WeatherBrains

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.

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.