1. Explain me what's a typical work week like?
My normal work day at the station is 2-11pm. If the weather warrants I get in earlier and stay later of course, but I also visit schools or civic groups for weather presentations before going in to the station and occasionally have to shoot promotional pieces as well.
2. Explain me what was it that hooked you?
I think just the lightning and thunderstorms, the noise and power. One minute it's there and the next minute it's gone. It's just the sheer force behind those things.
3. Tell us how would you describe what you do?
I make and present the forecast for our website, mobile apps, news radio station and 5, 6 and 10pm newscasts M-F. Additionally I supervise the other members of Stormtracker13 to develop our presentation as a cohesive unit and I oversee the maintenance of our 20+ weather computers.
4. Explain me what do you consider an accurate forecast?
The biggest thing everybody's going to notice is the temperature because that's something that happens every day. I try to keep that within three degrees. My goal is when there's a big event coming in, I expect to get those right.
5. Tell me how can I find out about severe weather warnings?
Warnings of severe weather for the UK are issued by our National Meteorological sService, the Met Office. We also post a warning on the front page of our site. Follow this link to find out what severe weather warnings are in place today.
6. Do you know what is storm surge?
Storm surge is a large mound of water that accompanies a tropical cyclone as it comes ashore. The intense winds of the cyclone pile up the ocean into a dome of water that is pushed onshore as the cyclone strikes the coast. The low pressure of the cyclone adds to the height of the mound of water, though this is a secondary effect. When the height of a storm surge is discussed it does not take into account the height of the large waves on top of the mound of water.
7. Explain me what's the craziest weather day or night you've covered?
Mapleton would have to be up there and Hurricane Brett back in 1999 (while working in Texas). Hurricane Brett was a three-day marathon. In all that time I think I had eight hours of sleep.
8. Explain why do tropical cyclones form?
The sun heats the tropical areas more than the polar regions. If there were no wind, then the tropics would keep getting hotter and hotter, and the poles would get colder and colder. The atmosphere's basic function is to redistribute heat from the equator to the poles, and tropical cyclones are one mechanism by which this occurs. However it is still quite remarkable that such a thing as a tropical cyclone should arise. It has been said that if we had not actually observed tropical cyclones then, despite all we know about the physics of the atmosphere, we would never have guessed at their existence.
9. Tell me what will the weather be like on my holiday?
The ‘climate statistics' for your holiday location will tell you what the average weather conditions are, and also how variable the weather is. In 2005 the World Meteorological Organization launched a World Weather Information Service. It provides climate statistics from the national meteorological and hydrological services of participating countries, including the UK
10. Tell me what is the Storm Prediction Center?
The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) is a part of the National Weather Service (NWS) and is one of nine National Centers for Environmental Prediction.
11. Tell me what happens to cyclones as they move further south?
Cyclones off northern Australia typically develop between 5 and 15°S and reach maximum intensity between 10 and 20°S. As they move further south they will weaken over land or, for those remaining over water, weaken as they encounter an unfavourable environment (strengthening wind shear) and move over cooler water. They usually increase in speed as the steering winds in the mid-levels of the atmosphere increase and move to the south or southeast.
12. Tell me when did the naming of cyclones begin?
The convention of naming Australian tropical cyclones began in 1964. The first Western Australian named cyclone was Bessie that formed on 6 January 1964. Female names were used exclusively until the current convention of alternating male and female names commenced in 1975.
The naming of weather systems in Australia began much earlier than the 1960s, however. The flamboyant Clement Wragge, Government meteorologist in Queensland from 1887 until 1902, initiated the practice by naming weather systems after anything from mythological creatures to politicians who may have annoyed him.
13. Tell me how much time off do you get/take?
I've been at KRDO Newschannel 13 for more than ten years so I get about 3 weeks off per year plus some sick time.
14. Explain me what's the hardest part about forecasting?
The fact that things can change at a moment's notice. One small change in something in the atmosphere can mess up your whole forecast.
15. Explain what advice would you offer someone considering this career?
You've got to LOVE the weather for it to be worth it. Don't get into this just because you want to be on TV.
16. Explain me what type of education and training is needed?
I got a bachelor of arts in atmospheric science from the University of Kansas.
17. Explain me what do you do for a living?
I'm the Chief Meteorologist at KRDO Newschannel 13 the ABC affiliate in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
18. Tell me when did you decide to be a meteorologist?
I probably knew when I was in second, third grade it was something I wanted to do.
19. Tell me how long have you been a meteorologist?
In November it'll be 8 years.
20. Explain me what do you like about what you do?
The weather is different everyday, weather is the only part of a newscast that affects every person watching and I like being able to help people. This help can take several forms. From providing information to help viewers plan (what to wear, what to do for recreation, when to travel) or to keep families safe (from hail and tornadoes to icy roads and whiteouts) I need to be on my “A” game every day.
21. Explain me what education, schooling, or skills are needed to do this?
There are primarily two education backgrounds among people that do weather on television. “Meteorologists” typically have at least a B.S. degree in Meteorology or Atmospheric Science while some television weather casters have a journalism or communications degree.
22. Explain me is there one season of the year that's easier or harder to forecast?
Winter is harder because there's just so many variables that go into winter weather.
23. Tell me how long does it take to come up with a forecast?
Most days I'll get here at 2 o'clock and we've got a show at 5 and I'll be working up to five minutes before the show.
24. Explain me how big are tropical cyclones?
The size of a cyclone is usually described in terms of the radius of gale-force (sustained winds of at least 63 km/h). Although the distribution of surface winds is never completely symmetrical estimates of the gale-radius provide a reasonable guide on the size of a system. Cyclones off the northwest have an average radius of gales of about 150 to 200 kilometres. It is common for gales to occur well beyond the average radius of gales in one quadrant, for example the northwesterly monsoon winds to the north of the centre.
25. Explain me how are tropical cyclones different to mid-latitude cyclones?
To a first approximation a tropical cyclone is like a heat engine - it derives its energy from the heat that is released when water vapour that has been evaporated from the ocean surface (assisted by high winds and low pressure) condenses in the middle of the atmosphere. Mid-latitude cyclones (low pressure systems associated with fronts) primarily get their energy from horizontal gradients in temperature.
Another important difference between the two is that tropical cyclones have their strongest winds near the surface while mid-latitude systems have their strongest winds many kilometres above the surface near the top of the atmosphere.
26. Explain me what is a common misconception people have about what you do?
That we have people that do our hair and makeup for us!
27. Explain me what is most challenging about what you do?
Predicting the future! I have the potential to get egg on my face everyday. Occasionally you are going to blow a forecast and you have to be able to recover from that. I do my best to go back and figure our what I missed so that it doesn't happen again. Over the years I've learned that I can be wrong even when I'm right! We know people are at home watching TV while they are living life. A Dad might be making lunch for the kids or conversing with his wife while the news is on. A Mom might be folding laundry or doing a crossword puzzle with the TV on in the background. Its easy for people to miss important parts of the message when attention is going elsewhere. My forecast is only as accurate as someone perceives it to be.
28. Tell me do you get an adrenaline rush when all those watches and warnings start popping up?
Yeah. I think back to Mapleton (tornado two years ago). We were on the air for four and a half hours straight without a break, without a commercial. We had warnings popping up and reports coming in. There's no more of an adrenalin rush than spring storms.
29. Tell me how much better is the technology than 10, 20 years ago?
It's leaps and bounds. Back then we had dot matrix printers and dial-up modems. Now I can sit at home and tap into the computer here and work on it from home or I can tap into it with my phone.
30. Tell me what is the difference between a storm surge and storm tide?
The combination of storm surge and astronomical tide is known as 'storm tide'. The worst impacts occur when the storm surge arrives on top of a high tide. When this happens, the storm tide can reach areas that might otherwise have been safe.
31. Tell me how is a severe tropical cyclone different from a non-severe cyclone?
Tropical cyclones are classified as severe when they are producing 'very destructive winds' having sustained surface winds of at least 118 km/h near the centre and gusts of at least 165 km/h. This corresponds to cyclone categories 3, 4 and 5.
32. Explain me what are your goals/dreams for the future?
I'm wrestling with that right now actually. Call it a mid-life crisis if you want to, but I've been in the industry long enough that I know its strengths and weaknesses. I'm trying to be the best husband and father that I can and I'm trying to determine if being a television meteorologist allows that to happen. Many people in television news move around the country and find themselves in a new community every three to five years (remember that bigger cities tend to come with bigger paychecks). I've been blessed to be in Colorado Springs for an extended period of time and the thought of uprooting my family weighs on me.
33. Explain me how much money do Meteorologists make?
Salaries for television meteorologists vary wildly and depend on a number of factors. These can include market size (the bigger cities have more eyeballs watching tv and thus more people seeing ads. A 30 second commercial spot in Denver, Colorado costs an advertiser a lot more money than a 30 second commercial in Grand Junction, Colorado), length of time at the station, popularity in the market and a number of other factors. Entry level jobs can pay around $20,000 per year while some big market salaries can be several hundreds of thousands (or even more!).
I like event-driven weather. I don't necessarily like to see tornadoes, but I like a good thunderstorm. To me, if we get an active weather pattern, that gives me something to talk about and the ability to keep it fresh.
35. Tell me do you keep track of how often the weather turns out how you forecast it?
I keep a daily log of all my forecasts. I've got a specific goal in mind in what I want to get.
