Messages

31

Programming and Graphics / Re: New Graphics coming to TWC

« on: October 06, 2013, 12:14:32 PM »

I'm a fan.  It's simple, and I like simple.  Anxious to see the finished product.

32

OCMs & Personalities / Re: Crystal Egger Leaving TWC

« on: September 19, 2013, 10:50:56 AM »

Crystal Egger is joining KNBC (NBC's Owned & Operated station) in Los Angeles as a morning meteorologist.  She begins next month.

http://www.mediabistro.com/tvspy/meteorologist-crystal-egger-joins-knbc_b104466

33

OCMs & Personalities / Re: Crystal Egger Leaving TWC

« on: September 08, 2013, 10:48:54 AM »

Crystal is one of those OCMs who grew on me over time.  I really did come to enjoy her when I watched.  Glad she'll be back home surrounded by family.

34

Everything Else TWC / Re: General TWC Discussion

« on: September 08, 2013, 10:47:12 AM »

Interesting.  Thanks for that article!

35

OCMs & Personalities / Re: Jennifer Lopez returns to TWC

« on: July 15, 2013, 12:25:37 PM »

Jennifer Lopez is fantastic.  Glad to see her back.  Pleasant surprise turning on TWC to see Vivian Brown and her on "Day Planner."

36

General Discussion / Re: The Front Porch

« on: July 08, 2013, 11:14:06 AM »

The largest hail I have seen is also pea size.  I guess I should be happy, because that means no hail damage to my car .  That hail picture is pretty remarkable.

I've basically been absent from this site for two years as I finished up school/lost interest in The Weather Channel.  I still love watching Nick Walker and Vivian Brown during the day.

A lot has changed for me.  I'm gradumacated from college, and I'm living my dream as a broadcast meteorologist.  I am extremely blessed.  I found a job, in my hometown, 3 months before I graduated.  The downside...I report the news three times a week.  But, overall, it's great.

I am amazed at how much there is still to learn about weather.  I feel like I am learning something new every time I forecast.  I love it.  I love the feeling of getting a forecast right, but feel like complete crap when I am wrong (which has happened once...but I wasn't the only one so I felt somewhat better).  One thing I am still learning, is that meteorologists CANNOT be perfect.

37

Everything Else TWC / Re: General TWC Discussion

« on: July 08, 2013, 11:04:36 AM »

Great article.  I watched TWC's coverage of the Moore, Oklahoma tornado and was taken by surprise at how awesome their coverage was.  Straight to the point, great explanations and nothing seemed hype (I mean seriously, I don't think there is a such thing as "hype" with a tornado like that).

I remember reading a statistic saying that 96% of the viewers during that time period were not watching from areas affected.  Not that I need to tell you, but that leaves just 4% of people in the areas affected were tuned in to The Weather Channel.  So, that means, a fact that many of you have brought up here, people tune into their local television stations for storm coverage.

Anyway, I sometimes have TWC on as background, and seriously, Lava Chasers?

38

General Discussion / Re: The Front Porch

« on: June 05, 2013, 08:59:26 AM »

I finally got some good news at work after what has been a frustrating year for me so far:  NOAA has cancelled the furloughs proposed for employees like me, so I won't be laid off for several days as I was fearing that might happen this summer.  The tornadoes in OK tipped the scale to get NOAA and Congress to agree on a proposal to increase the budget flexibility that will keep everyone in the NWS aboard to watch the ongoing severe weather season and the upcoming hurricane season.  I just hope things get better from here.

Excellent news! 

I am still in awe of the recent tornadoes in OK.

39

General Discussion / Re: The Pot Belly Stove

« on: February 12, 2013, 11:55:59 AM »

I wish meteorology wasn't so math intense...i'm willing to go up to maybe Calc 2 at most but Calc 4 plus physics and chemistry is insane. Might as well go with pre-med since the track is similar but you need just calc 1 LOL

Well, math is the language of everything in the world and is a the only way to problem solve. If you can get through the four years of math, you'll be a lot better off. At least mets don't use those levels of math daily, now that we have computers, anyway. I'm guessing that its important to learn that level of mathematics so that you understand how everything works on a level other than just the conceptual method.

I don't hate math. I like math and am willing to work hard for it, but like most majors out there (not just meteorology but engineering, computer science, finance, etc), they are math intensive not necessarily because of the math itself but because it teaches you the logic behind in mastering the concepts, and using that logic is vital for many careers.

Also my best friend is a material sciences engineering major and told me the same thing. She's doing Calc 4 and told me Calc 2 was the worst. In Rutgers it supposedly has the highest fail rate of any math course. She failed it once along with her other friends failing maybe twice. Calc 3 was medium but interesting, Calc 4 was a lot easier and Calc 1 is either difficult or managable depending on how you approach the material. I'm retaking Calc 1 because I failed it last semester but I am taking the Economics/Business/bio Calc and not the regular calc that engineers and physical science majors take.

I like weather, I'm not exactly the most passionate weather enthusiast but after all the recent stress, I can safely say it is the only profession I can truly see myself in and the only career I'd be the most satisfied about. The severe weather aspect is by far the most fascinating part of meteorology to me and our school has a pretty decent met program. My question is in the NWS and other weather organizations where you might work, would you lose your job if you had tremendous difficulty with the math required for your field? I am willing to work hard to pursue my future its just that I am not finding any majors that deeply appeal to me besides met.

You might also consider private companies as well. I've come to the conclusion after volunteering at my local WFO, attending several meteorological conferences and talking to many in the industry that the NWS isn't for me. Nothing against those who work there but the schedule is tedious and the upper level management outside the local WFOs is a mess. I can't tell you how many people who work there have told me to avoid it. It's a big field so keep your options open.

Sorry that I'm replying to this a little late, but I LOVE answering this math question.  I struggled (not terribly, but enough) in math all throughout school.  In high school, when I began talking to advisers about college, told me that there is a LOT of math used in meteorology.  It was not something I wanted to hear.  I was average in math, so my freshman year of college I enrolled in basic College Algebra (ended up with a C, which discouraged me), then moved on to Trigonometry, and then moved on to Calculus 1. 

Calculus 1 was very frustrated for me.  My professor gave his lectures on POWERPOINT!  Unbelievable for a math class. Half way through the semester I was failing, so instead of failing the course, I dropped it.  I felt horrible!  How am I going to get through Calc 2, Calc 3, calculus based Physics and Differential Equations when I can barely do a freaking derivative?!  I retook Calculus 1 in the summer, and got an A.  It was all the teacher.

You just have to go in with an open mind.  I did very well in Calc 2.  Calc 3 I did poorly in, but turns out it is barely used in MET and was just a requirement for my BS sequence.  But, I can tell you that there is A LOT of math/calculus involved in upper level meteorology classes.  It is fun (in my opinion) to have this actually relate to what you are doing, and it all makes sense why you have to take all these math classes.

I really like Martin's response to your career field choice.  I know a couple people working in the NWS who LOVE their job, but say it is a very stressful one, especially with the 12-hour shifts, some over night, that you have to do.  I for one, would never want to work for an NWS office.  I've done job shadows twice, and it just seemed too boring to me.  Like Martin said, attending conferences is a great way to learn about the different types of fields you can go into with meteorology.  I have stuck with the broadcast field, but that's just me.  In fact, I just received a call from a television station interested in talking with me about an opening.  It's exciting stuff, and if you really like meteorology, you'll find a way to power through all your classes!

40

General Discussion / Re: The Pot Belly Stove

« on: January 09, 2013, 10:55:23 AM »

The meteorology majors in my school don't require Computer Science, even though I have limited C++ knowledge. How useful is that class for Meteorology?

Just the ability to read and learn code and be able to utilize it in programming is important in Meteorology.  A computer science class was required for my degree, but I had a choice between C++ and FORTRAN.  The ability to do programming is actually way more important than people think, especially when you consider all the computers used in weather.

Agreed with Patrick.

It is a requirement for the meteorology degree at my university.  We also had the choice between Fortran and C++.  C++ was (for whatever reason) required for my first Dynamics course, so I chose that.  A couple friends took a meteorology class where Fortran was HEAVILY used.

41

General Discussion / Re: The Pot Belly Stove

« on: January 07, 2013, 09:39:30 AM »

Which is more easier: Computer Science or Information Technology? I am not majoring in either fields but I thought it was food for thought anyways.

I personally did not find Computer Science very easy.  It could have been my lack of interest.  I ended up doing well in the course, but I'd never take another computer science class again.

42

General Discussion / Re: The Pot Belly Stove

« on: December 27, 2012, 11:02:48 AM »

I also just got Windows 7.  I was a little nervous I was going to have Windows 8...I haven't heard great things.

43

Everything Else TWC / Re: General TWC Discussion

« on: December 18, 2012, 10:41:55 AM »

I just can't take them serious with their winter storm coverage anymore  .

But, I guess if it gets ratings, why not? 

A little off topic, but one of my professors worked as a behind the scenes meteorologist at TWC a while back, and it's so funny to hear him rant about the current state of the channel.

44

Everything Else TWC / Re: General TWC Discussion

« on: December 14, 2012, 11:29:45 AM »

I wonder why TWC thinks using a grey map base is a good idea, especially for winter weather.

45

General Discussion / Re: Matt Lauer Out of Today?

« on: November 23, 2012, 11:17:26 AM »

I've always been a flipper, but considered myself a "TODAY" viewer for many, many years.  That ended when Meredith left the show.  She was such a gem.  I have never enjoyed Ann Curry, and she wasn't doing it for me as TODAY co-host.  So, GMA it is.  George and Robin are great together.  I'm not really that big of a fan of Savannah Guthrie, either. 

As for Matt Lauer, he comes off to me as a fake person.  His good-bye to Ann did not seem sincere, at all.  I think he feels like he's "the man." 

It'll be interesting to see what happens, that's for sure.