WeatherBrains Episode 1073 is now online (August 10th, 2026). If you are crazy about weather, this is THE podcast for you!
This week’s WeatherBrains episode is all about Hawaii.
Joining us tonight as Guest WeatherBrain is the Chief Meteorologist at Hawaii News Now. She has given over 15 years of service and has provided trusted coverage for the Hawaiian Islands including tropical cyclones, earthquakes, tsunamis, fires, and other natural disasters. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Atmospheric Ocean Science at San Fransisco State University. Jennifer Robbins, welcome to WeatherBrains!
Tonight’s Guest Panelist is the Warning Coordination Meteorologist (WCM) at the NWS office in Honolulu. He works Statewide with a wide variety of partners and earned his Bachelor of Science in Atmospheric Sciences from the University of Michigan in 1998. He started at NWS Marquette MI in 1999, and has worked with the NWS Honolulu since 2006, and the WCM since 2017. John Bravender, thanks for joining us tonight!
Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: email@weatherbrains.com.
- Jennifer’s early weather background (10:00)
- John’s early weather background (15:30)
- What exactly is it like to forecast for the State of Hawaii? (18:00)
- Difficulties forecasting with Hawaiian microclimates (20:00)
- Employee organization at NWS Honolulu (25:30)
- Torrential rainfall and major flooding in Hawaii caused by Kona lows (33:00)
- What exactly is a Kona low? (42:30)
- What happened to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center? (49:00)
- 1992’s Hurricane Iniki (50:00)
- Introduction of chickens to Hawaii in the wake of Hurricane Iniki (53:30)
- Fire weather threats and how it has changed in recent years (58:30)
- Tsunami risks and concerns in Hawaii (01:07:45)
- Warning protocol in the State of Hawaii regarding tsunamis and severe weather (01:19:30)
- The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:25:30)
- This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:27:30)
- E-Mail Segment (01:29:00)
- Sneak peak at future WeatherBrains episodes! (01:31:30)
- and more!
Web Sites from Episode 1073:
Hawaii News Now First Alert Weather
Honolulu, HI NWS Forecast Office
Picks of the Week:
John Bravender – Homeowner’s Handbook to Prepare for Natural Hazards
James Aydelott – Okie James on Facebook: In 1936, the start of a truly hideous stretch of never-seen-since Summer weather in Tulsa
Jen Narramore – Dyer County Historical Society
Rick Smith – Out
Troy Kimmel – Out
Kim Klockow-McClain – Population structure and hybridisation in a population of Hawaiian feral chickens
John Gordon – LoriGraceWX Monsoon Photography
Bill Murray – Out
James Spann – Proposed changes to WPC’s Excessive Rainfall Outlook
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.
