Tonight's Guest WeatherBrain is a fast-rising YouTube creator known for her deeply researched and emotionally resonant documentaries on high-end tornadoes.  Her channel goes beyond the radar and statistics in order to tell the human stories behind these devastating events.  Born and raised in East Tennessee, she combines strong narrative skills with a unique interest in global severe weather, particularly in undeserved regions like India and China.  Her work bridges science communication and empathy in a way that resonates with a new generation of weather enthusiasts.  Carly Anna, welcome to the show!  

Also, Bruce Jones joins us to discuss the importance of NOAA Weather Radio and its integration in order to save lives.  Welcome back, Bruce!

Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected].

• Record highs in the South later this week?  (01:55)
• QLCS tornado hits Dothan, AL school (04:45)
• Origins of Carly Anna YouTube channel (15:25)
• 1997 Jarrell, Texas F5 tornado (17:00)
• Relationship between slow-moving weaker tornadoes and fast-moving tornadoes (31:50)
• Antecedent conditions prior to natural disasters (38:00)
• March 15th 2025 tornado in Plantersville (46:00)
• Recovering after tragic circumstances and providing the right answers (50:00)
• Average False Alarm Ratio (FAR) characterizations/solutions (56:30)
• Difficulties with QLCS tornadoes in less predictable environments (01:06:00)
• Inspiring future weather communicators/creators (01:14:00)
• Bruce Jones/Midland Weather Radio (01:20:30)
• The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:17:58)
• This Week in Tornado History With Jen (No segment this week)
• E-Mail Segment (No segment this week)
• National Weather Round-Up
• and more!

Web Sites from Episode 1002:

Midland Weather Radio

Carly Anna Weather on X

Carly Anna Weather on YouTube

Two Storms Apparel

Picks of the Week:

Carly Anna - Record breaking pollen count reported in Atlanta today

Bruce Jones - 3/31/23 Tornado Outbreak

James Aydelott - James Aydelott on X: "Left-split anti-cyclonic mesocyclone (clockwise rotation) has a very large hail threat moving NNE into Mustang"

Jen Narramore - Out

Rick Smith - Out

Troy Kimmel - Wisconsin 123F High Temp Error

Kim Klockow-McClain - Mark Goeller post on Facebook over recent fire weather and damage in Oklahoma

John Gordon - Weather History on X

Bill Murray - National Disaster Survey Report: "Hurricane Eloise: The Gulf Coast"

James Spann - James Spann on X: Tornado as seen from Dothan Regional Airport earlier this afternoon near Dale/Henry county line

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's Guest WeatherBrain is one of the most respected voices in the field of broadcast meteorology. He celebrated his 45th anniversary with WGN-TV in August 2023, and officially retired from WGN-TV at the end of February 2024.  Tom Skilling, it's great to see you tonight!  

Meteorologist and Former Director of NWS (2013-2022) Louis Uccellini also joins us tonight as a Guest Panelist. He was also director of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction and served as the Permanent Representative of the United States for the World Meteorological Organization.  Thanks for joining us tonight, Louis!   

Joining us as Guest Panelist is a brilliant researcher and recently tenured Professor in the Department of Earth, Atmosphere, and Environment at Northern Illinois University. His research umbrella covers a wide range of topics related to severe weather, particularly the relationship between severe convective storms and climate change by utilizing dynamical downscaling.  Dr. Victor Gencini, welcome to the show!

Also, Bruce Jones joins us to discuss the importance of NOAA Weather Radio and its integration in order to save lives.  Welcome back, Bruce!

Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected].

• New Panelist Introduction (05:15)
• 1990 Plainfield tornado tragedy (18:00)
• Lack of feasibility to privatize government warning systems for severe weather (25:00)
• Writing on the wall with budget cuts/staffing reductions and concerns for working in Government Sector/NOAA (41:00)
• Losing younger scientists to the private sector (55:45)
• November 17th, 2013 Washington, Illinois Tornado (01:00:30)
• Long-term budget concerns (01:05:00)
• Importance of not losing upper-air data when assimilating a public forecast (01:08:00)
• Development of global radiosonde network (01:20:00)
• Final thoughts on uncertain times in the industry (02:01:00)
• Inexpensive cost to taxpayers for NOAA's forecasts and services (01:53:00)
• The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (No segment this week)
• This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:54:57)
• E-Mail Segment 
• National Weather Round-Up
• and more!

Web Sites from Episode 1001:

Midland Weather Radio

Victor Gensini, PhD, CCM on X

Tom Skilling on X

Picks of the Week:

Bruce Jones - Foghorn

James Aydelott - James Aydelott on X: "Twisters" Sequel?

Jen Narramore - Germantown Regional History and Genealogy Center

Rick Smith - 2024 Severe Weather Year In Review

Troy Kimmel - Foghorn

Kim Klockow-McClain - Foghorn

John Gordon - Foghorn

Bill Murray - Foghorn

James Spann - NSSL Severe Convection and Climate Research

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's WeatherBrains is a celebration.  Nineteen years and 1000 shows! We are looking back on our journey and celebrating all of these years together, and we wouldn't be a podcast without our most important asset - our listeners!  Tune in for this is a one-of-a-kind episode.  We are also excited to announce our new permanent Panelist, meteorologist John Gordon!  Also, Bruce Jones joins us to discuss the importance of NOAA Weather Radio and its integration in order to save lives.  Welcome back, Bruce!

Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected].

• Montage of David Black's work on early WxBrains episodes (05:10)
• Happy 1000th Episode Greetings (09:45)
• Dancing With the Stats:  Most Guest Appearances (12:45)
• Favorite Clips From Listeners (14:30)
•  First Ever WeatherBrains 101 with Professor Peters (36:26)
• Former Panelist Kevin Selle Congrats (40:15)
• Marshall Shepherd Congrats (41:50)
• Favorite Panelist Guests (49:30)
• Tom Skilling Guest Appearance Recording (59:00)
• Thanking meteorologist Bob Baron (01:12:00)
• Looking back at Nov. 15th, 1989 F4 Huntsville tornado (01:12:45)
• NWS Birmingham Congratulates WeatherBrains on milestone (01:24:50)
• Remembering J. B. Elliott (01:31:00)
• Bruce Jones with Midland Weather Radio shoutout for show 1000! (01:49:50)
• Looking back at difficult/eye-opening subject matter (01:53:50)
• Meteorologist Ginger Zee Congrats Video (02:07:30)
• John Gordon introduced as new WeatherBrains Panelist (02:11:50)
• The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (02:07:55)
• This Week in Tornado History With Jen (No segment this week)
• E-Mail Segment (No segment this week)
• National Weather Round-Up
• and more!

Web Sites from Episode 1000:

Midland Weather Radio

Picks of the Week:

Bruce Jones - Foghorn (Just For This Week!)

James Aydelott - Foghorn (Just For This Week!)

Jen Narramore - Foghorn (Just For This Week!)

Rick Smith -Foghorn (Just For This Week!)

Troy Kimmel - Foghorn (Just For This Week!)

Kim Klockow-McClain - Foghorn (Just For This Week!)

John Gordon - Foghorn (Just For This Week!)

Bill Murray - Foghorn (Just For This Week!)

James Spann - Foghorn (Just For This Week!)

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's Guest WeatherBrain is a veteran meteorologist at Bluewater Forecasting in Montgomery, Alabama.  He's got almost five decades of experience in the field, and formerly served as the Chief Meteorologist at WSFA-TV in Montgomery for 34 years, before transitioning to radio.  Rich Thomas, welcome to WeatherBrains!  Brooks Garner of FOX 35 TV in Orlando also stops by to discuss the tornado that made a direct hit on their studios on March 10th, where he covered the tornado live on air and warned his viewers, and in this case, his co-workers!  Brooks, thanks for hanging out with us.  Also, Bruce Jones joins us to discuss the importance of NOAA Weather Radio and its integration in order to save lives.  Welcome back, Bruce!

Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected].

• Tornado hits FOX 35 TV studio in Orlando (06:30)
• Strong unexpected tornado hits Orlando in area that wasn't outlooked/forecasted for severe weather (12:00)
• Disc jockey/radio, and improving communication skills in order to transition to broadcast meteorology (25:45)
• Looking back at April 3-4, 1974 tornado outbreak (32:00)
• Major changes in broadcast television in the last 35 years (38:00)
• March 1st, 2007 Enterprise tornado analysis/When do we send children home from school during severe weather threats? (45:00)
• 4/27/2011 modeling analysis/Morning QLCS (47:00)
• Looking back at 2004 Hurricane Ivan's second landfall on Gulf Coast with same name (58:30)
• A day in the life of Rich Thomas (01:00:30)
•  NWS layoff rumors (01:35:30)
• The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:15:40)
• This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:18:20)
• E-Mail Segment (01:20:15)
• National Weather Round-Up
• and more!

Web Sites from Episode 999:

Midland Weather Radio

Rich Thomas on X

Rich Thomas Weather Network

Picks of the Week:

Bruce Jones - "The New Richmond tornado of 1899: A modern Herculaneum" by Anna P Medley and Michael G Corenthal

James Aydelott - Where Have the EF5s Gone? A Closer Look at the “Drought” of the Most Violent Tornadoes in the United States" by Anthony W. Lyza, Harold E. Brooks, and Makenzie J. Krocak

Jen Narramore - Tornado Hits Fox 35 Orlando on X

Rick Smith - Out

Troy Kimmel - Everything Weather App by Cory Mottice

Kim Klockow-McClain - Super Tuesday Tornado Outbreak of February 5-6, 2008

Bill Murray - Foghorn

James Spann - National Hurricane Center Products and Services/Update for 2025 Hurricane Season

The WeatherBrains crew includes your host, James Spann, plus other notable geeks like Troy Kimmel, Bill Murray, Rick Smith, James Aydelott, Jen Narramore and Dr. Kim Klockow-McClain. They bring together a wealth of weather knowledge and experience for another fascinating podcast about weather.

Tonight's Guest WeatherBrain is a retired meteorologist with thirty-five years of experience at the NWS.  That includes twenty-six years as a SOO, and he's been a leader with forecaster training, mesoscale analysis and radar interpretation, which helps NWS offices improve proving warning decision-making and lead times for severe weather hazards.  Pete Wolf, welcome to WeatherBrains!  

Also, Bruce Jones joins us to discuss the importance of NOAA Weather Radio and its integration in order to save lives.  Welcome back, Bruce!

Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected].

• Critical Fire Danger for several areas around the country (05:15)
• Petersburg, VA F4 tornado/outbreak on August 6th, 1993 (9:45)
• Key changes seen with Doppler radar/Warning systems since the early 1990s (13:45)
• WoFS (Warn on Forecast System) (15:25)
• Appreciating the important tools of hodographs and soundings (18:00)
• SW Oklahoma sounding analysis (Live on 03/03/25) (21:15)
• Reconciling SRH in QLCS situations (28:00)
• Tools needed to downscale warnings (43:15)
• No relation between VIL (Vertically Integrated Liquid) and tornado formation (56:15)
• Least-understood radar signatures by meteorologists (01:09:00)
• Improving efficiency of operations in the NWS (01:13:30)
• AI-generated weather broadcasters and battling automation (01:20:00)
• NOAA banned from having its own app (01:29:00)
• The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (No segment this week)
• This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:35:22)
• E-Mail Segment (01:37:00)
• National Weather Round-Up
• and more!

Web Sites from Episode 998:

Midland Weather Radio

My Monster Storms/Pete Wolf on X

Monster Storms Main Page

Picks of the Week:

Bruce Jones - "But Wait ... There's More!: Tighten Your Abs, Make Millions, and Learn How the $100 Billion Infomercial Industry Sold Us Everything But the Kitchen Sink"

James Aydelott - Forecast Sounding From SWOK

Jen Narramore - NWS Louisville on X: Final Forecast Discussion from Meteorologist in Charge John Gordon

Rick Smith - Out

Troy Kimmel - Roswell, NW extreme winds

Kim Klockow-McClain - SPC Severe Thunderstorm Forecasting Video Lecture Series

Bill Murray - Foghorn

James Spann - Director of NWS Louisville retires after nearly four decades

The WeatherBrains crew includes your host, James Spann, plus other notable geeks like Troy Kimmel, Bill Murray, Rick Smith, James Aydelott, Jen Narramore and Dr. Kim Klockow-McClain. They bring together a wealth of weather knowledge and experience for another fascinating podcast about weather.

Tonight's Guest WeatherBrain is a retired Lead Forecaster for the Storm Prediction Center with nearly four decades of Federal service, specializing in severe convective storms and tornado forecasting.  He's a passionate storm chaser, researcher, and an advocate for weather safety.  He co-founded the Electronic Journal of Severe Storms Meteorology and remains an influencial voice in meteorology.  Roger Edwards, it is great to see you!

Also, Bruce Jones joins us to discuss the importance of NOAA Weather Radio and its integration in order to save lives.  Welcome back, Bruce!

Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected].

• Roger's arrival at OU and opening horizons in meteorology (20:30)
• Connections between operations, research, and visual conceptualization (34:00)
• Importance of critical thinking in the science (35:00)
• Importance of growing, building, and passing on knowledge gained in the field of meteorology (40:30)
• Witnessing rapid progress of technology and applying that to visuals in the field (41:50)
• Trade-offs between improving technology and what it can show us and lead to development of theory (49:00)
• May 4, 2003 High Risk (01:01:00)
• Mesonets and scan strategies (01:05:00)
• Storm chaser responsibilities (01:12:00)
• Reduced funding and its impact on severe weather forecasting and research (01:17:00)
• Loss of institutional knowledge and looking forward (01:23:00)
• Memorable shifts at SPC (01:36:00)
• The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:38:19)
• This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:40:15)
• E-Mail Segment (No segment this week)
• National Weather Round-Up
• and more!

Web Sites from Episode 997:

Midland Weather Radio

Roger Edwards on X

Picks of the Week:

Roger Edwards - Al Moller - "The Zen of Weather Forecasting"

James Aydelott - Pro tip: Gravity is a cruel hunter When there is a bare, wind-swept spot with no snow, it might be polished ice.

Jen Narramore - Out

Rick Smith - Jamposium 2025

Troy Kimmel - Experimental Beach Forecast Webpage

Kim Klockow-McClain - Federal agencies can ignore "What did you do last week?" email, Trump administration says

Bill Murray - Foghorn

James Spann - Planetary Defense

The WeatherBrains crew includes your host, James Spann, plus other notable geeks like Troy Kimmel, Bill Murray, Rick Smith, James Aydelott, Jen Narramore and Dr. Kim Klockow-McClain. They bring together a wealth of weather knowledge and experience for another fascinating podcast about weather.

Tonight's Guest WeatherBrain is a seasoned broadcast meteorologist and weather anchor at KGW-TV in Portland, Oregon.  He brings a wealth of knowledge and a passion for weather to his viewers daily.  His forecasting career has spanned nearly 30 years, taking him from the hurricanes of south Texas to the lake effect snows of Michigan, the tornadoes of the Ohio valley and yes, the hard to predict weather of the Pacific Northwest.  Rod grew up in Missouri and graduated from Mizzou. He later earned his certificate of broadcast meteorology from Mississippi State. Soon after, Rod earned the seal of approval from the American Meteorological Society and the National Weather Association. He later served on the NWA certification board for more than five years.  Rod Hill, it's great to see you and thanks for joining us!

Also, Bruce Jones joins us to discuss the importance of NOAA Weather Radio and its integration in order to save lives.  Welcome back, Bruce!

Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected].

• Figuring out the puzzle as a synoptic weather forecaster (18:30)
• Advice for TV meteorologists with job security concerns (25:30)
• Uncertainty for the future in operational meteorology (28:00)
• Where will traditional television stations be a decade from now?  (37:00)
• Current morale and level of fear and uncertainty in the NWS offices (53:00)
• Complexities of Pacific Northwest weather (01:02:30)
• Social media strategies (01:09:45)
• The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:16:03)
• This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:19:50)
• E-Mail Segment (No segment this week)
• National Weather Round-Up
• and more!

Web Sites from Episode 996:

Midland Weather Radio

Portland Weather - Rod Hill on YouTube

Portland Weather

Picks of the Week:

Bruce Jones - Mount Washington Observatory records more than 160 mph wind gusts

James Aydelott - Okie J's snowshoes on Facebook

Jen Narramore - Out

Rick Smith - NOAA: Meeting the Moment

Neil Jacobs - Out

Troy Kimmel - Foghorn

Kim Klockow-McClain - Pillow Shaker for Weather and Emergency Radios - SHKR100

Bill Murray - Natural Disaster Survey Report - Mississippi Delta Tornadoes of February 21, 1971

James Spann - New Study Exposes Gap in TV Station Online Weather Coverage Strategy

The WeatherBrains crew includes your host, James Spann, plus other notable geeks like Troy Kimmel, Bill Murray, Rick Smith, James Aydelott, Jen Narramore, Dr. Neil Jacobs, and Dr. Kim Klockow-McClain. They bring together a wealth of weather knowledge and experience for another fascinating podcast about weather.

Tonight's Guest WeatherBrain is an Atmospheric Scientist and a Research Meteorologist and Managing Director of the FARM (Flexible Array of Radars and Mesonets).  With a passion for fieldwork, she's collected data from over 100 tornadoes and 9 hurricanes.  Karen Kosiba, thanks for joining us.

Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected].

• Active weather pattern ahead for Southeast (01:45)
• Increasing attention on hail production (19:00)
• The importance of field research for the emerging generation (20:30)
• Vortex 2 Project (24:30)
• Steps forward in understanding tornadogenesis (27:00)
• Next big steps in the warning process (41:00)
• Significance of cold pools (01:04:45)
• Real time upper air data in the future? (01:06:30)
• The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (No segment this week)
• This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:13:42)
• E-Mail Segment (01:15:20)
• National Weather Round-Up
• and more!

Web Sites from Episode 995:

Karen Kosiba

FARM: Home

Picks of the Week:

James Aydelott - James Aydelott on X: Close call for ice in Tulsa

Jen Narramore - Morgan County, TN EF-2 damage drone footage

Rick Smith - Out

Neil Jacobs - The Propagation, Evolution, and Rotation in Linear Storms (PERiLS) Project

Troy Kimmel - NWS Weather Forecast Offices

Kim Klockow-McClain - Foghorn

Bill Murray - Foghorn

James Spann - James Spann WO4W: The Future of Severe Weather Communications | Rocket City Weather Fest 2025

The WeatherBrains crew includes your host, James Spann, plus other notable geeks like Troy Kimmel, Bill Murray, Rick Smith, James Aydelott, Jen Narramore, Dr. Neil Jacobs, and Dr. Kim Klockow-McClain. They bring together a wealth of weather knowledge and experience for another fascinating podcast about weather.

Angela Mason, author of Death Rides The Sky, The Story Of The 1925 Tri-State Tornado, is our guest this week! Next month is the 100th anniversary of the deadly tornado that killed almost 700 people.

Tonight's Guest WeatherBrain is a storm chaser, and is the driver and equipment technician for storm chaser Brett Adair.  He has over twelve years of experience, and he's chased 22 tornadoes and 9 hurricanes across 39 states.  He's a Pell City, AL native.  Heath Lollar, welcome to the show!

Our Second Guest WeatherBrain is a WeatherBrains veteran and the founder of Girls Who Chase, a movement empowering women in storm chasing.  A self taught chaser and forecaster, she has been chasing since 2018.  Jen Walton, thanks for joining us!

Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected].

• January snow on the beach (01:30)
• Close to 8 inches of snow fell on New Orleans on Jan 21st (05:30)
• Rating a tornado based on wind speed/Explaining EF-Scale (19:00)
• Learning lessons from getting too close when storm chasing (35:00)
• Dealing with devastating/violent scenes when storm chasing (36:30)
• Pets and other animals after destructive tornadoes (51:00)
• Psychological shock/Acute stress reaction for extended periods after a violent severe weather event (01:04:00)
• Girls Who Chase and what they stands for (01:07:50)
• Going through phases in storm chasing (01:30:45)
• Storm chasing ethics (01:45:10)
• The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (No segment this week)
• This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:35:43)
• E-Mail Segment (No segment this week)
• National Weather Round-Up
• and more!

Web Sites from Episode 993:

Girls Who Chase

Picks of the Week:

Jen Walton - Fire tornadoes a risk under California extreme wildfire conditions

James Aydelott - James Aydelott on X: "It's an oldie, but a reminder...Spring is just around the corner"

Jen Narramore - Ohio Genealogical Society

Rick Smith - SPC Mesoscale Discussion 36/Western North Florida

Neil Jacobs - Foghorn

Troy Kimmel - Foghorn

Kim Klockow-McClain - Where Have the EF5s Gone? A Closer Look at the "Drought" of the Most Violent Tornadoes in the United States

Bill Murray - NOAA Snowfall Extremes

James Spann - Gulf Shores, Alabama 01/22/2025 Snow on the beach just before sunrise

The WeatherBrains crew includes your host, James Spann, plus other notable geeks like Troy Kimmel, Bill Murray, Rick Smith, James Aydelott, Jen Narramore, Dr. Neil Jacobs, and Dr. Kim Klockow-McClain. They bring together a wealth of weather knowledge and experience for another fascinating podcast about weather.