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.
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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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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Hahaha...can we talk about Global Warming instead?
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Some yes, others no. Many many years ago I was recruited by The Weather Channel. They have a number of very very smart folks who you never, or rarely, see on camera, and working with them was very appealing. The idea of hurricane briefings from the legendary John Hope was great. Ultimately my choice was against doing more broad national coverage over and over again in favor of a more specific area. There is a saying, "Like politics, all weather is local." Thanks!
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Interesting question. We have a pretty integrated system. The numbers I've seen suggest that the return on investment for weather operations, on a percentage basis, is one of the best of all government expenditures. But, to answer your question, you might be right, I wouldn't want to lose the daily weather balloons since that is where the forecast starts, and radar more readily saves lives...so, okay maybe the satellites, if you must take something!
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Hmmm...trick question. I guess my hope is that the one that has the best meteorology chops gets the job. That said, different markets, and more and more these days, different stations, have different requirements. I recently saw an ad for a weather person in which the bulk of the job description asked for someone who was not afraid to give their opinions on the news stories of the day. Thanks, Drew.
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Thanks, Howard. Here is my best analysis, and, of course, I'm not a lawyer. Forecasting can be considered as less than an exact science, and in some ways, a bit of an art. Those of us that seriously practice that art, meaning we have a certain amount of study or serious history in the science of meteorology, are given some level of protection. Now, if a given station provided you with a forecast from an unknown or unreliable source, could you attempt to hold that station accountable? You could certainly make that argument and then it would be up to a judge or jury. Obviously no meteorologist or television station would directly cause any damage, you would need prove some sort of negligence in information gathering, which is unlikely given that a "weather presenter" would mostly likely get their information from a source like the National Weather Service, which obviously has credibility. Good question, thanks.
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