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Steve's web page

Steve's web page

BECOMING A METEOROLOGIST

I think I was age 6 when I developed an interest in the weather. It was as simple as waking up every morning in the winter and the first thing was running to the window to see if it was snowing. I posted snowmen, umbrellas and the sun on the refrigerator. By age 12 I was already intensely listening to commericial radio stations (even from other cities), and watching the weather on TV news to get any weather information I could get my hands on. At age 15 I had my own weather station, kept weather records and was working on doing my own forecats. Being in the pre internet era, it was basically listening to NOAA weather radio and being a subscriber to the Daily Weather Map helped as well. I would watch every meteorologist or weatherman on TV and listen to them on the radio. One of my favorites I still keep in contact with. There wasn't a whole lot of severe weather in New York but there was snow, and I lived for it. The snowier and the colder the better. While others stayed indoors and watched the snow out their window I was out in it. While others shied away from the cold, somehow it never bothered me. In high school I was telling my teachers and friends my weather forecast. By my senior year I took my first weather course that was given by a meteorologist at a television station. Later he actually hired me. After high school it was off to another world to Kansas where after 9 months I saw my first tornado. It was here that I obtained my degree in meteorology from the University of Kansas. Also, I helped start the college weather service and became a teaching assistant in my final year.

BEING A METEOROLOGIST

After college I tried to find my niche and lived in different places. My first job was at the Western Kansas Groundwater Management District involved in weather modification, that is trying to make it rain more and at the same time supressing hail. In other words, fightning mother nature. Then it was off to Denver for a stint at the Geophysical Research and Development (GRD) Weather Center. Then it was back to New York to a private consulting company. Then back west to Kansas City at KMBC-TV where I became the Operations Manager of the weather center. Concurrently, I was a weather observer at the Airport. Then came the offer I couldn't refuse. It was off to Chicago to Weather Command. I am currently a Senior Meteorologist and storm forecaster with this company and have been elected and twice reelected to the Board of Directors. I currently hold the position of secretary.

STORM CHASING

For the past 5 years I have set aside a week each year and also have gone on days off a few times to explore the beauty of weather. The picture at the top of my web page was taken on one of my chases in June 2005 near New Ulm, Minnesota. I do the whole bit. Rent out a van and drive thousands of miles with meteorologists or those simply interested in the weather. I have finally discovered that the weather goes far beyond trying to predict it to what it is really meant to be- enjoyed and admired!


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