Severe Weather vs. Entertainment

In our business, there are two kinds of storms. The kind that threatens life and property, and the kind broadcasters create when we "cut-in" over programming.

Last Thursday night as a line of severe storms pushed east across the area, cut-ins were needed. After all, the following day it was confirmed three EF1 tornadoes touched down. NEWS7 was contacted by several viewers concerning our cut-ins. Some viewers were glad we cut-in over programming, and some were not.

We respect the opinions of our viewers, but at the end of the day we're going to cut-in over Survivor, Price Is Right, paid advertising, or anything else when a tornado warning is issued. With that said, we'll return you to scheduled programming as soon as possible. Sometimes that may be a few minutes; sometimes much longer if conditions warrant.

Tornadoes can easily be a case of life or death. Broadcasters have a duty to inform the public of the imminent threat of severe weather - no matter how urban or rural an area is.

This may be a good time to write this blog. Some reports say the United States has had more confirmed tornadoes so far this year, than to this point in any of the last 50 years. Virginia has almost reached our annual average number of tornadoes - and it's only mid May.

Jeff Haby is a former professor of mine who has a great weather website. On his site, he's posted a list of the pros and cons of severe weather cut-ins. Here is the link: http://www.theweatherprediction.com/issues/4/

Have a great week, and thanks for stopping by my blog! --Jay

The Clearest Forecast Around!

High Definition weather comes to Roanoke - you've never seen your forecast so clear! The local station with the largest weather team has kicked it up a notch, now providing you with the clearest forecast around, using the latest technology available to on-air meteorologists!

The day started early, as we tore out our old standard definition (SD) weather computers and installed new high definition (HD) gear. It was a very busy day, but I managed to snap several pictures so you could see the transition to the HD world take place. First, we moved the old SD boxes behind the set so Leo could build his noon show. While he was doing that, Robin and I ran cables and installed the new HD equipment. Brent came in and put finishing touches on the graphics once the dust stopped flying.

Enjoy the slide show of the first fully equipped HD news studio in the Roanoke market. Our commitment to keeping you and your property safe is backed up with not only pretty pictures, but with the latest radar technology, 4km HD forecast modeling, and our live WeatherBug sites that dot the local landscape. Toss in four meteorologists who have been forecasting in Virginia for a combined 50 years, and you've got the clearest forecast around!

Crime stopper turned Meteorologist

It looks like Christiansburg's former police chief is enjoying retirement. Gary Brumfield sent me this picture over the weekend, thinking it could aid us with our forecasts. I bet when he headed up the police force he used to say, "If the doughnut is wet... it's raining. If the doughnut is swaying... it's windy. If the doughnut is hot... it's sunny."

Brumfield, who is my brother's father-in-law, must have too much time on his hands these days! Thanks for sending your weather "joke" anyway, chief.

This past Saturday, the National Weather Service offered a rare tour of their Blacksburg WFO (Weather Forecast Office). Meteorologists there told NEWS7 they expected around 300 people to attend their open house. If you're a real weather enthusiast, I hope you were able to go. It's a really neat place to visit, and it's amazing how much weather technology they have available... although I hear they're still working on importing their first "weather coconut" from Hawaii.

Hope you're having a GREAT week! --Jay

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Hope you were able to come out to Roanoke's annual St. Patrick's Day parade Saturday. The weather was perfect! Last year, if you recall, it was freezing! This year, sunshine and mild temperatures greeted onlookers and participants.

"Your Hometown Station" had many on-air folks walking the route. They included Jean Jadhon, Natasha Ryan, Alex Lawson and Justin McLeod. Since the weather forecast was correct, Robin Reed, Brent Watts and myself decided to press-the-flesh, too.

It was great to see so many loyal viewers. We chatted with as many as we could! While walking back to my car at the Elmwood parking garage after the parade, I heard screams from a car of a young woman say, "Jay Webb! I love you! I've got to meet you! Wait! Jay Webb!!" I looked up to see 17-year old, William Byrd High School senior, Shannon Dempsey about to defy all traffic laws by crossing two lanes of traffic - with oncoming vehicles. She promptly found a legal parking place, and her and her sister made their way across the street to meet me. Since Shannon records all my newscasts and reads my blog (which hasn't been updated in a while) I told her I'd post this picture if she'd send it to me. I received it within the hour. Nice meeting you Shannon. Thanks for being the charter member of the Jay Webb fan club. Best wishes to you, and thanks for watching in Vinton!

2008: The Year of Tornadoes

More severe weather rolled through the southeastern United States this weekend. A few weak tornadoes were reported, but thankfully nothing too severe. If you were watching WDBJ this weekend, you may have seen these strong storms showing up on SkyTracker7 Radar.

After the deadly outbreak of tornadoes earlier this month in states like Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana and Missouri, I found some staggering tornado data from the Storm Prediction Center.

So far in 2008, there have be 291 tornadoes (preliminary number). By this point in 2007, there had only been 73 tornadoes. 59 were in the book this time in 2006. 43 were recorded by this point in 2005. We're obviously running ahead of schedule!

2008 tornadoes have claimed 65 lives so far. Most of these have been in Tennessee (31). Most of the deaths occurred in mobile homes (38). The 65 deaths in just two months is hard to imagine, because that's only 16 less fatalities than the entire year of 2007, only 2 less than the entire year of 2006, and it's almost twice as many as in 2005.

With this in mind, remember, Virginia can have tornadoes. We average 7 per year. 65 people have been killed in Virginia tornadoes since 1916. Now is the time to prepare. As always, stay with SkyTracker7 weather for the most updated information.

Bring on the heat (and humidity)

It happens every year about this time. A point I want to get outdoors without having to put on a sweater, coat or even a jacket. No gloves. No hot chocolate. A point I want 70 degree overnight low temperatures. 90% humidity. Dewpoints around 70! Scattered afternoon thunderstorms. Maybe even an excessive heat warning thrown in for good measure. Baseball. Swimming. Fishing. A point I even want to (dare I say it) mow. That time of year happened today. While I'll soon get tired of mowing my yard on a diagonal cut, pulling weeds from my wife's flower beds, nightly watering of her flowers, and 70 degree overnight low temperatures; right now, I'm ready! My wife and I have already made an outdoor assessment of "to-do" jobs to our house this year. We decided the shutters must be painted, and we (I) have to stain our decks. Again, I can't wait! So I say, forget Valentine's Day - I'm officially ready for spring... even summer! Bring it on! (Pictured above: Our son, Parker, mowing with his bubble-making mover last summer. Note his concentration as I teach him how to mow on a perfectly neat diagonal line. I'll have him making a checker-board pattern within a few years!)

Forget "Super Tuesday"

Some know today as "Super Tuesday" - others know it as "National Weatherman's (Weatherperson's) Day"! It's amazing how many people really know about this day set aside to "honor" us meteorologists. I use the word "honor" loosely. While making my daily rounds about town today, I heard the age-old joke, "You guys are the only people who can be wrong 100% of the time and still keep your job!" But seriously, it was all in good fun, and I think most viewers appreciate our efforts. Here's a few lines from a loyal WDBJ viewer who took the time to email today after she learned it was National Weatherman's Day.

"...I thank you for your role on the WDBJ 7 weather team. You are the best team in Virginia!!! I admire your tenacity even as you report from less that ideal locations and conditions. As I approach my 80th birthday, I have seen many weather conditions, some stormy, some very pleasant. The writer who said that "everyone talks about the weather but no one does anything about it" surely had it right. Thanks for keeping us informed about what we can expect."

Curious, I decided to jump on-line today to learn about more of these less known holidays. There are hundreds, it seems, so let me just mention a few that popped out for the month of February.

2/5 National Weatherman's Day
2/8 Laugh and Get Rich Day
2/14 Valentines Day (Please note: Valentine's Day also shares its day with "National Condom Day"..... seriously!)