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.

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326 Questions

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Last Answer on December 24, 2019

Best Rated

What are questions you are asked most often?

Asked by Jackie almost 11 years ago

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!

I am 55 and have never in my life have witnessed a lightning storm that had absolutely no sound. I have video but the file is too long to prove this. There should have been loud claps and rolling deep thunder. But nothing. Can you explain this?

Asked by Vicki over 10 years ago

Great question, Vicki.  Without knowing the exact circumstances I can tell you that light travels farther than sound.  On average, depending on conditions, the sound of thunder will travel an average of 15 miles.  Thanks!

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 about 11 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. :)

is there a particular state, region, city, province, etc that meteorologists generally agree is the "ideal" climate? (san diego comes to mind...)

Asked by runnin rebel about 11 years ago

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!

ever include inside jokes or subliminal messages during a weather report, where the audience has no clue it's even happening?

Asked by lucky777 about 11 years ago

Hmmm...can't think of any. But I will say my wife and some of my neighbors do know certain keywords to listen for during severe weather near my home!

crazy hypothetical but indulge me. let's say my local weather guy predicts a sunny day, and it turns out to be a hurricane. thinking it was gonna be nice out, i didn't prepare for a hurricane and my house gets damaged. could I sue the news program?

Asked by howard (edenton, NC) about 11 years ago

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.

All else being equal, who do you think is more likely to get the weatherman job nowadays: the funny male, or the hot female?

Asked by Arlington Drew about 11 years ago

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.