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WeatherBrains

WeatherBrains

By: Big Brains Media LLC
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The world's oldest and greatest weather podcast. Join weather geeks James Spann, Bill Murray, Kim Klockow-McClain, Dr. Neil Jacobs, Rick Smith, Aubrey Urbanowicz, Jen Narramore, and Troy Kimmel along with some of the most brilliant minds in the weather enterprise every week!2022 Big Brains Media, LLC Earth Sciences Science
Episodes
  • WeatherBrains 1065: Smells Like Texas In Here
    Jun 13 2026

    This week's WeatherBrains episode is all about Dallas-Fort Worth TX TV Market.

    We are excited to have Chief Meteorologist Rick Mitchell from NBC 5 and David Finfrock, NBC 5 Senior Meteorologist, who just surpassed 50 years on TV. This is third of many upcoming WeatherBrains episodes focusing on various media weather markets around the country. On episode 1030 last October we focused on Kansas City with Bryan Busby and Joe Lauria. On episode 1055 in March, we focused on Tampa Bay with Mike Clay and Brian LaMarre. Rick and David will discuss forecasting severe storms with and without the dry line, winter weather, Blue Northers, the Dallas Fort Worth metroplex major urban heat island and much more!

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

    • David's educational background and early years (06:30)
    • Rick's early years in meteorology and journey to Oklahoma City (08:30)
    • Compare/contrast Oklahoma City and Dallas/Ft. Worth TV market (11:00)
    • Dallas/Ft. Worth area notable weather events in recent years (16:00)
    • 1980 Heat Wave (21:30)
    • Paper map throwbacks to an earlier era in broadcast meteorology (39:00)
    • Changes after Delta 191 and advent of installation of terminal dopplers at airports (42:30)
    • Reflections on the May 3rd, 1999 Oklahoma tornado tragedy (47:30)
    • Cedar Hill, Texas tornado of 1856 (50:30)
    • Exploding population in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and increasing weather hazard risk (58:00)
    • Rick's social media strategies now and moving forward (01:20:00)
    • The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (No segment this week - stay tuned!)
    • This Week in Tornado History With Jen (No segment this week - stay tuned!)
    • E-Mail Segment (No segment this week - stay tuned!)
    • and more!

    Web Sites from Episode 1065:

    David Finfrock Instagram

    Alabama Weather Network

    Picks of the Week:

    David Finfrock - Harold Taft's World War 2 legacy

    Rick Mitchell - Great Storm of 1975

    James Aydelott - Softball sized hail photo from 1995

    Jen Narramore - Andrew Pritchard on X: Illinois tornadoes 6/11/26

    Rick Smith - Out

    Troy Kimmel - Delta Flight 191 Flashback Special (1985)

    Kim Klockow-McClain - Classification of Use Cases for Ensemble Weather Forecasts

    John Gordon - What is a "panhandle hooker" and why is it called that?

    Bill Murray - Out

    James Spann - Google Weather Lab: Cyclones (Preview)

    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.

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    1 hr and 47 mins
  • WeatherBrains 1064: Drank My Pets
    Jun 9 2026

    This week's WeatherBrains episode is all flash flooding.

    Our First GuestWeatherBrain is the President of Project ENKI. This project is working to revolutionize flood intelligence and community preparedness through advanced modeling, visualization tools and education designed to help people better understand their flood risk and take proper action. Brad Newman, welcome to WeatherBrains!

    Second Guest WeatherBrain for tonight's episode is the technological backbone of Project ENKI. She's a key leader in the science modeling and visualization work behind the project's flood intelligence mission, helping turn complex flood data into information communities can understand and use. Dr. Tracy Fanara, welcome to WeatherBrains!

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

    • What is Project ENKI? (07:30)
    • Dr. Fanara's background and early life (12:30)
    • Story behind the name ENKI (Emergency Network Turning Knowledge Into Actionable Intelligence) (19:30)
    • Influencing weather events as a precursor to starting the project (22:00)
    • Unity Alliance Foundation's ability to communicate effectively (42:30)
    • Issues/difficulty with real-time flash flooding analysis (49:00)
    • National Water Model and what makes it revolutionary (55:30)
    • Actionable information to improve flooding forecasts and warning process (01:01:30)
    • Reflecting on July 2025 Texas flooding tragedy (01:07:00)
    • Communication issues with complicated dual/triple hazard events (01:20:00)
    • Reflecting on 2024's Hurricane Helene (01:23:00)
    • The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:33:00)
    • This Week in Tornado History With Jen (No segment this week - stay tuned!)
    • E-Mail Segment (No segment this week - stay tuned!)
    • and more!

    Web Sites from Episode 1064:

    Project Enki

    Unity Alliance Foundation USA

    National Water Model

    Alabama Weather Network

    Picks of the Week:

    Dr. Tracy Fanara - World Ocean Day

    James Aydelott - Lithuanian tornado video

    James Aydelott - June 8th, 1974 Tornado Outbreak and Flash Floods

    Jen Narramore - Out

    Rick Smith - Out

    Troy Kimmel - SounderPy Sounding Analysis

    Kim Klockow-McClain - Last Ones Left In A Toxic Kansas Town

    John Gordon - PRESSURE official trailer

    Bill Murray - June 8th 1966 Topeka Tornado

    James Spann - Alabama Weather Network Live Storm Coverage

    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.

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 47 mins
  • WeatherBrains 1063: Hodgepodge City
    1 hr and 38 mins
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