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Our next weathercast on 
Monday through Thursday Evenings |
Florida State meteorologists produce weathercasts five nights a week for FSU's cable Channel 6. Each night several weathercasters demonstrate their talents in a 2:20 minute weathercast that is transmitted to the FSU Broadcast Center via a fiber optic link. All of the weathercasts are taped at the Broadcast Center around 6:00pm, with the first weathercast airing shortly thereafter. Each weathercaster understands that he or she will get only one chance to tape each night. In addition, no retaping is possible. This is done to provide the live atmosphere of a television station where a second chance is not possible.
Of course, just being in the meteorology program at Florida State does not guarantee a spot on Channel 6. Students must take the weathercasting course for at least one semester before being given the opportunity to go on-air. Occasionally, a talented student progresses quickly enough to earn a spot as an on-camera meteorologist before the end of his or her first semester of the weathercasting course.
In the near future, we will also air weathercasts on WFSU/WFSG-TV. Not only will we be seen in Tallahassee, but also in cities throughout the Northern Panhandle, including Panama City and Destin. Our viewership will also include portions of Southwest Georgia and Southeast Alabama. Our one-minute weathercasts will provide a brief synopsis of the day's weather and a forecast for the next few days. These student-produced shows will air just before the top of every hour between 6:00 and 11:00pm
During September 1998, weathercasting students provided information on Hurricane Earl as it headed toward the Florida panhandle. We began with 90-second updates each hour during the evening before landfall. The next afternoon, WFSU/WFSG-TV replaced their regular programming with non-stop weather information as the hurricane neared the viewing area. Weathercasting students provided live 5-10 minute weather updates each half hour. During the remainder of the half hour, audio was supplied by from WFSU-FM and NOAA Weather Radio, and weathercasting students supplied video in the form of radar and text on hurricane preparedness.
We provided 16 hours of coverage for WFSU including weather updates, school closings, shelter availability, hurricane safety tips, and outdoor reports as the brunt of the storm was upon us. It took a total team effort from the weathercasters at Florida State and without their focused determination and strength, such coverage would not have been possible.