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This week's WeatherBrains episode is all about the 1976 Big Thompson Flash Flood.
Joining us tonight as Guest WeatherBrain is meteorologist Matt Kelsch. He earned his Master's Degree from the University of Oklahoma and has written numerous papers on mountain meteorology and hydrology. Retiring in 2022, he's an avid outdoorsmen, biker and gardener. It's great to see you tonight, Matt!
Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected].
Web Sites from Episode 1071:
World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
Alabama Weather Network
Picks of the Week:
Matt Kelsch - Real-time Air Quality Monitoring by PurpleAir
James Aydelott - River Photo
James Aydelott - Photo of sculpture by Bradley T. Mullnix
Jen Narramore - Rare waterspout near Montreal, Canada on July 23rd, 2008
Rick Smith - Out
Troy Kimmel - Out
Kim Klockow-McClain - Out
John Gordon - Matt Kelsch paper "Flash Flood Cases, Summary of Characteristics"
John Gordon - Bob Maddox paper "Synoptic and Meso-a Scale Aspects of Flash Flood Events"
Bill Murray - Out
James Spann - 40 Years Later, Jim Cantore on Mount Rushmore of TV Weather
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 all about dust storms.
Joining us tonight as Guest WeatherBrain is the MIC (Meteorologist in Charge) of NWS Goodland, Kansas. A Nebraska native, he's logged over a quarter century of service for the NWS, with prior stops in Omaha, Sioux Falls, and North Platte. He earned his Bachelor's degree from Nebraska-Lincoln. Jeremy Martin, welcome to the show!
Guest Panelist and NWA President Kim Runk joins us tonight discussing the NWA (National Weather Association) and a preview of the upcoming NWA annual meeting in Omaha, Nebraska. Thanks for joining us, Kim!
Program Chair of the 2026 NWA Annual Meeting Jessica Stumpf also joins us as Guest Panelist. She's the Public Safety Solution Engineer Meteorologist at Baron Weather, and has a decade of prior experience in Emergency Management. She has a Bachelor's from Penn State and is a former broadcast meteorologist. Jessica, welcome to WeatherBrains!
Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected].
Web Sites from Episode 1070:
"Connect5 Leadership: Growing Leaders by Serving Others" by Kim Runk
2026 AMS Annual Meeting
Alabama Weather Network
Picks of the Week:
Jeremy Martin - NASA Dust Tracker AI
Jessica Stumpf - SC Emergency Manager App
Jessica Stumpf - 2026 Esri User Conference San Diego, CA
Kim Runk - Weather and Climate Collections - NOAA Library
James Aydelott - World's Largest Easel in Goodland, Kansas
Jen Narramore - WeatherBrains 855: Nocturnal MCS Mode
Rick Smith - How 2026 World Cup Venues Handle the Heat (and Humidity, and Storms…)
Troy Kimmel - Out
Kim Klockow-McClain - Out
John Gordon - Amazing Footage of Debris Flow in Illgraben
Bill Murray - Out
James Spann - Real Time Tropical Cyclones
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 all about hydrology. Tonight's episode examines the devastating 1997 Red River Flood.
Joining us tonight as Guest WeatherBrain is from Devils Lake, North Dakota. She is the Service Hydrologist at NWS Grand Forks, and is a twenty-year veteran in Federal service. Amanda Lee, welcome to WeatherBrains!
Second Guest WeatherBrain is the Senior Hydrologist at NWS North Central RFC (River Forecast Center) in Chanhassen, Minnesota. A Syracuse native, he joined the US Air Force as a weather officer, then earned his Masters Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Utah. He's spent over 15 years at the RFC (River Forecast Center). Justin Palmer, welcome to WeatherBrains!
Our Third Guest WeatherBrain tonight is a retired National Weather Service senior meteorologist technician, the former Data Acquisition Program Manager of the Grand Forks National Weather Service office. Mark attended North Dakota State University in Fargo during the late 80s into the early 90s, working with former state climatologist Dr John Enz. Mark Retired in November of 2014 after 40 1/2 years of combined federal and military service. Mark is currently 3:00 to 6:00 PM afternoon host on KNOX Radio in Grand Forks ND, and has been associated with latent broadcasting since 2016. Mark also operates Home On The Prairie Weather LLC, providing agricultural climate forecasts and other related information to agricultural and civic groups. Mark Ewens, welcome to WeatherBrains!
Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected].
Web Sites from Episode 1069:
KNOX News Radio
Alabama Weather Network
Picks of the Week:
Amanda Lee - "A River Runs North (Managing an International River)" by Gene Krenz and Jay Leitch
Amanda Lee - "Red River Rising: The Anatomy of a Flood and the Survival of an American City" by Ashley Shelby
Justin Palmer - USGS Endangered, Discontinued and Rescued Streamgages Mapper
Mark Ewens - NDAWN - North Dakota Agricultural Weather Network
James Aydelott - Footage near Tulliby Lake in central Alberta, Canada
Jen Narramore - Out
Rick Smith - Out
Troy Kimmel - Out
Kim Klockow-McClain - An ethical analysis of hydrometeorological prediction and decision making: The case of the 1997 Red River flood
John Gordon - LIT/LZK back online with upper air launches
Bill Murray - Out
James Spann - Gulf Coast Weather
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 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].
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].
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].
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 WeatherBrains episode is all about Dallas-Fort Worth TX TV Market.
We are excited to have Chief Meteorologist Rick Mitchell from NBC 5 and David Finfrock, NBC 5 Senior Meteorologist, who just surpassed 50 years on TV. This is third of many upcoming WeatherBrains episodes focusing on various media weather markets around the country. On episode 1030 last October we focused on Kansas City with Bryan Busby and Joe Lauria. On episode 1055 in March, we focused on Tampa Bay with Mike Clay and Brian LaMarre. Rick and David will discuss forecasting severe storms with and without the dry line, winter weather, Blue Northers, the Dallas Fort Worth metroplex major urban heat island and much more!
Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected].
Web Sites from Episode 1065:
David Finfrock Instagram
Alabama Weather Network
Picks of the Week:
David Finfrock - Harold Taft's World War 2 legacy
Rick Mitchell - Great Storm of 1975
James Aydelott - Softball sized hail photo from 1995
Jen Narramore - Andrew Pritchard on X: Illinois tornadoes 6/11/26
Rick Smith - Out
Troy Kimmel - Delta Flight 191 Flashback Special (1985)
Kim Klockow-McClain - Classification of Use Cases for Ensemble Weather Forecasts
John Gordon - What is a "panhandle hooker" and why is it called that?
Bill Murray - Out
James Spann - Google Weather Lab: Cyclones (Preview)
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 all flash flooding.
Our First GuestWeatherBrain is the President of Project ENKI. This project is working to revolutionize flood intelligence and community preparedness through advanced modeling, visualization tools and education designed to help people better understand their flood risk and take proper action. Brad Newman, welcome to WeatherBrains!
Second Guest WeatherBrain for tonight's episode is the technological backbone of Project ENKI. She's a key leader in the science modeling and visualization work behind the project's flood intelligence mission, helping turn complex flood data into information communities can understand and use. Dr. Tracy Fanara, welcome to WeatherBrains!
Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: [email protected].
Web Sites from Episode 1064:
Project Enki
Unity Alliance Foundation USA
National Water Model
Alabama Weather Network
Picks of the Week:
Dr. Tracy Fanara - World Ocean Day
James Aydelott - Lithuanian tornado video
James Aydelott - June 8th, 1974 Tornado Outbreak and Flash Floods
Jen Narramore - Out
Rick Smith - Out
Troy Kimmel - SounderPy Sounding Analysis
Kim Klockow-McClain - Last Ones Left In A Toxic Kansas Town
John Gordon - PRESSURE official trailer
Bill Murray - June 8th 1966 Topeka Tornado
James Spann - Alabama Weather Network Live Storm Coverage
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 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].
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.
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