SeCAPS 2026 Keynote Speakers

Mr. James Spann is chief meteorologist of the new Alabama Weather Network, which started operations in August 2025. AWN provides severe weather coverage for all 67 Alabama counties. He is also chief meteorologist for ABC 33/40 in Birmingham and has been a professional meteorologist for 47 years. After starting his college career as an electrical engineering major, he would go on to change majors and finish in the meteorology program at Mississippi State University. James was honored as one of the “Top 100 Outstanding Alumni” of the Mississippi State Department of Geosciences in 2016. The University of West Alabama conferred an honorary doctor of laws degree to James in 2013. He has won the “Award For Broadcast Meteorology” from the American Meteorological Society, the “Broadcaster of the Year” from the National Weather Association and has earned multiple Emmy awards over the years. He was elected to the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Silver Circle, representing outstanding achievement spanning at least 25 years in the broadcast industry with a proven record of mentoring and community involvement. The Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) named James as the National Weatherperson of the Year in 2019. James was one of the first weather anchors in the nation to earn "Certified Broadcast Meteorologist" status from the American Meteorological Society. James does weather programs in schools daily across Alabama, and leads children’s worship at Double Oak Community Church in Shelby County. James and his wife Karen have been married for 44 years, and have two grown sons.