Behind the Front artwork

Behind the Front

166 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 3 years ago - ★★★★★ - 23 ratings

WBRC First Alert Chief Meteorologist, Wes Wyatt, is going beyond the forecast. He sits down with weekly guests to chat about a range of weather topics.

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Episodes

Behind the Front: The Folklore of Fred Hunter

July 18, 2018 05:00 - 16 minutes - 23.4 MB

How long has Fred Hunter been covering the weather? He was forecasting storm fronts before there was even a weather wall to stand in front of! You'll enjoy hearing all about how Fred Hunter is Absolutely Alabama, and absolutely one of a kind.

Behind the Front: Is the heat making you depressed?

July 11, 2018 05:00 - 12 minutes - 17.7 MB

Feeling depressed during the dog days of summer? It could be tied to Seasonal Affective Disorder. While SAD is normally associated with the colder times of the year, Dr. Josh Klapow explains how the heat can be just as guilty in affecting your mood.  

Behind the Front: The one factor that could put you more at risk for leaving kids in a hot car

July 03, 2018 05:00 - 13 minutes - 18.4 MB

It’s the unthinkable. A parent leaving their child in a hot car. You tell yourself that it would never happen to you. But Dr. Josh Klapow explains how you could be at a higher risk for leaving your kids in the car than you could ever imagine.

Behind the Front: The Unusual Nature of AL Weather

June 27, 2018 05:00 - 25 minutes - 35.8 MB

“I have probably surveyed a tornado in pretty much every month.” Those are the words of Chris Darden. He’s the Meteorologist-in-Charge at the National Weather Service in Birmingham. He shares details on some of the craziest weather he’s seen in the state of Alabama, as well as, a look at how he ended up here in the first place.

Behind the Front: The Ballad of Wes Wyatt

June 20, 2018 05:00 - 18 minutes - 25.8 MB

Music and Meteorology. J-P Dice speaks with First Alert teammate, Wes Wyatt, on growing up in Tuscaloosa County, his love of music, and where his love for weather started. Plus, Wes reflects on his first day as the Chief Meteorologist at WTOK in Meridian, MS, which fell on Sept. 11th, 2001.

Behind the Front: Predicting Hurricanes

June 13, 2018 05:00 - 22 minutes - 31.3 MB

How do you plan for a hurricane? J-P Dice speaks with David Bernard, Chief Meteorologist for FOX 8 New Orleans, on forecasting tropical weather, the frustrations of inaccurate reports on social media, and the job of explaining uncertainty to viewers.

Behind the Front: Hurricane Hunters Pilot

June 06, 2018 05:53 - 25 minutes - 34.9 MB

Most people leave the coast when a tropical storm or hurricane is heading their way. Imagine if your job was to fly right into one! J-P Dice speaks with Captain Will Simmons, a pilot with the U.S. Air Force Hurricane Hunters, on how flying into these storms can reveal vital information on each tropical system.

Behind the Front: Air Quality

May 30, 2018 05:00 - 12 minutes - 17.9 MB

Did you know there is an air quality meteorologist? They are responsible for issuing the air quality forecast each day, based on the Air quality index. J-P Dice speaks with Matt Lacke, an air pollution meteorologist in Jefferson County, who explains why air quality is so important during the summer. And what factors determine issuing a code yellow, code orange, etc.

Behind the Front: Alabama Meteorologists

May 23, 2018 05:00 - 24 minutes - 33.3 MB

How do meteorologists work together across the state? WBRC First Alert Chief Meteorologist, J-P Dice, speaks with Josh Johnson, Chief Meteorologist from WSFA in Montgomery, and Brad Travis, Chief Meteorologist from WAFF in Huntsville, on how stations across Alabama work together during major severe weather events.

Behind the Front: Women in STEM

May 16, 2018 05:00 - 23 minutes - 31.8 MB

Are you familiar with STEM? It refers to the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. For years it’s been male-dominated field. But an ongoing push has led to more women landing science-related jobs. J-P Dice speaks with meteorologist, Jill Gilardi, on discovering a passion for science and facing obstacles throughout her career.

Behind the Front: Tornado Paths

May 09, 2018 05:00 - 21 minutes - 29.6 MB

Do tornadoes follow the same paths? J-P Dice speaks with Dr. Tim Coleman, of UAH, on his research into tornado tracks. Dr. Coleman also shares some of his wildest memories from storm chasing across America.

Behind the Front: Warning Sirens

May 02, 2018 05:00 - 25 minutes - 35.2 MB

How often have you heard the screeching sounds of a tornado siren? They sound scary, and certainly get your attention. But now there's a growing push to get rid of them, due to technological advances in alerting you of severe weather. J-P Dice discusses the future of warning sirens, with Jefferson County EMA Director, Jim Coker.  

Behind the Front: The April 27th Tornadoes

April 25, 2018 05:00 - 34 minutes - 47.6 MB

Seven years ago, Alabama was hit with one of the deadliest tornado outbreaks in the state’s history. J-P Dice speaks with fellow First Alert Meteorologists, Wes Wyatt & Fred Hunter, on what it was like covering 62 tornadoes on April 27th, 2011. And in Fred’s case, surviving a direct hit from an EF-4.

Behind the Front: Forecasting Fears

April 18, 2018 05:00 - 25 minutes - 34.9 MB

WBRC First Alert Meteorologist, J-P Dice, speaks with Dr. Laura Myers, of the University of Alabama, on how people react to weather messaging, especially during severe weather season.

Behind the Front: False Alarms

April 11, 2018 05:00 - 19 minutes - 27.3 MB

WBRC First Alert Meteorologist, J-P Dice, speaks with Kevin Laws, NWS Birmingham Science Operations Officer, on how the National Weather Service is working to reduce the false alarm rate on tornado warnings.

Behind the Front: Introduction

April 03, 2018 23:52 - 3 minutes - 5.8 MB

WBRC First Alert Meteorologist, J-P Dice, breaks down what you can expect to hear on this brand-new show. Go beyond the forecast on a number of different weather topics.

Twitter Mentions

@jpdice_fox6 4 Episodes
@weswyattweather 2 Episodes
@joshweather 1 Episode
@hunt_wx 1 Episode
@jillgilardi 1 Episode