WeatherBrains Episode 1049 is now online (February 23rd, 2026). If you are crazy about weather, this is THE podcast for you!

Tonight’s show is all about radar and reflectivity.  Guest WeatherBrain Charles Kuster works in the radar division of NSSL.  He started his career at the OU Cooperative Institute.  Then, moved to NSSL and has been there ever since.  He attended the University of Oklahoma, where he completed his Bachelor’s degree in 2012 and eventually his Master’s in 2014. Charles was a Graduate Research Assistant with OU CIMMS before securing a position as Research Associate in January of this year.  Charles, welcome to WeatherBrains!

Second Guest WeatherBrain Jami Boettcher came to CIWRO/NSSL after retiring from the National Weather Service, comprised of about 10 years in operations, and 25 years as an Instructor for the Warning Decision Training Division. Her first area of expertise as a trainer focused on the WSR-88D system updates, with the most significant being the conversion to dual polarization. Developing and delivering training that focused on the needs of the NWS operational community was always the priority. Her second area of training expertise was on the cognitive domain of NWS warning operations and its three components: science, technology, and human factors.  Jamie, welcome to the show!

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

• Side lobe contamination (16:00)
• ZDR column radar signature (19:30)
• Precursor radar signatures (25:30)
• Dual-polarization radar general concepts and variables (27:00)
• Correlation coefficient definition (28:30)
• KDP/Specific Differential Phase (29:30)
• Radar spectrum width (43:00)
• Mitigating side lobe contamination? (55:00)
• Difference between WSR-88D and phased array radar (01:05:00)
• Well-known radar gaps and the ensuing issues (01:10:30)
• X-Band radar vs WSR-88D (01:12:00)
• The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:27:20)
• This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:29:05)
• E-Mail Segment (01:31:00)
• and more!

Web Sites from Episode 1049:  

Alabama Weather Network

Picks of the Week:

Charles Kuster – NOAA NSSL

Jami Boettcher – NWS/OCLO Warning Decision Training Division

James Aydelott – Out

Jen Narramore – Record snowstorm for Providence, Rhode Island

Rick Smith – Dual-Polarization Radar Training for NWS Partners

Troy Kimmel – NWS Weather and Hazards Data Viewer

Kim Klockow-McClain – Foghorn

John Gordon – Journal of Operational Meteorology “Operational Diagnostic Applications of Isentropic Analysis” by Louis Uccellini

Bill Murray – Out

James Spann – PRESSURE official trailer – Releases May 29th

James Spann – CIRA on X: “May NE US locations received over a foot of snow since yesterday morning due to powerful blizzard and NorEaster….”

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.