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Sunday, February 09, 2003

Age: 28.

Birthplace: Erie.

Years at KDKA: 2.

Previous broadcasting experience: WICU-TV, Erie, news producer, reporter, anchor and weathercaster.

	Rebecca Hower

Weather training: Graduate of Allegheny College. In the process of completing the three-year broadcast meteorology program through Mississippi State University. Will receive certificate this summer, then plans to pursue AMS seal.

Weather idol or model: Growing up, I never saw a woman presenting the weather. It didn't seem as if it would suit me at all. But I loved news and soon realized weather is often the biggest news story of the day.

Were you a weather geek as a child? I think most everyone is fascinated by the weather, a little afraid of it or maybe both.

How do you feel when you receive credit or blame for the weather? KDKA uses AccuWeather, a whole team of meteorologists who do nothing but monitor the weather 24/7. They are a great resource, and I consult with them frequently. However, they do admit when a particular forecast is tricky and when their forecasting was off. Sometimes, KDKA will bring AccuWeather onto our news to explain why a forecast might have been different from what actually happened.

Best weather call? I've covered a lot of storms that were right on and ones that were off. Nothing specific comes to mind.

Biggest miss? See above.

Forecasting -- art or science? Both. It's a big advantage to grow up in the area you are forecasting because you tend to know the little things about the region that can really determine the weather for very specific areas.

If it's a science, how accurate should viewers expect you to be? Weather forecasting gets more advanced every day. New technology is developed all the time. I believe we are always gaining a better understanding of the weather and how to protect ourselves from some of nature's most dangerous forces. However, weather prediction will never be perfect. ... Mother Nature has a mind of her own.

Vacation ruined by weather, blame? Yes, my honeymoon. But it was my fault. I didn't check to see that it was the rain season in St. Lucia. It was cloudy and rainy the whole time, so we learned to scuba.