Archive for January, 2021

WeatherBrains 783: I Broke His Clicker

WeatherBrains Episode 783 is now online (January 18th, 2021). If you are crazy about weather, this is THE netcast audio program for you!

Robert H. (Bob) Johns, a preeminent severe local storms forecaster and researcher, passed away on October 26, 2020, four days before his 78th birthday. He worked for more than 30 years at the National Weather Service (NWS) Storm Prediction Center (SPC) in Norman, OK and its predecessor, the National Severe Storms Forecast Center (NSSFC) in Kansas City, MO.  Tonight, we are joined by two gentlemen who knew Bob well and worked along side him.  We come to celebrate his life and work.

Tonight’s Guest WeatherBrain is the Lead Forecaster in the Operations Branch at the Storm Prediction Center.  He appeared on show 410 in December 2013.  Roger Edwards, welcome back to the show!

Tonight’s second Guest WeatherBrain retired as a Chief of the SPC’s Science Support Branch in July 2018 after an amazing 46 year career.   He was previously on show 621 in December 2017.  Steve Weiss, welcome back!

Also joining us as Guest Panelist is the new morning meteorologist joining Aubrey at WHSV-TV in Harrisonburg, VA.  John Stevens, welcome to the show!

Other discussions in this weekly podcast include topics like:

• Value of hand surface upper-air analysis (46:00)
• Development 0f radar reflectivity in real time in early ’80s (1:00:20)
• A look back at teletypes (1:07:40)
• Very first PDS tornado watch (1:31:32)
• The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice
• This Week in Tornado History with Jen
• National Weather Round-Up
• and more!

Our email officer is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners.

 Web Sites from Episode 783:

John Stevens Facebook

Picks of the Week:

Roger Edwards – “A Forecaster’s Story: Robert H. Johns” by John M. Lewis

Roger Edwards – The 1925 Tri-State Tornado Damage Path and Associated Storm System

Roger Edwards – John Lewis biographical paper on Bob Johns

Roger Edwards – The Bob Johns northwest-flow and derecho papers on the SPC Publications page

Steve Weiss – Northwest Flow Severe Weather Outbreaks Part 1

Steve Weiss – Northwest Flow Severe Weather Outbreaks Part 2

Jen Narramore – KMVT News Tweet

Nate Johnson – Name Michigan snowplows

Troy Kimmel – Aviation Weather Center

Kim Klockow-McClain – Out

Bill Murray – “Weather Forecasting Handbook” by Tim Vasquez

James Spann – Time Line of SELS and SPC

Aubrey Urbanowicz – Chris Vagasky Tweet

The WeatherBrains crew includes your host, James Spann, plus other notable geeks like Troy Kimmel, Bill Murray, Aubrey Urbanowicz, Jen Narramore, Nate Johnson, and Kim Klockow-McClain. They bring together a wealth of weather knowledge and experience for another fascinating netcast about weather.