Weather Realness
Illinois Public Media presents a new weekly radio program and podcast in partnership with the Department of Climate, Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Weather Realness aims to help the public understand weather and climate through scientific facts and enlightening conversation. The show features top weather and climate scientists from Illinois, providing accurate information to listeners.
Episodes
Why some of us don’t take weather warnings seriously
Whenever severe weather is approaching, we often get notifications about tornadoes or thunderstorms. But why do some of us ignore these warnings?
What makes derechos so dangerous?
Derechos are strong wind storms coupled with a band of thunderstorms. We’re breaking what makes them destroyed and what caused the extreme derecho event in August.
How wildfire smoke travels to Illinois
How did Canada’s wildfire smoke travel hundreds of miles to Illinois and is climate change making things worse? We learn the meteorological side of wildfire smoke and what this means for Illinois.
The science behind Illinois’ August flooding
We talk about flooding in central Illinois and why Illinois keeps getting hit with heavy rainfall.
How can El Niño affect Illinois weather?
Thousands of miles away, the Pacific Ocean is warming which can affect weather patterns worldwide. But how can this affect Illinois?
What you need to know about “Super” El Niño
You may have heard about a potential “Super” El Niño, but what does that mean? We learn how the warming in the pacific ocean can impact global weather patterns.
Forensic Meteorology: How past weather can help settle a case
You’ve heard of forensic scientists from crime shows. But what about forensic meteorologists? These experts reconstruct past weather events and help settle insurance and legal disputes connected with the weather.
Who can you trust for weather online?
You’ve heard of forensic scientists from crime shows. But what about forensic meteorologists? These experts reconstruct past weather events and help settle insurance and legal disputes connected with the weather.
Meteorologist Ed Kieser returns to Illinois airways
He’s back! Ed Kieser, former chief meteorologist at WILL radio returns to Illinois airways. We learn more about his career and his 1996 tornado forecast.
How climate and weather affects mosquitos and ticks in Illinois
Illinois has around 60 species of mosquitoes. Learn how climate and weather impacts them and if they pose a risk to public health.
How MTD operates under severe weather conditions
The Champaign Urbana Mass Transit District has driven passengers from stop to stop for decades. But how do they continue their services under severe weather?
How weather can impact baseball, from summer heat to cold winters
Weather shapes our daily lives in numerous ways, but what about its effect on baseball? Explore the science behind how rising temperatures can boost home runs.
How politics is reshaping scientific research in America
The Trump administration's proposal changes how scientific research is funded. We learn how this could affect the future of science and the public.
Why Illinois is seeing so much severe weather
The midwest can’t seem to take a break from severe weather. In June, tornadoes and thunderstorms left a trail of damage in Illinois.
How to stay safe during extreme heat
It’s summer time and that means warmer temperatures. Learn how to stay safe during extreme heat.
Why Garden Hills floods and how new infrastructure could help
Garden Hills has experienced chronic flooding for decades. We discuss how flooding affects communities and the engineering behind the Garden Hills Neighborhood drainage project.
How the National Weather Service plans weather safety for the FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup is just days away. But weather hazards like extreme heat and storms can pose a risk to players and fans. We talk about how the National Weather Service manages weather safety for sporting events like this one.
Meteorologist professor reviews the science behind “Pressure”
“Pressure” is a war film about D-Day that spotlights the importance of weather forecasting in military decisions. We break down the weather science behind the film how weather forecasting has evolved.
How weather forecasting evolved from guesswork to science
Weather forecasts are a part of everyday life, but predicting the weather was once considered impossible. Learn how meteorology evolved from early observations and hand calculations into the modern science we rely on today.
What summer weather could look like in Illinois this year
Summer isn’t always just hot. From thunderstorms and flash floods, summer can bring a variety of hazards. We talk about what Illinois residents can expect for the months ahead.
How a dust storm swept across central Illinois earlier this week
Dust storms are unusual in Illinois, but they can be dangerous. We talk about the dust warning we received earlier this week and how it happened.
What wildfire season looks like in Illinois and the risks they bring
While wildfires aren’t common in Illinois, they do occur twice every year. We take a deeper look at the wildfire season in our state and how they’re changing under climate change.
What caused this week’s severe weather in Illinois
Severe weather has alerted residents in Illinois earlier this week. We talk about how it happened and what spring weather brings.
How language barriers can put lives at risk during severe weather
Severe weather warnings are meant to save lives. But what happens when non-english speakers are unable to understand them?
Why meteorologists still rely on weather balloons
Meteorologists observe the weather with satellites and aircraft. But, scientists still use weather balloons, one of their most reliable instruments.
Why flights get delayed and what weather has to do with it
Why do flights get cancelled or delayed? Learn how the weather shapes flight routes and what Aviation Meteorologists look out for.
Storm chasers on the reality behind the chase
During a tornado, most people take cover. Others drive straight towards it. We talk to storm chasers about what it’s like to be in the path of a storm.
Storm chasing can be deadly, here’s how to stay safe
Storm chasing can be dangerous from tornadoes overtaking vehicles to hail destroying cars. Today we learn how storm chasers can be prepared and stay safe.
How much energy and water does AI really use?
AI is an increasingly present part of our lives from using ChatGPT to Google Gemini. But, it also has very high energy and water demands that we often don’t think about.
How AI is changing weather forecasting and climate predicitions
AI has the power to make tasks efficient for experts. Learn how scientists are using AI to make weather and climate predictions in minutes.
How to keep your garden blooming in spring weather
Spring gardening can sometimes feel like a battle against the elements. Today we talk about how to keep your garden blooming this season.
What a longer growing season means for Illinois crops
The planting season is getting underway and rising temperatures have only made growing seasons longer. We talk about how the longer growing season is affecting agriculture in Illinois.
How rising temperatures are reshaping California’s snowpack and Illinois’s drought
Soaring temperatures are reshaping water systems across the U.S. We talk about how the heat is melting the Sierra Nevada snowpack and influencing the ongoing drought in Illinois.
Inside the March heatwave that shattered records across the U.S.
Summer just came early. A March heatwave broke over 100 record highs from the West and High Plains. Learn why this heatwave shattered records and how likely we will see something like this in the future.
Hailstones pelted Illinois last week. How they form and grow so large
A massive hailstorm fell across Illinois and a six-inch hailstone was reported in Kankakee Illinois, that could be record breaking. We go through how hailstorms are formed and how they can grow to enormous sizes.
Tornadoes ripped through Illinois and Indiana last week. Here’s how it happened and why
Severe storms last week produced destructive tornadoes that traveled from Illinois to Indiana. We go through how tornado outbreaks are formed and why they happened in the midwest.
Tornadoes, hurricanes and wildfires: how scientists link extreme weather to climate change
Severe weather events have increased over the years. From hurricanes, tornadoes to massive wildfires, these changes in the weather are often linked to climate change. We talk about how a warming planet influences extreme weather and how researchers make that connection.
Severe weather season is here, what do weather warnings mean and how to stay prepared
We’re in a severe weather season in Illinois. We saw the first of it on Tuesday, where a tornado outbreak hit the Chicago area and across Illinois. We talk about different types of weather warnings and how to stay safe in case you run into a tornado.
Heavy rain reaches Illinois, but drought is far from over
We finally got rain in Illinois, but the drought is still ongoing. We talk about what the recent rainfall means for Illinois and other places of the U.S. and what it would take to ease the drought.
What Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show says about climate challenges in Puerto Rico
We break down Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Show and how it reflects the climate issues, resilience and ongoing power outages in Puerto Rico.
University of Illinois President Tim Killeen talks geophysics career, current state of climate science and retirement
We sat down with Tim Killeen, president of the University of Illinois System to reflect on his career in geophysics and space science and the university’s role in innovation and advancing sustainability.
How climate research shapes weather warnings at home and abroad
What happens when climate research is scaled back? From U.S. tornado warnings to flood alerts in Cambodia, we talk about how climate research shapes weather warnings and why we should take them seriously.
Anxious about climate change? Experts discuss its impact on mental health
Stressed out over climate change and natural disasters? We talk about how climate issues affect our mental health and how to manage it.
What a warming climate means for winters in Illinois
After a massive snowstorm swept across the country, we learn more while Illinois is seeing warmer winters and surprising snowfall.
What’s behind weeks of snow and extreme cold in Illinois?
We talked about the massive winter storm that hit Central Illinois and across the U.S. which brought heavy snow to some areas, freezing rain and sleet.
The Palisades Fire: Don’t Call Us Heroes
Wildfires are a natural reality in Southern California, but is mass destruction an inevitability? We look at if the program worked and how it could reshape life with wildfire in Los Angeles and beyond.
The Palisades Fire: Get the Boys Ready
As the nation watched in shock and horror as the Palisades Fire brought Los Angeles to its knees, a group of civilians stepped up to defend their home turf.
Your official 2025 weather year in review
From deadly wildfires in California to deadly floods in central Texas to severe weather and an early winter in central Illinois… we reviewed 2025's biggest weather stories.
It took an army to get Gies Memorial Stadium ready for the November 29 game. Here’s how they did it.
We talked with the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign about how it prepared Gies Memorial Stadium for a snowy game in late November 2025.
Weather significantly affected these football games. Which ones do you remember?
University of Illinois scientists explain how weather systems caused the 1967 ice bowl and 1988 fog bowl and other historic football games.
Blizzards, Sleet, Snow, Wind Chills… understanding how to survive winter in Illinois
Understanding the difference between a Blizzard, Wind Chill, Winter Storm and other weather warnings.
Welcome to winter (early) in Central Illinois
In a typical November, Champaign-Urbana receives just under an inch of snow. In 2025, it received several inches more.
University of Illinois Urbana Champaign proposes to build next generation nuclear microreactor
The University of Illinois wants to construct and operate a new research nuclear microreactor on campus. What will it do and will it be safe?
Illinois is national leader in nuclear power. Should we grow this ‘carbon free’ technology?
On today's show, we are diving into nuclear energy, one kind of low-carbon energy source. Illinois produces around ⅛ of all nuclear energy produced in the United States.
University of Illinois scientists explain why Hurricane Melissa will be one for the recordbooks
Jeff Frame and Deanna Hence, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign professors, explained the destructive winds and rain unleashed by Hurricane Melissa.
An observer developed at UIUC will study space weather and how it affects us on Earth
A Space X rocket delivered the UIUC-designed Carruthers Geocorona Observatory to space. We talked about how it will study space weather.
Which trees fare well in Illinois during drought and how you can save yours?
We learned about the impacts of drought on forests in Illinois. If you have a question about climate or weather, call 217.333.2141.
Illinois drought of 2025 is becoming a real concern for farmers and firefighters
We discussed the extreme drought in central Illinois right now. If you have a question about climate or weather, call 217.333.2141.
The impact of drought on the 2025 fruit harvest
Today on Weather Realness, the US Drought Monitor says Champaign County is in a severe drought. We'll visit a local orchard and pumpkin patch to see how that's impacting this fall's crop. If you have a question about climate or weather, leave a voicemail at 217.333.2141.
How does the weather affect autumn leaf colors?
Today on Weather Realness, we are talking autumn, from the cooler weather to the changing leaves. If you have a question about climate or weather, leave a voicemail at 217.333.2141.
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