WeatherBrains 213: Weather & Social Media
WeatherBrains Episode 213 is now online (Feb. 22, 2010). If you are crazy about weather, this is THE netcast audio program for you!
WeatherBrains - February 22, 2010This week the topic for discussion is weather and social media. Joining us is a plethora of television meteorologist from the eastern US including Morgan Palmer from WBBH in Fort Myers, FL, Brad Panovich of WCNC 36 in Charlotte, NC, and Nate Johnson from WRAL-TV in Raleigh, NC.
Morgan Palmer joined NBC2 in January, 2008, as meteorologist for NBC2 News at Noon and 4 pm. He is holds the television Seals of Approval from both the American Meteorological Society (AMS) and the National Weather Association (NWA). Morgan came to Southwest Florida from KLTV in Tyler, Texas, where he had served as meteorologist, news anchor and news reporter since 1999. Like Brad, his most memorable assignments included the landfalling hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. Following Katrina, Morgan and his camera crew spent a week in south Mississippi, covering the incredible devastation. Morgan completed advanced meteorology studies at Mississippi State University, and also holds a degree in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin.
Morgan began “chasing” storms as a Skywarn severe storm spotter while still in high school and continues to pursue severe storms when time permits. He also served several years as a moderator of Stormtrack, the world’s largest online forum for storm chasers. Morgan is also a licensed amateur radio operator and he enjoys tennis, football and baseball. He also supports the adoption of retired racing greyhounds.
Brad Panovich grew up outside of Cleveland, Ohio, and was always fascinated by severe weather. By the time he was 6 years old, he knew he wanted to be a meteorologist, but not just some “TV weather guy,” he wanted to be a real scientist and chase storms and do research. At Copley High School in Copley, Ohio, he got to take part in a mentorship program with a TV meteorologist and a National Weather Service meteorologist where he was really blown away by all the computers and technology the TV meteorologist used. So he attended The Ohio State University and during his junior and senior years at OSU he was able to chase tornadoes with fellow students and professors during Spring quarter.
After OSU he landed a job at the NBC station in Dayton, Ohio, doing the morning shift. From there he went to be the first Chief Meteorologist in Traverse City, Michigan. He soon moved to the Big Easy as the weekend meteorologist at WWL-TV, the CBS affiliate on the Gulf Coast. He spent more than three years there, chasing hurricanes and rainstorms that often flooded the city. In 2005 he went back to help out his old station ending up in the middle of the worst hurricane in U.S. history, Hurricane Katrina.
He is an avid outdoor adventurer and the Carolinas provide him and wife, Tammy, and their dog lots of places to explore.
Nate Johnson works at WRAL-TV after working for Baron Services in Huntsville, AL, and KTXS-TV in Abilene, TX. Nate was born in North Carolina, so he really enjoys the geographic and meteorological diversity that the area observes. One of his most memorable assignments was covering Hurricane Floyd. Nate has a BS in Meteorology from North Carolina State University and a BS in computer science also from NCSU. Nate has a number of awards and recognition under his belt including Best Local TV Weather Person in 2005 and 2006 made by the Abilene Reporter-News.
Also joining us from Northeast Tennessee is Mike Cox. He has been a weather nut for eons, so long that he’d sit up until very late when he was little watching The Weather Channel waiting for his dad to come in from one of his long truck driving runs. He graduated from Sullivan East High School in Bluff City, TN, and from there went to East Tennessee State, graduating with a broadcasting-emphasized communication degree in 2002. Soon after, he started the online meteorology program at Mississippi State thanks to prompting from Dave Dierks, the chief meteorologist at WCYB-TV in Bristol, Virginia. In 2006, he got his broadcast meteorology certification from MSU. Eight classes from now, I’ll have my full blown meteorology degree, and be ready to conquer the world. Right now, though, he does weather on radio stations WHCB 91.5 FM and WPWT 870 AM and 100.7 FM. Mike took us to task on the pronunciation of ‘Appalachian’ in a recent WeatherBrains episode.
Other discussions in this weekly podcast include topics like:
The mail bag has been getting some attention, so Email Officer Kevin gives us the full skinny on what is coming into WeatherBrains.
From The Weather Center:
WeatherBrains 101: When we think.
TWIWH: Bill Murray looks back at the week of February 23rd through March 1st. Swamp fires, tornadoes, heavy rain, and heavy snow all made headlines during this week.
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 213:
Picks of the Week:
JB Elliott – Free Edition of News
Bill Murray – Do I need an Umbrella Today?
Brian Peters – Lightning Revealed in Slow Motion
Kevin Selle – ReadyWarn
James Spann – No pick
Nate Johnson – Collaborate Research Between NC State Weather and NWS and Cooperative Institute for Precipitation Systems
Morgan Palmer – NOHRSC
Brad Panovich – Bufkit Warehouse
The WeatherBrains crew includes your host, James Spann, plus other notable geeks like JB Elliott, Kevin Selle, Brian Peters, and Bill Murray. They bring together a wealth of weather knowledge and experience for another fascinating netcast about weather.
Our guest panelist this week is meteorologist Tara Golden from the NWS office in Birmingham, AL. Tara attended University of South Alabama and obtained her BS in Meteorology in 2007. She has worked at the NWS office in Mobile plus the NWS office in Birmingham. She was the recipient of the Exxon Mobil Scholarship Award in 2006. Born and raised in Baileyton, Alabama, the 1993 Blizzard and the 1995 Joppa Tornado influenced her interest in weather. She is one of the authors of the National Weather Service BMX’s annual severe weather preparedness guide. She presented a poster at the National Weather Association Meeting in Norfolk in October, 2009. She also worked with the Alabama Department of Transportation to get tornado warnings displayed on the variable message signs above the interstate in the Birmingham metro area. She is an accomplished amateur photographer and avid football fan – especially Brett Favre.
Dr. Blackwell has published several journal papers on tropical weather systems, including two studies on eyewall wall replacement cycles, low-level wind maxima, and extreme rainfall in landfalling hurricanes. His current research is in intensity assessment and structural aspects of landfalling hurricanes. Dr. Blackwell developed a numerical hurricane track and wind profile model called the Blackwell Over-surface Hurricane Wind (BLOHW) Model. With the help of this model, he has provided real-time hurricane forecasts for up to 100 industrial, educational, and governmental clients through USA’s Coastal Weather Research Center during hurricane emergencies, including Danny (97), Georges (98), Lili (02), Ivan (04), and Katrina (05).
