The Six Jobs of a Broadcast Meteorologist

Broadcast meteorologists are some of the hardest working, busiest people in the television newsroom. And I’m only a little biased in saying that, given I was an on-air broadcast meteorologist for over three decades, most recently at KTRK ABC13 in Houston.

Local TV station weather teams don’t just forecast the weather. They are also responsible for producing the weather and delivering the weather on-air, online, and on social media. At times, they communicate on more than one platform simultaneously.

As one of my clients told me during a recent coaching session, “I start working the minute I walk in the door, and I don’t stop for ten hours.”

Here are six reasons why the weather team hardly ever leaves the weather center in the cool, dark corner of the studio.

Weather Forecaster

The forecast must be right or nothing else matters. However, getting it right requires time. Surface observations and upper-air data are studied. Satellite and radar data are analyzed. Forecast models, many of them, are reviewed. Since the weather is always changing, new data is arriving constantly. All these sources must be monitored throughout the workday, especially when there’s a major weather event.

Eventually, the meteorologist writes out the forecast for the next seven to ten days: sky conditions, high and low temperatures, wind speed and direction, and the chance of rain. In some markets, it’s not just one forecast, but several covering local micro-climates.

Graphic Artist

Most people don’t realize the graphics that appear behind the broadcast meteorologist are produced by the weather team. And most people don’t realize there are several hundred different graphics in the typical content library.

Many of these weather visualizations use real-time data. Some utilize sophisticated augmented reality software. All of them require a great deal of time to design and create.

Weather Producer

Broadcast meteorologists produce multiple weather hits and teases throughout the newscast. Some morning shows have weather updates every 7-10 minutes over 3-4 hours!

Producing the weather involves more than stacking several graphics together. Ideally, every hit is different to keep the audience engaged. Additionally, every hit should deliver the essential message, information viewers want and need to know about the weather right now.

On-Air Anchor

After all this, the broadcast meteorologist turns to the camera and delivers the message…without a script. The most accurate forecast, the best graphics, and a well-stacked hit mean nothing if the on-air performance is a disappointment.

Just as every hit should be produced differently, every hit should be delivered full of energy. The last hit should be just as engaging as the first hit.

Digital Content Creator

The job isn’t done after the news ends. Broadcast meteorologists also produce regular weather updates for the station-branded website and apps. Many also produce weather updates for local radio stations, special reports, podcasts, and other digital content to supplement the on-air coverage.

Producing online content requires a Digital Now weather coverage strategy, one that recognizes that viewers watch the videos on-demand.

Social Media Manager

Social media provides the broadcast meteorologist an opportunity to share their personality with followers. Most have accounts on every major social media platform, especially Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Managing social media could be a full-time job itself. Every platform has different restrictions regarding the size of the images and the amount of allowable text. Feedback from followers is often immediate and sometimes helpful. One post can quickly turn into a never-ending conversation, requiring even more time to monitor.

On-air, online, and on social media

Managing the daily workflow can be challenging, especially for early-career meteorologists. This is the type of thing they don’t teach you in college. Because they can’t. You learn how to do a lot of this on the job.

None of the six jobs above are completed in isolation and many are accomplished concurrently. WxComm Pro organizes these six jobs into three fundamentals: forecasting the weather, producing the weather, and delivering the weather. This helps ensure the weather coverage is comprehensive and consistent from day to day and among all the meteorologists on the team.

Tim Heller is an AMS Certified Broadcast Meteorologist, Talent Coach, and Weather Content Consultant. He helps local TV stations and broadcast meteorologists communicate more effectively on-air, online, and on social media.