WeatherBrains

• WeatherBrains 1026: Together Is The Best Way

  Our Guest WeatherBrain for this week’s episode is Melissa Marcelloni, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Brownsville, Texas.  Melissa has worked a variety of high-impact events, including hurricanes, microbursts, and flooding, and she’s also an experienced storm chaser. Before joining the NWS, she served as a catastrophe claim specialist, giving her a unique perspective on the intersection of meteorology, disaster impacts, and community recovery.  Melissa, welcome to WeatherBrains! Tonight’s Guest Panelist is Chris White — a proud Virginia Tech alumnus and a retired federal government meteorologist. He’s well-known in the weather community as a storm chaser for @WDBJ7Weather and @MLseverewxcon, where he also serves as founder and coordinator. In addition, Chris is a dedicated weather blogger, sharing his passion for severe weather with the public and the storm chasing community.  Chris, thanks for joining us tonight. Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected]. Hot air balloons and meteorology (16:00) Melissa's educational journey (18:00) Diversification is key (21:30) Melissa's transition from working in insurance into the NWS (24:00) Defining core partners in the aftermath of major weather disasters (31:00) Historical hurricanes (34:30) Outreach efforts to the community in order to help them prepare for major weather events (36:30) Toughest weather to forecast in south Texas/Airmass thunderstorms (41:00) Issues with microbursts in south Texas (43:30) Challenges with rip current risk, and what those in the community should/shouldn't do to mitigate risk (49:00) Storm chasing experiences and notable storms (51:30) Frustrating storm chasing days (01:05:00) National Storm Chasers Summit (01:08:00) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:14:20) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:17:15) E-Mail Segment (01:18:15) and more! Web Sites from Episode 1026: Alabama Weather Network Chris White on X Melissa Marcelloni on Instagram Picks of the Week: Melissa Marcelloni - Tornadoes destroy multiple homes in Utah Chris White - Sterling, VA September 17th, 2004 tornadoes James Aydelott - An incredible tornado intercept in Caragabal, NSW, Australia Jen Narramore - Aaron Rigsby on X: Tornado video in Dakotas Rick Smith - Out Troy Kimmel - Helene in Southern Appalachia story map Kim Klockow-McClain - Foghorn John Gordon - Mark Gray on X: Saturday splashes at sunset in Bonavista NL John Gordon - Gord Follett Photography on X: Unique coastline photo near Madrock Bay Roberts Newfoundland Bill Murray - Foghorn James Spann - PolarWx 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.  

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• WeatherBrains 1025: Back Of A Caged Patrol Car

  Tonight's show comes to you from the 2025 NWA Annual Meeting in Huntsville at the Von Braun Civic Center. Janice Bunting is the Executive Director of the NWA stops by first to talk to the panel.  She's pulled off an amazing event this year under trying circumstances.  Throughout the evening, other notable leaders in the weather industry will also stop by to chat with our panel about this year’s meeting — sharing their insights, highlights, and what it all means for the future of meteorology. Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected]. Bob Baron and other sponsors of the Annual Meeting (04:20) Roadmap for the NWA going forward (07:30) Louis Uccellini talks about the initial NWA in the early days of the organization (27:00) Force multiplier nature of social media (45:00) Panel discussion with industry's leading digital meteorologists (59:00) Hand-drawn animations for the conference (01:06:00) Goals for the upcoming year in NWA (01:10:00) Cooperation with AMS (01:14:00) Nate Johnson discusses student support within the organization (01:26:00) Nate's IWT (Integrated Warning Team) takeaways (01:30:30) Dr. Chuck Graves stops by to chat with the panel (01:48:00) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:54:55) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:57:05) E-Mail Segment (No segment this week - STAY TUNED!) and more! Web Sites from Episode 1025: Alabama Weather Network Picks of the Week: James Aydelott - James Aydelott photographed in back of patrol car Jen Narramore - Foghorn Rick Smith - Out Troy Kimmel - Foghorn Kim Klockow-McClain - Foghorn John Gordon - A New Spin On Waterspout Forecasting (Published August 2014) John Gordon - A Waterspout Forecasting Technique Bill Murray - Foghorn James Spann - FCC Proposes Modernization of the Nation's Alerting Systems 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.

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• WeatherBrains 1024: Tokin' On A Number

  Tonight's Guest WeatherBrain is a meteorologist, climatologist, instructor, and now author.  She has a brand new book just released titled "Wilder Weather:  What Laura Ingalls Wilder Teaches Us About Weather, Climate, And Protecting What We Cherish".  In her book, she digs deep into Wilder's depictions of weather events and helps readers connect past weather to present weather.  She's worked at NOAA for over 23 years.  Dr. Barbara Boustead, it's great to have you on the show! Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected]. Introduction to Laura Ingalls Wilder and he r background (13:00) Entire Little House on the Prairie series (14:45) Analyzing 1880s weather records in Dakota Territory (19:00) Laurapalooza Conference (21:45) Weather in Wilder's other works (24:15) Further examples of Wilder's writings about weather events (34:30) Today's different climate from the era of authors like Charles Dickens (44:00) Climate is the past, present, and future (50:00) Encouraging teachers to use "Wilder Weather" in lesson plans (58:30) Weather folklore (01:00:00) Where can you order "Wilder Weather"?  (01:10:00) Tips for aspiring authors (01:24:00) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:11:20) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:12:50) E-Mail Segment (01:14:05) and more! Web Sites from Episode 1024: Alabama Weather Network Wilder Weather "Wilder Weather: What Laura Ingalls Wilder Teaches Us About the Weather, Climate, and Protecting What We Cherish" by Dr. Barbara Boustead Picks of the Week: Dr. Barbara Boustead - "The Beautiful Snow" by Cindy Wilson James Aydelott - Meteogram for Camargo, OK/90+mph winds Jen Narramore - Merry violent phenomenon in Morbihan on 2 September Rick Smith - Here's one of the first photos of a tornado ever Troy Kimmel - Out Kim Klockow-McClain - NWA 50th Annual Meeting in Huntsville, AL John Gordon - ATR-72 nearly flipped over from 99 mph winds in Corsica John Gordon - Reagan's near-death experience in 1983 Bill Murray - "The Weather Gods Curse the Gettysburg Campaign" by Jon M. Nese and Jeffrey Harding James Spann - Sandblasted to Death: 1935 Labor Day Hurricane 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.

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• WeatherBrains 1023B: Me And 8 Million Bags

  WeatherBrains Episode 1023B is a deep dive into 2005's Hurricane Katrina.  It's hard to believe, but the tragedy is approaching its 20th anniversary. Tonight's Guest WeatherBrain for this somber episode is the Curator of the Ground Zero Museum in Waveland, Mississippi.  She's a retired RN and was a former Nurse Administrator in New Orleans, LA.  Bernie Cullen, thanks for joining us. Guest Panelist and show veteran Mark Sudduth "The Hurricane Tracker" joins the panel's discussion by looking back at such a significant historical event, the technological challenges of twenty years ago, and looking ahead to the future.  He's a well known storm chaser and weather documentarian.  Thanks for your valuable insight on tonight's episode, Mark! Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected]. Robert Ricks and his pre-landfall Katrina doomsday forecast (04:00) Tropical Storm Katrina forms on August 23rd, 2005 (08:30) 2005 tech available to hurricane chasers vs today (08:45) Katrina's Fort Lauderdale, Florida landfall (11:00) Early Katrina prep in New Orleans (17:00) 1992's Hurricane Andrew and it's forgotten second landfall in Louisiana (29:30) Lack of accurate storm surge forecasting 20 years ago (40:00) Parallels with 1969's Hurricane Camille and its change of forecasted landfall point (53:00) Katrina vs Camille wind fields (58:30) Ground Zero Museum - contents, purpose and history (01:20:00) More TikTok nonsense (01:47:30) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:48:50) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:50:35) E-Mail Segment (No segment this week - stay tuned!) and more! Web Sites from Episode 1023B: Waveland's Ground Zero Museum Alabama Weather Network Picks of the Week: James Aydelott - Ray Caldwell, pitching for Cleveland Indians, struck by lightning on pitchers mound - 1919 Jen Narramore - Alabama Weather Network Daily Briefing! Rick Smith - Out Troy Kimmel - Foghorn Kim Klockow-McClain - "Children of Katrina (The Katrina Bookshelf)" by Alice Fothergill and Lori Peek John Gordon - Michelle Cowbourne on X Bill Murray - Katrina: South Mississippi's Story (Full Documentary on YouTube) James Spann - Robert Ricks - On The Ground During Katrina (YouTube) 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.

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• WeatherBrains 1023A: NWA 2025 Preview

  WeatherBrains Episode 1023A is a preview of the upcoming 2025 NWA Annual Meeting in Huntsville, AL.  The meeting is only two weeks away from the date of recording (August 25th, 2025). Show veteran Kevin Laws joins us to dive into the upcoming NWA Annual Meeting in Huntsville.  He currently serves as the SOO (Science and Operations Officer) of the Birmingham, AL NWS office.  Kevin, it's great to see you again. David from the Texas Storm Chasers also drops in to chat with the panel about what to expect at the meeting. Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected]. Tropics remain quiet (02:45) Starting the dialogue of a changing business model (07:55) Baby steps toward progress in the field starting over 15 years ago (11:00) Gatekeeping and resentment among various sectors in meteorology (12:00) Objectives of the upcoming Annual Meeting (23:00) The outdated concept of TV market boundaries (36:00) NWA registration procedures (44:00) How do we define expertise in 2025?  (48:30) What will the broadcast transition look like moving forward?  (50:45) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (No segment for this episode) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (No segment for this episode) E-Mail Segment (No segment for this episode) and more! Web Sites from Episode 1023A: 2025 NWA Annual Meeting September 6-10th, 2025 Huntsville AL Alabama Weather Network Alabama Weather Network on Facebook Picks of the Week: James Aydelott - Cool noon temperatures in Oklahoma Jen Narramore - Out Rick Smith - The OCS/Mesonet Ticker Troy Kimmel - Foghorn Kim Klockow-McClain - Foghorn John Gordon - Out Bill Murray - Out James Spann - Foghorn 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.

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