WeatherBrains Episode 1086 is now online (November 9th, 2026). If you are crazy about weather, this is THE podcast for you!

This week’s WeatherBrains episode is all about the 11/11/11 Blue Norther, the OTUS Project, a recap of the Mid-Atlantic Severe Weather Conference, and more!  Thanks for listening!

Guest Panelist for Episode 1086 is George Mason University Atmospheric Science student Mel Kent.  Graduating in 2027, she has a strong interest in severe weather and wildfires.  Mel, welcome!  Very special Guest WeatherBrains Louis Tucker, CEO and lead pilot of OTUS Project, as well as Nelson Tucker, OTUS Project Chief Science Officer, join us tonight.  Tanner Beard, Chief Engineer and Secondary Pilot, as well as Louis Tucker Sr. (Senior OTUS Project advisor) also joins us as Guest WeatherBrains.  Welcome!

Tom Reaugh joins the Panel tonight as Guest WeatherBrain.  Beginning his career at the NWS office in Garden City, Kansas, he was transferred to Columbia, Missouri.  After both offices closed, he then moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana.  Eventually, he then moved to NWS Louisville as Lead Forecaster.  Tom, welcome to WeatherBrains!

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

• Tom Ray’s early background in weather (08:30)
• 11/11/11 Blue Norther event overview (09:30)
• Record-setting Oklahoma City 24-hour 66 degree temperature drop during Blue Norther (23:00)
• Advertiser involvement with 1911 cold weather forecasts (31:30)
• First indications of 1911 Blue Norther in Montana (32:00)
• November 2019 Mobile AL temperature drop event (37:45)
• 11/11/11 fatalities analysis (38:00)
• Sensationalist reporting in early 1900s (40:00)
• OTUS Project overview/background (42:30)
• 2026 notable OTUS Project events (51:30)
• 2026 tornado season challenges (56:30)
• Thoughts/opinions on storm chaser convergence dangers (59:00)
• Changes in storm chaser demographics in today’s economy (01:06:00)
• OTUS Project flying issues with debris in a tornado vortex (01:10:00)
• Using drones to chase tornadoes (01:18:00)
• Research/analysis highlights of OTUS Project (01:30:00)
• Mel Kent’s early weather background (01:46:00)
• The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:42:00)
• This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:44:00)
• E-Mail Segment (No segment this week – stay tuned!)
• Sneak peak at future WeatherBrains episodes! (01:50:00)
• and more!

Web Sites from Episode 1086:  

The OTUS Project

Alabama Weather Network

Picks of the Week:

Nelson Tucker – “Memoirs of Effort to Unlock the Mystery of Severe Storms during the 50 Years, 1942-1992,” by Fujita, T. Theodore, Wind Research Laboratory Research Paper Number 239, 1994.

Louis Tucker – NOAA weather modeling hits key milestone with Rapid Refresh Forecast System debut

Tanner Beard – SpaceX will launch epic double-catch Starship Flight 15 test mission on Nov. 13

Mel Kent – Gordon Lightfoot “Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald”

Tom Reaugh – Radiosonde Museum of North America

James Aydelott – Comparing Disaster Subcultures: Weather Hazard Partner Perspectives Across Tornado, Hurricane, and Wildfire Regions

Jen Narramore – Tornado in La Plata, MD November 9th, 1926

Rick Smith – The Great Blue Norther of November 11th, 1911

Troy Kimmel – Foghorn

Kim Klockow-McClain – Foghorn

Bill Murray – Out

John Gordon – Alan Gerard (Balanced Weather) on Substack

James Spann – AguaceroWx

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.