Archive for October, 2009

WeatherBrains 195: NWA Meeting

WeatherBrains Episode 195 is now online (Oct. 19, 2009). If you are crazy about weather, this is THE netcast audio program for you!

wb101909.mp3

Bill Murray joins the show from the National Weather Association (NWA) annual meeting in Norfolk, VA. Also joining us from that meeting is Bill Read, Director of the National Hurricane Center in Miami, FL. Intensity forecasting still remains a major issue with tropical systems, especially rapid intensification occurrences.

Also making a return appearance is NWA Executive Director Steve Harned. Steve brings some information to our show about the NWA including a reduced membership for electronic membership. The NWA annual meeting will be coming to Birmingham in 2011.

Other discussions in this weekly podcast include topics like:

Episode 194 probably the worst show ever;

Atlanta gets dual flooding episodes with 15″ in last 7 weeks;

17 in New York and 97 in California;

Snow covers 1.7 percent of continental US;

Snow covers nearly all of Canada;

Freezing temperatures in Southeast; and,

Cloud-free from Texas to New York.

and more!

Kevin Selle handles the mail bag. Email topics include ham radio, a song for JB, Moscow without snow, plus some comments on the rant show.

From The Weather Center:

WeatherBrains 101: When meteorologists describe the upper atmosphere, they sometimes use the term “closed low.” So what is a closed low and what are some of it’s characteristics? That’s the topic for this week’s 101.

TWIWH: Bill Murray looks back at the week of October 20th. October is typically a fairly quiet month, but this week features all sorts of weather including tornadoes, a huge pressure drop, and some smog issues.

Listener Surveys: Okay, we continue to drive this topic into the ground, but we really do like to hear from you. Many thanks to everyone who has taken the time to fill out the Listener Survey. The survey takes just a minute or two to complete and provides us with an opportunity to learn where you are and hear your thoughts and comments on the show. Click here to take the survey.

Web Sites from Episode 195:

National Weather Association

National Hurricane Center

WeatherBrains 120: Interview with Bill Read

NHC Track Forecast Cone Definition

Picks of the Week:

JB Elliott – Another horn blast!!!

Bill Murray – Satellite Derived TPW (Total Precipitable Water)

Brian Peters – Climate Prediction Center El Nino site

Kevin Selle – Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service

James Spann – NWS Text Products by State

Join your host, James Spann, along with the regular crew including JB Elliott, Kevin Selle, Bill Murray, and Brian Peters as they come together for another fascinating netcast about the weather.

We love to hear from you! To leave a recorded message, call 1-888-247-8627. Some calls may be used in future episodes. Also, feel free to post comments to the site and drop us an email at email at (at symbol) weatherbrains dot com.