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

Hi, if I'm interested in storm chasing but know it's not lucrative. What job as a meteorologist would incorporate doing so as part of the job duties? Also thank you for your site and time!

Asked by Littlejohn over 10 years ago

Hi, Littlejohn.  I would say something in the severe weather research area would allow the best opportunity to chase.  A lot of those jobs are based in and around Norman, OK where the University of Oklahoma, several National Weather Service offices (including the Storm Prediction Center), and several private weather companies are located.  Not sure of your age or education status, but I think I would start with the School of Meteorology at OU and see what resources they have available.  som.ou.edu  Good luck, can't wait to see your chase pictures!

I am desperate for information! I am getting married on June 1 this year, in Jaffrey, NH. Trying to find out what the temperature usually is at that time of year in the early evening, for an outdoor reception. Cant find anywhere. Please help! Thanks

Asked by dave about 11 years ago

In the shadow of Mt. Monadnock...nice!  The average high for Jaffrey for that day is right at 70 degrees, the average low is 50.  At the beginning of June the warmest temperature of a sunny day would be around 4 to 5:00pm, sunset is at 8:20, so if it is a perfectly average day (and few are) I would say it would be falling through the 60's durning the wedding and perhaps in to the upper 50's near the end of the reception.  Good luck and congrats!!

How exactly do you validate an alert so the tornado sirens start blowing? Does the weather man have the final say when the sirens blow? How are the sirens activated? Does someone push a button or is it all computerized? Im doing a report for HighSchl

Asked by Gwyni almost 11 years ago

Excellent question, and I wish there were a standard answer.  Warning sirens are controlled by emergency management officials and local governments.  There is no standard procedure.  As a partial answer to your question, local TV meteorologists have no control over the sirens.  I would suggest you contact your local National Weather Service office.  They can give you information on how sirens are handled in your town.  Go to weather.gov and click on your area on the map.  This will take you to your local office page.  Let me know if you have any trouble and we will try another path.  Thanks!

Do you get offended when people call you a weatherman when you're a meteorologist?

Asked by XOXO about 11 years ago

Personally, no, but I do think some do. I'm just happy anyone notices!

with tech advances and such, how do u see the future of weather reporting changing/improving?

Asked by grant77 about 11 years ago

Hi, Grant. Huge question. I remember reading something (and I'm paraphrasing and my facts might be off) that said shortly after Henry Ford invented the Model T that at one point there were 128 different companies manufacturing cars. Eventually most of them faded away for one reason or another and a few survived. I think we are in the same "wild west" period right now in weather information. A lot of players will make a lot of different plays, some will catch, others will fade away. That said, my hope is that what gains traction will be the best for the end users as opposed to systems designed by profit motive or convenience for companies. It would be nice to think "the best" will win but if you look at the history of home video, for example, Beta was always recognized to be a better quality format, but we all ended up with VHS machines blinking 12:00 hook to our TVs. Hope that wasn't too generic!

What's considered a good "batting average" for a weather forecaster? Getting it right 80 percent of the time? 90? More? Less?

Asked by Bradbury451 about 11 years ago

Tough to answer, and different areas of the country have different standards. I suppose 70% would be the bottom acceptable average. That said, "accuracy" is tough to define. Is one degree off okay? Two? Some give three degrees over or under the actual high as "accurate". Precipitation is another challenge. If "popcorn" afternoon thunderstorms cover 30% of the area, but not the official rain gauge (or your backyard) does that count as rain, or not? Guess that is why people get away with that old joke about weathermen still getting paid to be wrong all the time! :)

when weatherfols look for gigs, which locales are more desirable: those with nice but monotonous weather (e.g. SoCal), or those with erratic weather (hurricanes, tornadoes and such)? Is there a market that's like the holy grail for weather people?

Asked by Walt Wisc. about 11 years ago

Hi, Walt!  Depends on the person.  If you are really a weather geek you might want a place other than SoCal, that said, even San Diego has some interesting weather.  Broadly the interests break down into severe weather, tropical, and winter (don't understand the winter folks personally).  Every location has some local weather that is unique. For me, the worst thing is being stuck in a boring pattern.  Thanks!