--- title: "Talking With the Experts: Behind the Forecast With James Spann" description: Join James Spann and Chelsea Ingram for insights into weather communication, severe storm forecasting, and the launch of The Alabama Weather Network in this engaging live podcast event. image: https://lp.aem.eco/hubfs/BTF_Thumbnail_HighRes.png --- [![AEM logo header](https://lp.aem.eco/hs-fs/hubfs/AEM_RGB-Logo-Colour_RGB-Logo-Colour-Mar-30-2022-02-04-12-03-PM.png?width=196&name=AEM_RGB-Logo-Colour_RGB-Logo-Colour-Mar-30-2022-02-04-12-03-PM.png)AEM Logo Header](https://aem.eco/) - Solutions ### Solutions - #### Data & Software - #### [AEM Elements® 360](https://aem.eco/product/elements-360/) - #### [Sferic Maps®](https://aem.eco/product/sferic-maps/) - #### [Data and APIs](https://aem.eco/product-type/data-api/) - #### Hardware - #### [Systems](https://aem.eco/product-type/systems/) - #### [Sensors](https://aem.eco/product-type/sensors/) - #### [Data Collection](https://aem.eco/product-type/data-collection/) - #### [Cameras](https://aem.eco/product-type/cameras/) - #### [Alerting](https://aem.eco/product-type/alerting/) - #### [Telemetry](https://aem.eco/product-type/telemetry/) - #### [Accessories](https://aem.eco/product-type/accessories/) - #### Professional Services - #### [Meteorological Services](https://aem.eco/service/meteorological-services/) - #### [Hydromet Services](https://aem.eco/service/hydromet-services/) - #### [Network Design](https://aem.eco/service/network-design/) - #### [Field Services & Installation](https://aem.eco/service/field-services-installation/) - #### [Maintenance and Calibration](https://aem.eco/service/maintenance/) - #### [Training](https://aem.eco/service/training/) - #### Solutions - #### [Flood Risk Management](https://aem.eco/solution/flood-risk-management/) - #### [Severe Weather Risk Management](https://aem.eco/solution/severe-weather-risk-management/) - #### [Wildfire Risk Management](https://aem.eco/solution/wildfire-risk-management/) - #### [Precision Agriculture](https://aem.eco/solution/precision-agriculture/) - #### [Lightning Detection](https://aem.eco/solution/lightning-detection/) - #### [Dam Safety](https://aem.eco/solution/dam-safety/) - #### [Community Weather](https://aem.eco/solution/personal-weather/) #### AEM Elements® Resiliency Platform Your essential toolkit for weather forecasting, hazard detection, and emergency response coordination. [Learn more](https://lp.aem.eco/aem-elements-resiliency-platform-launch?hsLang=en) - Industries ### Industries - #### [Agriculture Monitor growing conditions to improve yields and reduce waste.](https://aem.eco/industry/agriculture/) - #### [Aviation Keep crews aware of severe weather.](https://aem.eco/industry/aviation/) - #### [Club & Sport Keep athletes, members, and staff safe.](https://aem.eco/industry/club-sport/) - #### [Construction Secure job sites, workers, and deadlines against weather.](https://aem.eco/industry/construction-engineering/) - #### [Education Protect students from lightning and heat stress.](https://aem.eco/industry/education/) - #### [Energy Utilities Prepare and respond to weather-related outages.](https://aem.eco/industry/energy-utility/) - #### [National Governments Protect citizens and infrastructure.](https://aem.eco/industry/government/) - #### [Ground Transportation Monitor dangerous road conditions.](https://aem.eco/industry/ground-transportation/) - #### [Manufacturing Minimize weather impact and demonstrate compliance.](https://aem.eco/industry/manufacturing/) - #### [Maritime Anticipate bad weather to keep crews and cargo safe.](https://aem.eco/industry/maritime/) - #### [Military Stay prepared from severe weather disruptions.](https://aem.eco/industry/military/) - #### [Mining Protect workers and optimize operations.](https://aem.eco/industry/mining/) - #### [Renewable Energy Protect and manage critical infrastructure.](https://aem.eco/industry/renewable-energy/) - #### [States & Municipalities Safeguard communities from severe weather events.](https://aem.eco/industry/states-municipalities/) - #### [Water Utilities Minimize disruption and keep water safe.](https://aem.eco/industry/water-utility/) #### A Buying Guide for Airport Operations An effective approach to mitigating weather risks includes three stages: Analyze, Plan, and Implement. 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[Become a Partner](https://aem.eco/partners/) - [Contact us](https://aem.eco/contact-us/) # WATCH NOW ON-DEMAND PODCAST Talking With the Experts: Behind the Forecast With James Spann --- Don’t miss this special live taping of *Talking With the Experts* with Alabama’s most trusted voice in severe weather, James Spann. With nearly five decades on the air and a legacy of guiding millions through life-threatening storms, James has unparalleled insight into the past, present, and future of weather communication. Now, as he launches *The Alabama Weather Network*, he joins host Chelsea Ingram for an unfiltered conversation on how broadcast meteorology has evolved—and what the next chapter of weather coverage means for keeping communities safe. Plus, during this live event, attendees had the chance to ask questions directly to James during in an audience Q&A. Highlights include: - A rare opportunity to ask James Spann your questions in a live audience Q&A. - Exclusive inside look at James Spann’s new *Alabama Weather Network* and its vision for the future. - Candid reflections on nearly 50 years of guiding viewers through Alabama’s most dangerous storms. - Behind-the-scenes insights on how broadcast meteorology connects to the broader weather enterprise. - What’s changing in severe weather forecasting—and how it impacts you and your community. # Featured Participants ![Chelsea_Ingram](https://lp.aem.eco/hs-fs/hubfs/Chelsea_Ingram.png?width=250&height=250&name=Chelsea_Ingram.png "Chelsea_Ingram") **Chelsea Ingram** Senior Meteorologist **AEM**    Chelsea Ingram is a Senior Meteorologist at AEM, where she specializes in developing partnership solutions for enterprise-level clients and driving client success initiatives for our WeatherWorks brand. She brings extensive experience from her work as a television broadcast meteorologist in the Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Vermont markets. She has even provided national weather coverage for the *CBS Evening News* and *CBS This Morning* during major weather events. Chelsea holds a Master of Science in Environmental Science and Policy from The Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Science in Meteorology from North Carolina State University.  ![James_Spann](https://lp.aem.eco/hs-fs/hubfs/James_Spann.png?width=250&height=250&name=James_Spann.png "James_Spann") **James Spann** Chief Meteorologist **ABC**   James Spann is Chief Meteorologist at ABC 33/40 in Birmingham, Alabama, where he has served for 28 years following earlier work in both Alabama and Texas markets. His 46-year broadcast career has focused on delivering critical weather information across television, radio, and The Alabama Weather Blog. James was among the first in the nation to earn the American Meteorological Society’s Certified Broadcast Meteorologist designation. He launched the pioneering WeatherBrains podcast in 2006 and is now leading a new initiative, The Alabama Weather Network, to expand local weather coverage across the state. ![AEM Logo footer](https://lp.aem.eco/hs-fs/hubfs/aem-logo.png?width=292&name=aem-logo.png "AEM Logo footer") AEM 12410 Milestone Center Drive Suite 300 Germantown, MD 20876 [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/advanced-environmental-monitoring) [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/Advanced-Environmental-Monitoring-AEM-110375228108391) [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIEVCZ05K4xayt5yXed48AA) #### Data & Software - [AEM Elements® 360](https://aem.eco/product/elements-360/) - [Sferic Maps®](https://aem.eco/product/sferic-maps) - [Data and APIs](https://aem.eco/product-type/data-api/) #### Hardware - [Systems](https://aem.eco/product-type/systems/) - [Sensors](https://aem.eco/product-type/sensors/) - [Data Collection](https://aem.eco/product-type/data-collection/) - [Cameras](https://aem.eco/product-type/cameras/) - [Alerting](https://aem.eco/product-type/alerting/) - [Telemetry](https://aem.eco/product-type/telemetry/) - [Accessories](https://aem.eco/product-type/accessories/) #### Professional Services - [Meteorological Services](https://aem.eco/service/meteorological-services/) - [Hydromet Services](https://aem.eco/service/hydromet-services/) - [Network Design](https://aem.eco/service/network-design/) - [Field Services & Installation](https://aem.eco/service/field-services-installation/) - [Maintenance and Calibration](https://aem.eco/service/maintenance/) - [Training](https://aem.eco/service/training/) #### Solutions - [Flood Risk Management](https://aem.eco/solution/flood-risk-management/) - [Severe Weather Risk Management](https://aem.eco/solution/severe-weather-risk-management/) - [Wildfire Risk Management](https://aem.eco/solution/wildfire-risk-management/) - [Precision Agriculture](https://aem.eco/solution/precision-agriculture/) - [Lightning Detection](https://aem.eco/solution/lightning-detection/) - [Dam Safety](https://aem.eco/solution/dam-safety/) - [Community Weather](https://aem.eco/solution/personal-weather/) #### Industries - [Agriculture](https://aem.eco/industry/agriculture/) - [Aviation](https://aem.eco/industry/aviation/) - [Club & Sport](https://aem.eco/industry/club-sport/) - [Construction](https://aem.eco/industry/construction-engineering/) - [Education](https://aem.eco/industry/education/) - [Energy Utilities](https://aem.eco/industry/energy-utility/) - [National Governments](https://aem.eco/industry/government/) - [Ground Transportation](https://aem.eco/industry/ground-transportation/) - [Manufacturing](https://aem.eco/industry/manufacturing/) - [Maritime](https://aem.eco/industry/maritime/) - [Military](https://aem.eco/industry/military/) - [Mining](https://aem.eco/industry/mining/) - [Renewable Energy](https://aem.eco/industry/renewable-energy/) - [States & Municipalities](https://aem.eco/industry/states-municipalities/) - [Water Utilities](https://aem.eco/industry/water-utility/) #### Resources & Insights - [Blog](https://blog.aem.eco/) - [Case Studies](https://aem.eco/resources/?filter-category=case-study) - [Demos](https://aem.eco/resources/?filter-category=demo) - [Podcast](https://www.youtube.com/@AEM_eco/podcasts) - [Product & Data Sheets](https://aem.eco/resources/?filter-category=data-sheet) - [Reports & Guides](https://aem.eco/resources/?filter-category=report) - [Solution Guides](https://aem.eco/resources/?filter-category=solution-guide) - [Solution Overviews](https://aem.eco/resources/?filter-category=solution-overview) - [Webinars](https://aem.eco/resources/?filter-category=webinar) #### Company - [About Us](https://aem.eco/about-us/) - [Our Offices](https://aem.eco/our-offices/) - [Brands](https://aem.eco/our-brands/) - [Partners](https://aem.eco/partners/) - [Careers](https://aem.eco/careers/) - [In the News](https://aem.eco/press-center/) Copyright © 2026 AEM [Privacy Policy](https://aem.eco/privacy-policy) ![](https://px.ads.linkedin.com/collect/?pid=37371&fmt=gif) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "VideoObject", "caption" : { "@type" : "MediaObject", "contentUrl" : "https://lp.aem.eco/media-transcripts/194886441623/en.vtt", "inLanguage" : "en", "name" : "en Captions" }, "contentUrl" : "https://stream.mux.com/LtU02XPVDI01Mda3lj6P1rdtcmXoop5Z8qkZYI62fB2A8/capped-1080p.mp4", "dateModified" : "2025-08-21T20:39:48.810Z", "duration" : "PT57M9S", "height" : 1072, "name" : "JamesSpann_Episode1_sm_v1", "thumbnailUrl" : "https://lp.aem.eco/hubfs/Behind%20the%20forecast%20-%20James%20Spann/JamesSpann_Episode1_sm_v1.mp4/medium.jpg", "uploadDate" : "2025-08-21T20:30:15.370Z", "width" : 1912 } ```