Episodes
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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:
Humanities Kansas Speakers Bureau
"And Hell Followed With It: Life and Death in a Kansas Tornado" by Bonar Menninger
Alabama Weather Network
Picks of the Week:
Katie Keckeisen - Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library
Chad Omitt - OTUS Project
James Aydelott - "History of Operational Use of Weather Radar by U.S. Weather Services. Part I: The Pre-NEXRAD Era"
Jen Narramore - Tornado Talk Podcast Episode 7: The 1966 Topeka Tornado
Rick Smith - Out
Troy Kimmel - Out
Kim Klockow-McClain - Foghorn
John Gordon - Collin Gross on X: Europe's historic heatwave continues
Bill Murray - Out
James Spann - James Spann on X: Big Sky Montana snow photos
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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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:
Alabama Weather Network
Picks of the Week:
James Aydelott - Illinois: More tornadoes than Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, and Texas combined, year to date. (225 vs 191)
Jen Narramore - Tennessee Valley Weather on X: "Tennessee Valley Weather Adds Weather Balloon Launch Capability to Strengthen Severe Weather Forecasting"
Rick Smith - Facts About Derechos
Troy Kimmel - IEM Generated Regional Temperature and Precipitation Report
Kim Klockow-McClain - Foghorn
John Gordon - Dave Throup on X: Shelf Cloud pic at Glastonbury Tor
Bill Murray - Out
James Spann - SkyeCalm Storm Anxiety App
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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Missing episodes?
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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:
David Finfrock Instagram
Alabama Weather Network
Picks of the Week:
David Finfrock - Harold Taft's World War 2 legacy
Rick Mitchell - Great Storm of 1975
James Aydelott - Softball sized hail photo from 1995
Jen Narramore - Andrew Pritchard on X: Illinois tornadoes 6/11/26
Rick Smith - Out
Troy Kimmel - Delta Flight 191 Flashback Special (1985)
Kim Klockow-McClain - Classification of Use Cases for Ensemble Weather Forecasts
John Gordon - What is a "panhandle hooker" and why is it called that?
Bill Murray - Out
James Spann - Google Weather Lab: Cyclones (Preview)
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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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:
Project Enki
Unity Alliance Foundation USA
National Water Model
Alabama Weather Network
Picks of the Week:
Dr. Tracy Fanara - World Ocean Day
James Aydelott - Lithuanian tornado video
James Aydelott - June 8th, 1974 Tornado Outbreak and Flash Floods
Jen Narramore - Out
Rick Smith - Out
Troy Kimmel - SounderPy Sounding Analysis
Kim Klockow-McClain - Last Ones Left In A Toxic Kansas Town
John Gordon - PRESSURE official trailer
Bill Murray - June 8th 1966 Topeka Tornado
James Spann - Alabama Weather Network Live Storm Coverage
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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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:
African Centres for Lightning Education Network
National Lightning Safety Council
Alabama Weather Network
Books - Cope Disaster Champions
Picks of the Week:
John Jensenius - "The Clouds Outside My Window" by John Jensenius
James Aydelott - May 26-27, 1984 Tulsa Memorial Day Flood
Jen Narramore - Forecasters rely on phased array radar for tornado warning
Rick Smith - Out
Troy Kimmel - Out
Kim Klockow-McClain - Mexico tornado
John Gordon - Burns Israelsen on X: Pyrocumulus cloud
Bill Murray - Out
James Spann - James Spann on X: Houston/Henry County Alabama tornado
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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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:
The Weather Channel
Alabama Weather Network
Picks of the Week:
James Aydelott - Physics-based models outperform AI weather forecasts of record-breaking extremes
Jen Narramore - Where the Music Went
Rick Smith - Bridge Bozos video
Troy Kimmel - Foghorn
Kim Klockow-McClain - Lubbock, Texas tornado May 11th, 1970
John Gordon - Tornado in Argentina video
Bill Murray - Foghorn
James Spann - Waco Tornado May 11, 1953
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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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:
No Heat Stroke
Alabama Weather Network
Picks of the Week:
Jan Null - National Meteorologists Day
Jackson Quinn - SeCAPS Home Page University of South Alabama Meteorology
James Aydelott - "The Formation and Early Evolution of the Greensburg, Kansas, Tornadic Supercell on 4 May 2007" by Howard B. Bluestein
James Aydelott - "Mobile, X-band, Polarimetric Doppler Radar Observations of the 4 May 2007 Greensburg, Kansas, Tornadic Supercell" by Robin L. Tanamachi, Howard B. Bluestein, Jana B. Houser, Stephen J. Frasier and Kery M. Hardwick
Jen Narramore - Bill Randby breaks down weather phenomenon that was caught on video during Creighton Prep soccer
Rick Smith - Everything Hikers Know About Lightning Safety is Wrong
Troy Kimmel - Golden Gate Weather Services
Kim Klockow-McClain - Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change data
John Gordon - WeatherNation on X: Rare "Ash Devil" spotted in Phelan, CA
Bill Murray - Out
James Spann - New Texas Hailstone Record Confirmed by NOAA and Partners
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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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:
Alabama Weather Network
Picks of the Week:
James Aydelott - 4/26/26 James Aydelott tornado coverage
James Aydelott - Photo of 4/26/26 Oklahoma tornado on ground
James Aydelott - Photo of 4/26/26 James Aydelott coverage
Jen Narramore - Overview of the April 25-28, 2011 Super Outbreak
Rick Smith - Enid OK EF4 and Braman OK EF1 tornado paths
Troy Kimmel - Camp Mystic failed to train teenage counselors for floods, expert tells lawmakers
Kim Klockow-McClain - Out
John Gordon - Curiosity on X: Red Sprite photo
Bill Murray - Autumn Sky VWP Hodographs
James Spann - Spanning Alabama Episode 15: April 27, 2011
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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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:
Alabama Weather Network
Picks of the Week:
Bill Read - Cade's Cast Weather on YouTube
James Aydelott - Reid Wiseman on X: Moon videoJen Narramore - OTUS Project on X: Video INSIDE the Wyoming, IA tornado
Rick Smith - NIHHIS Heat Season Warm-Up Workshop
Troy Kimmel - Out
Kim Klockow-McClain - Iowa/Wisconsin tornado warnings 2026 vs 2025
John Gordon - Volcaholic on X: Video illustrating "Levante" phenomenon
Bill Murray - Out
James Spann - Roger Edwards on X: About Recent SPC Forecast Performance
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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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:
CoCoRaHS
Alabama Weather Network
Picks of the Week:
Steve Hilberg - Ag Weather
Noah Newman - CoCoRaHS Data Explorer
Dr. Russ Schumacher - CoCoRaHS All About Hail
James Aydelott - NWS Norman Observed Sounding
Jen Narramore - County Road 69 Tornado April 15th, 2011
Rick Smith - Out
Troy Kimmel - Out
Kim Klockow-McClain - Reed Timmer tornado video
John Gordon - NWS Louisville Shareholders Report 2025
Bill Murray - Out
James Spann - James Spann on X: Emmetsburg, IA tornado video
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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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:
Inspire Weather
Tampa Bay Florida Local Weather Bay News 9
Alabama Weather Network
Picks of the Week:
Mike Clay - Florida Thunderstorm Season
Brian LaMarre - El Niño Modoki vs Traditional El Niño
James Aydelott - Artemis astronauts propose naming moon feature after Mission Commander Reid Wiseman's late wife
Jen Narramore - Nelson Tucker on X: Barrel white wall cloud and meson of Morton, TX EF2
Rick Smith - Out
Troy Kimmel - Foghorn
Kim Klockow-McClain - Highlights from Artemis II's History Journey Around the Moon
John Gordon - Jaden Pappenheim on X: Michigan flooding videos
Bill Murray - Out
James Spann - ENSO: Recent Evolution, Current Status and Predictions
James Spann - WeatherBrains 91: A Chat With Roy Leep
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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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:
"The Architecture of Clouds" by Dr. Howard B. Bluestein
Alabama Weather Network
Picks of the Week:
James Aydelott - Supercell Easter Egg Photo
Jen Narramore - Tupelo, MS F5 Tornado - April 5, 1936
Rick Smith - NOVA Tornado! Original Broadcast 1985
Troy Kimmel - Founding USA Today Editor Jack Williams passes away
Kim Klockow-McClain - NSSL VORTEX USA
John Gordon - Kona Storms Flood O'ahu
Bill Murray - Out
James Spann - Storm ready: NOAA's new mobile radar fleet bridges gap between research and weather safety
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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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:
Alabama Weather Network
Picks of the Week:
Dr. Michael Brennan - NHC Tropical Cyclone Video Series
James Aydelott - Foghorn
Jen Narramore - Hurricane Gloria September 27th, 1985
Rick Smith - U.S. Drought Monitor Current Map
Troy Kimmel - NWS Houston/Galveston Hurricane Guide
Kim Klockow-McClain - The Fifth Hurricane Hazard: A Case Study of Heat Risks Faced by Disaster Relief Workers After Hurricane Beryl's Landfall
John Gordon - Kentucky Mesonet at WKU
Bill Murray - Out
James Spann - Conditional Warning Probabilities
James Spann - NOAA's NWS eyes the cloud for next-gen applications
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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Tonight's WeatherBrains episode is all about marine weather! We discuss wave forecasting, marine hazards, and the many products issued for mariners. Guest WeatherBrain for tonight's episode is Chris Landsea. He was formerly the Science and Operations Officer for 11 years at NHC, and he's now the Chief of TAFB (Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branch) at the NHC. He has served in this role since 2019. Chris, it's great to have you on tonight's episode. Guest WeatherBrain and meteorologist Brian Lamarre was formerly the Warning Coordination Meteorologist (WCM) at the Lubbock TX NWS office. He then served 17 years as the MIC (Meteorologist in Charge) at the Tampa FL NWS. The panel discusses the various commonly seen marine alerts, including freezing spray forecasts, Special Marine Warnings, and hazardous sea warnings. Brian, welcome to the show!
Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected].
Looking back at WeatherBrains Episode 46 featuring Dr. William Gray (Fall 2006) - Link incoming! (13:00) What is the NWS Marine Program? (14:30) Small Craft Advisories (18:00) Gale Warnings and why are these necessary? (21:00) What are rip currents and why is this a hazard? (23:30) Respiratory hazards and other entry level hazards (28:00) Coastal flood advisories/warnings (31:30) Special Marine Warnings and what conditions are needed to require one (34:00) Waterspouts and the call to action for the general public (36:30) Forecasting wave heights and the main 2 types of waves that are commonly produced (44:30) Deep dive into rogue waves and significant wave height (47:30) NHC TAFB (Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branch): Who is it and what do they do? (55:00) Increasing traffic in polar regions and the ice/open ocean transition (01:05:00) Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab (GLERL) (01:08:00) Unique relationship between US Coast Guard and National Weather Service (01:12:00) Special Marine Warnings and metrics applied to POD/FAR similar to on-land severe warnings (01:17:00) Special Marine Warnings and Call to Action (01:19:00) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:25:00) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (No segment this week - stay tuned!) E-Mail Segment (01:27:30) and more!Web Sites from Episode 1052:
MarineTraffic
EverythingWeather: Your Ultimate Weather Mobile App
WeatherFront Mobile Weather App
Alabama Weather Network
Picks of the Week:
Chris Landsea - NHC Graphical Marine Wind Warnings
Brian Lamarre - Haboob satellite photo
James Aydelott - Okie J on Facebook: Severe storms stretch from Chicago to Houston
Jen Narramore - Out
Rick Smith - Out
Troy Kimmel - Hazcams
Kim Klockow-McClain - UCAR statement on lawsuit filed against federal administrative agencies
John Gordon - Windy.com
Bill Murray - Out
James Spann - 3/15/26 Bonnertown, TN tornado damage
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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Tonight's WeatherBrains is all about the NWS Storm Prediction Center (SPC)'s convective outlooks.
Guest WeatherBrain and SPC forecaster Bill Bunting joins us tonight. He grew up in Virginia Beach, VA where we experienced a series of hurricanes and Nor'easters at a very young age. He attended Old Dominion University as well as OU where he earned his Bachelor's Degree. He's been with the National Weather Service since 1985, where he's worked primarily at local offices in Norman (OK), Kansas City (MO) and Fort Worth (TX). He was Chief of Forecasting Operations at SPC in 2012, and is now the Deputy Director at SPC since 2024. Bill, welcome to WeatherBrains!
Second and last Guest WeatherBrain (but certainly not the least!) is the brand new Warning Coordination Meteorologist (MIC) for the SPC. He grew up in Ohio and attended Valparaiso University, and has since worked for the NWS for over 15 years. He loves historical weather statistics and visualization. Evan Bentley, welcome to WeatherBrains!
Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected].
Organization/structure of NWS Storm Prediction Center (14:00) SPCS's Fire weather forecasting (16:00) Science behind SPC's new conditional intensity forecasts (20:30) Deterministic factors for a PDS (Particularly Dangerous Situation) watch (26:00) Improving communication of impactful weather events to family and co workers (40:00) SPC's philosophy on dealing with QLCS events (51:00) National team approach for warnings? (01:03:00) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:29:45) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:32:15) E-Mail Segment (01:24:00) and more!Web Sites from Episode 1051:
Alabama Weather Network
Picks of the Week:
Bill Bunting - SPC Hazard Climatology
James Aydelott - Okie James on Facebook: Two supercell rotation paths
Jen Narramore - Southeast Severe Storms Symposium XXIV
Rick Smith - NOAA Damage Assessment Toolkit
Troy Kimmel - Foghorn
Kim Klockow-McClain - Edwardsburg Schools offer support as community mourns loss of student
John Gordon - Congressman Eric Sorensen introduces new legislation to investigate major weather disasters
Bill Murray - Out
James Spann - Out
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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Tonight's WeatherBrains episode will cover the Purdue Meteorology Program. The Panel takes a deep dive into both the undergraduate and graduate programs.
Guest WeatherBrain Dr. Robin Tanamachi joins us tonight from Purdue University. She's a member of the AMS and is working with UCAR and COMET on a radar meteorology course. She's an avid cyclist and storm chaser. It's great to have you on tonight, Dr. Tanamachi!
Guest WeatherBrain Dr Beth Hall joins us to discuss what's happening with the Indiana State Climatologist office. She's also the director of the Midwest Regional Climate Center and manager of the Purdue Mesonet. Tonight's show will be discussing efforts on building a Statewide Mesonet across the Hoosier State. Thanks for joining us tonight!
Last but certainly not least, Guest Panelist Purdue University senior Lindsey Peterson will go through enrollment, meteorology student activities, storm chase trip, and Dr Tanamachi's research. She's studying atmospheric science and is the President of Purdue's AMS Chapter and has been a NWS student volunteer as well as a 2025 NOAA William M. Lapenta Intern. She's also involved with the AMS Board of Higher Education and has done undergraduate research focusing on the history of meteorology. Lindsey, welcome to WeatherBrains!
Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected].
March 1st, 2007 Enterprise tornado tragedy anniversary (01:30) Henryville Indiana 2012 tornado anniversary (05:00) Purdue Meteorology program background (09:30) Kentucky bourbon barrels and their climate condition requirements (27:30) What exactly is a Mesonet? (29:45) Current sites/status of Purdue Mesonet (32:00) Indiana Water Balance Network (33:45) PUMA (Purdue University Meteorological Association) (50:00) Purdue Meteorology Program's rich history and tradition (01:01:00) COMET online radar class (01:03:30) Strange and unusual inquiries made to the climate office (01:08:00) Career advice for young people and meteorology students (01:10:00) What is phased array radar? (01:12:30) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:20:30) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:23:15) E-Mail Segment (01:24:30) 2/26/26 Unexpected Trussville AL EF0 tornado (01:30:50) and more!Web Sites from Episode 1050:
Indiana Mesonet
COMET MetEd Public Dashboard
Alabama Weather Network
Picks of the Week:Lindsey Peterson - Earrings from Because Science
Dr. Beth Hall - MRCC Accumulated Winter Season Severity Index (AWSSI)
Dr. Robin Tanamachi - Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
James Aydelott - Girls Who Chase free seminar
Jen Narramore - WHO 13's Jeriann Ritter opens up about her health journey
Rick Smith - Out
Troy Kimmel - Out
Kim Klockow-McClain - Chairman Cruz Announces Markup of NASA Reauthorization, NOAA Weather Bill for March 4th
John Gordon - Debris Ballers - The Beginning
Bill Murray - Out
James Spann - NWS SPC on X: Changes to SPC Severe Weather Outlooks
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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Tonight's show is all about radar and reflectivity. Guest WeatherBrain Charles Kuster works in the radar division of NSSL. He started his career at the OU Cooperative Institute. Then, moved to NSSL and has been there ever since. He attended the University of Oklahoma, where he completed his Bachelor's degree in 2012 and eventually his Master's in 2014. Charles was a Graduate Research Assistant with OU CIMMS before securing a position as Research Associate in January of this year. Charles, welcome to WeatherBrains!
Second Guest WeatherBrain Jami Boettcher came to CIWRO/NSSL after retiring from the National Weather Service, comprised of about 10 years in operations, and 25 years as an Instructor for the Warning Decision Training Division. Her first area of expertise as a trainer focused on the WSR-88D system updates, with the most significant being the conversion to dual polarization. Developing and delivering training that focused on the needs of the NWS operational community was always the priority. Her second area of training expertise was on the cognitive domain of NWS warning operations and its three components: science, technology, and human factors. Jamie, welcome to the show!
Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected].
Side lobe contamination (16:00) ZDR column radar signature (19:30) Precursor radar signatures (25:30) Dual-polarization radar general concepts and variables (27:00) Correlation coefficient definition (28:30) KDP/Specific Differential Phase (29:30) Radar spectrum width (43:00) Mitigating side lobe contamination? (55:00) Difference between WSR-88D and phased array radar (01:05:00) Well-known radar gaps and the ensuing issues (01:10:30) X-Band radar vs WSR-88D (01:12:00) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:27:20) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:29:05) E-Mail Segment (01:31:00) and more!Web Sites from Episode 1049:
Alabama Weather Network
Picks of the Week:
Charles Kuster - NOAA NSSL
Jami Boettcher - NWS/OCLO Warning Decision Training Division
James Aydelott - Out
Jen Narramore - Record snowstorm for Providence, Rhode Island
Rick Smith - Dual-Polarization Radar Training for NWS Partners
Troy Kimmel - NWS Weather and Hazards Data Viewer
Kim Klockow-McClain - Foghorn
John Gordon - Journal of Operational Meteorology "Operational Diagnostic Applications of Isentropic Analysis" by Louis Uccellini
Bill Murray - Out
James Spann - PRESSURE official trailer - Releases May 29th
James Spann - CIRA on X: "May NE US locations received over a foot of snow since yesterday morning due to powerful blizzard and NorEaster...."
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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Tonight's Guest WeatherBrain is Melinda Beerends. She is the MIC (Meteorologist in Charge) of Grand Forks, ND. Welcome!
Our Guest WeatherBrain No. 2 tonight is meteorologist Carl Jones. He's a forecaster for the NWS in Grand Forks, ND. He earned his Bachelor of Science from Florida State University. His professional focus remains operational forecasting and photography. Thanks for joining us tonight!
Last but certainly not least, Guest WeatherBrain No. 3 is a meteorologist from the NWS office in Grand Forks, ND. He is a St. Cloud State graduate and is seasoned photographer who previously worked in the private sector for several years before entering government service. Tyler Thomas, welcome to the show!
Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected].
Deep South Valentine's Day Weekend QLCS controversy (01:15) Importance of being connected with the people you serve! (06:00) Environmental setup for June 2025 EF5 event (13:00) ND has never had a High Risk outlook (15:30) Flaws/misses in that event's forecast prior to EF5 event (18:00) Did the June 2025 Enderlin event meet the SPC thresholds in place? (21:00) LCL heights and radar data on day of Enderlin EF5 (22:30) Reflectivity data presentation of Enderlin EF5 (29:30) QRT ( NWS Quick Response Team) preliminary tornado rating of EF3 (50:00) Outside data and sources concerns/review (01:03:00) Rarity of direct observational evidence in these types of events (01:12:30) The three fatalities in the Enderlin EF5 and what we know (01:22:00) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:28:30) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:30:35) E-Mail Segment (No segment this week - stay tuned!) and more!Web Sites from Episode 1048:
Alabama Weather Network
Picks of the Week:
Tyler Thomas - Copernicus Browser
Carl Jones - NWS Probabilistic Precipitation Portal
Melinda Beerends - YouTube: What clues from tornado outbreaks can help improve prediction?
James Aydelott - WeatherFront on X: February 14-15 QLCS
Jen Narramore - The Historical Marker Database
Rick Smith - Out
Troy Kimmel - The Blue Board - United Airlines Flight Tracker and Live Status
Kim Klockow-McClain - Louis Uccellini, NWS Director, visits Oklahoma
John Gordon - John Kucko on X: Ice Volcano Erupts
Bill Murray - Out
James Spann - Brian Emfinger video of Enderlin, ND EF5 damage indicators
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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