Kevin Selle
Wichita Falls, TX
Male, 55
I've been a broadcast meteorologist on television since the early 1990's. Happy to answer any questions about the weather or local TV news. Yes, I often wear sneakers on set just out of view of the camera.
A lot of meteorologists have some story as to why they got into weather, often times some big event sparked their interest. Many of us are technology geeks so you probably can't go wrong asking about computers and phones and such. Good luck!
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Is it going to rain? Will the storms be severe? What are the best apps for my phone? What about global warming? Do people ever blame you for bad weather? I recognize your voice, where do I know you from? Thanks, Jackie!
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Hi Matt. I'm actually not familiar with the payscale at the National Weather Service. You can get a pretty good idea by looking at NWS and NOAA job postings online at http://www.weather.gov/careers. Most jobs have a salary range attached to them. You might also have luck contacting your local NWS office. Click on your region at weather.gov for the closest office. Good luck!!
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Great question. One of my mentors told me, "You go to school for four years to learn meteorology, and then it takes two more to learn to forecast." So, time spent in a particular area gives you valuable experience in the local climatology. In your example, the weatherman in Hawaii, if he had had a good education, could certainly take a job in Alaska, but it would probably take a few seasons to get comfortable. Thanks!
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Navy Officer (Former)
Just how educated is the typical US military serviceman?
Fashion Forecaster
What country is the most fashion-forward?
Private Detective
What's the best Sherlock-Holmes-worthy detective work you've ever done?
Great question...complicated answer. A weather forecast is made up of many different data points. One of the most important data sets is the twice daily weather balloons that gather data through the height of the atmosphere. One of the weaknesses in the system is that there is an average of only one or two balloon launches in each state, 12 hours apart. The data from those balloons is used in computers that use mathematical equations that predict how the gases and water in the air will behave. Given that the balloon network has so many gaps in it, certain features can be missed. Also, since the data collected at the time of the balloon is not a perfect picture, the forecast 2, 3, 5 or more days out gets more fuzzy. Kind of making a copy of a copy of a copy on a photocopier.
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Never mind that...did you see what the Global Forecast System is doing over the plains at 384 hours!?! :) Usually what happens for me is once I get to the point in a conversation where I have to say, "Mostly cloudy tomorrow", or "Rain by mid-morning" people will giggle and say, "He sounds just like a TV Weatherman!" My favorite kind of interaction is when someone doesn't realize who they are talking with and makes some comment about the weather. Like in a elevator or the checkout line, they will say, "Boy, this is the worst hot spell in 100 years!" I usually play along and walk away wondering what they would think if they knew who they were talking with. :)
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I remember a job posting for a San Diego television station many many years ago that said, "Can you say 72 and sunny?" I think most of us prefer locations that have some action. Some like snow, others severe weather, others hurricanes. I guess the ideal job is in a place with the type of weather you are most interested in. Having been to San Diego a number of times I would agree with you, it is pretty nice!
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