WeatherBrains 999: I’m Muting As Fast As I Can

WeatherBrains Episode 999 is now online (March 10th, 2025). If you are crazy about weather, this is THE podcast for you!

Tonight’s Guest WeatherBrain is a veteran meteorologist at Bluewater Forecasting in Montgomery, Alabama.  He’s got almost five decades of experience in the field, and formerly served as the Chief Meteorologist at WSFA-TV in Montgomery for 34 years, before transitioning to radio.  Rich Thomas, welcome to WeatherBrains!

Rich Thomas Weather Network – Apps on Google Play

Brooks Garner of FOX 35 TV in Orlando also stops by to discuss the tornado that made a direct hit on their studios on March 10th, where he covered the tornado live on air and warned his viewers, and in this case, his co-workers!  Brooks, thanks for hanging out with us.

Brooks Garner | FOX 35 Orlando

Also, Bruce Jones joins us to discuss the importance of NOAA Weather Radio and its integration in order to save lives.  Welcome back, Bruce!

NWS Jacksonville on X: "Today we celebrated the 35+ years ...

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

  • Tornado hits FOX 35 TV studio in Orlando (06:30)
  • Strong unexpected tornado hits Orlando in area that wasn’t outlooked/forecasted for severe weather (12:00)
  • Disc jockey/radio, and improving communication skills in order to transition to broadcast meteorology (25:45)
  • Looking back at April 3-4, 1974 tornado outbreak (32:00)
  • Major changes in broadcast television in the last 35 years (38:00)
  • March 1st, 2007 Enterprise tornado analysis/When do we send children home from school during severe weather threats? (45:00)
  • 4/27/2011 modeling analysis/Morning QLCS (47:00)
  • Looking back at 2004 Hurricane Ivan’s second landfall on Gulf Coast with same name (58:30)
  • A day in the life of Rich Thomas (01:00:30)
  •  NWS layoff rumors (01:35:30)
  • The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:15:40)
  • This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:18:20)
  • E-Mail Segment (01:20:15)
  • National Weather Round-Up
  • and more!

Web Sites from Episode 999:

Midland Weather Radio

Rich Thomas on X

Rich Thomas Weather Network

Picks of the Week:

Bruce Jones – “The New Richmond tornado of 1899: A modern Herculaneum” by Anna P Medley and Michael G Corenthal

James Aydelott – Where Have the EF5s Gone? A Closer Look at the “Drought” of the Most Violent Tornadoes in the United States” by Anthony W. Lyza, Harold E. Brooks, and Makenzie J. Krocak

Jen Narramore – Tornado Hits Fox 35 Orlando on X

Rick Smith – Out

Troy Kimmel – Everything Weather App by Cory Mottice

Kim Klockow-McClain – Super Tuesday Tornado Outbreak of February 5-6, 2008

Bill Murray – Foghorn

James Spann – National Hurricane Center Products and Services/Update for 2025 Hurricane Season

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

WeatherBrains 998: Bangers and Mash

WeatherBrains Episode 998 is now online (March 3rd, 2025). If you are crazy about weather, this is THE podcast for you!

Tonight’s Guest WeatherBrain is a retired meteorologist with thirty-five years of experience at the NWS.  That includes twenty-six years as a SOO, and he’s been a leader with forecaster training, mesoscale analysis and radar interpretation, which helps NWS offices improve proving warning decision-making and lead times for severe weather hazards.  Pete Wolf, welcome to WeatherBrains!

NWS Jacksonville on X: "Today we celebrated the 35+ years ...

Also, Bruce Jones joins us to discuss the importance of NOAA Weather Radio and its integration in order to save lives.  Welcome back, Bruce!

NWS Jacksonville on X: "Today we celebrated the 35+ years ...

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

  • Critical Fire Danger for several areas around the country (05:15)
  • Petersburg, VA F4 tornado/outbreak on August 6th, 1993 (9:45)
  • Key changes seen with Doppler radar/Warning systems since the early 1990s (13:45)
  • WoFS (Warn on Forecast System) (15:25)
  • Appreciating the important tools of hodographs and soundings (18:00)
  • SW Oklahoma sounding analysis (Live on 03/03/25) (21:15)
  • Reconciling SRH in QLCS situations (28:00)
  • Tools needed to downscale warnings (43:15)
  • No relation between VIL (Vertically Integrated Liquid) and tornado formation (56:15)
  • Least-understood radar signatures by meteorologists (01:09:00)
  • Improving efficiency of operations in the NWS (01:13:30)
  • AI-generated weather broadcasters and battling automation (01:20:00)
  • NOAA banned from having its own app (01:29:00)
  • The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (No segment this week)
  • This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:35:22)
  • E-Mail Segment (01:37:00)
  • National Weather Round-Up
  • and more!

Web Sites from Episode 998:

Midland Weather Radio

My Monster Storms/Pete Wolf on X

Monster Storms Main Page

Picks of the Week:

Bruce Jones – “But Wait … There’s More!: Tighten Your Abs, Make Millions, and Learn How the $100 Billion Infomercial Industry Sold Us Everything But the Kitchen Sink”

James Aydelott – Forecast Sounding From SWOK

Jen Narramore – NWS Louisville on X: Final Forecast Discussion from Meteorologist in Charge John Gordon

Rick Smith – Out

Troy Kimmel – Roswell, NW extreme winds

Kim Klockow-McClain – SPC Severe Thunderstorm Forecasting Video Lecture Series

Bill Murray – Foghorn

James Spann – Director of NWS Louisville retires after nearly four decades

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