WeatherBrains

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.

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.

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.

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 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.