100 episodes

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!

WeatherBrains Big Brains Media LLC

    • Science
    • 4.6 • 151 Ratings

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!

    WeatherBrains 952: On His Fourth Life

    WeatherBrains 952: On His Fourth Life

    Tonight's Guest WeatherBrain is a familiar face for those who watch The Weather Channel, as she regularly appeared on the network in the early 2000s.  She's an experienced broadcast meteorologist and a podcaster.  She also has a degree in journalism and worked as a reporter for several years to begin her career.  Her first job was as a reporter for WEAR-TV in Pensacola before moving to KIII-TV in Corpus, Christi Texas.  She then moved to Brunswick, Georgia to work in TV there, and then took a job in Bangor, Maine in TV news.  It was in Maine where she really got interested in meteorology, where she attended Plymouth State University and earned her Degree in Meteorology.  Her first major opportunity in weather was WCCO-TV in Minneapolis, before her move to The Weather Channel.  Heather Tesch, thanks for joining us!
    Bruce Jones of Midland Weather Radio also is back to discuss the importance of NOAA Weather Radio and its timely warnings and information.
    ****Also you can now get 25% off a NOAA Weather Radio at MidlandUSA.com by using PROMO CODE SPANN25****
    Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: email@weatherbrains.com.
    "Beyond with Heather Tesch" (10:30) Profound stories dealing with near-death experiences (16:45) Balancing perspectives in podcasting (35:30) People reporting strengthening feelings of compassion after experiencing near-death (01:01:00) Neath-death studies and their analysis (01:06:00) How these stories have changed the host (01:19:00) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:24:45) Importance of NOAA Weather Radio (01:29:00) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (No segment this week) National Weather Round-Up (01:33:25) E-Mail Segment (No segment this week) and more! Web Sites from Episode 952:  
    Beyond with Heather Tesch on YouTube
    WeatherCall
    AMS Weather Band
    Midland Radio
    Picks of the Week:
    Heather Tesch - Mitch West Weather on YouTube
    Bruce Jones - Readers Share Stories of Their Loved Ones’ Deathbed Visions

    James Aydelott - Video of wind in El Paso, TX from Cassie Frey
    Jen Narramore - Out
    Rick Smith - Out
    Neil Jacobs - Red Cross CPR Training
    Troy Kimmel - Latest Disaster for National Weather Service: Paying its Bills
    Kim Klockow-McClain - Out
    Bill Murray - Out
    James Spann - SPC Practically Perfect Hindcast
    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.

    • 1 hr 48 min
    WeatherBrains 951: Wiring Boats, Cooking, and Fishing

    WeatherBrains 951: Wiring Boats, Cooking, and Fishing

    Tonight's episode is a home grown show with the regulars where we will be discussing  a hodgepodge of topics in the weather world and beyond.  We do these from time to time... thanks for tuning in for an all new WeatherBrains.
    Bruce Jones of Midland Weather Radio also is back to discuss the importance of NOAA Weather Radio and its timely warnings and information.
    ****Also you can now get 25% off a NOAA Weather Radio at MidlandUSA.com by using PROMO CODE SPANN25****
    Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: email@weatherbrains.com.
    Where were you during the solar eclipse?  (03:00) Fighting eclipse disinformation on social media (11:30) What makes a good resume according to Dr. Jacobs  (24:00) Rapid change in culture concerning FAR/False-alarm ratio (31:00) Mitigating loss of life of those who live in manufactured housing during severe weather events (43:45) 26th anniversary of April 8th, 1998 Birmingham, AL F5 tornado Rampant conspiracy theories appearing online and the dangerous threats experienced by broadcasters (01:03:00) Preliminary hurricane season analysis (01:27:40) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (No segment this week) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:09:00) E-Mail Segment (No segment this week) and more! Web Sites from Episode 951:  
    AMS Weather Band
    Midland Radio
    Picks of the Week:
    Bruce Jones - "On the Trail of the Ice Age Floods - Northern Reaches" by Bruce Bjornstad
    James Aydelott - Cloud Meme
    Jen Narramore - Xenia, OH F5 Tornado April 3, 1974
    Rick Smith - Out
    Neil Jacobs - College of Dupage: Satellite and Radar
    Troy Kimmel - Out
    Kim Klockow-McClain - What About the Dufresnes?
    Bill Murray - Foghorn
    James Spann - 2024 Total Solar Eclipse Through the Eyes of NASA (Official Broadcast)
    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.

    • 1 hr 39 min
    WeatherBrains 950: Fifty Years Ago...

    WeatherBrains 950: Fifty Years Ago...

    Tonight on WeatherBrains we tell the story of a generational tornado outbreak that happened 50 years ago.   We look back at the Super Outbreak of April 3rd, 1974.
    Our first Guest WeatherBrains for tonight’s episode has a great deal of experience in public service, having worked in libraries for twenty years.  Her current position is Executive Director for the Greene County Historical Society in Xenia, Ohio, a position she’s held since January of 2008.  She served as a society board member for three years and she stepped into the position when the former Director retired from the position.  Catherine Wilson, welcome!
    Our second Guest WeatherBrain is the Mayor of Guin, Alabama.  He’s served over thirty-five years of appointed and elected roles in his hometown and is now serving as Mayor.  Beginning with the Park and Recreation Board for twenty years, he then served on the City Council and was then elected Mayor of the City in 2004.  During his tenure, he created the first strategic plan for the city and led projects to revitalize downtown.  Mayor Phil Segraves, it’s an honor to have you on with us tonight.
    Bruce Jones of Midland Weather Radio also is back to discuss the importance of NOAA Weather Radio and its timely warnings and information.
    ****Also you can now get 25% off a NOAA Weather Radio at MidlandUSA.com by using PROMO CODE SPANN25****
    Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: email@weatherbrains.com.
    April 1st, 1974 precursor outbreak (09:05) Xenia, Ohio tornado (12:00) Audio clip from Episode 114 featuring J. B. Elliott discussing Guin tornado (16:55) Looking back at Guin tornado from the perspective of Mayor Segraves (18:00) Heroes during the Super Outbreak (23:00) Changes in Xenia in the years after 1974 (36:00) Guin tornado survivor interview clip (46:50) Importance of remembering and reflecting on events like 1974 (49:15) Wisdom and lessons learned from 1974 (01:05:45) Role of 1974 in the future development of weather radio (01:10:35) 50th Anniversary planned events (01:16:15) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (No segment this week) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (No segment this week) E-Mail Segment (No segment this week) and more! Web Sites from Episode 950:  
    AMS Weather Band
    Midland Radio
    Picks of the Week:
    Bruce Jones – Remembering the Stories of ’74: The Hoosier Experience of the 1974 Tornado Super Outbreak
    James Aydelott – Out
    Jen Narramore – Guin, AL F5 Tornado April 3, 1974 – Tornado Talk
    Rick Smith – Out
    Neil Jacobs – Out
    Troy Kimmel – ANA 787 gets struck by lightning climbing out of Seattle airport
    Kim Klockow-McClain – Out
    Bill Murray – LYK Radio – April 3rd, 1974 disaster
    James Spann – 2024 Eclipse Forecasts
    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.

    • 1 hr 44 min
    WeatherBrains 949: Graham in A Chicken Suit

    WeatherBrains 949: Graham in A Chicken Suit

    Tonight on WeatherBrains is the topic of a significant anniversary in the meteorological field.  Tonight's show focuses on the Super Outbreak of 1974.  Fifty years on, its impact is still being felt.  The warning process, victim impacts and how the event itself changed the weather community forever from a professional standpoint will all be discussed.
    Our first Guest WeatherBrain is a previous alumni of the show, most recently in 2020.  He received his Bachelor of Science in meteorology at Penn State University.  He received his Master's and PhD at the University of Chicago, where he studied tornadoes and severe storms under Dr. Ted Fujita.  He joined the faculty at Penn State in 1978 as an Associate Professor and taught courses in weather analysis and forecasting, natural disasters, as well as other topics.  He retired in 2019 after being the severe weather expert at The Weather Channel for over two decades.  Dr. Greg Forbes, we are honored to have you join the panel tonight.
    Our next Guest WeatherBrain is no stranger to anyone interested in severe weather.  He dedicated well over three decades to the National Weather Service, including 22 years as a Lead Forecaster at the SPC.  He significantly advanced the field of severe weather forecasting and mesoscale convective system motion.  His contributions are recognized with numerous awards and mentorships and have all left a lasting impact on the research and operational  forecasting community.  Steve Corfidi, welcome to the show.
    Guest WeatherBrain No. 3 is making his sixth appearance on the podcast.  He serves as the Director of NOAA's NWS Assistant Administrator for Weather Services.  He's significantly advanced weather operations in the United States through his extensive experience and pivotal roles he's previously played.  His career is distinguished by close collaboration with emergency managers.  Ken Graham, welcome to the show.
    Last but certainly not least, Guest WeatherBrain No. 4 is a legend in his own right.  He received his Degree in Meteorology from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1964.  He earned his Masters and PhD in Meteorology at Florida State University.  He served NOAA in a number of positions in his over four decades with the government agency in both research and operations including forecasting.  He retired from federal service in 2005.  He then served as a Senior Research Scientist in the Cooperative Institute for Research and Environmental Sciences until 2009.  His career began in Miami in the mid-60s as a hurricane specialist at the NHC.   Dr. Joe Golden, thanks for joining us tonight.
    Bruce Jones of Midland Weather Radio also is back to discuss the importance of NOAA Weather Radio and its timely warnings and information.  Also you can now get 25% off a NOAA Weather Radio at MidlandUSA.com by using PROMO CODE SPANN25.
    Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: email@weatherbrains.com.
    Where our Panelists were in 1974 during Super Outbreak (15:45) Soundings/CAPE/shear data prior to Super Outbreak (28:00) Changing perspectives from mid-70s to today concerning convective outlooks (30:45) Pattern recognition role in early meteorology evolution and it's impact felt today (37:15) How the Super Outbreak changed the National Weather Service (43:30) Role of satellite imagery in Super Outbreak (57:35) Experiences of emergency management and challenges of warning the public (01:07:00) Myths busted during event (01:17:45) Importance of ham radio during Super Outbreak (01:24:00) Development/origins of the Fujita scale (01:28:30) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (No segment this week) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (No segment this week) E-Mail Segment (No segment this week) and more! Web Sites from Episode 949:  
    AMS Weather Band
    Midland Radio
    Picks of the Week:
    Steve Corfidi - Teletype catalog on Ebay
    Bruce Jones - Out
    James Aydelott -

    • 2 hr
    WeatherBrains 948: Hopped Up On Cuban Coffee

    WeatherBrains 948: Hopped Up On Cuban Coffee

    Tonight on WeatherBrains is a skilled meteorologist currently working at The Weather Channel and has been there since 2022.  Previously she worked for Telemundo Oklahoma and Telemundo Utah.  She was born in Havana, Cuba and graduated with a degree in meteorology from the University of Havana.  Lorena Lim, welcome to WeatherBrains!
    Bruce Jones of Midland Weather Radio also is back to discuss the importance of NOAA Weather Radio and its timely warnings and information.  Also you can now get 25% off a NOAA Weather Radio at MidlandUSA.com by using PROMO CODE SPANN25.
    Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: email@weatherbrains.com.
    Challenges of studying meteorology in Cuba (12:00) Influential tropical weather while studying in Cuba (14:20) Weather radar networks in Cuba/Cuban Weather Service (19:30) The Weather Channel/resources and audience experiences (45:15) Distributing weather information and outreach to underserved communities (51:30) Battling confusion with different dialects on the air when giving public forecasts (01:04:30) Disaster subculture and translation (01:07:30) Upcoming eclipse in April (01:33:45) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:29:13) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:31:30) E-Mail Segment (No segment this week) and more! Web Sites from Episode 948:  
    Conexion con el Tiempo/TWC Espanol Youtube channel
    Lorena Lim on X
    AMS Weather Band
    Midland Radio
    Picks of the Week:
    Lorena Lim - Big Bear Bald Eagle Live Nest Cam
    Bruce Jones - Hurricane Seasonal Lager from Tradesman Brewing Company
    James Aydelott - James Aydelott on X: Classic example of sidelobe contamination of the velocity moment distracting from the *real* circulation and possible tornado threat
    Jen Narramore - Out
    Rick Smith - Out
    Neil Jacobs - Stumpy, D.C's favorite cherry tree, to be cut down this year
    Troy Kimmel - Southeast Severe Storms Symposium 2024
    Kim Klockow-McClain - Cherry Blossoms Are Blooming Early From Tokyo to Washington
    Bill Murray - AMS Weather Band Zoom: A Day That Changed Tornado Research - A Look Back at the 1974 Super Outbreak
    James Spann - Storm of the Month webinar announcement/US NWS Warning Decision Training Division
    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.

    • 1 hr 54 min
    WeatherBrains 947: The Old Part of Norman

    WeatherBrains 947: The Old Part of Norman

    Tonight on WeatherBrains is a very special guest.  He's a leading expert in severe weather research at the NSSL.  He's known for his work on tornadoes and severe weather climatology.  He brings a wealth of knowledge to the science and it's an honor to have you with us tonight.  Harold Brooks, welcome!  It's also Harold's birthday - Happy Birthday Harold!
    Bruce Jones of Midland Weather Radio also is back to discuss the importance of NOAA Weather Radio and its timely warnings and information.  Also you can now get 25% off a NOAA Weather Radio at MidlandUSA.com by using PROMO CODE SPANN25.
    Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: email@weatherbrains.com.
    Pandemic effect on math scores (14:15) German Scientist Hans Ertel and his contribution to meteorology in WW2-Era Germany (18:30) Ertel/Carl-Gustaf Rossby relationship after WW2 (28:00) Chaos in numerical weather prediction (33:40) Ertel and the European Center for Medium Range Weather Forecasts (46:45) Bridging generations in meteorology (01:12:00) Complexities/cascade of uncertainty in science (01:15:20) Integrating behavioral science with physical science (01:21:00) Dealing with the problem of manufactured housing and tornadoes/severe weather dangers (01:27:30) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (No segment this week) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:37:30) E-Mail Segment (01:47:25) and more! Web Sites from Episode 947:  
    AMS Weather Band
    Midland USA
    Harold Brooks on X
    Picks of the Week:
    Bruce Jones - March 13th, 1990 Hesston KS tornado
    James Aydelott - Colorado ranchers sentenced after tampering with rain gauges to increase crop subsidies

    Jen Narramore - NHC Tropical Cycle Report on Hurricane Otis (2023)
    Rick Smith - Out
    Neil Jacobs - Disappearing cities on US coasts
    Troy Kimmel - Foghorn
    Kim Klockow-McClain - Workshop on Weather Ready Nation:
    Science Imperatives for Severe Thunderstorm Research, Held 24-26 April, 2012 in Birmingham AL
    Bill Murray - Weatherwise Magazine New Edition
    James Spann - St. Elmos fire and lightning/plasma photo from pilot Joshua Cook
    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.

    • 1 hr 59 min

Customer Reviews

4.6 out of 5
151 Ratings

151 Ratings

Jaybird6925 ,

Can’t miss it

You have my rapt attention every Monday evening. I first started listing just because I was interested in tornadoes but I learn something new about weather every week. The discussions are fascinating to me, no matter who the guests are.I also appreciate your levelheaded insights and knowledge. I love the non-political, comfortable, easy and humorous conversation between the regulars. And James, I bought weather radios for my family for Christmas, even though we don’t live in the Plains or Deep South (Betsy Kling is my fave where I live). Enjoy all of you so much.

DavidCWatson1990 ,

Wonderful Podcast

I so thoroughly enjoy this podcast. I’m a truck driver and I also have a background in weather myself from the army and love listening to this as I’m traveling the states. I love all the interesting topics and funny antics that make me laugh along the way. I hope this podcast can last forever! -David W.

It awsomer ,

Great podcast

Makes me feel normal for being a weather nerd. Great guests, great hosts. The honorable James Spann with a cast ranging from Bill Murray (no not that one), Nate, and Aubrey. Guests including storm chasers, NWS employees both past and present, and those who were directly involved in the storm. I can’t recommend this enough! It’s a great watch and listen.

Ps. Can Bill’s random hotel background be a cast member officially

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