Episodes

  • Is Super El Niño Stealing Christmas? Meteorologists Weigh In

    Is Super El Niño Stealing Christmas? Meteorologists Weigh In
    Oct 7 2026
    Is Super El Niño coming to steal Christmas and cancel winter, or is social media blowing ocean temperatures out of proportion? On this episode of ISOBAR, host Rob Haswell (Chief Meteorologist at Fox 6 Milwaukee) is joined by fellow Chief Meteorologists Emily Wahls (Fox 32 Chicago) and Rich Luterman (Fox 2 Detroit) to bring some much-needed weather sanity to the forecast. The panel breaks down what a 90% chance of a strong El Niño actually means for local Great Lakes winters. Emily brings the Chicago snowfall receipts - proving that even during "warmer and drier" Super El Niño years, the region still gets buried in cold and snow. Rich and Rob discuss why El Niño "loads the dice, but doesn't control every roll," how changing ocean temperature standards reflect broader climate trends, and why nostalgic memories of snow days still hold a special place in their hearts. Plus, the meteorologists unpack: Home Winter Prep: Last-minute boiler breakdowns, leaf-raking battles, and avoiding Milwaukee's leaf-induced drain floods. Tropical Paradox: Why the Pacific is churning out storms while the Atlantic sits in a historical lull. Fall Color Update: Gorgeous autumn foliage across Michigan and Wisconsin, drought impacts, and the social media chaos at Chicago’s Apple Fest. Winter Forecast Battle: NOAA’s official outlook vs. the Old Farmer’s Almanac - and how the team reacts to long-range predictions. Fat Bear Week: Crowned champions, beloved underdogs, and why "Backpack" took the title. 00:00 Super El Niño Hype vs. Weather Sanity 01:38 Local Snowfall Reality: Chicago Stats & Winter Averages 03:30 "El Niño Loads the Dice, But Doesn't Control Every Roll" 05:38 Ocean Warming & Shifting Measurement Scales 07:18 Low Pressure Tracks, "Texas Persuaders" & Snow Day Nostalgia 11:05 Home Winter Prep & Rich’s Broken Boiler 12:01 Active Pacific vs. Unusually Quiet Atlantic Tropics 15:42 Great Lakes Fall Colors & Chicago Apple Fest Drama 20:25 Frost Advisories, Leaf Raking & Gutter Maintenance 24:35 Winter Outlook: NOAA vs. The Old Farmer's Almanac 26:57 Fat Bear Week 2026: Backpack Takes the Crown! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    30 mins
  • Heavy rain leads to wild rescues

    Heavy rain leads to wild rescues
    Sep 23 2026
    What happens when historic flash floods collide with a miraculous water landing and an 11-day wilderness survival story? Chief Meteorologists Rob Haswell (Fox Milwaukee), Emily Wahls (Fox Chicago), and Rich Luterman (Fox Detroit) break down the wild weather hitting the Great Lakes region this week. From torrential downpours drowning Chicago roads and canceling the River Swim, to severe flood damage at a Kenosha theater and ongoing EF2 tornado cleanup in Detroit, the team covers the widespread impacts. Plus, dive into two incredible survival stories: a candidate's plane forced down into a Wisconsin lake and a 70-year-old hiker rescued after 11 days stranded on Isle Royale. Finally, get expert insights on a record-setting Atlantic hurricane season, the debate over permanent Daylight Saving Time, early fall color forecasts, and how soon we could see the season's first snow. 00:00 Heavy Rains & Wild Weather Hit the Midwest 00:25 Why Chicago Stalled Out in Floods 01:25 Chicago River Swim Canceled (Dirty Water Alert!) 03:54 Kenosha Theater Swamped by Flooding 05:25 Wisconsin Pumpkin Farms Drenched 06:07 Detroit’s EF2 Tornado Cleanup Update 07:15 Cider Mill Visits (And Missing Bees!) 07:52 Florida Lightning Tragedy & Storm Safety 08:44 Historic Record: Where Are the Atlantic Hurricanes? 09:25 El Niño’s Shocking Impact on Late Storms 11:33 We’re Losing Daylight Fast 13:08 Should Daylight Saving Time Be Permanent? 15:25 Time Zone Confusions Across Midwest Borders 18:00 Miraculous Lake Plane Crash in Wisconsin 19:45 Small Planes & Real Aviation Risks 21:49 11 Days Lost: Surviving Isle Royale Wilderness 25:11 When to Spot Peak Fall Colors This Year 27:37 Could It Snow Sooner Than You Think? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    29 mins
  • What's worse - Fall heat waves or insect invasions?

    What's worse - Fall heat waves or insect invasions?
    Sep 9 2026
    This episode dives into a chaotic stretch of late-summer weather across the Great Lakes and beyond. Host Rob Haswell from Fox Milwaukee returns alongside chief meteorologists Rich Luterman from Fox Detroit and Emily Wahls from Fox Chicago to break down recent severe weather outbreaks. Together, they cover an EF2 tornado striking urban Detroit and localized microbursts flattening structures in rural Wisconsin. Learn how power outages impacted hundreds of thousands, where FEMA is assisting recovery efforts, and how current radar technology compares to Detroit’s historic 1997 tornado outbreak. The discussion shifts to unusual temperature trends, examining Chicago’s record-breaking early September heatwave that followed an exceptionally cool August. Discover how high humidity and "corn sweat" pushed heat index values up to 117°F, even causing a major Chicago drawbridge to overheat and lock up traffic. Finally, we analyze major global and seasonal weather events, dissecting viral video of Nepal's devastating glacial outburst flood, tracking tropical activity across the Pacific and Atlantic basins, offering tips on navigating late-summer yellowjacket and mosquito swarms, and debunking the classic myth surrounding Woolly Bear caterpillars predicting winter. 00:00 How Recent Tornadoes Ravaged Metro Detroit 05:08 How Storm Cleanup Teams Assess Damage 07:27 Looking Back at Detroit's 1997 Tornado 09:35 Why September Heat and Humidity Are Spiking 14:13 How Extreme Heat Jammed a Chicago Bridge 17:24 Unpacking the Shocking Nepal Glacial Flood 20:55 What to Expect From Active Tropical Storms 23:17 How to Stay Safe From Bug Swarms 26:53 Can Woolly Bear Caterpillars Predict Winter? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    29 mins
  • Lights Out Thanks to Summer Storms?

    Lights Out Thanks to Summer Storms?
    Aug 27 2026
    Host Rob Haswell (Fox 6 Milwaukee) reunites with Chief Meteorologists Emily Wahls (Fox 32 Chicago) and Rich Luterman (Fox 2 Detroit) for another eye-opening episode of The Isobar. The team dives deep into the unprecedented 2026 severe weather season that has shattered all-time tornado records across Illinois and brought historic numbers to Wisconsin. Emily breaks down the catastrophic August 11th derecho, detailing the 100 mph straight-line winds, weeks-long power outages, and lasting impacts on communities in Illinois and Indiana. Then the team ponders the degrading effects all the severe weather is having on our power grid. Meanwhile, Rich provides a surprisingly calm update from Detroit, sharing fascinating video of a rare Great Lakes waterspout off Harsens Island. The trio then shifts focus to the bigger picture: analyzing the Pacific's sudden outbreak of tropical activity near Hawaii, examining the National Hurricane Center's newly updated storm surge and hazard communication maps, and discussing how severe weather is expanding beyond traditional boundaries. Finally, they address the mounting infrastructure challenges, regional droughts, and whether a calm autumn is finally on the horizon for the Midwest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    27 mins