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WeatherBrains


Longest running weather podcast in the universe. Eleven years in production, James Spann and a group of private sector and NWS meteorologists gather around the digital mahogany table to talk about their favorite subject, with some great guests.

Dec 12, 2023

Tonight's show is heading across the pond to talk tornadoes in Great Britain and Ireland.  Also a hot topic is the severe weather event on 12/9 across the Southern U. S.

Our first Guest WeatherBrain is a damage site investigator for TORRO.  She's been an active member of that organization for 17 years. TORRO’s most productive area of research involves members conducting tornado damage site investigations. Originally a satellite design engineer, she is an enthusiastic amateur meteorologist who tutors students in math for a living. Obsessed with both hiking and tornadoes, tornado site investigations provide an ideal opportunity to combine her interests. Although she lived in Ohio for 18 months as a teenager, she is yet to witness a tornado, though she did have practice in taking shelter in the basement when the tornado sirens went off.  She lives in Hampshire with her husband.  Sarah Horton, it's an honor to have you on the show!

Tonight's Second Guest WeatherBrain is a Senior Weather Risk Manager at DTN. He has worked in the organisation (formally MeteoGroup in Europe) for over 23 years, as both a shift forecaster and a line manager. Paul has been a member of both TORRO and the Royal Meteorological Society since the early 1990s, having been interested in weather since an early age. Paul is currently Head of TORRO – the Tornado and Storm Research Organisation. He has been storm chasing in the USA 19 times and has witnessed many severe storms and tornadoes. He lives in Reading with his partner Helen (also a meteorologist), and their young daughter, Alana. Paul is a Chartered Meteorologist, as awarded by the Royal Meteorological Society.  Paul Knightley, thanks so much for dropping by tonight.

Also joining us as Guest Panelist is show regular SOO Kevin Laws from the NWS Birmingham.  He's been busy doing storm surveys the last couple of days after the weekend's severe weather across the South.  It's always a pleasure to have you stop by, Kevin.

Last but certainly not least, joining us tonight as Guest WeatherBrain No.3 is the long team lead forecaster at the NWS Nashville TN.  He's warned there since 2011 and next year marks 20 years of service in the NWS.  He received his Bachelors Degree in Meteorology at Texas A&M and his Master's Degree from Mississippi State.  He specializes in radar and warning operations.  Sam Shamburger, it's an honor to have you on tonight!

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

  • 12/9/23 Middle TN tornadoes/analysis (08:45)
  • Components/comparison of a damage survey in US vs UK (21:00)
  • 12/10/21 vs 12/9/23 (27:00)
  • Why doesn't the general public take Severe Thunderstorm Warnings seriously?  (38:00)
  • What is TORRO?  (01:01:00)
  • Differences in European tornadoes vs North America (01:02:00)
  • Waterspout events in UK (01:14:45)
  • Scale for tornadoes developed by TORRO/T-scale (01:20:00)
  • Notable Great Britain/Ireland tornado events (01:23:00)
  • What is the RMS and how can you get involved?  (01:39:30)
  • The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:43:58)
  • This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:46:16)
  • National Weather Round-Up
  • E-Mail Segment (No segment this week)
  • and more!