WeatherBrains 225: Weather Folklore
WeatherBrains Episode 225 is now online (May 18, 2010). If you are crazy about weather, this is THE netcast audio program for you!
WeatherBrains - May 18, 2010Our special Weather Brain tonight is a rerun from episode 200, Dick Goddard from Fox 8 in Cleveland, OH. Born and raised in Northeast Ohio, Meteorologist Dick Goddard has been delivering the forecast for over 40 years in Cleveland. He received a bachelor of fine arts degree from Kent State University in 1960 after having served four years with the U.S. Air Force during the Korean conflict. During his military career, he was initially assigned to the Severe Storm Forecast Center at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma. He then moved to the 6th Weather Squadron’s mobile unit. This led to an assignment with the Atomic Energy Commission for the first full-yield hydrogen bomb test (Operation Castle) in the Pacific Islands.
After his discharge, Dick entered Kent State University, while at the same time working for the National Weather Service (then known as the Weather Bureau) at the Akron-Canton Regional Airport. It was after doing radio weather broadcasts that he decided to audition for an available position as on-air meteorologist at Cleveland’s KYW-TV in 1961. While at KYW, Dick shared in meteorological history when he flew with the United States Navy Hurricane Hunters on the first low-level, nighttime penetration of a hurricane. Her name was Flora and she was one of the deadliest hurricanes on record.
An avid sports fan and athlete, Dick won four letters in football while at Green High and also played freshman football at Kent State. For nearly four decades, he has been the statistician for Cleveland Browns radio broadcasts.
Dick has sung with the Cleveland Pops on many occasions and he has also performed the national anthem at numerous ceremonies.
Dick is also known throughout northeast Ohio for his annual “Woollybear Festival” — Ohio’s largest single-day festival (drawing more than 100,000 people each year) — and his concern for animals. Dick has presented dog- and cat-adoption programs for over 25 years.
And our guest panelist is Michael Wilhelm. Mike is a weather enthusiast and ABC3340 Skywatcher who maintains the WeatherBrains Facebook fan page. Mike is an Alabama fan as well as a baseball fan.
Other discussions in this weekly podcast include topics like:
Our readers keep the mail bag hopping so Kevin brings a summary of what we’ve been hearing. How about a kudzu story – and kudzu is contributing to global warming.
From The Weather Center:
WeatherBrains 101: Some great cloud pictures whirling around the Internet prompted a question as to whether the pictures were real. They are real and are lenticular clouds. So the topic for the evening is that cloud and how they occur.
TWIWH: Bill Murray looks back at the week of May 19th. May 20th is a big date for one town.
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 225:
Woolybear Festival, Vermillion, OH
Picks of the Week:
Dr. Tim Coleman – YouTube video
JB Elliott – Gets the horn ! !
Mike Wilhelm – Hurricane Katrina response
Bill Murray – Mt. St. Helens Anniversary
Brian Peters – Cloud Watching from Space
Kevin Selle – Hail in Oklahoma City pool
James Spann – Farm in Twister gets hit by one
The WeatherBrains crew includes your host, James Spann, plus other notable geeks like JB Elliott, Kevin Selle, Dr. Tim Coleman, Bill Murray, and Brian Peters. They bring together a wealth of weather knowledge and experience for another fascinating netcast about weather.
