TV Meteorologist

TV Meteorologist

Kevin Selle

Wichita Falls, TX

Male, 55

I've been a broadcast meteorologist on television since the early 1990's. Happy to answer any questions about the weather or local TV news. Yes, I often wear sneakers on set just out of view of the camera.

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326 Questions

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Last Answer on December 24, 2019

Best Rated

Are tornados easily predicted these days with advanced weather radar or do you still rely heavily on spotters on the ground? Is there hope for one day knowing when a tornado is going to strike (any new advancement in tech)?

Asked by Curious weather man about 9 years ago

Pretty easily detected in thunderstorms with Doppler radar. You are correct, we still use spotters heavily. Radar usually sees rotation above ground in the storm. Since the earth is round it curves away from the radar beam which is why the spotters are so critical providing "ground truth". Warning times have increased over the years and will continue, especially with new radar technology coming over the next few years.

I'm not scientifically knowledgeable, but I've wondered why California and the southwest with the major drought problem couldn't siphon ocean water into Death Valley and the Salton Sea, let it evaporate and come down as rain?

Asked by flcfly@gmail.com over 9 years ago

Creative thinking. Probably a huge cost to transporting that water but even if you could get it there the prevailing atmospheric winds would carry the water vapor to east, away from the areas that need it. Keep thinking!

Could it in theory be possible for a hurricane to travel up the warm waters of the Gulf of California and hit the US along the California/Arizona border?

Asked by Joe almost 10 years ago

Possible and does, Joe! http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/?epac

Are you chummy with other meteorologists in your market? Is there really all that much difference between the way each of you gives the weather for the same region?

Asked by FB about 10 years ago

Some cities are more competitive than others but in general I think we are usually friendly with each other. I had lunch with a competitor a few weeks ago. And, to beat that, I married one of the meteorologists from a competing station when we met at a live event! Sometimes managements frown on hanging out with "the enemy". We all draw from the same sources of forecast data. The differences can come from time spent in the market, preference for one computer forecast model over another in a given situation and overall experience. Usually the biggest differences will come during bigger events, like a snow storm or tropical weather, or there is no agreement among the different computer forecasts. Great question, thanks!

Why will it snow at 27° for hours, and then while it is still 27° change to sleet/snow mix

Asked by Krissy over 9 years ago

Excellent question, Krissy. Snow occurs when the temperature is below 32 from the surface of the earth to as high as 10,000 feet. Sleet occurs when a warm layer of air develops in between the ground and the formation zone so the snowflake melts and refreezes in the cold layer next to the ground.

If a tsunami hits the west coast of america in winter , would it effect moisture in the air for the entire county and produce another snowstorm like "jonas"?

Asked by Zac over 9 years ago

Hi, Zac. No you would need to convert that water to vapor to move it across the country.

Do TV meteorologists have access to special or advanced equipment that websites like weather.com don't? I'm just wondering whether there's any ways in which getting your weather from a real human being is still legitimately superior?

Asked by THeo almost 11 years ago

Most of the data we use is readily available to anyone, but some services require a fee. All computer models have one bias or another.  The enhancement that the humans try to bring is trying to understand the biases and account for them.  In a breaking or severe weather situation the humans add updates that are very short time (minutes).  Hopefully we also add a connection to the audience and a sense of personality, both friendly and serious.  Great question, thanks!