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

Do you read your lines off a teleprompter?

Asked by Seb_Krauss over 11 years ago

No, most weather segments are not scripted. And, I think most weather people agree that this is pretty conclusive evidence that the weather folks are much smarter than the news anchors. :)

Hi,
Are the people who report the weather and the ones who decide what should be said the same people? Or is there a meteorologist who writes the script for the reporter? Thanks.

Asked by John over 10 years ago

Well...yes.  It actually depends on the station and the individual.  I would say that most of us develop a forecast of our own from data provided mainly from NOAA as well as other agencies.  Some will use the forecast generated at the local National Weather Service and a few others may have a forecast provided by a private forecast service.  Thanks

I'm going to be rising senior in high school next year which means the college application season is right around the corner. I was curious do I necessarily need to major in meteorology to become a meteorologist. Can I major in Environmental Science?

Asked by Nathan Alvarez over 9 years ago

Good question, Nathan. It would be somewhat dependent on what you think you might like to do. If you are interested in working for the National Weather Service, private industry, or doing research, I would say yes, go for the degree. By contrast there are a number of people in TV who do not have specific degrees in meteorology. Research schools carefully. Places like the University of Oklahoma are very heavy on math and geared toward research. Mississippi State has a TV program. Whatever your goal a degree will help. Good luck!

My friend in Prescott, AZ swears that we in Denver, CO get their weather. If it snows in Prescott, she says we'll get the same because their 'weather' moves this way. But it seems ours comes from the NW. What's the truth of the matter? Thanks

Asked by Jane almost 10 years ago

Looks like you are both right, Jane. In broad terms, storm systems move from west to east across the US, usually with the jet stream. The jet is amplified in wave patterns, kind of like snapping a bed sheet over a bed. Sometimes storms will approach you from the southwest, traveling up the "hill" of the wave, and other times from the northwest, coming down the hill. Great question, thanks!

What is the name of the little gadget weathermen discreetly carry in their hand to change the weather wall display - and how does it work?

Asked by HarryThe Hat over 9 years ago

I think most of us generically call it "the clicker". It is a simple wireless controller hooked up to the weather computer to advance to the next map. Some have several buttons for higher functions like dropping cutouts on the maps or drawing. Back in the day some stations simply used a garage door opener. Good question. Thanks Harry.

Are there any extremely cool facts or information about typhoons that not many people know about? Because we're doing a project based on typhoons and we also need some ideas how to demonstrate it---but we have no cool ideas that can BLAST attention

Asked by Gladelyn and Lesley from Canad almost 11 years ago

Hello, Ladies.  Yup, there sure are.  Not knowing the age group of your audience makes it a little diffucult for me to give an answer.  I'd start with an Internet search, and, basic meteorology books, espeically ones geared toward kids are also a good resource.  Goog luck!

How do sun-showers happen when there's practically not a cloud in the sky? I was walking today when it began to sprinkle lightly, but looking up the sky was COMPLETELY blue -- only clouds were way off at the horizon. How is that possible?

Asked by stak about 10 years ago

When rain falls it creates friction with the air around it, and a downdraft.  Friction creates heat with can evaporate water (cloud droplets) and downdraft is also a warming process.  Sounds to me like the cloud that created the rain evaporated by the time you felt the drops and looked up.  Cool!