WeatherBrains

This week's WeatherBrains episode examines the July 2025 Texas flooding disaster.   Our Guest WeatherBrain tonight is the Chief Meteorologist of KABB-TV Fox News At Nine in San Antonio, Texas.  He is a multi-disciplined individual with professional experience as an educator and broadcaster. He holds several degrees and certifications, including a B.S. in Education, a Master's in Education with Certification as an Educational Administrator, and of course, he's a Broadcast Meteorologist.  He has received the AMS Seal of Approval and has been the recipient of six Associated Press Awards for Best Weathercast. He is a member of the American Meteorological Society, National Weather Association, and the Knights of Columbus.  Alex Garcia, thanks for joining us tonight! Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected]. Recollections from KABB-TV leading up to Texas flood tragedy (11:30) Wording of originally issued Flash Flood Watch prior to event (17:30) Why doesn't the public immediately react to weather watches?  (20:00) Mentality of the threat of flash flooding vs other types of severe weather (25:00) Improving the clarity of the call to action in response to inland flooding events (30:00) Flood Inundation Mapping (36:00) The half-life of awareness in the wake of tragedies like 2025 Texas Flood event (49:00) With no Independent Review, how can you improve?  (52:00) Role of weather radio in modern warning process (55:00) National Weather Service app in the future?  (55:30) Severe Thunderstorm Definition/Warnings that do not verify and the resulting public inaction (01:02:00) What is NWS definition of a Flash Flood? (01:02:30) Confusion from Areal Flood Advisories (01:05:30) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:14:00) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:15:30) E-Mail Segment (01:16:30) Sneak peak at future WeatherBrains episodes! (01:26:00) and more! Web Sites from Episode 1068:   Alex Garcia Weather on X Alabama Weather Network Picks of the Week: Alex Garcia - NTWC James Aydelott - Westheimer Airport in Norman measures 92mph wind gust Jen Narramore - Chinese Wedge tornado Rick Smith - Out Troy Kimmel - Funnel cloud spotted in Interior Alaska on July Fourth Troy Kimmel - Meteorological Overview of the July 2025 Texas Floods Kim Klockow-McClain - Review of the National Weather Service's Actions to Support Kerr County During the Catastrophic Flash Flood in Texas John Gordon - June 29th Significant Wind Event Bill Murray - Out James Spann - National Weather Service faces hurricane season with less experienced staff, missing data 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 WeatherBrains episode turns back to the clock to June 8th, 1966 and the Topeka, KS F5 tornado. Our Guest WeatherBrain on tonight's show is the Warning Coordination Meteorologist (WCM) for the NWS in Topeka KS.  With over three decades of experience in the field, he's been at the NWS for over 17 years.  As a Wisconsin native, he earned his degree in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences from the University of Wisconsin.  He's committed to improving public awareness, preparedness, and response by integrating social science research into the NWS products and services.  Chad Omitt, welcome to WeatherBrains!  Our next Guest WeatherBrain is the local history librarian at the Topeka and Shawnee County public library.   She holds a B.A. in forensic anthropology and history from Wichita State University.  She's a speaker with the Humanities Kansas Speakers Bureau and gives educational programs about life in Kansas during the Dust Bowl.  Katie Keckeisen, welcome to WeatherBrains! Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected]. June 2026 Kentucky flooding (01:00) Katie's early background in Kansas (07:00) June 8th, 1966 meteorological setup (10:45) Meteorological equipment used during during the 1960s (21:00) Visual photos of daytime Topeka tornado (26:30) Bill Kurtis and his role at WIBW-TV during the tornado (28:30) Save room on the volume knob for a "10"!  (37:00) Topeka's Burnett's Mound:  A historical deepdive (37:30) Kansas Governor's response after tornado (44:00) Damage photos from tornadoes and the resulting changes to Topeka (49:30) Topeka tornado was one of the first utilizations of civil defense outdoor warning system (01:00:00) 1955 Udall KS tornado (01:00:30) Tornado subculture in the 1960s (01:07:30) Lessons learned from this event from 60 years ago (01:19:30) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:26:00) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (No segment this week) E-Mail Segment (01:28:00) Sneak peak at future WeatherBrains episodes! (01:31:00) and more! Web Sites from Episode 1067:   Humanities Kansas Speakers Bureau "And Hell Followed With It: Life and Death in a Kansas Tornado" by Bonar Menninger Alabama Weather Network Picks of the Week: Katie Keckeisen - Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library Chad Omitt - OTUS Project James Aydelott - "History of Operational Use of Weather Radar by U.S. Weather Services. Part I: The Pre-NEXRAD Era" Jen Narramore - Tornado Talk Podcast Episode 7: The 1966 Topeka Tornado Rick Smith - Out Troy Kimmel - Out Kim Klockow-McClain - Foghorn John Gordon - Collin Gross on X: Europe's historic heatwave continues Bill Murray - Out James Spann - James Spann on X: Big Sky Montana snow photos 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 WeatherBrains episode is a home-grown show all about storm chasing:  The Good, The Bad, The Ugly. Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected]. Waning interest in storm chasing (04:00) Holding it while dealing with long-form severe weather coverage (10:00) Current state of storm chasing in 2026 (16:00) Importance of enforcing traffic laws when dealing with a saturated chaser community (27:30) Oklahoma traffic laws concerning emergency lights (31:30) Liability insurance requirements for those who continue to storm chase? (36:00) NOAA's OPG (Operations Proving Ground) (49:30) What is the purpose of a service assessment?  (59:30) State of Connecticut doesn't need 3 WFOs! (01:02:00) Importance of interacting directly with the people we serve in the field of weather to mitigate loss of life (01:10:00) Discriminating between weaknesses and strengths in the warning process (01:21:30) Effectively utilizing user generated content during long-form severe weather coverage (01:23:30) Private Slack chat session with trusted weather professionals to weed out AI/fake images (01:28:00) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (No segment this week - stay tuned!) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:29:30) E-Mail Segment (01:30:30) Sneak peak at future WeatherBrains episodes! (01:41:00) and more! Web Sites from Episode 1066:   Alabama Weather Network Picks of the Week: James Aydelott - Illinois: More tornadoes than Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, and Texas combined, year to date. (225 vs 191) Jen Narramore - Tennessee Valley Weather on X: "Tennessee Valley Weather Adds Weather Balloon Launch Capability to Strengthen Severe Weather Forecasting" Rick Smith - Facts About Derechos Troy Kimmel - IEM Generated Regional Temperature and Precipitation Report Kim Klockow-McClain - Foghorn John Gordon - Dave Throup on X: Shelf Cloud pic at Glastonbury Tor Bill Murray - Out James Spann - SkyeCalm Storm Anxiety App 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.

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.