I admit it. That title may have been a little misleading. Severe weather season can mean travel season in a LOT of different ways. Lots of folks like to take vacation in the March-May timeframe. And why not? It's a lovely time of year. It's not too cold or too hot in any one place ... for the most part. Travel season could also refer how many miles storm chasers put on their vehicles during those three months. The traveling may be relatively local, but it's still traveling. However, the travel season I'm referring to is the one that involves our very own weather department here at News 9.
This is probably the time of the year when our meteorologists travel the most. While I can't speak in detail about the rest of our weather staff, I can say for myself, I see more of our great state during Spring than any other season. I have the privilege of visiting everything from schools to church groups talking about my career as a TV meteorologist, the science of weather, and, the most popular topic this time of year, severe weather/tornado safety. As I write this, I have just finished the second of five total trips in as many weeks to talk about the aforementioned topics.
My travels last week took me to Anadarko where I spoke with the high school students about how weather impacts the environment. That was my second trip to Anadarko and I'm very appreciative of their hospitality! Great people and great facilities! Yesterday, I made the trek south to Duncan where I spoke to the kind folks at Halliburton about tornado safety. I presented two presentations showing our coverage of the May 24 and November 7 tornadoes and showing images of tornado damage from May 24 and the tornadoes just a few days ago in Norman and Woodward.
Over the next three weeks, I'll be visiting Barnes Elementary School on the east side of OKC for career day, Kingfisher the week after that, and Blanchard the week after that. Since I'm not originally from Oklahoma, I always enjoy visiting new cities and meeting the people there. It gives me a better knowledge of the people and the town so when we cover severe weather, I have a much clearer picture of who I'm talking to. I haven't visited a place that caused me to say "I don't want to go back there." That's what I love about Oklahoma.
In fact, if you happen to be in any of the cities I'll be visiting in the next three weeks, stop by and say hello! I'd love to meet you!
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