Weather With Enthusiasm !

By Simcha Lefton

Weather with Enthusiasm is a podcast about weather, atmospheric extremes, and climate (including little ice age) created by Simcha Lefton, a weather enthusiast. Although at times Simcha is refer... more

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FAQs about Weather With Enthusiasm !:

How many episodes does Weather With Enthusiasm ! have?

The podcast currently has 1,101 episodes available.

Weather With Enthusiasm ! episodes:

May 31, 2026 Weather with Enthusiasm — Haiphong Typhoon of 1881
Today's episode explores: Haiphong Typhoon of 1881.

Haiphong and the Gulf of Tonkin, northern Vietnam | October 8, 1881

A powerful typhoon struck the Gulf of Tonkin and the city of Haiphong — then a major port in French Cochinchine — on October 8, 1881, driving a catastrophic storm surge into the city and surrounding delta. Colonial administrators recorded approximately 3,000 fatalities in Haiphong itself, representing roughly one-third of the city's entire population — an extraordinary mortality rate indicating near-total destruction of exposed areas. Some 20,000 vessels were reportedly destroyed in the port. A widespread historical error confused $300,000 in documented economic damages with 300,000 deaths, inflating the claimed death toll by a factor of 100 in global disaster statistics for over a century; modern meteorological and historical research has corrected the figure while confirming that the destruction of the city was nonetheless catastrophic. The storm is recognized by Encyclopaedia Britannica for its extensive coastal devastation.

⏱️ TIMESTAMP BREAKDOWN
[00:00] Introduction & event overview
[00:30] Setting the scene — Haiphong and the Gulf of Tonkin, northern Vietnam, October 8, 1881
[00:32] Historical and meteorological context
[01:02] The full account — what happened and why
[01:47] Human impact and documented consequences
[02:19] What this event changed about history
[02:41] What we can learn from it today
[02:39] Closing reflection

#WeatherWithEnthusiasm #HistoricalWeather #ExtremeWeather #WeatherPodcast #ClimateHistory #NaturalDisaster #WeatherHistory #MeteorologyPodcast #StormHistory #ClimateScience #HistoryPodcast #SciencePodcast #WeatherEvents #AtmosphericScience #DisasterHistory #LearnSomethingNew #WeatherNerd #HistoricStorms #ClimateAndHistory #KnowledgeIsPower

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weather-with-enthusiasm--4911017/support.

Weather with Enthusiasm is produced by Kol Simcha Productions.
New episodes drop daily — a morning forecast at 9 AM and a historical weather deep-dive at 3 PM.
Contact: [email protected]

Historical content is thoroughly researched and factually verified. Should you find any mistakes, please email [email protected] so we can look into it and correct it as quickly as possible.

Not affiliated with any government agency or academic institution. Presented for educational and entertainment purposes — with meaning.

Support the show — exclusive bonus episodes available to subscribers for just $2/month at spreaker.com/organization/kol-simcha
...more
3min
May 31, 2026 Weather with Enthusiasm — Morning Forecast: Sunday, May 31, 2026
Your daily synoptic weather briefing for Highland Park and the greater Chicago metro area.

Today: Clear skies turning mostly cloudy. High 73°F. NWS synoptic analysis included.

Data sources: National Weather Service API (public domain) and Open-Meteo. All analysis is original.

⏱️ TIMESTAMP BREAKDOWN
[00:00] Current conditions — temperature, humidity, wind, pressure
[00:45] Today full forecast and precipitation outlook
[01:30] NWS synoptic pattern analysis — what is driving our weather
[02:15] Atmospheric instability and convective potential
[03:00] 3-day extended outlook
[03:45] Data sources and closing

#WeatherWithEnthusiasm #ChicagoWeather #HighlandPark #MorningForecast #WeatherPodcast #NWS #Meteorology #DailyWeather #GreatLakesWeather #IllinoisWeather #SynopticWeather #AtmosphericScience #WeatherNerd #ForecastDiscussion #LocalWeather #ClimateScience #WeatherUpdate #MorningWeather #ChicagoMetro #WeatherAndScience

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weather-with-enthusiasm--4911017/support.

Weather with Enthusiasm is produced by Kol Simcha Productions.
New episodes drop daily — a morning forecast at 9 AM and a historical weather deep-dive at 3 PM.
Contact: [email protected]

Historical content is thoroughly researched and factually verified. Should you find any mistakes, please email [email protected] so we can look into it and correct it as quickly as possible.

Not affiliated with any government agency or academic institution. Presented for educational and entertainment purposes — with meaning.

Support the show — exclusive bonus episodes available to subscribers for just $2/month at spreaker.com/organization/kol-simcha
...more
3min
May 31, 2026 Weather with Enthusiasm — Dust Bowl Drought and the Dirty Thirties
Today's episode explores: Dust Bowl Drought and the Dirty Thirties.

Great Plains, United States (Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico panhandles) | 1930–1936

A catastrophic combination of severe multi-year drought and the aggressive deep-plowing of native grasslands produced the Dust Bowl, one of the worst sustained environmental disasters in North American history. The drought and wind erosion affected approximately 100 million acres across the southern Plains; by 1936, losses reached an estimated $25 million per day (approximately $580 million in 2025 dollars). Enormous 'black blizzard' dust storms buried farmsteads and sometimes reached as far east as Washington, D.C.; an estimated 7,000 people died from 'dust pneumonia.' More than 500,000 Americans were left homeless, and tens of thousands of 'Okie' families abandoned their farms and migrated to California. The 1936 North American heat wave — the peak extreme summer of the Dust Bowl era — caused approximately 5,000 additional heat-related deaths across the United States and Canada.

⏱️ TIMESTAMP BREAKDOWN
[00:00] Introduction & event overview
[00:30] Setting the scene — Great Plains, United States (Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico panhandles), 1930–1936
[00:01] Historical and meteorological context
[00:03] The full account — what happened and why
[00:06] Human impact and documented consequences
[00:07] What this event changed about history
[00:09] What we can learn from it today
[00:00] Closing reflection

#WeatherWithEnthusiasm #HistoricalWeather #ExtremeWeather #WeatherPodcast #ClimateHistory #NaturalDisaster #WeatherHistory #MeteorologyPodcast #StormHistory #ClimateScience #HistoryPodcast #SciencePodcast #WeatherEvents #AtmosphericScience #DisasterHistory #LearnSomethingNew #WeatherNerd #HistoricStorms #ClimateAndHistory #KnowledgeIsPower

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weather-with-enthusiasm--4911017/support.

Weather with Enthusiasm is produced by Kol Simcha Productions.
New episodes drop daily — a morning forecast at 9 AM and a historical weather deep-dive at 3 PM.
Contact: [email protected]

Historical content is thoroughly researched and factually verified. Should you find any mistakes, please email [email protected] so we can look into it and correct it as quickly as possible.

Not affiliated with any government agency or academic institution. Presented for educational and entertainment purposes — with meaning.

Support the show — exclusive bonus episodes available to subscribers for just $2/month at spreaker.com/organization/kol-simcha
...more
1min
May 31, 2026 The Black Death & The Weather That Made It Possible
What if the deadliest pandemic in human history was partly triggered by a volcanic eruption no one knew about?

In this bonus episode, we trace the climate chain that led from an unidentified tropical volcano in 1345 to crop failures across Europe, desperate grain traders sailing into plague territory, and ultimately the Black Death — which killed 40 to 60 percent of Europe's population between 1347 and 1353.

All facts in this episode are drawn from peer-reviewed research, including a December 2025 study published in Communications Earth & Environment.

⏱️ TIMESTAMP BREAKDOWN
[00:00] Introduction — Weather and the deadliest pandemic in history
[00:45] What most people know about the Black Death
[01:30] The climate connection most people don't know
[02:15] The Medieval Warm Period ends — and the Little Ice Age begins
[03:00] The Great Famine of 1315–1317 — heavy rains, rotting crops, millions dead
[04:00] Tree ring and ice core evidence — three cold, wet summers before the plague
[05:00] Medieval physicians record the abnormal weather in 1348
[05:30] The volcanic cooling of 1345 and the grain trade chain reaction
[06:15] Central Asian rodent boom and collapse — how the bacterium reached Europe
[07:00] The full chain from volcano to plague — what the research shows
[07:25] Closing reflection

#WeatherWithEnthusiasm #BlackDeath #ClimateHistory #Plague #MedievalWeather #LittleIceAge #YersiniaPestis #HistoricalWeather #VolcanicWinter #ClimateScience #PodcastHistory #WeatherPodcast #ExtremWeather #MedievalHistory #ClimateAndDisease #HistoryPodcast #SciencePodcast #NaturalDisaster #GreatFamine #WeatherAndHistory

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weather-with-enthusiasm--4911017/support.

Weather with Enthusiasm is produced by Kol Simcha Productions.
New episodes drop daily — a morning forecast at 9 AM and a historical weather deep-dive at 3 PM.
Contact: [email protected]

Historical content is thoroughly researched and factually verified. Should you find any mistakes, please email [email protected] so we can look into it and correct it as quickly as possible.

Not affiliated with any government agency or academic institution. Presented for educational and entertainment purposes — with meaning.

Support the show — exclusive bonus episodes available to subscribers for just $2/month at spreaker.com/organization/kol-simcha
...more
8min
May 31, 2026 Weather with Enthusiasm — Sunday, May 31, 2026
Your daily Chicago-area weather update with Simcha Lefton. Recorded Sunday, May 31, 2026.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weather-with-enthusiasm--4911017/support.

Weather with Enthusiasm is produced by Kol Simcha Productions.
New episodes drop daily — a morning forecast at 9 AM and a historical weather deep-dive at 3 PM.
Contact: [email protected]

Historical content is thoroughly researched and factually verified. Should you find any mistakes, please email [email protected] so we can look into it and correct it as quickly as possible.

Not affiliated with any government agency or academic institution. Presented for educational and entertainment purposes — with meaning.

Support the show — exclusive bonus episodes available to subscribers for just $2/month at spreaker.com/organization/kol-simcha
...more
1min
May 30, 2026Chaplaincy at End : Europe's 1473 Megadrought followed by some benefits of a quality hospice chaplain (Not AI at end)
Europe's 1473 Megadrought followed by some benefits of a quality hospice chaplain.
00:07 The Unprecedented Heat of 1473
01:10 Europe Emerges from the Little Ice Age: A Shifting Climate
02:16 1473: More Severe Than the Millennium Drought?
03:23 The Slow Building Catastrophe: 1471-1472
04:27 The Anomalous Winter and Spring of 1473
05:28 Extreme Phenological Shifts and Failed Harvests
06:31 Europe's Rivers Vanish: The Drying of a Continent
07:42 Apocalyptic Fires and Widespread Death
08:47 A Winter That Never Came and its Deadly Consequences
09:49 Scapegoating, Famine, and the End of the Drought
10:51 1473's Legacy: The Longest Warm Period Until Now
11:54 The Science Behind the Anomaly: Feedback Loops and Megadroughts
12:54 1473 vs. 1540: Redefining Europe's Worst Heatwave
13:56 The Little Ice Age Anomaly and Modern Implications
15:00 The Past as a Mirror: Lessons for Today
16:44 Simcha Left's Commentary: Heat Domes, Energy, and Chaplaincy
18:56 The Connection Between Weather, Chaplaincy, and Spiritual Care
21:00 The Power of Multicultural Chaplaincy and Hospice Work
23:08 The Benefits of Quality Chaplaincy in Healthcare
25:14 Music Credits and Concluding Remarks
Hashtags: #1473Heatwave #ClimateHistory #EuropeanDrought #LittleIceAge #WeatherChronicles #Megadrought #HistoricalClimate #ExtremeWeather #EnvironmentalHistory #HeatDome #ClimateAnomaly #RiverRhine #MedievalEurope #ForgottenHistory #Phenology #ClimateScience #PastAsMirror #WeatherEnthusiasm #Chaplaincy #SpiritualCare

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weather-with-enthusiasm--4911017/support.

Weather with Enthusiasm is produced by Kol Simcha Productions.
New episodes drop daily — a morning forecast at 9 AM and a historical weather deep-dive at 3 PM.
Contact: [email protected]

Historical content is thoroughly researched and factually verified. Should you find any mistakes, please email [email protected] so we can look into it and correct it as quickly as possible.

Not affiliated with any government agency or academic institution. Presented for educational and entertainment purposes — with meaning.

Support the show — exclusive bonus episodes available to subscribers for just $2/month at spreaker.com/organization/kol-simcha

This episode includes AI-generated content.
...more
29min
May 29, 2026Your Guide to Extreme Heat Safety (from June 2023)
Your Guide to Extreme Heat Safety

Timestamp Breakdown:
00:04 Introduction to heat safety and episode overview.
01:10 Defining Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) and its significance.
02:12 WBGT categories and recommended breaks for working/exercising in direct sunlight.
03:15 Further WBGT categories and their associated break recommendations.
03:40 Addressing heat safety for athletes, particularly in regions with high WBGT.
04:18 Current WBGT readings in various US cities.
04:54 Activity recommendations for athletes based on WBGT levels (under 80 to 84).
06:25 Activity recommendations for athletes based on WBGT levels (85 to 88).
07:28 Specific advice for athletes in Dallas with high WBGT, including cold immersion pools.
08:30 Suspending practice at 90+ WBGT and regional variations in guidelines.
09:37 Regional threat levels for WBGT, focusing on Region 3 (hot cities).
10:41 Summary of athlete recommendations up to 90 WBGT.
10:58 National Weather Service "HEAT" acronym tips (Hydrate, Educate, Act, Take it easy).
12:09 When to seek medical attention for heat-related illnesses.
12:34 Introduction to detailed discussion of heat stroke and other illnesses.
12:51 Signs and immediate actions for heat stroke, heat cramps, and heat exhaustion.
13:50 Additional heat-related illnesses from the CDC (sunburn, heat rash).
14:10 Preventative measures: sunscreen, not leaving children in cars, avoiding hot meals.
14:50 Hydration tips: avoiding sugary/alcoholic/very cold drinks, replacing salts.
15:30 Quick recap of symptoms for heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and heat cramps.
16:09 Symptoms of sunburn and heat rash.
16:20 What to do for heat rash, sunburn, and heat cramps.
17:09 What to do for heat exhaustion and heat stroke (including the crucial "do not give drinks" for stroke).
20 Hashtags: #HeatSafety #WetBulbTemperature #HeatStroke #HeatExhaustion #AthleteSafety #SummerHeat #ExtremeWeather #NationalWeatherService #CDC #Hydration #StayCool #Sunburn #HeatRash #FirstAid #PublicHealth #OutdoorSafety #HeatAdvisory #WarningSigns #SportsSafety #HotWeatherTips

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weather-with-enthusiasm--4911017/support.

Weather with Enthusiasm is produced by Kol Simcha Productions.
New episodes drop daily — a morning forecast at 9 AM and a historical weather deep-dive at 3 PM.
Contact: [email protected]

Historical content is thoroughly researched and factually verified. Should you find any mistakes, please email [email protected] so we can look into it and correct it as quickly as possible.

Not affiliated with any government agency or academic institution. Presented for educational and entertainment purposes — with meaning.

Support the show — exclusive bonus episodes available to subscribers for just $2/month at spreaker.com/organization/kol-simcha
...more
18min
May 27, 2026Title: Double the Drama: Walk-Off Wonders! Jack & Joe Buck
Title: Double the Drama: Walk-Off Wonders!

Jack and Joe Buck make the call. 1991 and then the most exciting game of all baseball game 6 2011 with the St Louis Cardinals.

We end off with a short clip on a forecasted major heat dome expected to develop over the St Louis area around June 7th according to the European computer model 2026

This audio snippet captures two distinct, thrilling walk-off calls from baseball games, highlighting the dramatic final moments that lead to victory.

Call 1 (0:02):
Player: Mitchell
Outcome: Game-winning hit
Location: Deep left-center
Announcer's line: "And we'll see you tomorrow night." (Implying the game is over and the home team won, with another game scheduled.)
Impact: Immediate victory, high energy.
Call 2 (0:33):
Player: Freeze
Outcome: Game-winning hit
Location: In the air to center
Announcer's line: "We will see you tomorrow night." (Identical phrase, reinforcing the walk-off nature.)
Impact: Another decisive, dramatic win.
Key Themes:
Walk-off victories: The ultimate end to a baseball game, where the home team scores the winning run in the final half-inning.
Announcer's iconic call: "We'll see you tomorrow night" is a classic phrase used by announcers to signify a walk-off win, particularly for radio or TV broadcasts wrapping up for the evening.
Momentum swing: These plays instantly shift the mood from tension to jubilation.
Player heroism: Both Mitchell and Freeze become instant heroes for their respective teams.
Summary: The audio presents a fascinating juxtaposition of two similar, yet separate, walk-off moments, underscored by the powerful and conclusive phrase, "We will see you tomorrow night." Both calls convey the sheer excitement and finality of such a victory.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weather-with-enthusiasm--4911017/support.

Weather with Enthusiasm is produced by Kol Simcha Productions.
New episodes drop daily — a morning forecast at 9 AM and a historical weather deep-dive at 3 PM.
Contact: [email protected]

Historical content is thoroughly researched and factually verified. Should you find any mistakes, please email [email protected] so we can look into it and correct it as quickly as possible.

Not affiliated with any government agency or academic institution. Presented for educational and entertainment purposes — with meaning.

Support the show — exclusive bonus episodes available to subscribers for just $2/month at spreaker.com/organization/kol-simcha
...more
3min
May 24, 2026 West Rogers Park vs. O’Hare Model Comparison 5-24-26

West Rogers Park vs. O’Hare Model Comparison

Episode title West Rogers Park vs. O’Hare: Computer Model Weather Comparison

Short description An audio model-comparison episode based on the attached Windy and NOAA screenshots from early Sunday, May 24, 2026.

The episode compares West Rogers Park/West Ridge with O’Hare Airport using ECMWF, ICON, Meteoblue, NAM, HRRR, and HRDPS guidance, with emphasis on Sunday morning rain, lake-influenced temperatures, fog/low clouds, and the warmer inland recovery at O’Hare. Timestamp breakdown ·

00:00 - Opening: model comparison for West Rogers Park, West Ridge, and O’Hare ·

00:20 - Main question: what the computer models show locally ·

00:38 - Headline: Sunday morning wet period, then improvement ·

   01:00 - Local-detail setup: lake influence versus inland warming ·

01:22 - West Rogers Park/West Ridge: cooler NOAA-style signal ·

    01:50 - O’Hare: warmer inland profile and afternoon recovery ·

02:12 - O’Hare ECMWF: rainy morning, then upper-70s recovery ·

02:42 - O’Hare ICON and Meteoblue: lighter rain but same timing idea ·

03:05 - O’Hare NAM: stronger morning rain signal ·

     03:21 - West Ridge model comparison begins ·

    03:42 - West Ridge ECMWF and ICON: morning showers, cooler afternoon ·

04:12 - West Ridge Meteoblue: lighter winds, fog/low-cloud concern ·

       04:34 - NAM, HRDPS, and HRRR: timing agreement but rainfall spread ·

   04:58 - Practical forecast for West Rogers Park and West Ridge ·

   05:22 - Practical forecast for O’Hare ·

05:42 - Memorial Day and Tuesday: cleaner, warmer model agreement ·

   06:00 - Midweek uncertainty and bottom line Cover captions used ·        MODEL COMPARISON ·        West Rogers Park vs. O’Hare ·        Computer models ·        ECMWF • ICON • NAM • HRRR • HRDPS • Meteoblue ·        West Ridge / West Rogers Park: Cooler lake influence • fog/low clouds possible ·        O’Hare Airport: Warmer inland recovery • upper 70s Sunday possible ·        Sunday morning window: Showers and embedded thunder favored early · Hashtags #WestRogersPark #WestRidge #OHare #ChicagoWeather #WeatherModels #WindyApp #ECMWF #ICONModel #NAMModel #HRRR #HRDPS #Meteoblue #LakeMichigan #LakeBreeze #WeatherPodcast #ChicagoNorthSide #AviationWeather #RainForecast #ThunderstormChance #Meteorology

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weather-with-enthusiasm--4911017/support.

Weather with Enthusiasm is produced by Kol Simcha Productions.
New episodes drop daily — a morning forecast at 9 AM and a historical weather deep-dive at 3 PM.
Contact: [email protected]

Historical content is thoroughly researched and factually verified. Should you find any mistakes, please email [email protected] so we can look into it and correct it as quickly as possible.

Not affiliated with any government agency or academic institution. Presented for educational and entertainment purposes — with meaning.

Support the show — exclusive bonus episodes available to subscribers for just $2/month at spreaker.com/organization/kol-simcha
...more
7min
May 24, 2026 National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville Area Forecast Discussion audio episode for Sunday, May 24, 2026. (3)

National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville Area Forecast Discussion audio episode for
Sunday, May 24, 2026.
Chicago Weather Briefing: Heavy Rain Risk Near and East of I-55
An audio briefing of the NWS Chicago/Romeoville forecast discussion, covering early-
morning showers and embedded thunderstorms, locally heavy rainfall potential, aviation
impacts, lake-influenced conditions, and the early-week outlook.
00:00 - Opening: Chicago and northwest Indiana weather briefing
00:13 - Key messages: showers, storms, heavy rain, and warmer-than-normal
temperatures
00:38 - Evening update: sparse early overnight precipitation
00:58 - Daybreak setup: shortwave trough, jet coupling, and increasing forcing
01:33 - Moisture axis and embedded thunderstorm coverage near daybreak
02:03 - Heavy-rain mechanism:tall/skinny CAPE, warm-cloud depth, and training
potential
02:34 - Main heavy-rain window: about 5 AM to 11 AM, clearing by early afternoon
02:49 - Larger discussion: upper-level low, trough axis, and warm-sector evolution
03:27 - Showers and embedded thunderstorm chances from Iowa into Illinois
04:03 - Low-level CAPE, slow-moving cells, and locally heavy rainfall
04:38 - Sunday morning front/forcing setup near and east of I-55
05:08 - Rainfall efficiency, swaths of heavy rain, and brief funnel mention
05:39 - Quieter Memorial Day period and midweek pattern setup
06:13 - Aviation forecast begins: showers and embedded storms at Chicago terminals
06:38 - IFR/LIFR ceiling and visibility concerns, lowest near the lake
07:09 - Rain rates of one inch per hour or greater possible
07:26 - Wind shift, weak lake breeze, and fog/low-ceiling monitoring
08:01 - Watches, warnings, advisories, and closing
Chicago Weather Briefing
Episode title
Short description
Timestamp breakdown

Heavy rain risk
5–11 AM • Near/east of I-55
Showers + embedded storms
IFR/LIFR aviation impacts
Ponding possible
Brian voice • 1.1× speed
#ChicagoWeather #NWSChicago #WeatherBriefing #SevereWeather #HeavyRain
#Thunderstorms #IllinoisWeather #IndianaWeather #LakeMichigan #AviationWeather #IFR
#LIFR #I55 #MemorialDayWeather #WeatherPodcast #ForecastDiscussion #Meteorology
#Rainfall #StormTracking #ChicagolandWeather
Cover captions used
Hashtags

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weather-with-enthusiasm--4911017/support.

Weather with Enthusiasm is produced by Kol Simcha Productions.
New episodes drop daily — a morning forecast at 9 AM and a historical weather deep-dive at 3 PM.
Contact: [email protected]

Historical content is thoroughly researched and factually verified. Should you find any mistakes, please email [email protected] so we can look into it and correct it as quickly as possible.

Not affiliated with any government agency or academic institution. Presented for educational and entertainment purposes — with meaning.

Support the show — exclusive bonus episodes available to subscribers for just $2/month at spreaker.com/organization/kol-simcha
...more
9min

FAQs about Weather With Enthusiasm !:

How many episodes does Weather With Enthusiasm ! have?

The podcast currently has 1,101 episodes available.