Guest: Dr. Russell Schneider

Spring may mean blooming flowers and warmer days, but for meteorologists, it means something else entirely: severe weather season is officially here. As we head into the months when thunderstorms sharpen, tornadoes spin up, and the atmosphere becomes anything but predictable, there’s one place every forecaster and weather enthusiast looks to: the Storm Prediction Center. Today, we’re joined by the Director of the SPC Dr. Russell Schneider, the person who helps oversee the outlooks, mesoscale discussions, and tornado and severe thunderstorm watches that millions depend on when the stakes are high. We’ll look back at what last season taught us, talk about what’s on the horizon for this year, explore how new tools — including emerging AI guidance — are shaping the forecasting landscape, and discuss the growing influence of storm chasers and open-access model data.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Severe Weather Season
01:03 Dr. Russell Schneider's Journey to Meteorology
04:42 Understanding the Storm Prediction Center (SPC)
10:17 Reflections on the 2025 Severe Weather Season
11:54 Break 1
12:38 Shifts in Tornado Activity and Trends
15:54 The Spectrum of Severe Weather Hazards
22:08 Preparing for the 2026 Severe Weather Season
25:20 Break 2
25:49 Innovations in Weather Forecasting Technology
30:01 Communicating Weather Risks Effectively
33:53 The Role of Storm Chasers and Social Media

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Inside Severe Season: A Conversation with the SPC Director