Podcast
WeatherBrains
Hosted by Big Brains Media LLC · EN
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!
31episodes
Episodes
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WeatherBrains 1063: Hodgepodge City
2d ago01:37:59Tap to summarizeNo description available
Transcribe →WeatherBrains 1062: It's Those Kentucky Aliens
1w ago01:42:24Tap to summarizeThis 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@weatherbrains.com. 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.
Transcribe →WeatherBrains 1061: It Just Smacks Earth
2w ago01:46:17Tap to summarizeNo description available
Transcribe →WeatherBrains 1060: Bridge Bozos
3w ago01:47:48Tap to summarizeThis 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@weatherbrains.com. 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.
Transcribe →WeatherBrains 1059: The Irritant Squad
May 501:44:29Tap to summarizeGuest 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@weatherbrains.com. 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.
Transcribe →WeatherBrains 1058: People Need To Shut Up
Apr 2801:39:32Tap to summarizeTonight 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@weatherbrains.com. 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.
Transcribe →WeatherBrains 1057: Ike Dike
Apr 2101:42:28Tap to summarizeWe 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@weatherbrains.com. 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 video Jen 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.
Transcribe →WeatherBrains 1056: Not A Jabroni
Apr 1401:38:01Tap to summarizeThis 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@weatherbrains.com. 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.
Transcribe →WeatherBrains 1055: Like Bad Plumbing
Apr 701:51:43Tap to summarizeTonight'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@weatherbrains.com. 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.
Transcribe →WeatherBrains 1054: I Want My Own Radar; I've Earned It
Mar 3101:48:47Tap to summarizeTonight'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@weatherbrains.com. 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.
Transcribe →