, 1901

    Rick Smith - Out

    Neil Jacobs - Out

    Troy Kimmel - AI is transforming weather forecasting. Is the U.S. falling behind?

    Troy Kimmel - Understanding Wyoming's High Winds

    Kim Klockow-McClain - IAEM Annual Conference 2024

    Bill Murray - Foghorn

    James Spann - Fact Check: Debunking weather modification claims

    The WeatherBrains crew includes your host, James Spann, plus other notable geeks like Troy Kimmel, Bill Murray, Rick Smith, James Aydelott, Jen Narramore, Dr. Neil Jacobs, 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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    1 hr and 44 mins
  • WeatherBrains 979: I'm Going To Get This Fly
    Oct 22 2024

    Tonight's Guest WeatherBrain is a Climatologist at NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), specializing in climate data, analysis, severe weather research, and improving access to historical weather data sets. Jared Rennie, welcome back to the show!

    Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: email@weatherbrains.com.

    • Health of NCEI Database post-Helene (07:45)
    • Pre-Helene North Carolina heavy rain event (16:30)
    • Limitations on forecasting impacts of significant severe weather (29:45)
    • Compound hazards/Cascading disasters (33:00)
    • What would a successful evacuation look like in coastal areas? (39:40)
    • Public reaction concerning the messaging of Helene's effects (01:09:00)
    • Hurricane Oscar and it's surprises with forecasters/modeling (01:22:23)
    • The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:18:20)
    • This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:20:40)
    • E-Mail Segment (No segment this week)
    • National Weather Round-Up (01:21:45)
    • and more!

    Web Sites from Episode 979:

    Jared Rennie on X

    Picks of the Week:

    Jared Rennie - Project Jupyter

    Jared Rennie - North Carolina continues to search for Helene victims after monster storm - 60 Minutes

    James Aydelott - Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters

    Jen Narramore - Out

    Rick Smith - Out

    Neil Jacobs - List of NOAA Open Data Dissemination Program Datasets

    Troy Kimmel - Foghorn

    Kim Klockow-McClain - Hurricane Helene: Storm Decision Fatigue Is Getting to Me

    Bill Murray - Foghorn

    James Spann - Spann Says - Substack

    The WeatherBrains crew includes your host, James Spann, plus other notable geeks like Troy Kimmel, Bill Murray, Rick Smith, James Aydelott, Jen Narramore, Dr. Neil Jacobs, 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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    1 hr and 42 mins
  • WeatherBrains 978: Feels Good, Smells Good
    Oct 15 2024

    Tonight's Guest WeatherBrain is no stranger to the show. He is a certified consulting meteorologist and a certified Broadcast Meteorologist with a strong focus on weather history. He's a weather historian and author known for his book "Too Near For Dreams: The Story of Cleveland Abbe, America's First Weather Forecaster". He also writes "Retrospect", a regular feature for WeatherWise Magazine, which highlights notable weather events and their impacts in history. Sean Potter, it's great to see you again and thanks for coming by and chatting with us on this week's episode.

    Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: email@weatherbrains.com.

    • "Cracking the Code" that the US Weather Bureau used in the late 19th Century (04:45)
    • Revisiting March 1932 tornado outbreak and Weather Bureau protocol (51:45)
    • Reassurances that ASOS data is still being ingested into Asheville/Back-up sites (01:00:20)
    • How much of the Code was shared with the public/Was it a novelty? (01:02:00)
    • Invest 94L (Atlantic basin) discussion as of 10/14 (01:20:30)
    • The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (No segment this week)
    • This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:18:40)
    • E-Mail Segment (01:19:42)
    • and more!

    Web Sites from Episode 978:

    SeanPotter.com

    "Too Near for Dreams: The Story of Cleveland Abbe, America's First Weather Forecaster" by Sean Potter

    Picks of the Week:

    Sean Potter - Emotional John Morales updates on Hurricane Milton

    James Aydelott - Kyle Benne on X: Aurora photo in Arizona

    Jen Narramore - Michael Lowry on X: Peter Dodge Tribute

    Rick Smith - Damage Assessment Toolkit

    Neil Jacobs - Out

    Troy Kimmel - Foghorn

    Kim Klockow-McClain - Aurora Chasing Cheat Sheet

    Bill Murray - Foghorn

    James Spann - End of an Era: Prioritizing Mental Health and Finding Balance

    The WeatherBrains crew includes your host, James Spann, plus other notable geeks like Troy Kimmel, Bill Murray, Rick Smith, James Aydelott, Jen Narramore, Dr. Neil Jacobs, 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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    1 hr and 43 mins
  • WeatherBrains 977: Using Useful Idiots
    Oct 8 2024

    Tonight's First Guest WeatherBrain is a veteran meteorologist and storm specialist with Fox Weather. He joined FOX Weather earlier in 2024 after 32+years at The Weather Channel. He became well known for his extensive live coverage of major weather events. He's reported on over 25,000 live events. He holds a Master's Degree in Meteorology from Penn State. Mike Seidel, welcome to WeatherBrains!

    Our Second Guest WeatherBrain is a 21 year old meteorologist and owner of North Carolina's Weather Authority, a popular online weather page. He majors in environmental science with a concentration in Meteorology and Natural Disasters. He's become a reliable and trusted source of weather in the State of North Carolina. Ethan Clark, welcome to WeatherBrains!

    Later in the show, weather reporter Charles Peek and legendary meteorologist Jim Cantore of The Weather Channel stop by the chat with the panel as Guest Panelists.

    Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: email@weatherbrains.com.

    • Milton tied for 5th place in intensity for Atlantic hurricanes on record (02:30)
    • Planning for a major hurricane in Orlando (06:34)
    • Removing significant amounts of debris from Helene aftermath prior to Milton (20:00)
    • Covering Potential Tropical Cyclone #8 earlier in the season on Carolina coast (26:45)
    • Learning from the disaster response to Hurricane Helene (32:45)
    • Visualizing the potential enormous catastrophic damage ahead of time as a Broadcaster (01:03:00)
    • Milton's size and wind fields will expand as shear impacts the storm closer to landfall (01:10:00)
    • What would a 15-foot storm surge do in Tampa Bay? (01:12:00)
    • Comparing 2004's Charley vs. 2024's Milton in Punta Gorda/Port Charlotte area (01:16:00)
    • Hurricane Milton vs 2005's Katrina (01:16:50)
    • Responding to disinformation spreading online (01:20:00)
    • Hail in tropical systems (01:44:00)
    • The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:38:00)
    • This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:39:36)
    • E-Mail Segment (01:41:05)
    • and more!

    Web Sites from Episode 977:

    NCWX Authority

    Charles Peek on X

    Jim Cantore on X

    Picks of the Week:

    James Aydelott - Out

    Jen Narramore - Brian McNoldy on X: Milton rapid intensification on radar

    Rick Smith - Hurricane Threats and Impacts Graphic

    Neil Jacobs - Day of Days in Alabama from Hurricane Helene

    Troy Kimmel - Out

    Kim Klockow-McClain - Mis and Disinformation During Hurricane Season: Implications for Emergency Management

    Bill Murray - The HDOB Message

    James Spann - Flying into Hurricane Milton aboard NOAA's WP-3D Orion "Miss Piggy"

    The WeatherBrains crew includes your host, James Spann, plus other notable geeks like Troy Kimmel, Bill Murray, Rick Smith, James Aydelott, Jen Narramore, Dr. Neil Jacobs, 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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    2 hrs and 1 min
  • WeatherBrains 976: Grand Theft Auto: Hurricane Edition
    Oct 1 2024

    Tonight's Guest WeatherBrain is a weather enthusiast and storm chaser. Mitch West, it's great to have you on the show for tonight's episode.

    Our Second Guest WeatherBrain needs no introduction. Show veteran, weather enthusiast and famous hurricane chaser Mark Sudduth also joins us on this episode.

    Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: email@weatherbrains.com.

    • Chasing Hurricane Helene on the ground (09:30)
    • Forecasting and messaging ahead of Helene inland impacts (37:00)
    • Improving communication and risk perception (40:00)
    • Comparing Helene to 2005's Katrina and 1969's Camille (43:00)
    • Excessive hyperbole with severe weather in the media (50:30)
    • Finding a common sense approach to covering weather emergencies (51:55)
    • Ham radio/Weather radio coverage (55:30)
    • Avoiding dam failures during Helene (01:00:45)
    • Integrating faith into content creation (01:22:00)
    • How to build a loyal following online as a content creator (01:25:15)
    • The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:13:45)
    • This Week in Tornado History With Jen (No segment this week)
    • E-Mail Segment (No segment this week)
    • and more!

    Web Sites from Episode 976:

    Mitch West Weather on YouTube

    HurricaneTrack on YouTube

    Picks of the Week:

    James Aydelott - Stephen M. Strader on X: Tropical Cyclone Inland Flooding Fatalities since 2005

    Jen Narramore - Out

    Rick Smith - Out

    Neil Jacobs - Out

    Troy Kimmel - Rapid Reaction: Historic Flooding Follows Helene in Western NC

    Troy Kimmel - Pressure obs log from KFPY during Helene

    Kim Klockow-McClain - Out

    Bill Murray - Foghorn

    James Spann - Video of Chemical Fire in Conyers, GA

    The WeatherBrains crew includes your host, James Spann, plus other notable geeks like Troy Kimmel, Bill Murray, Rick Smith, James Aydelott, Jen Narramore, Dr. Neil Jacobs, 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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    1 hr and 48 mins
  • WeatherBrains 975: I Hate Grids
    Sep 24 2024
    Tonight's Guest WeatherBrains are a suggestion of friend of the podcast Jay Farlow. Sam Lashley is the Warning Coordination Meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Indianapolis, with 31 years of experience across multiple offices. He is a member of the Central Region Quick Response Team for EF3+ tornado events and has worked on radar, damage surveys, and storm chasing for major tornadoes, including the Van Wert EF4 (2002), Henryville EF4 (2012), and recent EF3 tornadoes in central Indiana. Mike Ryan is a Senior Meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Indianapolis, where he has served since 2009 after starting his career at the Wilmington, Ohio office in 1999. He leads public outreach and decision support through programs like Weather Ready Nation and StormReady, working closely with emergency management, media, and amateur radio. He also heads Indiana's state climate services team. Mike has been involved in operations and storm surveys during significant severe weather events in the Ohio Valley, including the 2012, 2013, 2016, and 2024 tornado outbreaks. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Atmospheric Sciences from The Ohio State University. Greg Melo is a Meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Indianapolis, with over two years of experience. He has worked radar and conducted damage surveys for significant events, including the EF3 tornado outbreaks in March 2023 and March 2024. Originally from New Orleans, Greg's interest in meteorology began after experiencing Hurricane Katrina. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Atmospheric Sciences from the University of Louisiana at Monroe. Matthew Eckhoff is a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Indianapolis. He began his career at the Department of Energy's Hanford Site in Washington in 2015 where he worked until joining the NWS in 2022. His expertise includes severe weather and mesoanalysis. Matthew holds a BS in Meteorology from Millersville University and completed graduate studies at the University of North Dakota. Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: email@weatherbrains.com. Tropical trouble in the Gulf/Future Fujiwhara Effect? (01:00)Studying mesoanalysis (30:00)Looking back at 1974 Super Outbreak (35:00)Shaping public perception of severe weather in Indiana (42:00)March 31st 2023 tornado event impacts (47:00)Central Indiana Severe Weather Symposium 2024 (01:01:00)AI European weather model (01:32:30)The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:07:30)This Week in Tornado History With Jen (No segment this week)E-Mail Segment (01:09:35)and more! Web Sites from Episode 975: NWS Indianapolis, IN CISWS 2024 Picks of the Week: Mike Ryan - MRCC Purdue Matthew Eckhoff - Tropical Tidbits Sam Lashley - "The Great Tri-State Tornado" by Justin Carter James Aydelott - Real Time Tropical Cyclones - Tomer Burg Jen Narramore - HurricaneTrack Rick Smith - Out Neil Jacobs - Automated Tropical Cycle Forecast Data Directory Troy Kimmel - Out Kim Klockow-McClain - More than corn in Indiana Beach Bill Murray - Foghorn James Spann - Jeremy DeHart on X The WeatherBrains crew includes your host, James Spann, plus other notable geeks like Troy Kimmel, Bill Murray, Rick Smith, James Aydelott, Jen Narramore, Dr. Neil Jacobs, 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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    1 hr and 48 mins