A Day In The Life Of A Broadcast Meteorologist At A TV Station
A broadcast meteorologist's workday is as unpredictable as the weather, ranging from routine forecasting to urgent, hours-long coverage of severe weather events where the professional must "keep people calm and understand that it's gonna be okay". Beyond weather, the job also involves immediate, breaking news journalism, such as a recent assignment covering a 105-year-old woman attending her first Cavs game, demonstrating the dynamic and ever-changing nature of the profession where "not a single job day has been the same".
Communication, Problem-Solving, Breaking News, Weather Forecasting, Journalism
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Meredith Garofalo
Broadcast Meteorologist
TV Broadcasting Company
Valparaiso University
NA
Environmental & Related Sciences
Arts, Entertainment & Media
Communication and Marketing
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Greek Life Member
Video Highlights
1. The daily routine of a broadcast meteorologist is unpredictable and varies greatly depending on weather events. Some days may involve routine forecasting and on-air presentations, while others require immediate response to severe weather situations, demanding extended on-air coverage and continuous updates to keep the public informed and safe.
2. The role blends meteorology and journalism; it involves not only presenting weather forecasts but also covering breaking news stories related to weather or other timely events, requiring quick thinking, adaptability, and resourcefulness in gathering information and presenting it to the audience.
3. The job is dynamic and exciting; no two days are ever the same. This unpredictability, the blend of science and storytelling, and the opportunity to make a real difference in people’s lives by keeping them informed and safe during emergencies are highlights of the career path.
Transcript
What does a day in the life of a meteorologist and journalist look like?
It changes daily, just like the weather changes daily. Some days I think everything is going to go one way, and it's as simple as coming in, doing my forecast, and presenting the weather on air.
Other times, we have breaking weather, severe weather, blizzards, hurricanes, or general craziness, where I have to keep the public informed. Some days I'll literally come in and relieve the person on the shift before me, whether it's wall-to-wall coverage, which means staying on for hours.
This could be covering a tornado outbreak and making sure people know where the storms are and how to stay safe. Sometimes you don't even get a break. You're literally staying on the air because you know you have a job to do.
That job is to make sure people can understand what you're telling them, but also to keep them calm and let them know that it's going to be okay. You have that background to keep them safe.
As a journalist, sometimes it's having a story that I prepared the night before. Other times, it's a story where something is happening right now.
For example, a 105-year-old woman decided she was going to attend a Cavs game, and it was her first game ever. Can you get down there and call people to get the story?
Then I'm literally driving with my photographer to the story, calling the woman's son and asking if other family members are coming or who I can talk to. Afterwards, I'm texting my contacts, saying I'm coming to the Cavs game and asking who from the Cavs might be available to talk.
It's a really exciting job, and it's not something you can just put in a box. Yes, I forecast when I'm doing the weather, and yes, I do my research when I'm doing a story. But the exciting part of my job is that over the last 15 years, not a single workday has been the same.