WeatherBrains

Tonight's show features an assortment of guests as we take a deep-dive into the National Weather Association - what it is, and why it matters. In addition, we examine how the NWA is evolving in its 50th year. We will talk about the NWA Road Map, the critical role of the NWA seals (both broadcast and digital), the power of professional service and volunteering, and the future of trusted weather communication in a changing media environment.

James Jessel is a friend of the podcast and works with Guest Booking Officer Bill Murray. He works for Pinnacle Communications Corporation as National Account Manager and joins us tonight as Guest Panelist. James, it is good to see you!

Becca Mazur is the 2025 President of the National Weather Association. She's been active with the organization since 2014. She works in Anchorage, Alaska, where she specializes in integrating new science, forecast methods and tools/operational forecasting. She holds degrees from Northern Illinois University and Colorado State University.

We are also honored to be joined tonight by Matt Beitscher, who is one of the lead meteorologists with the NWS in St. Louis. He is the Commissioner of Committees for the NWA. Matt, it's great to have you join us tonight!

Kendra Kent also joins the gang tonight for our discussion and is the Chief Meteorologist Fox Carolina News in Greenville, South Carolina. She is a long-time NWA seal holder and Emmy nominee. She was named the 2024 South Carolina Weathercaster of the Year. She's also known for her community service and animal rescue work. It's an honor to have you join us tonight, Kendra.

Last but certainly not least in order of their appearance, Isaac Williams joins us from WANF-TV in Atlanta Georgia where he is a broadcast on-air meteorologist. He was formerly the Chief Meteorologist at WCBI-TV in Columbus, Mississippi. He's also an instructor at Mississippi State and is currently pursuing his PhD in Earth and Atmospheric Science from Mississippi State. Thanks for joining us, Isaac!

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

• Memorable New England tropical systems this millennium (25:30)
• December 16th, 2000 Tuscaloosa tornado (29:00)
• Becca Mazur's most rewarding projects in meteorology (33:00)
• Notable professional challenges in meteorology (36:00)
• Difficulties of time management in a fast paced/digital world (39:30)
• Dr. George Fischbeck's legacy and passion for weather and its impact on James Jessel (46:10)
• How did James Spann get into the NWA/History of the NWA? (01:06:45)
• Preparations for 50th Anniversary/Huntsville NWA meeting September 6th-10th 2025 (01:09:00)
• "A Brave New World" topic of discussion at NWA meeting (01:14:00)
• The RON (Research Operation Nexus) (01:18:00)
• Creation of the NWA Digital Seal/Bill Murray's inaugural Seal (01:21:30)
• NWA Roadmap Initiative (01:31:00)
• The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (No segment this week)
• This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:34:24)
• E-Mail Segment (01:35:35)
• and more!

Web Sites from Episode 1014:

2025 Annual Meeting in Huntsville, AL - National Weather Association

National Weather Association on X

Isaac Williams on X

Matt Beitscher on X

Kendra Kent on X

Picks of the Week:

Becca Mazur - Terrifying video of the deadly Enderlin, ND tornado

James Aydelott - My Perfect Weather

Jen Narramore - Cass County Sheriff's Office identifies victims in deadly Enderlin tornado

Jen Narramore - Tornado kills three in upstate NY, including twin sisters

Rick Smith - Automated Data Plotter

Troy Kimmel - Foghorn

Kim Klockow-McClain - Foghorn

John Gordon - MetLink - Royal Meteorological Society Local Winds

Bill Murray - Foghorn

James Spann - Brian Emfinger on X: Site of deadly tornado from east of Enderlin, ND

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 the creator of Durango Weather Guy Hyper Local Weather Blog that is an essential forecasting source for the residents of the San Juan Mountains in southwest Colorado. He's a former investment banker turned real estate agent and he taught himself meteorology. He now delivers deeply personalized forecasts to nearly the entire population of Durango, Colorado. Jeff Givens, welcome to WeatherBrains!

• Difficulties of predicting microclimates (14:15)
• Notable Iowa tornadoes (19:30)
• Creation of Durango Snow Lovers page (22:00)
• Forecast challenges in the San Juan Mountains (33:55)
• Changing snow patterns over the last few decades (37:30)
• Jeff Givens most memorable forecasts (44:30)
• Small town attachment to weather personalities (47:50)
• Veterans Day 1911 record high and low temperatures (01:17:00)
• The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (No segment this week)
• This Week in Tornado History With Jen (No segment this week)
• E-Mail Segment (No segment this week)
• and more!

Web Sites from Episode 1013:

Midland Weather Radio

Durango Weather Guy Blog

Durango Snow Lovers on Facebook

Picks of the Week:

James Aydelott - Drumright, OK F4 Tornado - June 8, 1974 - Tornado Talk

Jen Narramore - Out

Rick Smith - Trailblazing Oklahoma TV meteorologist Gary England dies at 85

Troy Kimmel - Out

Kim Klockow-McClain - Out

John Gordon - Out

Bill Murray - Gary England on WeatherBrains 745

James Spann - Gary England's on WeatherBrains 443

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 rising stars in the new wave of digital storm coverage. His livestreams have gained national attention for their accuracy, clarity, and his calm demeanor under pressure. He's part of a growing cadre of content creators that are changing how people experience severe weather in real time. He also recently graduated with a degree in Meteorology. Max Velocity, welcome to WeatherBrains!

Also joining us is show regular and Birmingham NWS Science and Operations Officer Kevin Laws. He brings extensive experience in the field and has an impeccable track record of keeping the public safe and informed when dangerous weather threatens. Kevin, welcome back to the show!

Friend of the podcast Ben Luna from Tennessee Valley Weather also joins us as Guest Panelist # 2 and participates in the discussion concerning severe weather coverage and changing methods of communication. It's great to see you Ben!

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

• Early history of Max Velocity's story (11:15)
• Challenges and philosophy for covering the entire country during severe weather (23:00)
• Differences of NWS Birmingham warning philosophy compared to other offices (24:45)
• QLCS warning inconsistency among offices across the country (26:45)
• Maintaining/sustaining energy and voice during long streams/severe weather events (30:30)
• Communicating information above and beyond what is available to the NWS (38:40)
• Local vs National coverage differences and tornado warning fatigue (40:45)
• Continuing issues/disconnect with the public and weather safety (01:02:30)
• Max Velocity's future and vision for the upcoming years (01:14:20)
• Regional differences in weather literacy (01:18:00)
• The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:26:47)
• This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:29:07)
• E-Mail Segment (01:30:20)
• and more!

Web Sites from Episode 1012:

Max Velocity on YouTube

Midland Weather Radio

Picks of the Week:

Max Velocity - 119 mph microburst NE of Midland, TX on 6/8/25

Kevin Laws - NWS: How to Avoid Getting Caught in a Rip Current

James Aydelott - James Aydelott Team Coverage photo

James Aydelott - Tornado Warnings by NWS office so far in 2025

Jen Narramore - KAKE original: Echoes of the Storm

Rick Smith - New high-speed camera captures hail in free fall to improve public safety

Troy Kimmel - Foghorn

Kim Klockow-McClain - Bipartisan bill aims to restore NWS ravaged by cuts

John Gordon - Iceberg Finder

Bill Murray - Foghorn

James Spann - Caiden Dinkins photo of tornado damage to roof of KTXS 12 TV

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 show veteran and seasoned meteorologist known for cutting through the noise to clearly communicate impacts in a high-stakes environment. He has experience in digital media and corporate forecasting. His insights have earned praise from CEOs, traders and major media outlets like The New York Times and BBC. Matt Lanza, welcome to WeatherBrains!

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

• Diving into Space City Weather (15:15)
• Takeaways from 2024's Hurricane Beryl (21:20)
• Long-term ramifications of staffing shortages at NOAA (31:30)
• Lanza article and NWS Jackson MS warning discussion (33:10)
• Unintentionally confusing the public when assimilating forecasts (44:20)
• Jackson, KY severe weather event (01:04:30)
• Max Velocity vs Ryan Hall severe weather coverage (01:10:25)
• Changing perspective in science communication (01:18:30)
• Job search mindset and tips to stand out with recruiters (01:23:45)
• Seasonal outlook discussion (01:33:06)
• The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:36:52)
• This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:39:18)
• E-Mail Segment (01:41:20)
• and more!

Web Sites from Episode 1011:

Matt Lanza on X

Midland Weather Radio

Space City Weather

How Rye Bread May Have Caused the Salem Witch Trials

Picks of the Week:

Matt Lanza - WeatherTiger's Hurricane Watch Substack

Matt Lanza - Eye on the Tropics Substack

Matt Lanza - Balanced Weather Substack

James Aydelott - Footage of tornado in Jilin Province, China

Jen Narramore - Tornado experts share their perspectives on 1985 outbreak

Jen Narramore - Tornado experts share their perspectives on 1985 outbreak - Clip from WFMJ 11pm News

Rick Smith - CNN reporting NWS to hire 125 new staff

Troy Kimmel - WeatherStar 4000+

Kim Klockow-McClain - FEMA staff baffled after head said he was unaware of US hurricane season, sources say

John Gordon - The Cloud Appreciation Society

Bill Murray - "On warnings, communication, Monday morning quarterbacking, or how Ryan Hall won me over, y'all" by Matt Lanza

James Spann - Historical Hurricane Tracks

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 an award winning journalist and author who runs the New England Historical Society. She's been sharing of New England's past since 2013. With a background in reporting, she brings history to life through the lenses of food, travel, scandal, immigration, and weather. She joins us to discuss their new book, "New England Weather: Historic Storms, Twisters, Floods, Droughts, Nor'easters, Hurricanes and Heat Waves." The Landrigans explore how New England's wild weather has influenced history and shaped communities—from killer hurricanes to brutal snowstorms to legendary heat waves. Leslie Landrigan, welcome to WeatherBrains!

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

• Fetching aerial shots when needed after a severe weather episode (03:29)
• 1997 Jarrell, Texas tornado 28th anniversary (06:30)
• 1973 Centreville, AL tornado anniversary (9:40)
• Looking back at exceptional and extended New England 1965 drought (17:20)
• Great Colonial Hurricane of 1635 (29:13)
• Importance of almanacs during Colonial era (39:09)
• Blizzard of 1978 (50:40)
• Maine Purple Fire Snowstorm of 1853 (01:03:32)
• 1953 Worcester MA tornado (01:09:00)
• 2011 Springfield MA EF3 tornado (01:15:40)
• Favorite weather folklores (01:26:00)
• Alabama tornado damage near Redstone Arsenal (01:33:30)
• Bruce Jones/Midland Weather Radio (01:42:00)
• The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:34:15)
• This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:36:50)
• E-Mail Segment (01:39:10)
• and more!

Web Sites from Episode 1010:

"New England Weather: Historic storms, twisters, floods, droughts, nor'easters, hurricanes and heat waves" by Dan and Leslie Landigran

Midland Weather Radio

Picks of the Week:

Bruce Jones - 2015 Keyhole Canyon Utah Flash Flood Tragedy

James Aydelott - James Aydelott on Facebook: "Lightning strikes! In the sun, away from the rain"

Jen Narramore - Tornado Talk: Springfield, MA EF3 tornado - June 1st, 2011

Rick Smith - Documenting and explaining a heat burst

Troy Kimmel - Foghorn

Kim Klockow-McClain - Climatic Change and Witch-hunting: the Impact of the Little Ice Age on Mentalities

John Gordon - NWS Probabilistic Precipitation Portal

Bill Murray - Foghorn

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.

Tonight's Guest WeatherBrain is a Professor of Geology from the University of Alabama, where he specializes in synoptic climatology, which focuses on the intersection of weather, risk, perception and public response. His research focuses on how people interpret severe weather messaging; especially tornadoes and hurricanes. He's also a key contributor to projects on warning communication. Dr. Jason Senkbeil, welcome to WeatherBrains!

Tonight's First Guest Panelist is a WeatherBrains regular and is the Science and Operations Officer at the NWS office in Birmingham. Kevin Laws, it's always good to see you!

Tonight's Second Guest Panelist is the Director of the NWS Operations Proving Ground. He graduated with a Bachelor's in Geography at Arizona State University. JJ Brost, welcome to WeatherBrains!

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

• Baseball sized hail near Bowling Green (06:28)
• Weather literacy in the U. S. Southeast (09:28)
• Factors in geography in risk perception (10:41)
• Path direction of tornadoes (17:15)
• General public's lack of geographic awareness and its long-term effects (18:40)
• NWS BMX leads the Nation in FAR and POD (20:55)
• Two Dimensional map space vs Three Dimensional world space (27:50)
• General public interpreting text from a NWS warning polygon (35:20)
• Literacy issues with audiences when distributing a weather forecast (40:30)
• What does an Enhanced severe risk mean and why is it so difficult to forecast? (01:03:00)
• Improving consistency with different NWS offices as DMAs dissolve (01:28:30)
• Parking under overpasses (01:53:00)
• Bruce Jones/Midland Weather Radio (Out this week)
• The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:37:43)
• This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:41:01)
• E-Mail Segment (01:42:38)
• and more!

Web Sites from Episode 1009:

Midland Weather Radio

Picks of the Week:

Dr. Jason Senkbeil - "Geographical constraints on rapid comprehension of tornado warning information" by Dr. Jason Senkbeil

Kevin Laws - NWS Heat Safety Risk Program

Bruce Jones - Out

James Aydelott - Out

Jen Narramore - Victims of Kentucky's recent severe thunderstorms/tornadoes

Rick Smith - Out

Troy Kimmel - KAKE News on X: News Coverage

Kim Klockow-McClain - Are Smartphones Creating A Loss of Spatial Awareness In Children?

John Gordon - The man who's blindness, deafness, and baldness was cured by lightning

Bill Murray - Out

James Spann - Aaron Brackett on X: Lightning strikes a Newcastle, OK police cruiser

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 episode is a homegrown show discussing a wide range of topics. Notably, the panel discusses resume-building and interview skills in a changing world, the controversial topic of non-NWS issued watches and warnings, and so much more. As always, our show is all about YOU. Thanks for listening!

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].

• Mississippi flash flooding due to persistent upper low (06:00)
• Relationship between improved physical health and improved cognitive health (10:30)
• Importance of following your passion in life and in your career (18:30)
• Do you want to work for the NWS? (19:45)
• Gift of perseverance and owning up to your mistakes, and learning from them (24:30)
• Critical importance of diversification in the weather enterprise (30:20)
• GIS is IN! (31:20)
• Write an attention-grabbing resume to stand out (37:00)
• Is it appropriate for a meteorologist or weather entertainer to issue their own watches and warnings? (46:30)
• Issues with FAR (False Alarm Ratio) in the weather enterprise (01:12:00)
• Lightning is frightening (01:25:55)
• Bruce Jones/Midland Weather Radio (01:31:33)
• The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:27:42)
• This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:29:00 )
• E-Mail Segment (01:30:55)
• and more!

Web Sites from Episode 1008:

Midland Weather Radio

Picks of the Week:

Bruce Jones - FAWN - Florida Automated Weather Network

James Aydelott - JWISHstory: 1965 Palm Sunday tornado broadcast

Jen Narramore - Ohio Roots Podcast

Rick Smith - OUT

Troy Kimmel - FOGHORN

Kim Klockow-McClain - NSF Unidata Pause in Most Operations

John Gordon - Quantitative intensity forecasts to Spc mesoscale convective discussion text and graphics

Bill Murray - FOGHORN

James Spann - James Spann: 'Hold off on the rage' when he says Gulf of Mexico this 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, 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 author and researcher Kati Wylie Ray. Tonight we learn about and discuss the devastating F4 tornado that struck Poplar Bluff, Missouri on May 9th, 1927. She's been on the Board of the Poplar Bluff Museum since 2001, and has been involved with the Butler County Historical Society since 1999. She started researching the people who died in this tornado in 2017 and has written a book about the event. Kati, 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].

• Memorial for Poplar Bluff MO 1927 tornado (08:30)
• 98th anniversary of 1927 Poplar Bluff MO tornado (12:45)
• Tornado distance and path it took through Poplar Bluff (31:00)
• Opening windows and pressure equalization fallacy when preparing for an imminent tornado (36:50)
• Artifact collection from the tornado (50:45)
• Origins of funding to rebuild Poplar Bluff after the tornado (57:00)
• Differences in how fast news was spread and the mechanisms in the 1920s compared to today (59:20)
• Origins of the National Weather Service (01:03:00)
• May 5, 1933 Helena Alabama tornado (01:09:00)
• Emergency medicine in the 1920s (01:10:00)
• Mass exodus at the NWS (01:30:30)
• Bruce Jones/Midland Weather Radio (01:42:25)
• The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:17:40)
• This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:19:35)
• E-Mail Segment (01:21:35)
• and more!

Web Sites from Episode 1007:

Midland Weather Radio

Picks of the Week:

Kati Wylie Ray - "Poplar Bluff Tornado: May 9, 1927" by Kati Wylie Ray

Kati Wylie Ray - Poplar Bluff History Museum

Bruce Jones - Flightradar24 App for iOS and Android

James Aydelott - West Texas Mesonet on X: Seymour 3NW gusted to 106 mph

James Aydelott - Dual Pol Images of the 5/3/99 Moore F5 Tornado

Jen Narramore - May 31st, 1985 Great Lakes Tornado Outbreak - Tornado Talk

Rick Smith - National Weather Service forecasting is more crippled than previously thought as hurricane season nears

Troy Kimmel - Amid Oklahoma tornado season, scientists warn NOAA cuts could impact forecasting, public safety

Kim Klockow-McClain - Out

John Gordon - National Weather Service Space Prediction Center: Coronagraph

Bill Murray - Foghorn

James Spann - National Weather Service on guard after threats to weather radars from militarized conspiracy theorist group

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 has a 25-year history in aviation. He is an experienced skydiver with over 700 jumps, a fixed-wing pilot with a seaplane rating, and a commercial hot air balloon pilot. His company, Champagne Sunrise, operates out of Meridian, Mississippi, and has safely taken hundreds of passengers on unforgettable balloon rides over the years. Beyond commercial operations, he uses Champagne Sunrise for community outreach, including delivering letters to the North Pole for Santa with local schools and donating tethered balloon rides to the local children's museum. During the week, he serves as the General Manager of Peavey Electronics, one of the largest manufacturers of musical instruments and professional audio equipment in the world, with sales in over 136 countries. Additionally, he is a Board Member of the Balloon Federation of America (BFA). Fred Poole, 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].

• Conditional severe weather threat in Nation's Heartland (01:00)
• Potential issues for severe thunderstorms on May 1st (04:30)
• Differences between base jumping vs sky diving (11:30)
• Base level weather knowledge needed for hot air balloon piloting (20:30)
• What it is like to ride in seaplanes (29:50)
• Utilizing Windy.com in aviation and hot air balloon piloting (34:30)
• Balloon chasing before the days of GPS (44:30)
• Hot air balloon designs/artwork/decorations (49:45)
• Fabric/materials used in hot air balloons (51:30)
• On-site weather operations/protocol for hot air balloon festivals (53:00)
• Hot air balloon safety precautions (58:15)
• Typical hot air balloon clientele and standard flight preparation (01:03:07)
• Hot air balloon instrumentation (01:06:30)
• Unique rides (01:15:00)
• Balloon Federation of America (01:17:30)
• Communication and radio equipment (01:21:45)
• Saint Louis University loses meteorology program (01:30:00)
• Importance of past analogs of severe weather events for assimilating public forecasts (01:31:00)
• Bruce Jones/Midland Weather Radio (01:33:25)
• The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (No segment this week)
• This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:26:15)
• E-Mail Segment (01:27:30)
• and more!

Web Sites from Episode 1006:

Midland Weather Radio

Champagne Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Rides

Picks of the Week:

Fred Poole - Windy.com

Bruce Jones - La Plata Maryland April 28, 2002 Tornado Outbreak paper by Tim Marshall

James Aydelott - Image of QLCS TDS in western Wisconsin/a>

Jen Narramore - OTUS Project on X: NE Tornado Photo

Rick Smith - Out

Troy Kimmel - Out

Kim Klockow-McClain - Tom Petty - Free Fallin'

John Gordon - VWP Display and Calculations - VMP Paper by Jared Guyer and John Hart

John Gordon - Vertical Wind Profile SAT

Bill Murray - Out

James Spann - Using lightning to monitor the extreme impacts of landfalling hurricanes -NSSL News

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 an Associate Professor at Villanova University, specializing in severe weather risks, societal impacts and hazard mitigation. His research focuses on tornado and lightning exposure at large outdoor gatherings. In addition, it focuses on urbanization effects on disasters and improving public safety strategies. Dr. Stephen Strader, welcome back to WeatherBrains.

Brandon Skalniak is a senior emergency management major at Millersville University of Pennsylvania. He is passionate about all things weather, having gained an interest in the field when he stumbled upon the Discovery Channel's Storm Chasers in second grade. Brandon loves weather history, and cataloging the country's significant weather events on radar is his main hobby. Welcome to the show as tonight's Guest Panelist, Brandon!

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].

• Manufactured housing safety rules situation (17:00)
• National Manufactured Housing Database under construction (28:20)
• Secondary confirmation when warned with impending severe weather (45:00)
• Generalities on gender reaction to severe weather threats (48:30)
• Stopping flash flooding deaths and mitigating risk (53:40)
• Risk ranking metric developed by Dr. Strader (59:40)
• NASCAR lightning strike protocol (01:06:00)
• Tradeoffs when considering weather safety and proper procedure when in a warning (01:18:30)
• Further observations on tornado-related fatalities in mobile homes (01:23:00)
• Continued FAR in the industry and the fallout of these problems (01:25:00)
• Average lead-time of severe weather warnings (0 1:25:30)
• Bruce Jones/Midland Weather Radio (01:45:00)
• The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:29:14)
• This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:30:40)
• E-Mail Segment (01:31:55)
• and more!

Web Sites from Episode 1005:

Midland Weather Radio

Brandon Skalniak on X

Picks of the Week:

Brandon Skalniak - Millersville AMS on X

Brandon Skalniak - Millersville AMS on Instagram

Bruce Jones - William Abner Eddy background

James Aydelott - Doppler radar view of Madill Oklahoma tornado

Jen Narramore - Deep Dive into Florida's Largest Tornado Outbreak - Hurricane Milton

Rick Smith - Pat Hyland, CCM: Durant radar view of Madill Oklahoma tornado

Troy Kimmel - US Weather Analysis Sites Restored After Funding Lapse

Kim Klockow-McClain - Trump Administration Restores Funding for Critical Weather Data Centers

John Gordon - A methodology for forecasting, heavy convection precipitation and flash flooding

John Gordon - Comparison of the meteorological aspects of the Big Thompson and the Rapid City Flash Floods

Bill Murray - Foghorn

James Spann - Storm Chase Archive

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.