The new Alabama Weather Network is set to launch soon, providing comprehensive weather coverage to the entire state. Chief meteorologist James Spann spoke with 1819 News about how the network will cater to some Alabama counties that have been left out of weather coverage for years.
"For years and years and years, we were locked into television markets, which makes absolutely zero sense," Spann said. "Maybe it did in the 60s when people had rabbit ears and antennas, but it's not made sense for a long time, and you've got a lot of parts of the state that are just left out where they don't have adequate coverage when the weather is dangerous, when the weather can kill you, tornadoes and things."
So-called "orphan counties" depend on weather coverage from outside the state. In Randolph and Cleburne Counties, the setup can be dangerous because they are in the Atlanta market. During severe weather coverage, people in East Alabama are often unaware because Atlanta stations may not start weather coverage until the severe system crosses over into Georgia.
Other orphan counties are Lamar County in the Columbus-Tupelo, Miss. DMA; Choctaw and Sumter Counties in the Meridian, Miss. DMA; and Barbour, Chambers, Lee and Russell Counties, in the Columbus, Ga. DMA. Spann people in these counties will no longer have to worry about inadequate weather coverage.
"So, we're going to take care of the whole state," Spann said. "I was born here. I'll die here. I'll be buried here. These are my people. I know this state better than anybody. I know a lot about Alabama and the people and the culture and the geography, and it will be an absolute honor."
Spann said the Alabama Weather Network is committed to providing live coverage anytime there is a tornado warning for any county.
The platform will partner with the National Weather Service offices across the state to provide weather reports, data and warning information.
"So, Randolph and Cleburne, they are in the Atlanta television market, but their warnings come from the National Weather Service in Birmingham," Spann explained. "And we've got kind of a similar thing in Cullman County. Cullman County is in the Birmingham television market, but their warnings come from the National Weather Service in Huntsville."
"The whole thing is just terribly confusing and we just want to cut through the confusion and let people know that this Alabama Weather Network, you don't have to worry about TV markets or where the warnings come from," he added. "We got your back. You don't have to worry about that."
The network will feature a team of experienced and knowledgeable staff, providing live cameras statewide, storm chaser live streams, and shared videos and photos. Some of the state's well-known storm chasers, including Brett Adair, will join the network. Hundreds of trained storm spotters across the state will provide support and media to bulk up the live coverage and give the meteorologists real-time reports from the ground.
"I'll have the right resources and I've got the right people in that room," Spann said. "We've just got to tell a coherent story and do it in a sensible way using appropriate urgency."
"The one thing we're not going to do is scare people with nonsense," he continued. "So much of what you see on social media is pure nonsense. These are engagement farm, Facebook pages, they'll tell you a hurricane is coming up to Mobile next week and there's no truth to it, but they'll get 500,000 views and all these likes and shares and all this. That's just nonsense. We're not going to do anything like that."
The beloved meteorologist has become somewhat of a superhero in Alabama. Spann fans will stand by his side and fight for him with the ferociousness of a tornado tearing through an open field. But most importantly, his loyal viewers know if Spann's jacket comes off and his suspenders show, there's trouble brewing in the skies.
Spann says his enthusiasm is truly about the people.
That passion has caused heartache for Spann, who holds himself accountable when Alabamians lose their lives in tornadoes.
"Too many people died on my watch, and I know who these people are," Spann said. "Like April 27. That one day, 252 people died on my watch, which is inexcusable. It's absolutely inexcusable. These were precious people. Some were infants; some were older; some lived in the city, and some lived in the country. It affected every people group."
Spann has even taken it upon himself to memorize the names of most of the victims and learn their stories. He says what happened to them is not in vain. It's motivating him to save more lives.
The new Alabama Weather Network will launch on August 11 and will include an app, as well as stream on Roku, Apple TV and Chromecast. The Alabama Weather Network is also on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok and YouTube. The network will not be available on television channels for now, although Spann said that is something they would like to offer eventually.
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