Weather Realness

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.

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.

We talked with the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign about how it prepared Gies Memorial Stadium for a snowy game in late November 2025.

University of Illinois scientists explain how weather systems caused the 1967 ice bowl and 1988 fog bowl and other historic football games.

Understanding the difference between a Blizzard, Wind Chill, Winter Storm and other weather warnings.

In a typical November, Champaign-Urbana receives just under an inch of snow. In 2025, it received several inches more.

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?

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.

Jeff Frame and Deanna Hence, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign professors, explained the destructive winds and rain unleashed by Hurricane Melissa.

A Space X rocket delivered the UIUC-designed Carruthers Geocorona Observatory to space. We talked about how it will study space weather.

We learned about the impacts of drought on forests in Illinois. If you have a question about climate or weather, call 217.333.2141.

We discussed the extreme drought in central Illinois right now. If you have a question about climate or weather, call 217.333.2141.

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.

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.

Today on Weather Realness, we are talking all about solar energy. If you have a question about climate or weather, leave a voicemail at 217.333.2141.

Today on Weather Realness, we are talking all about solar energy. If you have a question about climate or weather, leave a voicemail at 217.333.2141.  

Today on Weather Realness, we are talking all about carbon capture and storage. If you have a question about climate or weather, leave a voicemail at 217.333.2141.

Today on Weather Realness, we are talking all about carbon capture and storage. If you have a question about climate or weather, leave a voicemail at 217.333.2141.

In 2024, five hurricanes made landfall in the continental U.S., with two storms making landfall as major hurricanes. What's ahead for 2025? 

Today, Jeff Frame and Deanna Hence, professors of Climate, Meteorology, and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign recount where they were when Hurrican Katrina made landfall in 2005 along the Gulf Coast.

In this episode, we are talking about challenges faced by farmers under climate change and the economic impacts for consumers.  If you have a question for a local scientist on this program, please leave a voicemail at 217.333.2141 or email weatherrealness@illinois.edu.

In our third episode, we talked about "Corn Sweat." We learned how it can make Midwest summers more uncomfortable, and sometimes more dangerous.

Learn how flash flooding in Central Illinois is different from Central Texas. If you have a question for local scientists, leave a voicemail at 217.333.2141 or email weatherrealness@illinois.edu.

We talked about a catastrophic flood that came barreling through the Texas Hill Country region, causing widespread destruction and killing more than 130 people on July 4, 2025. We also talked about how emergency management handles flood warnings in Champaign County.

We answered some frequently asked questions about weather and climate The co-hosts are Maddie Stover, a doctoral student in Physics at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Steve Nesbitt, professor of Climate, Meteorology, and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Illinois and Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford. The weekly podcast will air Saturdays at 11:00 a.m. on WILL-AM 58...