Archive for January, 2023

WeatherBrains 887: Weather Weenies

WeatherBrains Episode 887 is now online (January 16th, 2023). If you are crazy about weather, this is THE podcast for you!

Tonight’s show focuses on the Penn State Campus Weather Service, which is the oldest and largest student-run forecast organization in the country.  Founded in 1972, it has over 100 active members and provides weather forecasts for 11 regions in Pennsylvania.

Our first Guest WeatherBrain attended Penn State for undergraduate and graduate studies.  He’s a full time meteorologist for American Electric Power based in Columbus, Ohio.  Ed Kieser, welcome!

Our next WeatherBrain is a distinguished Professor of Meteorology at Penn State, specializing in severe storms research.  He is Associate Department Head at Penn State, and oversees the Master’s and PhD programs.  Paul Markowski, welcome!

Next WeatherBrain appearing earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Meteorology from Penn State in 2007 and is the morning meteorologist for KOMO-TV in Seattle.  Kristin Clark, thanks for joining us tonight.

Our next WeatherBrain graduated from PSU in 2011 and previously worked as weekend meteorologist for WABI-TV in Bangor Maine and also worked at WANE-TV in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  He is currently Executive Producer of Weather World.  Rob Lydick, thanks for joining us.

Last but certainly not least, Guest WeatherBrain Jacob is the weekend meteorologist at KFYR-TV in Bismarck, North Dakota.  He graduated from Penn State in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in Meteorology and Atmospheric Science.  Jacob Morse, thanks for coming on tonight!

Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: email@weatherbrains.com.

  • Background on the Penn State Campus Weather Service (05:30)
  • Influence of AccuWeather (43:00)
  • Notable events covered by Penn Staters (01:16:00)
  • Future of weather communications (01:24:00)
  • The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (No segment this week)
  • This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:31:30)
  • National Weather Round-Up (No segment this week)
  • E-Mail Segment (01:33:40)
  • and more!

Web Sites from Episode 887:

PSU Campus Weather Service

Kristin Clark Twitter

Rob Lydick Twitter

Picks of the Week:

Paul Markowski – Reinvigorating and Modernizing Synoptic-Dynamic Meteorology Education, Teaching, Science, and Research – AMS 2023

Kristin Clark – SondeHub Tracker

Jacob Morse – The Children’s Blizzard – January 12, 1888

Ed Kieser – Record high temperature of 65 in Columbus, OH

Rob Lydick – Keystone Mesonet

James Aydelott – Oklahoma defeats Penn State in 1986 Orange Bowl

Jen Narramore – Thomas Grazulis Tweet on SIGTOR

Jen Narramore – Thomas Grazulis Tweet on SIGTOR #2

Rick Smith – Out

Neil Jacobs – Out

Troy Kimmel – Giant “Luecke” Signature

Kim Klockow-McClain – Out

Bill Murray – Foghorn

James Spann – Powerful laser can redirect lightning strikes

The WeatherBrains crew includes your host, James Spann, plus other notable geeks like Troy Kimmel, Bill Murray, Rick Smith, James Aydelott, Jen Narramore, Dr. Neil Jacobs, and Dr. Kim Klockow-McClain. They bring together a wealth of weather knowledge and experience for another fascinating podcast about weather.

WeatherBrains 886: Poaching People From The Bar

WeatherBrains Episode 886 is now online (January 9th, 2023). If you are crazy about weather, this is THE podcast for you!

Tonight we come to you live from the 2023 AMS Annual Meeting in Denver Colorado with a number of special guests dropping in!

Our first guest is a fabulous Research Scientist working in Artificial Intelligence.  He’s a Machine Learning Scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research. He received his Ph.D. in meteorology from the University of Oklahoma in 2016 and completed an Advanced Study Program postdoctoral fellowship at NCAR in 2018. Dr. David John Gagne, welcome!

Next, stoping by is a very special guest discussing storm chasing.  She earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Geography and Meteorology from Virginia Tech.   She previously worked at the Weather Channel, and now resides in Washington, DC at works at NBC.  She also owns her own business in the private weather enterprise.  Kathryn Prociv, welcome!

Next joining on the show is an American oceanographer who is a retired Rear Admiral in the United States Navy.  He previously served as the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere within the US Department of Commerce.  He was Acting Administrator for NOAA until February 2019.  Dr. Timothy Gallaudet, welcome!

Also appearing are Emergency Managers David Hogg and Ashley Morris.  Ashley is currently a local level Emergency Manager in the Baltimore region.  She studied atmospheric science and geophysics at Texas Tech.  David works at the University of Oklahoma and previously was the EMA Director for Kansas State University.  Thanks for joining us David and Ashley!

In addition, popping in is the National Ocean Service Coastal Modeling Portfolio Manager.  She studies subjects from microscopic algae to storm surge.  She also previously was a storm chaser and even appeared on Mythbusters.  Dr. Tracey Fanara, welcome!

Joining us next is someone deeply involved with the AMS Policy Program for a number of years.  She is a professor at Texas Tech University and works at the COMET program.  Dr. Liz Cullen, thanks for dropping by!

Next stopping by is a meteorologist at Vaisala.  Vaisala runs the National Lighting Detection Network in the United States and the Global Lightning Dataset GLD360.  Chris Vagasky, welcome!

Program Analyst and former Policy Advisor at NOAA Charlie Powell also stops by to chat.

Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: email@weatherbrains.com.

  • Implementing AI into Weather and Climate Modeling (08:00)
  • Turning point for women in the meteorology field (22:00)
  • NOAA experimentation with drones (31:00)
  • Connections between Emergency Management and the meteorology field (40:00)
  • National Ocean Service explained (53:00)
  • Sources of lightning data around the U.S. (01:09:00)
  • The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:27:20)
  • This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:29:18)
  • National Weather Round-Up (No segment this week)
  • E-Mail Segment (No segment this week)
  • and more!

Web Sites from Episode 886:

2023 AMS Annual Meeting

Dr. David John Gagne Twitter

Kathryn Prociv Twitter

Tim Gallaudet Twitter

Dr. Tracy Fanara Twitter

Chris Vagasky Twitter

Strikenet

Picks of the Week:

James Aydelott – CHP Fresno Tweet on Landslide

Jen Narramore – Delhi-Transylvania, LA (Inverness Part 1) F5 Tornado – February 21, 1971

Rick Smith – Foghorn

Neil Jacobs – Foghorn

Troy Kimmel – Out

Kim Klockow-McClain –

Bill Murray – Out

James Spann – Lake Jordan Tornado 1/3/2023

The WeatherBrains crew includes your host, James Spann, plus other notable geeks like Troy Kimmel, Bill Murray, Rick Smith, James Aydelott, Jen Narramore, Dr. Neil Jacobs, and Dr. Kim Klockow-McClain. They bring together a wealth of weather knowledge and experience for another fascinating podcast about weather.