TV Meteorologist

TV Meteorologist

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.

SubscribeGet emails when new questions are answered. Ask Me Anything!Show Bio +

Share:

Ask me anything!

Submit Your Question

326 Questions

Share:

Last Answer on December 24, 2019

Best Rated

if a weather guy predicts a sunny day and a thunderstorm ensues, what can cause such an inaccurate prediction?

Asked by jameson almost 12 years ago

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.

do weather reporters frequently become news reporters and vice versa? or are news reporting and weather reporting two completely different animals?

Asked by billbo jackson almost 12 years ago

Generally not, but there are always exceptions. Probably what happens most is that future news people end up doing weather on the weekends in a smaller city to get started and will then do some news reporting for three days during the work week. I've known of a few weather people who moved to the news side or even sports, and others who move the other way but I would say that is the except rather than the rule. I once had an agent tell me I would be a good anchor, I could tell she was waiting to measure my reaction. I politely told her to keep walking. :)

How much does the average TV weatherman make? And are you paid an annual salary, per episode, or some other kind of arrangement?

Asked by Ken almost 12 years ago

Hi, Ken. Big range of answers. At a base level salaries are reflective of the size of the city (we call them "markets"). A beginning TV meteorologist is likely to start by doing the weekend shift in a small market where they might also do some news reporting a couple days per week. Salary in this situation might be between $20,000 and $30,000. From there it does up well into six figures for many larger markets. Most are paid an annual salary.

TV news folks seem so polished and stiff, both in their appearance and diction. They rarely come off as real "people." Do you agree, and do your foresee any changes to loosen them up a bit?

Asked by DC Harrier almost 12 years ago

I do see changes. Historically news anchors tried to project an air of impartiality so as not to suggest they were on a particular side of an issue. Two currents trends are serving to give news people a little more personality. One is that news programs are including more "entertainment", and, there is some evidence that some viewers prefer to know what side of an issue their news providers are on. That said, "most" of us are "regular" people off the air. :)

i've tried so many weather apps on my phone and they SUCK. inaccurate forecasts, not user friendly, just crappy altogether. what weather app do you think is the best out there?

Asked by joseph almost 12 years ago

Whew...tough one.  I think many of the early popular apps are suffering from design and feature bloat.  On iOS I actually think an app called Wx Alert USA is pretty good since it draws all data directly from the National Weather Service.  A generic radar app that I use often is wxRadar, for current conditions around the region, AeroWeather (a bit more technical) and an excellent technical radar app is RadarScope.  I've looked at several of the Android apps and am not thrilled with any of them.  If you are in a severe weather area I highly recommend WeatherRadio.  I'm working on some ways to improve weather information, stay tuned!  Thanks, Joseph!

Are TV executives a pain in the a** to work with? What about the news reporters and anchors? Nice people or a bunch of divas?

Asked by SlikStyle5000 almost 12 years ago

Hahaha...can we talk about Global Warming instead?

I'll nominate myself for dumbest question but... why is the study of weather called "meteorology?" Unless we're in Russia, meteors don't exactly seem central to weather.

Asked by 2_Green_Thumbs almost 12 years ago

Actually an excellent question. "Meteor" comes from the Greek for "raised from the ground, lofty, hanging", and "logy" is "account, explanation, study". A "hydrometeor" is any water or ice particle in the atmosphere, so "hydrometeorology" is probably a better choice. Hmmm...now I need new business cards...