Carolina Weather Group

Prepare for a massive temperature drop!

This week on the Carolina Weather Group, James and Frank recap a busy week of wintry weather in the Carolinas—including the bizarre "man-made" snow flurries generated by steam from local power plants!In this episode:Snow Recap: A look back at the recent snowfall in Maggie Valley, Boone, and the Virginia border."Nuclear Snow": How steam from the Catawba Nuclear Station turned into flurries over Charlotte.The Forecast: Tracking an Alberta Clipper for Friday and a major Arctic cold front arriving Sunday that will drop Monday morning temperatures into the teens and single digits.Christmas Outlook: Early thoughts on whether we will see a White Christmas or a warm-up.Radio History: A deep dive into the legendary WBT 1110 AM moving to the FM dial. Frank and James "nerd out" on the science of radio signal propagation, ground waves vs. sky waves, and the history of clear channel stations.#weather #northcarolina #southcarolina #ncwx #scwx #podcast

Protect your home from winter weather! ❄️In this Carolina Weather Group interview, meteorologist Rachel Gauthier from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) shares expert advice on how to prepare your house for freezing temperatures, ice, snow, hail, and winter storms in the Carolinas.We cover simple, affordable steps you can take right now to keep warm air inside, protect your roof, avoid frozen pipes, and prevent costly water damage from ice dams and winter precipitation. Whether you’re a homeowner or renting a property, these winter home-safety tips can save you thousands of dollars and hours of stress later.

In this week’s episode of the Carolina Weather Group, we revisit one of the most catastrophic weather events in modern U.S. history: the April 27, 2011 tornado outbreak — a generational severe weather disaster that produced more than 60 tornadoes in Alabama alone and altered the course of severe weather communication forever. We’re hear from ABC 33/40 Chief Meteorologist James Spann, who takes us behind the scenes of that day — the forecasting, the wall-to-wall coverage, the failures in communication infrastructure, and the lessons that still shape severe weather messaging today.But this year’s anniversary carries new significance.⭐ Special Segment: A Newly Discovered EF-2 Tornado — Identified 14 Years LaterAs part of ongoing research into the April 27, 2011 outbreak, meteorologists have just confirmed another previously undocumented EF-2 tornado that occurred during the event. This additional tornado — uncovered nearly two decades later — highlights how massive, chaotic, and difficult to analyze the outbreak

The Carolinas just wrapped up one of the warmest late-November stretches on record — but at the same time, social media has exploded with snow hype ahead of Thanksgiving. So what’s real, and what’s just another single-model-run gone viral?In this week’s Carolina Weather Group episode, James Brierton, Sam Walker, and Frank Strait break down:

The Northern Lights are back—for the second night in a row—and the Carolina Weather Group is tracking every moment! From a G4 geomagnetic storm to aurora sightings as far south as Charleston and the Florida Panhandle, the team breaks down what’s happening above our heads and why this solar cycle is producing such rare displays for the Carolinas.

We’re celebrating one year since our milestone 500th episode — and for the first time ever, both parts of our on-location special from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) are airing together as one extended encore presentation!Join the Carolina Weather Group team — James Brierton, Jared Smith, Dan Whitaker, Candace Jordan, and producer Tim Pounds — as we take you behind the scenes at IBHS in Chester County, South Carolina, where science meets the elements.

Hurricane Melissa has joined the record books with 185 mph winds, devastating Jamaica, Cuba, and The Bahamas before turning toward Bermuda. On this week’s Carolina Weather Group, we discuss Melissa’s Category 5 strength, new video from inside the storm’s eye, and the Outer Banks’ ongoing home collapses — five more this week in Buxton and Avon.Our guest Peter Forister joins to unveil his new “Most Memorable Hurricanes” map, a fascinating look at which storms stand out most in the Carolinas’ collective memory, county by county. Plus, he gives a final fall foliage color update as the leaves peak across the Southeast.Later in the show, we preview the Mid-Atlantic Severe Weather Conference with organizer Chris White, highlighting emergency management topics, storm chasing stories, and meteorology education.

...EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CATEGORY 5 MELISSA ABOUT TO MAKE LANDFALL IN JAMAICA... ...CATASTROPHIC WINDS, FLASH FLOODING, AND STORM SURGE OCCURRING ONTHE ISLAND...Breaking coverage as Category 5 Hurricane Melissa makes landfall in Jamaica with catastrophic winds near 185 mph, storm surge up to 13 feet, and rainfall totals exceeding 30 inches.Join James Brierton of the Carolina Weather Group and Dr. Michael Brennan, Director of the National Hurricane Center, for the latest official update as the eye of Melissa crosses the island. Brennan details the immediate threats—life-threatening winds, flash flooding, landslides, and complete structural failure near the eyewall—while urging all residents to shelter in place.Inside this video:Real-time analysis of Melissa’s approach and eyewall structureLive update from Dr. Brennan on rainfall, wind, and storm-surge impacts across Jamaica, Cuba, and the BahamasRare NOAA Hurricane Hunter footage from inside Melissa’s eyewall showing the “stadium effect” and near-200 mph windsDi

It’s a wild weather week across the Carolinas!

Two of the South’s most dedicated storm chasers, Brett Adair and Chris Jackson, join the Carolina Weather Group fresh off their trip to North Carolina’s Outer Banks, where a powerful nor’easter battered the coastline.They share what it was like witnessing the crashing surf, coastal flooding, and erosion first-hand — and what happened when NC 12 closed, trapping them on Hatteras Island as the storm raged. From dramatic scenes of homes teetering over the Atlantic to the tense moments wondering which structures might fall next, Brett and Chris recount the raw power of nature and the resilience of coastal communities.

A powerful new coastal storm is taking shape off the Carolinas — and it’s bringing major flooding risks, pounding surf, and strong winds to the coast just days after king tides and ongoing erosion.

On this week’s Carolina Weather Group (Episode 559 – October 1, 2025), James Brierton, Frank Strait, Sam Walker, and Joseph Naven unpack the federal government shutdown — and what it really means for the National Weather Service, NOAA, and hurricane operations across the Southeast.The team discusses:What services will continue during the shutdown (like life-saving forecasts and warnings)Why NOAA’s social media and hurricane hunter updates are temporarily pausedHow Hurricane Imelda’s unexpected right turn spared most of the CarolinasBreaking news from the Outer Banks, where at least seven homes have collapsed into the Atlantic near BuxtonHow the shutdown complicates cleanup efforts on Cape Hatteras National SeashoreA look back one year after Hurricane Helene, with updates from Asheville’s River Arts District and CSX rail repairs across western North CarolinaPlus: NASCAR’s Charlotte fall weekend forecast, and a look back ten years to the 2015 South Carolina floodsWhether you’re in the Carolinas or beyond, this

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster is joined by the National Weather Service and state officials to discuss preparations for Tropical Depression Nine, the storm forecast to become Hurricane Imelda in the days ahead. Impacts to the Carolina coast are forecast to include heavy rain, gusty winds and rough surf.#weather #northcarolina #southcarolina #ncwx #scwx #podcast

The National Hurricane Center has issued the first hurricane forecast cone for a storm system expected to become Imelda.Impacts from Imelda are forecast to include heavy rain, gusty winds and rough surf along the Carolinas.The storm is organizing itself just north of Cuba. Until it becomes better organized, the system is referred to as "Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine." It could become Tropical Depression Nine before assuming the Imelda name at the Tropical Storm or Hurricane stage.#weather #northcarolina #southcarolina #ncwx #scwx #podcast

In September 2024, Hurricane Helene tore through the Southeastern United States, bringing deadly storm surge, destructive winds, tornadoes, and record-breaking rainfall. Combined with a rare Predecessor Rainfall Event (PRE), the storm caused catastrophic flooding across North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, leaving behind nearly $80 billion in damage.One year later, the Carolina Weather Group brings you this anniversary special report, filmed on location across the Carolinas, documenting the lasting damage, recovery efforts, and ongoing rebuilding.In this program, we visit:Asheville, NC, where the River Arts District became the epicenter of national flood coverage after the French Broad River engulfed buildings and crippled the city’s infrastructure.Black Mountain and East Asheville, where residents endured devastating flash flooding with little access to outside help.Fletcher, NC, where the French Broad River crested 10 feet higher than the infamous 1916 flood.South Carolina Upstate commun

Tropical Storm Humberto officially formed in the Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday. It is one of two areas of tropical development being monitored by the WCNC Weather Impact Team.At 5 p.m., NOAA's National Hurricane Center (NHC) announced that Tropical Storm Humberto had officially developed about 550 miles northeast of the Leeward Islands, moving northwest at 15 mph with sustained winds of 40 mph. Prior to 5 p.m., forecasters had been monitoring the area under the name Invest 93L, which denotes it as an area of potential tropical development.There’s also another system nearby, Invest 94L, which could interact with Humberto and add more uncertainty to the forecast. The National Hurricane Center notes that confidence in the track beyond Day 3 is lower than usual, giving the potential impacts of both the cold front and Invest 94L on Humberto.Invest 94L has an 80% of developing into an organized system. If it were to reach tropical storm status with winds of 39 mph, it would receive the name Imelda.#weather #northcaro

It’s been one year since Hurricane Helene devastated the Carolinas — from catastrophic flooding in Asheville and the French Broad River Valley to the ongoing recovery in Lake Lure and Chimney Rock. In this special Carolina Weather Group podcast, James Brierton talks with WCNC's Brad Panovich and WFMY's Tim Buckley, as they reflect on the storm’s impacts, the lessons still being learned, and the striking parallels to past events like Hurricane Ivan (2004) and the 1916 flood.This special presentation originally aired as "Live Weather Impact," which streams weeknights at 6:30 p.m. on WCNC+ and WFMY+. Stream for free on Roku, Amazon Fire, Apple and more.In this episode, we take you to Lake Lure where recovery continues, explore how back-to-back storms magnify impacts, and discuss why inland flooding remains the Carolinas’ most dangerous hurricane threat. Plus, we break down this week’s growing drought concerns, what it means for fall wildfire season, and why history matters when preparing for fu

With this Wednesday marking the average peak of the Atlantic hurricane season, the Carolina Weather Group is revisiting some of our most memorable hurricane interviews, including WCNC forecaster Larry Sprinkle, former WBTV chief meteorologist Eric Thomas, and then-National Hurricane Center Director Ken Graham, who now oversees all of the National Weather Service. In 2019, Scotty Powell, Evan Fisher, and Chris Jackson visits the NOAA's Hurricane Awareness Tour at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. MERCH: https://carolinaweathergroup.qbstores.com/ LEAVE A TIP: https://streamelements.com/carolinawxgroup/tip️ SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PODCAST: https://anchor.fm/carolinaweather SUPPORT US ON PATREON: https://patreon.com/carolinaweathergroup VISIT OUR WEBSITE: https://carolinaweathergroup.comThe Carolina Weather Group operates a weekly talk show of the same name. Broadcasting each week from the Carolinas, the show is dedicated to covering weather, science, technology, and more with newsmakers from the field of atm

It's Labor Day week, and as summer comes to a close, it's an extended road trip edition of the Carolina Weather Group!Texas Republicans have recently proposed moving a space vehicle - potentially Space Shuttle Discovery - to Texas. Join James and Tim for a never-before-seen look at their July 2023 railfanning road trip, where they also stopped at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center (Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Chantilly, VA) to see Space Shuttle Discovery and explore what the museum offers todayThen stay tuned for our original road trip adventure, where James and Tim take you to the legendary Horseshoe Curve in Altoona, Pennsylvania.