If you believe James Spann is already a ubiquitous meteorological presence, particularly during dangerous storms, just touch that dial.

On Aug. 11, the popular, award-winning Birmingham meteorologist will launch his own channel: The Alabama Weather Network. It will be available 24/7 on numerous streaming services (i.e. Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire), on social media (YouTube, Facebook), and through the Alabama Weather Network app and website.

“It’s long been a dream of mine,” says Spann, who will retain his position as chief meteorologist for ABC 33/40 while appearing on the new network.

“When I started doing this, you had television boundaries,” Spann said. “You had markets — you were on in Tuscaloosa, Birmingham and Aniston, and that’s it. Nobody else could see you. With digital and social media, that’s all changed; boundaries have faded away. Now, everybody in our business can decide where the boundaries will start for them and where they’ll stop. For me, the logical stopping point is the state line because I know the state better than anybody, including you, Gov. Kay Ivey, anybody.”

The network, whose production studios are based in Birmingham, will air recorded programming on events, activities and places to visit statewide. Statewide forecasts will air every 20 minutes and be updated several times daily. There will also be targeted forecasts aimed at, for instance, beaches, lawn care and gardening.

“There’s a hunger for adequate good weather coverage, and a lot of our rural parts of the state don’t have that. This will fill some holes,” said Spann. “We’re going to have the resources to do it right, resources I’ve not had. So, it’s an absolute dream come true for me.”

Shows will emphasize preparedness, both in the days and sometimes weeks before a storm hits, but also long-term readiness on subjects such as protecting your home and having a plan far ahead of inevitable storms.

“Some people are new here and this weather can be terrifying,” Spann says. “You come here from Portland or Boston and all of a sudden tornadoes are flying around. We have to take care of those who’ve lived here forever and people who are new here. We can do that in addition to obviously giving them short-term warnings so they know when it’s time to get to a safe place — respect the polygon and all that.”

Last week, in the tense aftermath of the tragic and deadly flooding of the Guadalupe River in central Texas that killed at least 130 people, Spann called for “empathy and kindness” on behalf of the families of victims. He received “nasty messages and verbal threats” in response to remarks about the impact of cloud seeding on the flood.

Spann is one of four owners of the Alabama Weather Network. The others are hotel industry executive Bill Murray, who partners with Spann on the Alabama Weather Blog, former meteorologist John Oldshue, and business and personal finance expert Bill Hardekopf, who was president and general manager of the Birmingham Barons from 1992-1998.

“James is a trusted voice and a community cheerleader,” says Murray. “Now he will be a statewide cheerleader. He has so much emotional equity with the people of Alabama. They care what he says. Beyond weather, he’ll drum up enthusiasm for things like UAB football, the World Police and Fire Games, and other important events across the state.”

Says Spann: “We live in a place where you’re going to deal with occasional events that can threaten your life. Tracking tornadoes in the Birmingham region is kind of what I’m known for, but you’ve also got hurricanes in coastal Alabama and winter storms in North Alabama, including some wicked ice storms. You’ve got severe thunderstorms with straight-line winds that can knock a tree right through your house and pick up a trailer and blow it three lots over. I could tell you stories about ice storms that would curl your toes.

“There are a gazillion weather apps, a gazillion YouTubers and TikTokers, but folks need a source they can trust. I’d like to think I’ve been here long enough where I understand them, they understand me, and I’m always there for them.”

And will now be there 24/7.